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

[schardynfreude]

Something of some consequence, then. [Tea! Tea! Tea!] How enraged and/or amused with him should I be?

[crypddyd]

Perhaps you would find it more amusing than anything else. We stumbled onto Esme while working backstage and... I was having issues controlling my urge to crush her skull. And he, being the clever man that he is, baited me into attacking her so he could play hero and get into her good graces.

[schardynfreude]

[He scoffs. It might sound close to a single huff of a laugh, but it is most assuredly a scoff! Promise.] That straddles some kind of line, I think. Somewhere between absolute lunacy and brilliance. But not sharing the plan ahead of time? Dear me, you could have gotten into some terribly big trouble.

Honestly, shocked you managed to make it into the crowd to ask the girls on a date. [chiron]

[crypddyd]

Ch-Chiron, please! Most of the girls are much too young for such a thing. And Medic made her preferences VERY clear.

[he sighs]

You certainly have a way of breaking me out of my moods...

[schardynfreude]

[Eyebrows, they're inching up.] She made her preferences very clear after you asked them all what their romantic preferences were in the first place. [JUST...SAYIN'] I'm not certain if that's normal for singing idols, so what would I know?

But the matter at hand...well, if you'd like an audience to dragging him around by the hair, I can have Phoenix make popcorn.

[crypddyd]

It was the kind of question the songstress I knew in life was often asked- in hindsight I'll admit it was more embarrassing than helpful...

As for Ruin, no. No this is a matter between us. His idea wasn't even ill-founded. It's just that... tsk. Maybe I am being too sensitive...

[schardynfreude]

I imagine the songstress you knew was likely older than some of the girls. But the audience seemed to eat it up.

But, no, I don't think you're being too sensitive. If there was a plan going into the situation, he should have let you know instead of using your anger without even consulting you. Knowing her power and skill, you could have been severely wounded or worse in retaliation.

On the other hand, you weren't and got out unscathed. So, I leave whether he deserves a reaction stronger than a talking to up to you as the grieved party. He's...just a bit odd, isn't he?

[crypddyd]

[Chiron's right, he KNOWS he's right. But he feels used in a way that makes his blood boil. But perhaps he will try and keep his words in mind.]

Yes... I've noticed it too. His words are always joking but his body language is very closed off. Tense. I'm not sure if he even notices it himself.

[schardynfreude]

[A shrug. He's not saying it's not a shitty thing! Because it is!]

He has just a way about him, terribly flirtatious, and it's flattering, but if your attention wavers from him, he seems...he becomes a bit different, it seems. I'm not sure what to make of him.

[crypddyd]

I make him anxious, but he certainly uses his flirtations to try and... disarm? If that makes sense?

[schardynfreude]

That does seem to be what he defaults to rather than show emotion otherwise from what I've seen of him.

[crypddyd]

[He nods]

I can't help but feel a kinship with him regardless. I just hope it's not misplaced.

[schardynfreude]

A kinship, despite being quite different from you? Hm...

Does he feel the same way? Perhaps he wouldn't have thrown you straight at the enemy if so.

[crypddyd]

I doubt he does- as I said, he seems to find me... uncomfortable to be around. I don't even know why I feel as I do. Maybe he reminds me of someone from my life?

[schardynfreude]

Entirely possible. Goodness knows occasionally things happen that seem distressingly familiar in a way that I can't put my finger on. And Phoenix and I- [He cuts himself off, frowning and glancing away.]

[crypddyd]

Phoenix and you...?

[Oh, you have his attention!]

[schardynfreude]

Hm...

Well, I can't say I felt any kind of familiarity around him, yet it seems we hail from the same place. He recalls me, from when he had his sight. [He motions to his face.] I get the impression I am not necessarily forgettable.

[crypddyd]

... correct me if I'm wrong, but do you suspect it was not a... friendly... relationship?

[Why else would he hesitate to talk about it?]

[schardynfreude]

I couldn't say, really. But I seem connected to a city he knows that was not in the best of shapes while I was there. I have some fears as to what may have transpired. But whatever the case, he's willing not to jump to conclusions. I have no memories of him, and in his mind, I seemed only a passing, odd figure.

[He waves a hand impatiently, as though batting away the thoughts.] The point being, perhaps what you feel means something, and perhaps it does not. Ruin is part of a team now, and it's unfair of him to shove you into danger without telling you why.

[crypddyd]

[He sees you changing the subject, Chiron. But he lets it go]

If it was simply the danger I would accept it. Danger is part of our job and something I trained for during my life. It was... having a weakness I can't control used like that. Like I'm an animal. A bull that can't help charging a moving target.

[schardynfreude]

...Yes, I can see why that would be so infuriating. I'll give Ruin this much: he's surprisingly shrewd. But that kind of...use, that needs to be addressed.

[crypddyd]

[He nods, then sighs]

Talking about it does leech some of my anger though...

[schardynfreude]

It shows you are not, in fact, the mindless animal that you might think you are. Be angry, certainly, but do not let it take over and have you make a rash decision. Like beating Ruin's face in.

[crypddyd]

[He looks... earnestly surprised by this]

I... yes, of course.

Though... perhaps I can beat his face... just a bit?

[He's joking!]

[schardynfreude]

[Cheerfully:] So long as he understands why part of his face is about to be caved in!