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!

SHOW

[cancrymods]

AFTERMATH

[cancrymods]

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?]

[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???

[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.]

[seasharp]

It'll probably be sneakier than that.

[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??]

[daughterofthemark]

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

[emberserker]

That is why we've got the traps.

[She holds up fishing wire for emphasis.]

I do hope you remember where I'm leaving them all, because if she's got something back there, so ought we.

[emberserker]

Unless she... no, never mind. We've got no evidence for that. Regardless, she'll have something up her sleeve that'll take the lot of us to overcome.

[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]

[daughterofthemark]

[meanwhile: oblivious]

[daughterofthemark]

That does seem nearly inevitable. We'll not be able to progress without some encounter of that nature.

[seasharp]

Mhm, I won't forget. No matter what, we won't lose to her.

Especially not because of any of her underhanded moves.

[seasharp]

Of course! There's no way we're going to lose!

[emberserker]

We've got things she doesn't know about, too. On that, we've got to be even.

[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!

[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?

[phantasmagorial]

Unless she what...?

[ Don't think she didn't hear that. ]

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?

[seasharp]

To beat someone devious, you have to think deviously... Or something like that, hm?