(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

[motorcycle_noises]

Yyyyyyep.

[foolmetwice]

I don't know why we're surprised. We're in literal hell.

[motorcycle_noises]

It really should be expected at this point.

[foolmetwice]

The more we expect, the more outfits we can save.

[gestures to Tatsuya's clean shirts]

[motorcycle_noises]

The more outfits that are saved, the less you have to spend your points for losing on replacements.

[foolmetwice]

Win-win.

[a beat]

. . . no third win, though.

[because, uh. heads exploded]

[motorcycle_noises]

Well, can't have a hat trick every time.

[foolmetwice]

Thought we sure as shit try, don't we?

[motorcycle_noises]

It's always worth a shot.

[foolmetwice]

Yeah.

[scrubs at his face, but he just winds up smearing a bit of blood against his cheeks. he pulls away and stares at his bloodied hand, making a face]

. . . hey. Who from your unit was at the game?

[motorcycle_noises]

....Joker's okay. It was just me, Nine-nine, and Thorn-san.

[foolmetwice]

[that's a relief, but only a mild one because Bad End still BLEW UP]

I'll try to stop by later. If that's okay.

[motorcycle_noises]

Sure, I don't mind. Go right ahead.

[foolmetwice]

. . . cool.

[. . .]

I think our units should talk.

[motorcycle_noises]

...Talk? About what?

[foolmetwice]

Well, we both got our heads blown up, so.

We should talk about preventing that in the future.

[motorcycle_noises]

....Oh. Oh!

[ He looks startled. ]

...Yeah, maybe we should talk.

[foolmetwice]

[THUMBS UP]

. . .

[yeah he doesn't know what else to say, if he says TOO MUCH Tatsuya might think he CARES and that would BE BAD]

[but also, true]

[motorcycle_noises]

[ He already knows Mars cares... about Joker, at least.

But he flashes a return thumbs up. ]

[foolmetwice]

-- I'll talk to my unit and get back to you guys. Ssssso.

[well now Mars is just awkward, how does he be tsundere about an idea he brought up]

[motorcycle_noises]

So I... guess we'll see how that ends up going.

[foolmetwice]

Uh. Yeah. Right.

[. . . . . . . .]

Anyway, sorry about your. . . hhhhhead.

[motorcycle_noises]

These things happen.

[ He looks pretty unbothered by that actually, but he looks slightly more concerned when he adds-- ]

Sorry about yours.

[foolmetwice]

[a wry snort]

These things happen.

[GOD]

I'm going to add it to my bingo card.

[motorcycle_noises]

Oh, a bingo card. Now there's a thought.