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?]

[daughterofthemark]

[Why wouldn't she be? That's exactly the kind of thing they need to encourage!]

Yes! With this, we'll surely stand triumphant.

[With... the catchphrase??]

[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???

[seasharp]

It'll probably be sneakier than that.

[daughterofthemark]

I doubt Dame Esme will attack us. Monster seem a more likely outcome.

[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.]

[daughterofthemark]

She may slow us down, but she'll not stop us!

["may" like she hasn't already slowed them down which is why they're here in the first place]

[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. ]

[seasharp]

Mm, what was that? I don't think I could hear you.

[just gonna come over sup girl]

C'mon, again with a smile!

[daughterofthemark]

[will SUDDEN HANDHOLDING help? because that's what she's getting.]

Again!

[pride_of_amarcia]

We can do it!

[After Pascal's concerns, she's still excited about actually performing!]

[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.]

[cancrymods]

[ So, exactly what is Chiron looking to do to the current broadcast, if he managed to tap into it? Just curious. Don't worry about it. ]

[pride_of_amarcia]

Got'cha! Do the thing and lessee if we can break this.
-Idol Thoughts