(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

[resonantblue]

[bloodsoaked and staggering towards the elevator, blindly smashing the elevator panel buttons whether she really needs to or not]

Th-that was not—so bad...

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[. . .

Puts a hand on her arm]

[resonantblue]

[winces at the contact, continuing along with]

We still earned points, Intensity. It really is... great...

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Watching Shine scoop her up. Good]

Lie to others all you want, Silence.

But don't like to yourself.

[resonantblue]

...

[he got her good; she glances away quickly, and this time her stammer doesn't sound like it's caused by her attempt to stifle pain]

I-I do not know what you're talking about.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Let's talk about this when we get back to the dorms. Until you can enjoy Shine's fussiness. He's very good at it.

Even injured apparently.

[resonantblue]

...fine.

But I cannot enjoy it My legs are still operable, and he is injured, too. Where did he get the energy?

[arealeyeopener]

[uh huh

SCOOPING HER UP]

[resonantblue]

[WINCING, clenching her teeth]

Unnecessary...! Put me down! Y... you are injured, too!

[arealeyeopener]

Can't hear you, too small. Is that a mouse?

[resonantblue]

[—!?]

DO NOT EQUATE SILENCE TO A MOUSE!

[arealeyeopener]

A shrill squeaky mouse.

1/2

[resonantblue]

Shrill, too?! Shine, you—!

[resonantblue]

[sssssighs]

[thotcrimes]

....Are you delusional?

[resonantblue]

I may be in immense pain, but that pain is not causing delusion.

[thotcrimes]

A masochist then?

[resonantblue]

I DO NOT ENJOY IT EITHER!

[resonantblue]

[winces, winces, winces winces]

[thotcrimes]

Haha so a liar.

[lovestained]

You look like it was.

[resonantblue]

No... after all, I am still alive. I earned points. This is fine.

[lovestained]

You're hurt.

[resonantblue]

I-it does not matter. This... this is what it takes.

[lovestained]

...If you're going to be like Angel, you need to smile. If you can't manage that, there's no point in pretending you're okay just because you got something you wanted.