imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: maybe YOU?
Where: the hotel
When: Day 78, evening/night

[Sure, we've got plenty of unit posts, but what about everything that doesn't fit into one of those? Feel like making yourself a snack? Want to have an emotional outburst in the lobby?

Mingle away, folks.]

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I don't blame myself. I did what I could.

I'm...trying, really hard, not to blame everyone else.

Edited 2019-01-11 10:46 (UTC)

Such as...?

Or do you want to speak in hypotheticals?

[Wiping his eyes, not letting Intensity see his face]

...Is this what you wanted to talk about?

Somewhat. I think we've already previously established that I have a vested interest in your sanity.

Then you don't have to worry; sadness is a sane reaction to the current circumstances.

As long as you think you can dig yourself out with time.

Yeah... I just need time to process. Everything feels raw right now.

[rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, trying not to get tears on Intensity's coat.]

Thanks for checking on me, though.

Fine.

[Good sir, that coat has been through a lot. It's fine]

Blame them if you have to. They made their choices, so they have to live with them.

[Taking a deep breath to get himself back under control.]

What was the game like for you?

A clusterfuck as the producers intended. Some rounds went according to plan. And others didn't.

I had one nice murderdate. One last satisfying duel. See Nine-Nine attempt his hand at low-tier villainy. And then just a really fucked up one.

How many rounds did that wind up being?

Four altogether.

You?

Three.

What did you mean by "one last satisfying duel"? Are you getting out of the dueling business or are you just doing unsatisfying ones from now on?

Did I say last? Ha! I meant one less satisfying duel.

[Though maybe that being the last duel of that particular brand would be nice]

What's the point of dueling if you're not at least enjoying destroying your opponent.

Right? That's what I woulda thought.

What made it less than satisfying?

[. . .]

It was missing the thrill of victory.

What would your ideal victory have looked like?

[One where he murdered his feelings dead and they never bothered him again]

Something less hollow.

And one where it motivates both participants to get even better for the next duel.

[feelings are the worst]

Looking back on it, can you tell at what point it stopped being fun?

[This takes him a few moments because Cobalt is a person who does not see the intrinsic value in death duels. But on the other hand, he also doesn't feel a need (or even want) to lie to Cobalt, so---]

When I shot him point blank between the eyes and he didn't die.

[Quietly]

Did you know he had that power or was that a surprise?

He told me he had it, but fuck --- I didn't know it made you a literal zombie. It was just described to me as "physical immortality".

Heroes Never Dies is... a bad power.

When you mentioned the desire to improve for future duels, were you talking about him or you?

Both. The point of a rival is to challenge each other. For each of us to be constantly pushed to our limits in each encounter, so that we have to be faster, smarter, and stronger than the last time.

Do you think his immortality is going to change that desire or ability to improve, for either of you? Or does it disrupt the dynamic too much?