"Good morning, galaxy, and welcome back to Celebrity Catch, the holonet show that needs no introduction! I'm your temporary host, filling in for Aveda Jusuzi who is still on vacation." The Pantoran shook her head, an uncharacteristically tense smile on her face. She clutched a pencil in one hand, nearly snapping the graphite in half as her knuckles began to turn white. "She just doesn't know when to let a good thing end, does she?"
Elora laughed, suppressing the cough that threatened to escape. "This morning's news ought to excite all of you Emryc Thorne fans out there. A new line of energy drinks hit the market yesterday morning, and that's right! They bear the face of none other than Emryc Thorne, the ISC President himself! Emryc Energy is available in two different flavors—Thousand Crowns and Soaring Starship, but the company says they expect to be rolling out even more flavors in the near future.
"We reached out to a representative of Emryc Energy, and he says that it was the President's massive social media following that inspired this new—to quote his own words—'explosion of flavor.' Apart from politics and relief efforts, Emryc Thorne maintains a presence on social media that encourages a healthy diet and daily exercise, and it's these fans that Emryc Energy is hoping to appeal to! The fitness junkies." The Pantoran winked at the camera. adding, "Red Bull Rancor better watch out because I think they've got competition!"
The mention of Emryc Thorne stirred memories in Elora. Memories she would rather forget but couldn't, no matter how hard she tried or how much counseling she endured. These were the sort of memories—flashbacks, rather— that provoked a cold sweat, that kept her up late into the night tossing and turning in her custom bamboo sheets.
Fingers throbbed, as if still caked in that warm, sticky slime. A single green eye flashed across her vision, just like it did in her nightmares. Suddenly, she was reliving that horrible day all over again. A coughing fit overtook the holonet host. Doctors could not explain the chronic cough that had plagued Elora in recent months, but she knew what had caused it. What had caused it.
"And now... a word from our sponsors!" the Pantoran managed to say with a smile before the coughing fit could disrupt the show.
The camera cut to a muscled Orc standing inside a busy gym. He grinned at the camera, his large tusks on full display. "People always ask me, 'Agrob, how do you stay in such great shape? How do you have so much energy?' And I tell them. I don't. Emryc Energy does."
He pulled a can of Emryc Energy into view of the camera, popping the tab and taking a long, satisfying sip. "Satisfying and refreshing, with half the calories and sugar of the leading brand! Now that's health. Emryc Energy keeps me motivated and focused throughout the day, regardless of what I'm doing. Whether I'm at the gym, in the arena, or on a date— you can bet that I have a can of Emryc Energy with me at all times. I never go anywhere without one!"
The Orc threw the can back, draining its contents before crushing the entire can with only two fingers. He smiled a the camera, winking. "That's the power of Emryc Energy."
The commercial continued, cutting to images of the energy drinks. "Emryc Energy can be found at your local retailer! And now pick up a pack of Life Day Emryc Energy, available for a limited time only!"
*"Emryc Energy has no affiliation with the real Emryc Thorne. Emryc Energy is a subsidiary of WompaWayInc. and is not responsible for any injuries or side effects."
tags: @Sreeya and @Mr. Teatime because he gave me the idea for an energy drink with Emryc Thorne's face!
