confrontation.

[cancrymods]

It's time.

Esme has been doing her level best to make sure everyone in Invidia knows about their little competition, so it shouldn't be a surprise to see that the mall is absolutely overflowing with devoted fans today, all eager to see the outcome of this "friendly" competition between performers. Thankfully, Esme has been unusually sportsmanlike and deigned to release a schedule of the event beforehand, so you're not just going in blind. Esme and Idol-ON will perform two songs each and then hold a question and answer session with the audience, after which a vote will be held – and whoever has the most votes by the end of the show will be declared Invidia's newest top idols.

Sounds simple, right? Right.

You've all been given a private room out of the way of the crowds, with some time to spare before the event itself starts. Time for some last minute rehearsal, some last minute panicking, some last minute... sabotage? Well, Esme's probably not going to play fair, so why should you?

Comments

PRE-SHOW

[cancrymods]

Use this last bit of time before the show to go over your plans and decide just how you're going to take Esme down!

Re: PRE-SHOW

[daughterofthemark]

Let us give it our all!

[Is she being encouraging, or practicing her catchphrase? The world may never know.]

[seasharp]

Yeah, that's the energy we need!

[is

she encouraging veil's encouragement?]

[pride_of_amarcia]

We can do this... As long as we stop whatever Esme's planning.

Anyone else think we need to be ready in case she tries to just straight-up attack us or drop monsters on us or something???

[mementomoritz]

Right! Death and monsters didn't stop us, she won't either!

[Medic is here, prepared for possible rap battles and also impeccably dressed.]

[phantasmagorial]

Y–yes, let's give it our... all...

[ Rei sounds... markedly less enthused, which is not a surprise given that this is, you know, Rei. She's managed the impressive feat of turning even paler than she usually is and honestly it kind of looks like she's about to throw up or bolt for the door, or possibly both. ]

[ourtomorrow]

You're part of the - group, right?

[ Monarch feels like he has awoken in a very surreal time. But maybe this is normal for Purgatory. Maybe people's ability to move along their quest for redemption and fulfillment often hinges on sing-offs between highly commercialized pop singers.

Maybe!

In any case, Esme can't be allowed to do as she pleases with other people. Others suffering for her own sake is unforgivable! ]

Good luck.

[twibeast]

[ sup gang Beast's here, or rather he's just gotten back. ]

The sheet music's been dropped off with the live band. Now everything is just up to you girls.

[ He's also here for anyone also present and involved with the other plans though. ]

[phantasmagorial]

You mean you won't be playing the song for us?

[ SHE REALLY THOUGHT BEAST WAS GONNA BE UP THERE ON STAGE JUST SHREDDING ON HIS HARP, HUH ]

[cancrymods]

There's a knock at the door, suddenly.

"Excuse me..." says one of the Specters who's been acting as their security guard, apparently. "There's a guest here to see you. Would it be alright to let her in?"

[twibeast]

—Ah.

[ Well that’s strange. He’s unsure what to make of it but maybe it’s just one of the others? ]

Yes, that should be alright.

Elsewhere....

[heir_to_ruin]

[Yeah no one is surprised that the big dumb beefs are trying to pretend they're just dumb spectres. Depending on which looks to be more likely to work they might try for "security" for the girls but mostly? They're just here to move boxes, haul props around etc, etc,

They're definitely not tied to the Idol-ON girls. Nope. They just happened to be hauling in their stuff. Band need things moved? sure they can do that. Strategic locations can be identified? They can do that too.

And if there happens to be any sort of stagehand's coffee supply? Or better yet something fancy that might be going to Esme herself? Well.... they have a little something for that too.]

Relax. The point is to look like you belong not like you're going to shit yourself.

[Lion please.]

[crypddyd]

There is no need to be crude. And I'm fine. I'm... cool.

[he might be carrying half a live band's equipment by himself]

[ourtomorrow]

[ Monarch has been debriefed on the nature of this competition, and what's on the line. He is unsure what he can do to support the others, as he's.....not good with music....he thinks. No way to confirm that, but an attempt to dredge up any musical knowledge whatsoever has struck out. He can't say he felt a pull of interest towards the topic, either.

But he's here, and he's an Executor, so he isn't about to just sit around. And thus it is that if you go out to get a feel for the crowd you may find a slim boy doing a crappy job of blending into the audience because he is scanning the procedures with hawk-eyed precision....

....or a slim boy doing an even crappier job of investigating backstage. He is hiding behind stuff before running and everything, like duck and cover helps.

Please find him before someone else does. ]

[schardynfreude]

[Chiron is...decidedly not really around, mostly because he's holed up in the broadcast station, having been fussing and fiddling with the controls. He is fairly confident in his ability to work the damned thing, and he's got--well, everything at his disposal that's already there on the computers. And the video of Kotori. Just in case there needs to be a bomb drop. Or a mic drop.

Tapping into the current broadcast is the tricky part, but if he can do some fun fucky things...well, it'd be something!

He can stay in contact with everyone via the phones anyway, with calling and texts and, most importantly, hell-discord. Did y'all really expect him to be able to contribute to Idol Hard: Idol With A Vengeance in person?]

@ Viatorem
Hello lovelies!!!👋👋👋 Good luck out there!!✌️ Your eye 👀 in the sky 📺 is ready to do
something 🤔
whatever he can! 💖

@materia_medica

[mementomoritz]

we'll put on our best show for you! :D :D

[Medic sees absolutely nothing unusual or shady about this at all.]

SHOW

[cancrymods]

PERFORMANCE

[cancrymods]

It's Idol-ON vs Esme!

If your character is a part of the performance, please tag in to indicate how they will be contributing to the show.

If your character is attempting to interfere with the show/Esme's performance, please tag in and indicate what your character will be attempting to do and how they plan on doing it!

Q&A

[cancrymods]

Once the two performances have wrapped up, both sides get a couple of minutes to recuperate before heading back out there – this time, sharing the stage. Esme's all smiles of course, putting on a perfectly nice performance...

At least until Alice steps on stage. She barely spares Esme a glance as she starts her MCing duties like a pro, but it's impossible to miss the look of cold, dead shock and anger that briefly takes over Esme's face. Even when she manages to put her Performance Face back on, she's clearly unsettled.

"... and while we're waiting for the final votes to come in, it's time to get to know our performers!" Alice is saying, studiously ignoring Esme, with a big smile. "So if you have anything you'd like to know, you can approach the stage and ask!

For the Executors in the audience, here's your chance to sow a little discord! Again, if your character will be attempting to interfere with the show in any way, even if it's just to ask a question at the Q&A, be sure to tag in!

AND THE RESULTS ARE...

[cancrymods]

So the show has been, uh... interesting! Between Chiron very very definitely not cheating on the girls' behalf and dropping some psychological warfare, Monarch's outburst and Medic's lit rap solo, combined with Alice's presence, the gang have done a number on Esme's composure. With her perfect idol facade shattered, it's made for prime conspiracy fodder on Caw, as well as a few memes already because the internet will always be the internet, even in Purgatory.

But finally, the votes close. There's a few awkward minutes on stage while the votes are being counted and then Alice, with a beaming smile on her face steps up to announce the winners.

"And the new top idols of Invidia are... our newcomers, Idol-ON! Please give them a big round of applause to welcome them in!"

Thanks for the vote manipulation, Chiron!

The crowd erupts into cheering, but more prominent than the noise – for the Executors, at least – is a sudden feeling of the world shifting and tilting under them. It's not quite a physical sensation but it's harsh enough to make you dizzy for just a second. When the sensation eases, things don't look any different... except for the members of Idol-ON, who will find the world suddenly looks... sharper and clearer almost, though the difference is impossible to put into words. The change seems to have been felt by Esme as well, who has gone deathly white. Her teeth are gritted so hard it looks like they might crack and... Alice just beams at her.

"So then, Esme, do you have anything to say to these newcomers, as the former top idol yourself?" Esme takes a few steps back, and Alice closes in on her, still smiling that horrible smile the whole way. "No words for your successors? Nothing for your loyal fans? Not even a goodbye? Don't you have anything to say, former top idol?"

What follows happens so fast, you could blink and miss it.

Esme lunges for Alice, her expression twisted a dark and ugly rage, but even as her hands reach for Alice's throat, there's a deep resonant rumble from deep in the stage. Everything starts to shake like the very foundations of Invidia itself are quaking and then with a huge snap, a massive fissure rips itself open in the very center of the stage. Quite understandably, this causes a panic in the crowd who take this as their cue to get the hell out of dodge, making for the exit in a sort of restrained stampede.

When the chaos dies down, all that's left is the Executors, a very shaken Alice and the massive fissure in the middle of the stage that's begun to leak a sickly looking green light.

Esme is nowhere to be seen. Unlike her prior vanishing acts though, the girls of Idol-ON will find they have a new and very pointed sense that Esme is no longer in Invidia. Somehow, the sense is that she's further down somewhere and... well, there's only one way down that you can see right now, isn't there?

If you dare to peek into the fissure, you'll see a very familiar set of stairs leading down into the light and you realize... oh. It's not a sheer drop at all. It's an entrance.

AUTHORITY RECLAIMED

INVIDIA UNDERSIDE UNLOCKED.

AFTERMATH

[cancrymods]

Our House, In The Middle Of The Street (toplevel for exploring Esme's place)

[mementomoritz]

[So, that sure was a lot.]

[Medic, being extremely herself, isn't particularly put off by the whole event- no one she liked got hurt, and there's a lot of fun new scientific data to go over. As far as she's concerned, everything's fine.]

[And speaking of scientific data, she's very curious about what might be hidden in Esme's house. So after changing out of her Idol Cure costume, she's going to be going down there and poking around. ...and probably appropriating Esme's remaining poison supplies for science purposes, because that's just how she do.]

[Fortunately, she at least announced her intentions on the group chat beforehand, so anyone who wants to join her in investigating the place has some advance warning.]

later

[crypddyd]

[So once things have calmed a bit and house exploration happens... Lion is prepping for upcoming battle, if anyone wants in on that. But he is asking around:]

If you've seen him, could you please direct me to Ruin?

[he has an odd look in his eye but it's fine probably]

[ourtomorrow]

[ Esme is still out there and they definitely haven't seen the last of her. The Executors as a group can breathe more easily knowing that this is one floor of Purgatory well on its way to being...restored? Reclaimed....not contributing to the problem.

Monarch remains shaken, though, and in an attempt to feel more prepared for the group's eventual descent, he's switched over to his Executor form to see what it is and what he can do. He's baffled by how much it changes his appearance, though, and while there's a part of him that feels right with a whip in his hand, another part revolts, and it's just...it's a lot. He feels both powerful and absurd.

Darnit. He'd had everything about their current mission explained to them! He knew what Esme had done! Why had seeing her try to cover for it - seen what she was willing to do, and play off, in the name of being the best - upset him so much?

There is a small boy with even stupider hair than normal sitting behind The House Formerly Known As Esme's, wrapped in his cape and glad for his mask. He can make any kind of face he wants while he sits and broods. ]

come get y'alls food

[discutio]

[Once they apparently decided on stealing Esme's house, Phoenix made a quick supply run and then took to the kitchen to set himself to work. Carefully running his hands along countertops and corners, learning the layout before starting what he came here to do.]

[Cooking. And a lot of it. One could not dethrone idols or fight on an empty stomach, and before long there was a well crafted and carefully divided cheesecake with a warm and comforting soup in progress on the stove.]

Dinner will be ready shortly in Esme's kitchen, blessedly free of the connotations that sentence might have. If anyone sees Alice, let her know she's welcome to some as well.