(no subject)

[opening_act]

Who: Exael and the Unlucky Contestants
Where: The Game Tower
When: 86, Evening

[ Between one step and the next the walls (or streets, or open air) around you changes. The sight before you is a room inside the game tower, a new pressure at your neck. Reaching up or looking at the people around you reveals it to be a collar, titanium with a small green blinking light set in the center. ]

[ the screen flickers on, on your cellphone. It's a half-second, blink and you miss it— Exael, chewing on a nail, looking uncharacteristically nervous— then the moment's gone and she waves both hands and smiles for the camera. ]

"Ladies, gentlemen, honored guests! Units of all stripes and sizes! I come offering you a game and a few familiar words, rearranged for the occasion!"

Her carnival barker demeanor shifts for a moment as she lowers her head to say: ] "Glory to the highest, and on earth peace—" [ her head snaps up, her pigtails bouncing with it, and she's grinning again, all pomp and energy ] "even if we're not getting much down here! So let's kick up a ruckus, put on a show, and see how much good goodwill alone can manage! If you wish to save your fellows, now is the time speak!"

[ The rules appear on your phones. ]

[ Rules ] [ Rooms ] [ Results ] [ Endgame, Revivals & Winners ]

Comments

[iamverybadass]

Silver... We're really okay?

[shutthefoxup]

Really, really.

[iamverybadass]

[ ahhhhHHHHH

takes a deep breath, pressing one hand tight over his eyes ]

I was— I was really scared.

[shutthefoxup]

I know, it was really awful.

[iamverybadass]

I know others have been worse, but that was... I don't want to be in something like that again.

[shutthefoxup]

I hope you don't have to either. We prepare for the worst and hope for the best, okay?

[iamverybadass]

[ nods ]

That is a reasonable way to approach things.

[shutthefoxup]

...

I have an idea.

[iamverybadass]

What is it?

[shutthefoxup]

Let's go home and watch a movie. I like to sleep in the living room after games. You can too if you want. How does that sound?

[iamverybadass]

I do not need a sleeping partner. ...but a movie would be an acceptable distraction.

[ and if he just happens to fall asleep in the living room anyway, well that hardly counts ]

[shutthefoxup]

Movie night then.

[iamverybadass]

Alright.

Can we also visit the cafe on the way home?

[shutthefoxup]

I think that's a great idea.

[Starts walking, offering his hand]

[iamverybadass]

[ ...fffiiine, takes his hand because he's Silver, and today really sucked ]

[shutthefoxup]

[Heading to the cafe then]

Something hot to drink sounds good.

[iamverybadass]

Cocoa. And I'm getting sugar cookies.

[shutthefoxup]

Cookies are always good.

[iamverybadass]

Yes. We deserve them after all of that.

[shutthefoxup]

Think they'll have pudding?

[iamverybadass]

Yes. Probably with some ridiculous design on it.

[shutthefoxup]

Probably like a heart or something.

[iamverybadass]

Or a flower.

[ ... ]

Will your brother be joining us? He was safe, wasn't he?

[shutthefoxup]

...he was. I'm really relieved.

[iamverybadass]

Good. I am relieved for the both of you.