[ANNI-24] Rumor

The mignyan cast a skeptical look at the conduit sitting across from it. Pupils constricting into slits, eyebrows lowered into a half-glare.

“No way people are saying that about me,” Raven stated. 

Ophelia nodded, clearly trying to contain her eagerness. “They ARE!” she confirmed. “Should we go along with it, o-“

“WHY would I encourage this??” he hissed, tail lashing back and forth. They were in the seclusion of Ophelia’s dressing room—which he was thankful for. “I didn’t KNOW the host’s parents. I don’t even think I’ve seen them.” 

Raven didn’t miss Ophelia’s expected look of disgust at his undisguised tail, but kept quiet about it. A silence filled the room, before Ophelia gave the very lukewarm defense of “…It’d waste people's time, though.” 

“Waste their time doing what??” He couldn’t keep the exasperation out of his voice. “It’s not going to benefit you if they’re talking about me. Besides, this is just—AWFUL for my brand.” 

“Why would it-”

“Who’d want to listen to my music if they think I’m illegitimate???” Raven wailed, cutting her off. “It’s AWFUL for bringing new fans in!” 

Ophelia looked shocked, before saying defensively “Well—I didn’t think about that!! I’m sorry I’m not PERFECT at this.”

He couldn’t help but glare at her. “Yeah, any publicity is good publicity for you,” it grumbled, tail graduating to thrashing at this point. 

A sigh escaped from her. “Look, I’m sorry I told you.” She didn’t sound remotely sorry. “You’re just—never online! You don’t look at your fanbase or anything and I don’t think your managers do either so…I’m just trying to help!” A wide-eyed look was cast up at Raven, trying to gain some sympathy.

It never worked on him. He didn’t even know why she kept trying to do it. 

Nevertheless, he steamrolled on, confused expression finally morphing into a flat-out glare. “How did it get started?” 

“Some throwaway comment you made, I think,” she said. “About how grateful you are to be here and that your management picked you or something.” 

This caught him off-guard. Completely. He never really kept a super close track of what he was saying onstage—hell, it was barely planned out. But the question escaped his mind and into the open air with how bewildered he was.

“…People are calling me a nepo baby because of that??”