(Quest Suggestions) SongsTress Quest Episode 13 - Step into my Parlor, said the Desire to the Fashion Designer...

(The Quest continues! Anyone at Star Tier or above can suggest what should happen next!)

The Story So Far...

This growing feeling in your chest, this need, this burning Desire, the one you're only holding off though your need to use the Imposter idol as the foundation for your lair, pulses and churns. It wants to be free. You want to free it. But not yet. Not yet.

Hopefully your need to humiliate your rival can hold on a little longer, because this costume designer opportunity is too good to pass up. You'll do this quick and quiet. No one's going to notice a little corruption happening on the rooftop, and it shouldn't take much power. Do it right, and it should be safe. And fun~

Out of sight, you creep your way across the rooftop. It's easy to sneak for someone with your level of dancing grace - though it does require resisting the urge to make a spectacle of yourself. You manage, though, and slide into the stairway. It's as you expected - the top of a zig-zag staircase, still pretty concealed from all the floors below, but it also doesn't really have many places you can hide for an ambush...

Oh. Duh. The ceiling! Soundlessly, you leap up, your hands and feet spreading out to press against the walls as your back rubs up against the roof. You're like some sort of song singing spider superstar. Perfect to take an unwary sucker by surprise!

And you pulled it off just in time. Your honed sense of hearing detects as she starts moving around out on the rooftop. Feet crunching against the normally untrod ground, heels clacking on stone. She paces for a few moments, maybe trying to clear her head, before sighing.

"Better get back to it," you hear her mutter. Then the footsteps start to come closer.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Closer.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Nearly here.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Come on. Step through that door. As soon as she's under you she's yours.

Clack. Clack. Cla-

Hm? Why'd she stop?

Squinting, you peer down. She's right at the door, just on the other side, you can see her if you tilt your head. She's paused at the threshold, just one step short. Just slightly out of your range! Should you drop anyway? You might be able to grab her when she's surprised. No, no, a good showwoman knows how to wait for their moment, just hold on...

The blonde shakes her head and takes a breath. Closes her eyes. Just throwing off her nerves. Good girl. Now step forward...

Her eyes snap open and shoot upwards, locking on to your own. Shit.

You drop down instantly, but she's already jumping backwards, away from your hasty grab. Damnit, how did she- Well, no matter, it doesn't change anything! You jump at her, but she dodges again, dancing out of your reach.

Fine. You wanted to give her a proper hands-on performance, but if she's going to be a bitch then she only gets the song version. You open your mouth to sing, and-

And you suddenly feel a sting of danger. The churning vortex in your heart pulses with alarm. Why? What is this fear?

The woman - She's reaching for something. Her phone? Is she about to alert everyone that you're here? Like hell you'll let her!

You shoot forwards, twirling through the air, your foot scything out in a sailing round-house kick.

[Physical Check: Difficulty 60 - 1d100]

[Bonuses: +20 (Show Stopper Stunner) +10 (Surprise Bonus)]

[Result: 86 (1d00 = 56 + 30) - Pass]

You catch her off guard this time, your foot connecting with her hand, just as she pulls her phone out- Except, wait.

That wasn't her phone.

Something goes sailing across the rooftop, clattering to the stone with a metallic clink. Something that sparkles in the sunlight.

A brooch?

It's a nice piece, but there's something off about it. Woven gold in the shape of a heart, designed around a glistening centre piece - a white gem that sets your teeth on edge. You hate it. It's ugly and you hate it hate it hate it you-

You've got to stop zoning out like that. You're in a fight! A... weirdly hard fight? Why the hell is this bitch causing this much trouble? She should be putty in your hands by now, thread for your loom, making you all the costumes you could ever desire!

Instead she's standing in front of you, sliding into a combat stance. Martial arts? Her expression is stern, almost angry - none of the panic you've seen in some of your other, ah, fans. Who the hell is this broad?

Her eyes flick towards the brooch. She wants it back. It's pretty much equal distance from you and her both. You could probably get there first. But...

Look, whoever she is, she's resisting more than you thought she would. Maybe it's time to back off? If you use much more power, this is going to get out of control. If you want to take her down, you really want to do it quickly.

That sense of dread is still pulsing inside you. The rhythm is all wrong. Somehow, you know if you make the wrong move here, this could go really badly.

So what's your next play, superstar?

(SongsTress is yours to guide! How will she go about trying to achieve her goals? That's up to you! Put your suggestions in the comments below, and they'll be voted on come Wednesday! Try to be specific in your suggestions so I can interpret them for the next episode clearly!)