[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GV9UV83.png[/img][/center] [indent][b]//AE 53, Sol 13 //Day 1 of the Play/Tech Expo[/b][/indent][hr] [sub][@PapiTan][@Digmata][/sub] When Neo-Astraea could no longer expand outwards, it had expanded upwards. The Residential Districts, of course, rose higher and higher up, scaffolding and construction reaching greater heights, but so too did the roads themselves climb, ascending into a network of overpasses upon overpasses, snaking up and down twenty meters into the air. It made for a complicated commute when viewed from a ground-up perspective, but from a bird’s eye view? Most streets just went to specific levels of the districts or merged together into a single artery that lead to the flatter commercial and social districts. And when there was an incident occurring? Skidding to a stop upon a radio tower, the two Talents looked down the network of roads as red lights flared up down one of them, the first visual cue. Warnings were sent along neighbouring streets, vehicles directed away from the encroaching disorder, while police cars and drones sped in to get closer to what looked to be a runaway car. Was it a stolen car? A reckless joyride turned into panic? The getaway vehicle of some thief? Those were all questions to be answered afterwards. For now, there was only the buzz in both Amaris and Elpis’s earpiece, as an office clerk said, [b]“Res West PD has been contacted. They’re aware of your proximity to the incident. Good luck.”[/b] Crimson neon continued to trace down the path that the offending vehicle was taking, the technological work of Socappo the Crime Light, but the police giving chase had their hands tied too. If they were on flat ground, they could perhaps run the car down or pop the tires with low-caliber firearms, but at ten meters up on an overpass? In a densely-constructed residential district? If the car crashed, there was every chance that it would fly right off the road and smash into a building or drop down into the streets below. Indeed, in a situation like this, it wasn’t the police who could act, but rather… [sub][@Taka][@Psyker Landshark][@Yu Narukami][/sub] [b]“Huh?”[/b] It went without saying that there was certainly a market for Talents that catered towards more adult audiences. While it had been a point of contention between the Ministry of Self-Actualization and the Ministry of Population Development, it was finally accepted that Agencies were allowed to pursue profits and Fame from that angle as well, so long as it was kept away from the broad public’s eye. An announcement made from the Play-Tech Expo? Even if it was purely just verbal with no microphones? That certainly was [i]not[/i] keeping it away from the public’s eye. There were news reporters here, and not just the authentic, professional type. There were stockholders present, even amongst those just walking from one exhibition to the other. And of course, there were superfans too. Though Ladyice wasn’t a massive Talent compared to other the titans of Neo-Astraea, she was still known, an ice-themed temptress that was still surprisingly passionate. [b]“Seven? Seven what?” “Miss Ladyice, could you explain the specifics of this deal?” “Was this Ministry-approved? Ladyice, your answer, please!”[/b] A small crowd, some drawn by the initial words spoken by the Talent and most drawn by the hubbub that occurred afterwards, was forming now. And across the city, viewing all this from her cubicle in Blackriver Agency, Samandra let out a low sigh, before swapping apps to order an extra-large pineapple-and-strawberry pizza for her post-work meal. What was immense psychic pain for her PR team, of course, was nevertheless an opportunity for [i]other[/i] leeches to latch on. Intercepting at sonic speeds, Zephyr descended, presenting an entirely different image of what a Heroic Talent ought to be. Sleek, sharp, scandalous levels of skin exposure broken up by a mesh suit underneath. And the mocking disdain in her voice…that sounded about as close to real disgust as one could get. Cameras, from phones and other devices, were pointed now towards the two women, the confrontation streamed live. The first salvo had been fired by Zephyr, in a way that was almost incongruously ‘witty’ to her company-image of a cold but just warrior of the skies. And in the meanwhile, Ladyice’s fans were at once confused but also intrigued by this. Hero-on-Hero conflict wasn’t nearly so common in Neo-Astraea, but if there was one company who was willing to muddy the waters on the subject, it had to be Blackriver. Is this it? Could this be the lead-up to the first [i]real[/i] fight that Ladyice would get into since her debut? 181,000 vs 690,069 On the second floor of the East Wing, something was brewing up indeed. Something that didn’t include Armada at all. There was always time to make big purchases and do shopping, but while a few people who were originally drawn to Armada’s corporate spiel stayed behind to talk with business representatives, the majority of them were filing out now, turning away to see the [i]drama[/i] that was happening just a stall or two away! Graphics cards? Mailing lists? Generic speeches about how Talents depended on the support of their fans? There were only five million people in Neo-Astraea, and almost all of them were fans, followers, of multiple Talents. Speeches like that? They were one in a hundred, in one ear and out the other! A catfight though? One that didn’t seem wholly scripted? They couldn’t miss that at all! [b]“It [i]was[/i] a nice speech,”[/b] Jimmy said, a good-natured grin on his face. [b]“Wouldn’t get you any points outside of school though.”[/b] The pink-haired Fashion-Talent was turning towards the Blackriver stall as well, leaning his elbows against one of the glass display cases propped up around the Team RESPAWN exhibit. [b]“Didn’t think Carmine Corp produced Talents like that though, huh? The tech-based type.”[/b] Zephyr’s attention and ire was turned to Ladyice, sure, but if one considered overlapping factors between fans…Armada’s casual ‘robot-boy-cool’ audience was in just as much risk of poaching. [sub][@Yankee][@Crowvette][/sub] [b]“Oh my god! She’s glowing! She’s GLOWING!” “AHHHH! THE KIRA-KIRA BEAM!!” “My past mistakes…today, I have been reborn!”[/b] There was no doubt that it was a success. Some became new fans, some turned into zealots, and still more had what could only be considered a spiritual awakening while in the glow of the Idol-Talent’s final heart-pounding, foot-stomping, singalong-inducing song. No doubt, it would be played many times more in the fans-only afterparty at the Skylounge once the handshake event ended, and though there were rules against unauthorized recordings, camera-rips from the show would no doubt be trending across more niche online communities for at least another few days. Needless to say? The thunder of the crowd’s applause and cheers sounded long after she left the stage for the dressing room. [b]“M—-arvelous work~!”[/b] In a yellow-and-green checkered suit, Mario Schuler, producer and owner of 72ka Production, greeted Kirara with applause of his own. Despite the clear joy in his expression, the man knew of course that they had precious little time to retouch her makeup and outfit before the handshake event began. He would save throwing her up in the air and celebrating for later. [b]“You truly are the next shining beacon of Neo-Astraea’s future, Kirara! With a response like this, as well as what we have planned for the next week, I just know that you’ll have a spot on the Monthly Rising Stars list! Bravo! Keep this up, and you’re guaranteed to break the One Million Barrier before the year ends!”[/b] Which was something to say indeed, when half the year was already gone, but where would Mr. Schuler be without his explosive enthusiasm? The makeup artists and hair stylists were already bringing Kirara to a seat as they worked on making her just perfect for her role, while another production assistant held a drink for her, letting her take a quick sip or two of honey water to help with her throat after such a taxing performance. Two security personnel (who were kinda just for show, considering how the strongest person in the room was the pop star who was currently being pampered) stood beside the door, their hands either hooking around their vests or clasped together around their stomach. There was perhaps only five minutes before Kirara would be expected to emerge for the handshaking event; every second of recuperation mattered. But then, a knock on the door, followed by the voice of one of the event staff. [b]“Uhm, excuse me, Mr. Schuler? There’s two people who’d like to meet Kirara. They say they’re from…Summit Studios?”[/b] [b]"Oh, a movie deal? F---antastic~! Let them in, darling! Let's go CINEMATIC!"[/b] … Clearly, Caspian’s face wasn’t well-known enough to be recognized as a fellow Talent.