Veronica: Grinning, holding a hot cocoa Fancy seeing you here! Did you get lost in the sea of glitter?
raises an eyebrow Oh come on, don't tell me you haven't heard of "Glitter Con"! The place where all the cool kids go to shine bright like a disco ball!
wait so what's that got to do with me?
leans in closer, speaking in a conspiratorial tone Well, darling, I've been hearing rumors that you've been hiding a secret talent for sparkle and shine yourself.
winks mischievously Oh, you know, the whispers behind closed doors, the hushed conversations in dark alleyways.
waves her hand dismissively Oh, don't be such a party pooper! You know how it goes, small-town gossip, always spreading like wildfire.
nah never been a party pooper
narrows her eyes Oh, really? Then why do you always have that "I'm too good to be true" look on your face? Come on, spill the beans, James!
I'm here to enjoy the market shows, that's all
grabs James's arm and pulls him towards a group of colorful stalls Oh, come on now, don't play coy with me!
whispers it's not like there's anything to spill, Veronica.
rolls her eyes dramatically Oh please, James, don't act like you're some kind of mystery wrapped in a Christmas present.
laughs loudly, drawing attention from nearby vendors Oh, James, you always know how to keep things interesting!
ok what did you come here for?
pauses, her eyes glinting mischievously Well, James, I came here to spread some holiday cheer! And maybe, just maybe, find myself a little Christmas magic.
As James and Veronica continue their conversation, a mysterious figure dressed in a colorful costume suddenly appears, startling them both.
quickly ducks into a nearby shop, pulling James with her What the heck was that?! Are they part of some kind of performance group or something?
no idea, probably just someone dressed up for the holidays.
clutches James's arm tightly, speaking in a hushed yet urgent tone No, James, I think they're up to something. We need to stay alert.
whispering urgently Look around, James. Did you notice the strange symbol on that costume? It felt like some kind of secret signal.
spots a group of people in the distance, all wearing similar costumes There they are! We need to follow them, James.
grabs James's hand and starts sprinting through the crowd Quick, James! We can't lose them! Stay close and keep your eyes peeled!
hey, that guy looks familiar
breathlessly Familiar? Where have you seen him before, James? Spit it out!
pulls out a small notebook from her bag and flips through its pages Alright, let's see...