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

[seasharp]

Ahhh, stop it, stop it! Why's it doing that?!

[cancrymods]

[ Peck, peck. CAW. Peck, peck.

It's gonna be here for a while. ]

[mementomoritz]

[Medic just... hustling over and gently getting in between them.] Do you have any food in your pockets? It might be able to smell something...

[seasharp]

Do I look like I carry bird food around with me?!

[mementomoritz]

Oh, they'll eat anything if people have been feeding them! Wild animals go nuts for human food. It's really dangerous if they're predatory, too! [Terrifyingly cheerful as always.]

[seasharp]

W-Well, get it away from me then! F-Fight it or something!

[seasharp]

What do you want from me?! Get it away, get it away! Aaaaaaah--!

[she's reaching in her pockets for something to throw

somehow, she ends up with the business card....

.....

she's throwing it]

[cancrymods]

[ The peacock SURGES into the air, after the business card and

swallows

it.










The gates open. ]

[seasharp]

Can we at least fight that bird?!

[...oh hey gate's open]

[mementomoritz]

[Blinking.] ...I guess it really was hungry.

[Just gonna... follow the bird through the gates. It's probably fine.]

[twibeast]

...Let's pass on bird fighting for now.

[ He is, for obvious reasons, against birdicide.

...though he is also worried about it just SWALLOWING THAT THING GEEZ ]

[seasharp]

[...she's maybe clinging to Beast for the moment

a bigger bird to protect her from this smaller evil bird

save her]

[twibeast]

[ ........

oh my god that's just precious though

it's okay my child he's got you, he'll even shift one of his crow wings around so it's wrapped around where she is clinging to him and shielding her. ]

1/2

[cancrymods]

[ At the very least, the peacock seems to have gone back to making actual bird noises now.

It leads them through the garden up to the house and stops only briefly to look back and cheep at them, to make sure they're following, before leading them through the double doors into the house.

The doors... do not open up on a giant foyer like you might expect but directly into a lavishly decorated tearoom. The effect is a bit disorienting. Two couches are facing each other from either side of a sizable table, currently groaning under the weight of the cakes, sweets and pastries crammed in atop it.

One couch is unoccupied. And sitting on the other one– ]

[cancrymods]

[ – is Esme. She has a smile, but it's strained. ]

You really came. And here I was thinking all these cakes might end up going to waste.

[discutio]

Of course we came. I was hardly going to say as much and then abandon the idea.

[cancrymods]

Hmmm.

[ It's an idle, thoughtful noise. She picks up the teacup on the table in front of her and then gestures with it. ]

You might as well sit.

[ ...

She really is gonna just let Phoenix figure that bit out by himself, huh. ]

[mementomoritz]

[Medic attempts actual social interaction, mentally stalls, and dredges up some ancient sourceless memory of Good Manners:] Your home is lovely!

[At least she can manage politeness and honesty at the same time, for once.]

[cancrymods]

[ Esme snorts. ]

It couldn't be anything else. It's nice and private at least.

[twibeast]

[ Beast for his part at least attempts a sign of respect by folding his arm in front of his chest and doing a half bow (his other arm also being ready to... grab Ariel if he has to). ]

Of course, Lady Esme.

We said we wished to discuss matters and we are people of our word.

[cancrymods]

I was almost hoping you wouldn't actually show up, but here we are I guess. Sit down, have some food.

[ She takes a very 'but it's none of MY business' energy sip of her tea. ]

[daughterofthemark]

Of course. We are friends now, are we not?

[and just PLOPPING DOWN ON THE COUCH NEXT TO ESME]

[twibeast]

[ VEIL.................................. ]

[cancrymods]

[ The INSTANT Veil's butt hits the seat: ]

Other side. Move it or lose it.

[seasharp]

What? Did you think we wouldn't come?

[Already she's crossing her arms and glaring. Great energy. Very diplomatic.]