(Quest Vote) SongsTress Quest Episode 12 - This Rose has Thorns (sorta)

The Story So Far...

From the top. You want to-? Okay. Makes sense. This place is going to be swarming with security, but they’ll be focused mainly on the perimeter. It should be easier to get inside from above. Then you can get backstage, get the lay of the land, and start looking for her.

Now you just have to work out how to get up there.

You’re not one of those Desires that grew wings during her creation, unfortunately. Those would be cool, but they’d probably get in the way of dancing. Maybe for a costume or two. Oooh, you could have an angel look and a devil look! You could do it in the same song with good quick change…

Okay, at some point you’re definitely going to have to get yourself a costume designer along with everything else, and…

You’re getting distracted. Focus!

So, the Rose Building is a pretty big place – it’s one of those buildings that are also works of art things, which doesn’t make sense to you because it doesn’t sing or dance, but whatever. Maybe you can fix that once you’ve converted it all into your lair. Anyway, it’s a nice enough place. The main building is sort of a rounded dome shape, shrinking inwards suddenly with every floor so that it has ‘petals’ (to you it just looks like a round pyramid, but whatever). And there’s three triangular outer buildings, the wings, that have been designed to look like thorns from above.

Who all of that is for, you’re not sure. Someone with more money than sense. If there’s a Desire of architecture out there somewhere, she’s probably a rich woman.

But okay, you want to make your entrance from the top. That’s not impossible. Well, not impossible for you. You’re faster, stronger, smarter, and so, so, so much prettier than ordinary people. Your entourage might not be able to join you though.

Oh well. You’ll pick them up later, once you’ve made the place into your territory.

“Driver!” You bark. “Take us down the street one block over from the Rose. Fast as you like. And girls, you behave yourselves while I’m gone. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” You blow them all a kiss, then lift yourself out of the sunroof, easily setting your stance. Okay then – time to put on a show.

Tap your foot, set a rhythm, one, two, one two three Jump!

You shoot through the air, sailing upwards in a beautiful arc, and landing on top of the office building down the street from your destination in a graceful roll. Then, losing none of your momentum, you carry onwards, sliding to the lip of the building, and then jumping up to the next.

It’s like a dance. One step left, one step front, bend of the knees, and flip three stories to the right! And you can’t be beaten on the dance floor – not by boundaries, not by gravity, not by anything.

[You've levelled up your Show Stopper Stunner: Rank 1 to Level 2! You are now more graceful in a fight, and can take on more opponents at once.]

You land on the roof of the rose building with your arms raised over your head as though you were announcing the end of a glorious gymnastic routine. Ta-dah! Oh, if only your fans could-

- There’s someone up here.

“Yeah, I don’t know. There’s something off about all of this.” You dive for cover, hiding behind a rooftop vent just as a woman emerges from the stairs. “I think they’re moving too fast. Probably trying to make a quick buck off our brand.”

Hm. She’s a tall lady, with long blonde hair. Pulling off that fashionable suit pretty nicely, honestly. If you’d met her at the theatre you would have sung her brains out on sight – she has smooth written all over her.

Oh, you could take her in an instant, of course – but if you did, you’re not sure you could stop. It’d be a big risk. And you promised yourself that you were going to reach your target, the fake star, before you lost control.

So as against your nature as it is, you stay hidden, silent. Wait for her to go away.

“Yeah, probably. Well really, I just wish they wouldn’t use our city for these stupid publicity stunts. Fashion is an art form. It takes time. It deserves respect.”

Uh huh. Yeah. Sure, lady, whatever. Just get going already, you’re a busy Desire, you can’t hang around all day.

“Haha, yeah, I know. ‘It’s not real art if it’s not on a canvas’. Just don’t let any of the other girls hear your say that, Ally, they might take it personally.”

Blah blah blah- Oi! Hey! Is that person implying that singing and dancing isn’t art? Oh, you’ll show them. You’ll show them all!

“Look, just keep an eye on your phone tonight, okay? I’ve got a feeling… Hm?”

Gah! You ducked back just in time, she almost saw you. Why the hell did she look over here?

“Huh? Oh, nothing, just- Look, Kayla’s here as well if anything goes… you know. But just in case, for me, okay? Atta girl~ Speak soon.”

She hangs up and slides her phone away – looking in your direction again suspiciously as she does so. But she doesn’t spot you, and instead just leans on the railing at the side of the roof, taking in the view.

Hm. You might need to wait a little longer for her to leave. But you’re also getting impatient. Maybe she won’t notice if you sneak past her? Or you could... y’know. Accept the risks.

Or perhaps there’s another option here…?

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