imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

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 ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not really. It was some dumb 'alliance' thing. Because Wild City had been so cruel to us in the past, I just hoped that... saving them they might be a little kinder to us in the future.

...In that case, I hope it works out for you. We were... worried about sensitIV.

I don't know if it will. Loki really hates them, but I just think it's dumb to hold grudges against each other here.

We're not the reason for the games, and I don't think any of us would be wicked enough to hurt each other without those... But I'd hoped you, Phoenix, and Nine would be okay. I was certain you had... you had people...

....AlcheME was never going to vote for us. It's not that A-san and Crow don't care, but rather that others on that unit have every reason to dislike us. My guess was that they'd protect B-san's sister on pep!pep!, though who knows if that guess was right.

....Taisho, maybe but they've only got Yasuragi-san who might look out for us in that regard and they have plenty of other people and opinions to consider.

SensitIV was a possibility, but I know Loki-san has Yasuragi-san to protect and I'm not sure who else has people.

...There's no one else.

We always do badly in the harder games. I don't really believe in fate, but... I do know that we never stood a chance.

I... I just don't understand!

Why? Why do you always do worse in the harder games?! Why is it that sensitIV keeps winning games, even when we're the ones being cruel and unreasonable, and people have to decide who to protect?!

It's not okay! It's not okay that people overlook the good people, the people who have only done what they had to do, for us, for the ones who tore people apart, who start fights that they don't need to, who are unpredictable at best!

It's not okay!

Ugh... I don't care about Wild City, and I didn't care if I'd died either! It should have been them! Not you! And it's my fault.

[ He gives a wide-eyed look. ]

Nya....

[ He's touched, honestly. But he very clearly didn't expect this reaction. ]

[DON'T JUST STARE AT HIM NOW HE'S GOING TO TURN RED AND PUFF OUT HIS CHEEKS.]

....W-what?!

It's true. You guys always get the shit end of the deal Every time. You get possessed by demons and killed and you lose and lose all the time! I don't get it! You're all better people than... than me. M-maybe not Nine, but that doesn't mean I don't care about him too or think that he deserves better!

....We're not, though. Good people I mean. Maybe Phoenix is, but... We've hurt people and caused suffering just as much as anyone else here. We don't deserve any more or less consideration than anyone else... It makes sense for people to protect those important to them.

[ He plucks idly at the seam of his pants. ]

But it.... really means a lot to me that you think that.

But you ARE! Even in my memories.

I'm some freaky jester phantom, and I still saw you protecting me. Even after what I did. When you didn't remember, and then later everyone was there... And here, I'm no better. Killing myself just to meet a demon, leaving people without a word, and then Nemesis and Hurricane...

Maybe you have done plenty of hurting others, but you've helped others, too!

You don't deserve 'more consideration', but you don't deserve as little as you got! You all deserve to make it through a game here or there, and... I'm going to do my damnest to make sure it's the next one. And there's nothing you can do to change my mind, so don't bother!

[ He manages not to cry, but it's a near thing and he blinks several times before a tentative smile crosses his face. ]

....Then I'll just have to thank you instead.

[Nya huffs a little, still looking... Red and put-out, but not AT Tatsuya. As long as he wasn't arguing against him...]

You can thank me later. When I'm successful.

I'll save it, then. But I am grateful.

[ Grateful that Nya wants to try. ....He doesn't think he will succeed, but it feels like it would be cruel to say that out loud. ]