meet and greet

[cancrymods]

If you've been paying any attention to the screens around Invidia (and it's honestly harder NOT to pay attention to them than it is to actually do so) then you'll be familiar with Esme, the woman whose face graces every single screen. Some initial poking around has revealed that Esme is a sort of idol to the people of Invidia, whose enviously glamourous life has taken the city by storm but that's more or less all you've learned so far.

But it looks like you might have the opportunity to learn more sometime soon.

Just as the dark sky of Invidia gives way to what passes for daytime, all of the screens in Invidia light up with the same video – it's Esme, perched on what looks to be a fancy throne in the middle of a white void, nothing to distract from the glaringly insincere sincere smile on her face as she addresses the camera.

"Good morning, lovelies! ❤ I've been soooooo busy with work and filming lately, I haven't had even a single second to see any of you in person! And what's the point of all that hard work if I don't even get to see your smiling faces at the end of it? So today we're having a very special event! For this afternoon only, I'll be on the Starlight Stage on the roof of our mall, all ready to shake hands and sign things and see all of you lovelies face to face again! Make sure you hurry on down to see me, okay? Bye-bye-bye! ❤"

With a wave and a sickly sweet smile to the camera, Esme signs off.

Looks like you've been given an opportunity to do a little investigating...

Comments

[cancrymods]

[ Fifteen minutes is just about enough time for Team Executor to cross the city in one piece, right? Well, even if it's not, fifteen minutes is the deadline Esme gave, so in fifteen minutes, Team Executor are expected to be there.

The gates are still closed but th

There's a pe








I'm sorry, but there's a fucking PEACOCK just outside the gate, apparently waiting to greet these visitors. ]

[mementomoritz]

Oh, how pretty! [Medic is just absolutely delighted by fun new wildlife and choosing not to dwell on anything upsetting that may or may not have just happening, nope, no thank you.]

Well, aren't you just a lovely thing. [She's just crouching to talk to the bird. That's normal.] Are you a fine example of genetic speciation for attracting mates? Yes! You are! You should be very proud of yourself and your evolutionary adaptations.

[emberserker]

Is this really necessary?

[cancrymods]

[ It.... caws at her??? That is NOT a peacock noise. ]

[mementomoritz]

Oh, now that's interesting! [Tilting her head to just... try and get a closer look at the peacock's throat.] A vocal mutation, maybe, or is it an effect of undeath...?

[cancrymods]

[ CAW, CAW. For what it's worth, there doesn't seem to be anything physically off about the bird, it's just making the wrong noises. ]

[seasharp]

[ huh?

huh??????

bird???????????????? ]

[schardynfreude]

[just bc he doesn't actually remember a personal chocobo doesn't mean he doesn't remember chocobo so Chiron will give a little gasp of delight and coo]

Hello, beautiful, aren't you gorgeous...

[discutio]

...What in the hell are you talking to.

[schardynfreude]

You, obviously~

[He laughs.] There's a brightly colored bird here! Bit bigger than a chocochick.

[discutio]

Wh-

[exCUSE you]

O-of all the absurd--is that all that's out here? I hope that's not what she considers a guard.

[cancrymods]

[ It coos at him like a pigeon. ]

[schardynfreude]

[He will carefully edge closer with a hand out!]

Do you belong to the lady of the house, hm? I won't harm you. Goodness, look at your colors!

[cancrymods]

[ It chirps a burble of birdsong and seems quite happy to be petted, if that's what he's going for. ]

[daughterofthemark]

[!!!

TAKING UP A DEFENSIVE STANCE AGAINST THE BIRD]

[seasharp]

D... Do you think it's an attack bird...?

[that's not incredulous, that's a GENUINE QUESTION

she's standing behind Veil a little.]

[cancrymods]

[ The peacock makes the distinctive MYAA MYAA noise of a noisy seagull. It's... deafening. ]

[seasharp]

[Ariel yelps and dives behind the closest person taller than her.]

[daughterofthemark]

I'm not certain. I don't remember seeing one like this before, but...

[morelikeisabeast]

So like.

[Isabel is here. Pretend she was always here. She was just kinda hanging back for the first encounter.]

Is the peacock going to let us in, or...?

[cancrymods]

[ It...

...

I don't know what the hell kind of noise it just made but it sure as hell wasn't a peacock noise. ]

[morelikeisabeast]

I don't know what that means, Mr. Bird.

[twibeast]

Oh goodness, is that a peacock?

[ hi birb meet birb ]

[cancrymods]

[ It flutters its wings at him and honks like a swan. ]

[twibeast]

[ YOU ARE SUCH AN ASSHOLE CLAIRE

Beast is more alarmed about this though. ]

Oh my, that's not the sound you should be making, is it friend? Have you been living with swans?