(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

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He is also covered in blood, but... checking on people is go.]

...hey. You guys need help getting back?

[His voice is wrecked.]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Hurricane.

Hurricane please]

Is this really the time, Hurricane?

[crossmyheartandhope]

If not now, when?

You guys got a bunch of newbies, so.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Then leave that to the goodwill of the units who didn't get their heads blown off.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Guess that's a no, huh.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . .

If you don't help my unit, where are you going next?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Back to the hotel anyway, probly. Everyone's gonna need to get settled, so.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

With who?

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean. I'll get my team set up?

Then... I dunno, I'll see if Nem's around, I guess.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

If your dorm is too sad or you can't find Nemesis, come to ours.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Pauses.]

...for real?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Did I stutter?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Uh. No, I -

...thanks, dude.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . .

How upset are you about what happened to your unit?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Not really surprised, honestly.

We kinda burned some bridges lately, since the trial.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Because of the trial? Or since the trial?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Both?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . . What have you done since the trial?

[crossmyheartandhope]

We had that one game. Pretty sure everyone had a rough time in that one.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Rough enough to burn bridges? I didn't hear about anyone from your unit randomly shooting people.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Dunno. I don't have details, but I think King had some trouble with Zrael.

...I kinda paid SensitIV back after that one round, too.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Paid them back...? Explain.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Ran into Loki and Nya again. I told Nya to back off Nem. He said I had to make him.

So I made him.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . . Fucking good.

You're not broken up about that, are you?

[crossmyheartandhope]

I'd do it again.