(no subject)

[joousama]

And the winner for Best Female Singer of the Year goes to... Rachel Alucard!

[ so luka stands up from her seat, smiles pleasantly and waves to the audience before she begins to stride up onto the stage. her hair flows behind her, curled slightly at the end enough to look curly, but still keep a relatively "she has naturally straight hair look". her dress is black with pink accents, a striped pink bow around her middle, the hem of the dress sways just enough to captivate everyone who's watching her coming onto the stage now.

and boy, everyone sure is watching her -- ]

...Megurine-san, what are you doing...? You didn't win this category.

[ -- accepting an award that she didn't win ]

... What. What was that? I don't think I heard you right. Say that again?

Comments

[tinylobelia]

You didn't win. [And theeeere's Rachel, on the other side of the stage, with the most polite 'are you serious right now girl' look she can manage.]

Terribly sorry. I understand you've won this, ah, three years running? That's a fair record, so it's understandable why you might get a little ahead of yourself. Force of habit. Nothing to worry about. [She's trying to save face for Luka, but really it's mostly a matter of saving face for herself. She can already picture the internet memes, and she doesn't even have a computer in her home. Handle it politely, distantly, get it over with as soon as possible.

... Luka might have a problem with having her excuses made for her, though. Especially by a, what, thirteen-year old girl? Fourteen, maybe?

She looks just a little bit smug about it, too. And sounds smug. Though that just might be the accent.]

[joousama]

... Of course not. They said your name after all, didn't they?

[ oh boy, luka's doing her god damn best job at holding back her embarrassment and her frustration right now. her smile's forced but it still looks natural; she's doing her best to radiate polite, business-like vibes but she's leaning her weight towards her toes, so she's kind of. leaning forward and looking down at rachel than looking at her as equals.

because there is no way in hell that this... this loli could have won her award! ]

You certainly have a point, but you know, dear, I really only came up here so I could congratulate you myself. It's the least I can do.

[tinylobelia]

[This loli? wow rude]

Ah, is that so? Thank you ever so much, Miss Megurine. [See? She's ~foreign~. Foreign loli. She's like something out of a bad anime. Doesn't that just grind your gears, Luka?]

However, if you wish to congratulate me, perhaps you could do so later? We could have a cup of tea in my hotel room, if you would like. [There, that's a good excuse to get this washed-up old timer off her stage, right?]

[joousama]

[ wow she is not a washed-up old timer thank you very much ]

You're very welcome, Miss Alucard. [ good thing luka's bilingual! so her accent is still pretty prominent, at least it's understandable english ]

I'd love to take you up on that offer, but I really wouldn't want to trouble you with something like that. [ not that luka would want to go anyway, gosh ]

[tinylobelia]

[Oh okay that is it girl - and now the entire audience is just sorta sitting on their hands as these two engage in the most passive agressive argument ever.]

Oh, no. I insist. It's no trouble at all, Miss Megurine - I would very much enjoy having a conversation with a... more experienced, singer. We could talk without stopping the show dead in its tracks, as well. Do at least consider it, would you?

[joousama]

[ don't make me snap my fingers in a z formation hip rotation booty sensation ]

Is that so? [ a hint of a grimace and she's forcing an even more pleasant smile ] If you're offering, then I really have no choice but to accept the invitation. It'd be rude of me not to, when you're insisting on it. [ especially since there's. a whole audience watching them right now ]

After the festivities, then, Miss Alucard?

[tinylobelia]

[What]

Of course, Miss Megurine. Thank you very much. [She smiles, completely unforced, curtsies because yes of course and then Luka gets off the stage and she gets her reward and blah blah blah-

so of course now she's preparing the tea in her room, fully expecting Luka to show up. Why wouldn't she? She invited her. only wow girl work it

So naturally when there's a knock she goes to answer it.]

[joousama]

Congratulations again, Miss Alucard.

[ and luka is practically trudging off stage now and ignoring everyone who even tries to speak to her. wow, crypton's going to really berate her for making a fool of herself on stage tonight. whatever, she can. get drunk or something after this meeting with rachel.

... right, meeting with rachel.

once everything's done and once luka has escaped the press asking her about her little mishap on stage today, she's standing in front of rachel's door and is. really regretting all of this but she's a woman who keeps her promises so of course she's there. she has a bottle of champagne too -- mostly for herself after she finishes her tea later.

the door opens and wow ]

... Uh, hi. [ how a loli leave a grown woman speechless is beyond luka's thinking capacity ] I'm a bit late, I apologize.

[tinylobelia]

[C'mon Luka, look at those long flowing golden locks, that pale soft skin, those piercing red eyes - anyone would be left speechless by Rachel, right?

You aren't weird. Please don't give too much thought to why you're staring.]

Not at all, Miss Megurine. [She leans over slightly to usher Luka in, oh hey that nightgown hangs off her small frame slightly - okay stop staring stop staring this is going in a very bad direction morally and legally speaking - and then once Luka is in she shuts the door behind her, ushering her to the table in the center of the room.

Luka'll note that apparently Rachel got the nicest room in the building. It looks like a ridiculous parody of a mansion bedroom, wide and sweeping with grand curtains and a huge bed and a large TV (that Rachel hasn't touched at all), and at least four different mirrors. Much, much nicer than Luka's. It might take up the entire twelfth floor by itself.]

Now, how do you prefer your tea? [She shoots the bottle a glance.] I won't begrudge you a drink, but you should save that for later - the alcohol might numb your taste.

[joousama]

[ jesus christ this room what kind of connections does rachel have to get the nicest one? she's going to have to talk to the executives at crypton about this because this room should really be hers. luka's looking at the room in a sort of awed trance, sitting down carefully.

the fact that she remembers seeing that dress hanging ever so slightly off of rachel's body when she ushers her in comes back to mind and --

shit, no, this is completely and utterly wrong. luka's twenty four and rachel's... probably at least ten years her junior! she can't be sitting here thinking about how attractive some loli who stole her award is

how could this happen to me ]

Just some milk with it, please. And you won't worry about the champagne, I might not end up opening it at all tonight. [ that's a complete lie -- luka's opening this bottle no matter what. anyway, luka's just. doing her best to keep up her pleasant, polite act up. she's sitting up straight, hands folded neatly in her lap and she's looking over her shoulder just a bit to glance at rachel ]

How are you enjoying the idol life, Miss Alucard?

[tinylobelia]

[no probably about it, Rachel is definitely ten years Luka's junior. Maybe even eleven depending on how their birthdays shake out but that's beside the point.

Rachel brushes her hair behind herself idly as she puts the milk in the tea - a slight amount, since of course too much would distract from the taste of the tea. That's how peasants drink their tea, to block out the fact that their tea is terrible - her tea is high class and perfect and therefore needs no covering up.

And my, look at that hair move. Also, for hanging off her like that, the nightgown doesn't cover nearly as much as it should, ending somewhere far above her knee.]

It's very tiring, but I enjoy it all the same. [She enjoys the attention, at least - she could take or leave the singing and dancing and all that, but all that attention. The photoshoots, the fans, the posters and billboards of her... she's someone who very much enjoys that, at least.

She sets the tea cups down on the table, one for Luka and one for herself, and sits politely down in her seat. She even drinks with her pinkie out jfc.]

Of course, I imagine I'll get used to the flow of it eventually. I've only been an idol for... my, five months, now?

[joousama]

[ luka could've timed that glance back a little better, because the minute her eyes are on rachel, she does that hair sweep, and she can see the back of that dress and wow. okay, she definitely didn't notice how short it was earlier.

isn't rachel a little... young to be dressing like that? ]

That's what everyone says at first. [ she nods thank you, picking up her tea cup with as much grace as she can -- maybe not as much as rachel, but it's still pretty high up there -- and takes a sip ]

Once you've been in the business long enough to learn the tips and tricks of it, everything becomes much easier. Especially handling publicity. [ and then, a bit of a heavy sigh ] Handling publicity is, quite possibly, the toughest part of being an idol.

[tinylobelia]

[Hey, aren't a little old to be focusing on how the young are dressing??? damn you just got out-thunk]

Ah, is it? I'm still young, [She says that with an unusual amount of emphasis. Either she's taking a potshot at Luka, or she's noticed her wandering eyes. Or both.] So I imagine most of that is still handled by others. I'll be sure to keep that warning in mind, though. Thank you. [Polite tea sip, again.]

But yes, like I said, I doubt it will stay so tiring for long. Or at least, I'll gain more stamina from so much hard work. [Yep, another sip.]

Would you like something to go with your tea? Biscuits, perhaps?

[joousama]

I believe minor idols have most of their security and publicity handled by the agency, so for now, it shouldn't be that much of a worry for you.

[ she shakes her head ] No, it's fine. As I mentioned earlier, I don't want to be too much trouble for you. I'll be fine without.

On the matter of your agency and your publicity, I hope your manager is treating you well? How are your co-workers? [ why so suddenly interested in her life ]

[tinylobelia]

Ah, my manager's treating me quite well. He's a bit... strange, at times, and perhaps too fond of the sound of his own voice, but he's been nothing but polite and easy to work with. [She sips on her tea.]

The same goes for my co-workers, of course. There's one I'm rather fond of, but the rest are at least polite.

[joousama]

That's good, I'm glad everyone is so cooperative with you, then. You shouldn't have much trouble if they're easy to work with.

[ one last sip of her tea and then she sets the cup back down onto the table. she's been trying to get through it so she can leave. soon. hopefully.

though that last part does pique her interest a bit ]

Saying you have "one you're rather fond of" has certain implications, you know.

[tinylobelia]

I have a picture of her. Pictures. You're free to think whatever you like.

[She calmly reaches for a purse laying on the, again, absolutely massive bed, digs in it for a second before pulling out a... picture, holding it for Luka to see.

She has the blankest look in the world on her face.]

/3

[joousama]

Oh...?

[ wait a minute, she said her just now, right? ]

[joousama]

[ ... ]

...

[joousama]

-- was this part of a photoshoot or something this is completely illegal

[tinylobelia]

[Still with the blankest look in the world on her face, Rachel turns the photo back to herself.]

... Ah. Wrong photo. Terribly sorry. [With the drollest voice in the world.]

For the record, that was taken entirely by ourselves. [... Yep. Anyway she puts that photo back in the purse and pulls out a
photo that isn't illegal in most UN-affiliated countries. ]

Better?

[joousama]

And you... This kind of thing... With her?

[ luka may or may not be putting more of her focus on rachel in these pictures than the other girl but what matters here is the photo content, obviously

sometimes luka can be responsible if only miku could see her now ]

Aren't you -- well, there's nothing wrong with being young and experimenting but this is with your co-worker, isn't that right? You could get into some serious consequences if the media hears about it.

[tinylobelia]

I appreciate the concern, but I don't see how they'd hear about it. We're quite careful with where and when we do it, and those photos are things we keep to ourselves.

Unless you're so petty as to take this to them yourself? I imagine you could ruin my career quite easily, even without any proof. [She sits back down - keeps the photo with her, sets it carefully down on the table - then sips on her tea.]

... Of course, given some rumors I've heard about you, maybe you sympathize too much to do something like that.

[joousama]

You think I'd go as far as to sabotage your career with this information? Look, sweetie, [ that pleasant and polite pretense is suddenly gone now and she's just. looking down at her now ] you may have taken this year's award away from me, but you're young and I'd rather not ruin your hopes and dreams when you've just started. This is what the rankings are for --

[ but then luka stiffens, her eyes narrow ]

... Rumors, huh? And what've you heard, Miss Alucard?

[tinylobelia]

Oh, this and that. [Rachel sips on her tea again, not even bothering to acknowledge such impolite talk. 'Sweetie', really?]

Baseless lies, of course. Still, I wish I was as close to my manager as they seem to think you are to yours.