[CLOSED] BE PREPARED FOR SENSATIONAL NEWS

[interstellarnpcs]

Who: Lesedi, Jamie, and Terry
What: Lesedi wants to make sure her troops are sufficiently under control and ready for battle.
When: The beginning of Hype Week.
Where: Lesedi's office love den.
Warnings: Lesedi is here.

Lesedi isn't very polite when it comes to summons. No, instead of asking people to come to her office by phone or by messenger, she's gradually drifted to just teleporting whoever she wants present straight in without warning. She's a busy woman and has places to be. Whether or not you do is irrelevant.

That is how they'll be brought in. One minute they are going about their lives, and the next they will be standing in front of Lesedi's desk, with their head honcho resting her chin on her hands, leering at them uncomfortable. Though these are to be two separate meetings, her greetings are exceptionally similar.

"Hi there," she'll say. "I can tell we have a lot to talk about."

She can see it just by looking at them - magical aura swirling off in waves.

Comments

[interstellarnpcs]

Her eyebrows shoot up and and amused grin crosses her face immediately. She leans back, watching him with great interest.

"I'm sorry? I'm not sure I understand."

[traumatizing]

Why this.

Terry gestures a little more emphatically, pointing to his mouth with the toothbrush and a moderately distressed grunt. And then he starts looking around the room.

He is absolutely gonna spit in the first plant pot he sees.

[interstellarnpcs]

She laughs, and then gestures at her desk. A glass will conveniently appear on it where he can grab it. She had her fun, she supposes the can give him a break.

"There. Enjoy."

[traumatizing]

Oh good. He takes the glass to get rid of all that toothpaste and wipes his mouth off with the back of his hand and sits down, fully able to be concerned about what's going on here now he's not about to choke on a spit and fluoride cocktail.

"What's going on?"

[interstellarnpcs]

"We need to have a talk about you future with Pride Records."

The glass with disappear because, uh, gross?

[traumatizing]

Oh shit. This is it he's going to the harvesting chamber goodbye world goodbye friends he loves you all so much write a song about him remember him fondly also eat healthy and take care of yourselves.

His eyes widen a little at the statement, but Terry swallows and keeps his composure. If he's about to take a trip to he basement, he's not about to let her freak out about it.

"Am I being fired?"

Totes chill.

[interstellarnpcs]

She laughs - and its just a bit too long, enough to leave him in suspense. Why is she laughing? Is that a yes or a no?

Eventually, though, she'll get serious.

"No," she says "In fact, with some effort...you could be rewarded very finely."

[traumatizing]

Terry chews his lip in an attempt to keep himself from looking too worried while she laughs, because that is... Could he have a less deeply unsettling boss? That would be nice.

When she speaks though, Terry balks, eyes wide and he hesitates before he speaks because he's not entirely sure he heard that right. It's not like he's ever been on Lesedi's good side, and now she's talking about rewards? Is she drunk on something other than power?

"Wha-- why...?"

[interstellarnpcs]

"Because you've got the magic."

She says it so plainly, like she is assuming he'll know exactly what she's talking about. Or maybe she just likes putting people on the spot?

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed..."

[traumatizing]

He does, actually. To a degree. He's even started playing with it in his own time, trying to understand it. Control it.

"I've noticed," Terry says softly, it feels oddly like a confession, "when I perform, it's-- I'm stronger then."

[interstellarnpcs]

Well, that makes things nice and simple. Lesedi looks pleased.

"Of course it is. The music is the source of your power - and the effect it has on the crowd. The bigger the crowd, the more power. That's what working for Pride gives you that nothing else could."

[traumatizing]

Well, except working for Virgo. Not that he's gonna go switching labels — the crazy, terrifying devil you know, etc.

He could ask a lot of questions — why only some people develop these powers, where exactly it comes from — but there's a more specific question right at the front of his mind.

"What do you want from me?" He asks, at the same time reaching out with his powers, trying to slip into her mind and seek out what she's afraid of. It'll probably be more illuminating than anything she has to say.

[interstellarnpcs]

"You work for Pride, so you work for me," she says. "And I expect you to keep doing so, and to learn to use these powers to the best of your abilities. Big things are coming, and I want to put you to use."

[traumatizing]

'Put him to use.' There's a worrying turn of phrase, and Terry frowns in a mix of discomfort and concentration as he keeps searching for her fears. It's different somehow-- it's not nothing like with Page, and he can't feel any resistance but. Well, maybe it's just that he's still figuring this out.

So it's just a matter of keeping her talking until he gets it. Should be easy, right? Santiago loves the sound of her own voice.

"How do I do that? Learn to use them?" Because he doubts drunkenly breaking vodka bottles is what she's after.

[interstellarnpcs]

"Practice, of course. And maybe a few pushes in the right direction." She grins eerily. "Starting today, you'll be provided with a teacher. One of the true magical adepts from Pride will be assigned to you, so you had better not waste their time."