cancry | confrontation.

confrontation.

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?

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Of course!

[Apologetic but... only a little. Sorry not sorry Esme.

For a moment Ruin thinks he's underestimated Lion's control, believes the bluff. The moment he wheels back around though Ruin is on him, rushing after him. He's still new enough that the transformation isn't second nature the way it is with some of the others and that's a good thing. It means he can restrain himself even as he throws himself between Lion and Esme, playing the hero, amp cover still in his hands that he tries to swing at Lion in retaliation.]

[ As much power as her Authority might give her, it can't exactly read minds, so despite her suspicion she does turn her back to him eventually. She whips back around just as quick when the guitar comes sailing past, though and even though it misses her, it's enough to put a wide-eyed look of shock and fright on her face.

At least until Ruin puts himself between her and Lion. Her eyes flash with an expression that's hard to read until it settles into something like anger and without a word she takes one, two, three steps back from them and

just vanishes, seemingly into mid-air. Uh. ]

[Lion may be immensly strong, but he is no more durable than any other Executor. So when Ruin hits him with the amp cover he grunts and stumbles for a moment. All the moment Esme needed to vanish.

And without his target Lion goes for the last thing that hit him. Grabbing Ruin and hauling him right off his feet. His single eye roving over him like he, truly, doesn't recognize him. He brings him close to his face, eye to eye, and low enough to not be heard:]

Find her. Make use of this. And pray to the Cogs or any god you remember that this is worth it, because once this is done you are mine.

[And then tosses his fellow Executor aside like trash into the equipment- but notably not hard enough to hurt more than his pride, before bolting into the crowd]

[Lion might be pleased, now in this moment fueled by rage, to see real terror in those amber eyes before he tosses Ruin aside. Ruin would like to argue that Lion is a poor judge of how hard not hard enough to hurt is.

Still he's certainly not injured in any way and a couple of bruises are just par for the course. He might make a bit of a show of it, clambering back to his feet, groaning and shaking his head. Surely Esme's security will give chase be he absolutely trusts that Lion will get away unscathed. Regardless of the fear and adrenaline rushing through him he... has a job to do? Goddess what was he thinking?]

Uuugh.... Shit. Is she okay? [Looking around like a dazed fool... though, to be fair, his back was to her when she pulled her disappearing act.]

[ The security guards are indeed haring off after Lion but given that they're a bunch of Specters... money's on Lion making a clean getaway.

Esme, however, is nowhere to be seen. ]

[Well hell... but now at least he has a valid reason to look for her so that's precisely what he's going to do. (Clean up the mess they made? Pfft no.) Starting with the stage area itself, where she'd been standing just moments ago.

He'll even ask the specters nearby if they saw where she might have disappeared to? Lookit him being so concerned.]

[ There's no sign of Esme anywhere on the roof, and the Specters nearby all seem pretty clueless as to where she could have gone – she's a busy woman after all, with lots of things to organize so she could be anywhere, really.

Notably, no one seems to have actually seen her leaving the rooftop though. She just sort of vanished into thin air. ]

[Sure she could be anywhere but she has to be somewhere so, exhausting the stage area, Ruin's going to go off looking for this poor frightened girl backstage, maybe try her dressing room? He's definitely just thirsty, not suspicious. Promise.]

[ Esme is still nowhere to be found... well, at least not anywhere he's able to get at least. Her dressing room is the most likely spot to check, but getting in is going to be a problem – there's no less than four security guards keeping watch and turning away any approaching Specters who want a chance to pester their idol in person.

What do, Ruin? ]

[For once in his life? Be honest (mostly).

He'll explain the situation, that one of the guys working set up tried to attack her, he'd tried to stop the guy. He was just worried...]

Look, I get you guys can't lemme in but... will you at least ask her to come out for a minute? I just wanna make sure she's alright. Please?

[ There's a general rumble of fuss between the security guards who all seem torn between going to apprehend this rapscallion who'd dare to attack Esme and, you know, leaving Esme's dressing room unguarded. They spend a good five minutes debating this between themselves when– ]

Oh God, you're all useless.

[ ... the lady of the hour herself throws open her dressing room door and comes striding out, flapping her hands dismissively at the security guards. ]

Go on, just go. Get out of here, and I'll deal with this.

[ She waits until the security guards have all scurried off and then she turns to Ruin with her arms folded across her chest and her expression stony. ]

Now what the hell do you even want?

[How does she convince people she's so great when she's such a fucking bitch, geez! But he's at least going to try to play innocent.]

Whoa, hey I just... wanted to make sure you were okay. That was pretty crazy back there.

Sure was. Real convenient that you just happened to be there while that crazy guy was ready to take my head off.

[ Her voice is flat, with no attempt made to hide her displeasure. ]

Please tell be this isn't you trying subtlety, by the way. You seriously shouldn't quit your day job.

[Yeah that's not a surprise. But everything's been going so fast he wasn't sure what exactly he was going to do about this part. She obviously knows something is up but how many details could she possibly have figured out?]

Alright alright but how often do you let other people on stage with you!? It seemed like the best opportunity I'd ever get to like.... actually meet you.

[Yep, gonna play this full himbo. His excitement fades and he frowns a little, looking a bit sheepish as though this only just occurred to him.] I... I guess that means anyone that doesn't like you would... use the same opportunity.

Huh...? I just... really wanted to get a picture with you? [He holds up his phone and does his best puppy dog eyes.] Please?

[ Has any woman in Invidia ever looked as tired as Esme looks right now? Probably not. ]

Cut the crap, Executor. [ oh, uh, i guess that answers the question of how much she's figured out. ] Let me guess – you're with the same group of happy dumbasses who showed up a while back? And this has something to do with their little idol group?

I dunno...

[He just kinda shrugs awkwardly. Weeeeell this is going downhill fast.]

Don't know that I'd say I'm "with them" exactly. Still... can you blame a guy for trying?

I guess there's not a whole lot else to do here once you wake up.

So. What do you actually want from me?

Not the most boring place I've seen but... Damn do I want to know how long it's been since you had a decent conversation?

Don't get me wrong they're sweet kids... But they're kids

I get by. I'm busy enough that I don't usually have time to stop and talk with, you know, weirdos who follow me back to my dressing room.

[ MEANINGFUL EYEBROW RAISE. ]

Okay okay... I get it. Too much.

[He does look genuinely sheepish.]

Seriously though. Talking to most of these idiots is like talking to a wall. Doesn't it drive you nuts?

I've barely got a clue what is going on and it's enough to give me a headache.

They do their jobs well enough. I don't really need to have any deep and serious conversations with anybody to perform, so I'm happy with things as they are.

[ She gives him a thin-lipped smile. ]

Doesn't surprise me that it'd drive you crazy, though. You really come off like the type who just loves the sound of his own voice.

[ The hypocrisy........... ]

Really? That's some dedication... all it takes to keep you happy is performing? That's it?

[On one hand he's trying to lean toward that whole "lonely at the top" idea... but also it's Ruin there's a little bit of innuendo there. Like he knows it could be taken that way and is just barely restraining himself from saying it.]

At least I know what I'm about. [Shrug. Yeah he talks a lot, so what. And he might in his dramatic show of shrugging it off... move just a little bit closer to her.]

[ Esme very pointedly takes a step back. ]

Mhhmm. You've almost got me convinced that talking is all you're here for, since you're doing so much of it.

Is this supposed to be a distraction or something? Is the big dumb guy setting up some kind of trap while you keep me occupied here?

Trap? Uuuh he's really not the trap type, I don't think. But I've only known the guy for like a week? I dunno seems pretty crazy if you ask me. You, at least you've got your shit together.

[Lion is literally going to kill him. Oh no.]

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