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]

[Can't have a much clearer invitation than that, can you? Who knows what everyone else is doing, but Ariel? Oh, Ariel is already on her way to the Stage. Without so much as a second thought, really.

...Huh? They just got phones to communicate over long distances?

Sounds fake, bro.

So, she's going to be there as quick as she can. Which is quick! She has youthful energy and a complete lack of sense on her side. Anyone else there yet?]

[daughterofthemark]

[Duess who shows up not long after?]

Ah, Dame Ariel! You're here as well?

[discutio]

This certainly sounds like a trap if ever I've encountered one.

[had he? who knows! but he's sure as hell showing up to the party.]

I can only assume we're all actually foolish enough to follow through with this, of course.

[seasharp]

I prefer to think of it as bold!

[........there's a reason y'all are dead]

[seasharp]

Oh, Veil! Good timing~ I only just got here.

[discutio]

That is certainly a word one could use to describe this approach.

[daughterofthemark]

She did invite us very kindly.

[That means it's safe!]

[twibeast]

...Ah.

I thought I heard some familiar voices.

[ Hi gang. ]

[discutio]

I don't know that I would call that 'kind', strictly speaking.

[discutio]

[OH THANK SHIVA ANOTHER ADULT]

[daughterofthemark]

[EXCUSE YOU VEIL IS AN ADULT

PROBABLY

MAYBE]

[daughterofthemark]

She wishes to meet us all! I'm certain we can become friends.

[twibeast]

[ YOU'RE WELCOME PHOENIX, WE CHAPERONE TOGETHER ]

[daughterofthemark]

I left right away. You're very fast!

[alcahest]

[ trailing along behind Beast like a duckling... ]

Oh, everyone else came too...? Thank goodness.

[discutio]

I emphatically do not share this optimism.

[mementomoritz]

You think so? [Medic is aware that she's not great at people, okay. She'll take your word for it.] I guess she seems nice.

[In her defense, she didn't actually come here for the meet and greet. She was just already at the mall when the announcement went off, trying to find some needles. ...It's probably best not to ask why.]

[twibeast]

Apparently we were all of one mind on this situation. Which is likely for the best, even if this is some sort of nefarious plot.

[ safety in numbers, team unity, etc etc ]

[phantasmagorial]

[ And here's Rei, trailing in with a look like she would rather be literally anywhere else in Purgatory right now... which quickly changes when she has the absolute audacity to be stunned that everyone else is here too. ]

Wh–what...? Did you really all show up?

[seasharp]

Hey, you're here too, aren't you!

[phantasmagorial]

Personally, I'm hoping she's some sort of awful secret mastermind. That way, I'm keeping my hopes as low as I possibly can, so I can be pleasantly surprised later when she's just a regular level of awful.

[phantasmagorial]

W–well, I am, but...

[ ...

. . .

She literally doesn't have a retort for that. ]

[seasharp]

I ran very fast!

[seasharp]

And you got here late, too. For shame, Leader-san.

[It hasn't started yet...]

[mementomoritz]

I just wanted to get more supplies... [It's not her fault the mall turned out to be plot-relevant, okay. She was just trying to exchange money for goods and/or services.]