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]

How are you, if I may be so bold as to ask?

[discutio]

Better, now that the rather long game of things seems to have paid off. The rest should hopefully be straightforward, if a bit more dangerous.

[schardynfreude]

Regular danger seems much better in comparison to some of the recent development. It'll be downright relaxing.

[discutio]

If nothing else, I'll feel a bit more useful on that front.

What about you?

[schardynfreude]

I'm doing spectacularly, my dear. It was a bit lonely, but I daresay I've learned quite a bit. I may never need any of it ever again, but, mm, live and learn.

Or die and learn.

[discutio]

I suppose it's true after all that one never stops learning, isn't it?

[schardynfreude]

And I certainly had a ball doing so.

Perhaps a party is in order! Something to celebrate a job well done?

Or at the very least, I could drag you to the bathhouse and make you relax.

[discutio]

If we've the time for a celebration, that might not be so terrible an idea. I don't know that I'm much for the bathhouse, myself.

[schardynfreude]

You do know what relaxing is, don't you?

[discutio]

I am familiar with the concept.

[schardynfreude]

Perhaps you should get reacquainted with it.

[discutio]

Perhaps. But we've still a fair deal of work to do while we're here.

[schardynfreude]

Oh? [He casts a dramatic look around which is lost on Phoenix but let him have this.] Hm, we've dethroned the ruler of this realm and are in the midst of ransacking her house while potentially plotting a party and at the very least kicking back and regrouping.

So much work.

[discutio]

We still have an entire area to fight through, this is hardly over.

[schardynfreude]

Yes, but for now we should relax and prepare for the work to come.

[discutio]

[SIGH.]

I suppose I am...somewhat frustrated at feeling of so little use lately.

[schardynfreude]

But we're going to enter a situation in which you will excel at, truly. And here you are, cooking and fussing.

[discutio]

I feel more comfortable working in a kitchen. Is that so wrong?

[schardynfreude]

No, I'm merely pointing out that you're hardly useless.

[discutio]

[...Oh. Well, then. That was a different situation entirely.]

...Thank you.

[schardynfreude]

Think nothing of it. You've been plenty helpful lately anyway, so don't sell yourself short. Besides, it wasn't about to be either of us on stage being [throat clears] doki doki kawaii desu~~~!

[discutio]

...Please never do that again.

[schardynfreude]

The point still stands.

[discutio]

The point stands that you're absurd.

[schardynfreude]

That doesn't sound like a bad thing.