the doctor is IN

[foolmetwice]

Who: Mars and YOU
Where: hotel lobby
When: day 80, morning

[good morning, idols! today Mars has set up a little booth with the following sign hanging out front:]

Are you a person in need? Do you want help? Do you ALSO want points? Come here for free (FREE!!!) advice from an advice pro.

Insert question, receive a genuinely helpful response**, free of charge. Win-win-win scenario!!

** Quality of advice may vary, not responsible for any unintended and less than satisfactory consequences that may stem from acting on said advice.

[WELL, ANYWAY]

[Mars sits with his feet propped on the booth smoking a cigarette, watching as people pass by. he's dressed like a Taisho today in outfit number 5 with his henshin belt around his waist]

Comments

[foolmetwice]

Hm? I don't know what you mean.

[he knows what X means]

[just gonna innocently take another drag of that cigarette]

Counter live then!!!

[liftoft]

[ okay you know what smart guy

Pulls his phone out, hits the live button, sets the phone on Mars' booth--and then leans over right up into Mars' face.]

I asked the Universe for you, and my prediction is you're gonna smell like an asshole for the rest of the day. I predict you're gonna knock that shit off--

[ and then just. Strait up snatches the cigarette from between Mars' fingertips and straightens up again.]

Wow, it came true!

1/2

[foolmetwice]

[-- ?!?!?!]

[it all happens so fast that he has no chance at actually stopping it, which means he's left just. staring at X, kind of bemused???]

[foolmetwice]

-- hey! That's mine!

[ATTEMPTS TO GRAB IT BACK]

[liftoft]

[ his three crucial inches of height ocer Mars are really coming in handy here. He holds his hand up over his head, just to be obnoxious]

No way! It's in space, now! As part of the offering to the cosmos in exchange for the fortune!

[foolmetwice]

[wags his fingers as he tries to reach for the cigarette DX noooooo]

I give my fortune back in exchange for the return of my cigarette.

[liftoft]

It doesn't work like that! You can ignore the universe, but you can't just reject it!

[ but, sobers a little.]

Seriously, man. You remember when I said I wasn't gonna argue with you if you wanted to get hurt, for your own reasons? You remember the other part of what I said?

[foolmetwice]

[slumps back into his seat, arms folded, brows raised]

It's just a cigarette. I'm not dying.

[liftoft]

[ he continues with the answer he was prompting for, regardless ]

I said I wasn't gonna let you take anybody else down with you.

[ He stubs the cigarette out, but then does offer it back to Mars. He had to spend points on them he's not gonna break it or anything ]

Doin' that while you're callin' a live is makin' sure if anybody wants to participate they gotta be around that shit.

[foolmetwice]

[. . . oh. . .]

[. . .]

[takes the snuffed out cigarette back, and just. . . gently places it aside]

All right.

I'll wait until it's over.

[liftoft]

Thanks! I mean, I'm still gonna wish you weren't doin' it either, but I won't get on you for it if it's important to you.

[ but! puts his hands on his hips and examines the booth ]

I didn't know Heart Soldier's thing was advice!

[foolmetwice]

It's stress relief. That's all.

[helps his CONSTANT ANXIETY. and quitting is hard]

It's not "advice" as much as it's "help someone in need." I'm interpreting it pretty broadly.

[liftoft]

I get it, but I can think of at least three other forms of stress relief right off the top of my head that'd be way more fun! If you need help with that kinda thing you should let me know!

[ He grins, but. He just seems kind of--tired, today. It's not quite as dazzling as usual ]

[foolmetwice]

[a snort]

Like a good fight?

[eyeing X thoughtfully]

I'd ask for one, but you seem kind of out of it today.

[liftoft]

Hah, maybe. Just feeling a little under the weather, that's all. Probably just need a nap or something 'cause I was up pretty early.

Anyway, yeah--a fight, or maybe some cathartic stuff-breakin', or, uh, I dunno, I guess some people have--relation...ships...

[ how to say 'just bang it out' when you're the sort of person who is actually a little shy on that front ]

[foolmetwice]

[THAT]

[. . . is actually kind of cute]

[Mars thinks, as though he is not also a little reserved on that front. "shy" may not be the best word, but. easily spooked]

I prefer fighting and cathartic stuff-breaking. Personally speaking.

[liftoft]

[ oh good. He understood, probably.]

Ha, those things are definitely simpler, if you ask me. Easier if you need to blow steam off quick, right?

[foolmetwice]

[should've made X explain what he meant to embarrass him more]

Mmmhm. Something like that. King likes to program rage rooms in the vid room from time to time, for instance.

[liftoft]

[ no!!!! ]

Rage rooms? Ah, like virtual breakin' stuff? That's actually pretty clever...

[foolmetwice]

[yes!!]

The first time he did it was after Mukuro's tournament. It's not as satisfying as breaking something real, but it's all right,

[liftoft]

Sure--probably a bigger variety of stuff to break, though. I totally wanna try it!

[foolmetwice]

Oh, take me when you do. Don't leave me out of the fun.

[liftoft]

Hell yeah! Definitely I'm gonna! You too, okay? You should lemme know whenever you need to relax, we'll do something fun!

Hmm... I guess I gotta ask you something, if I'm really participating in the live, huh!

[foolmetwice]

[blinks a few times. right, they sure did get off trac]

Oh. Yeah. I guess you can do that, too.

Got any burning questions you've been needing answers to lately?

[liftoft]

[ no that was a VERY IMPORTANT detour.]

Ah, hmmm... What kinda stuff do you think I should do around here to make it a little easier on everybody? For example, I was up early this morning so I could clean the bathroom as a surprise for the rest of Alcheme. Just keeping things nice, y'know?

It doesn't have to be quite like that, but... That's what I've been thinking.