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

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei just gives her a Look. ]

Sorry, I'm saving all my smiles for the stage. You wouldn't want me to run out before we even get out there, would you?

1/2

[seasharp]

Is your smile-o-meter going to run out that quick? Geez, talk about hopeless.

2/2

[seasharp]

...Hey, seriously, you'll be okay, right?

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei pulls in a breath and just... nods, even though her expression makes it clear she would rather be literally anywhere else in the entirety of Purgatory right now. ]

I don't really have a choice, do I? This is our best shot at getting past her.

[mementomoritz]

If you can't go onstage, we won't make you. [Just as plain and simple as that, as though there's nothing to it.] And if you can, we'll be there beside you all the way.

One way or another, we'll find a way forward.

[phantasmagorial]

[ She shakes her head. ]

It's not 'can' or 'can't'. Right now, I have to. M–maybe if I just pretend everyone in the audience is a Revenant and dancing is how we'll beat them...

[ Can Cry: Dancing All Night coming to a portable console near you this year ]

[seasharp]

Mm. Eyes on the prize.

Just remember, we're all with you. I promise I'll be right by your side the whole time, Leader-san~

[daughterofthemark]

It's as Dame Ariel says. All of us are facing this together.

[phantasmagorial]

Jeez, do you really have to keep calling me that?

[ Despite her protests, she looks a little less wound up than she did before. ]

[seasharp]

Our illustrious and super cute Leader~?

Is that better?

[phantasmagorial]

If I'm the illustrious leader, does that mean I get to fire you? Just curious.

[seasharp]

You'd never replace me fast enough.

[phantasmagorial]

I guess we're stuck with you, then.

[ She manages to give her a smile. ]

Are you ready to be up on stage, then?

1/3

[seasharp]

[she grins widely]

Ab-so-lu-tely!

2/3

[seasharp]

Not! [and she promptly slumps over and deflates] No way, no way, I'm just not suited for the life of a star, I'm way too average!

Ghhh, what if I trip or say something dumb or something?

3/3

[seasharp]

[and then just as quickly she snaps back up, with a determined look on her face]

But I'll do it anyway!

[...it's enough to give you whiplash.]

We have to take her down, after all. I won't give up until we do.

[mementomoritz]

You're not, though? [Medic... is pulling out her notebook. And scribbling something in it.]

[She whips it around to show Ariel... a bell curve?]

This high bit in the middle is where the normal human average is for physical abilities, and then over here- [Points to the far right of the bell curve.] -there's you! Doing swords!

The math doesn't lie, you're not average at all, sorry.