(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

[liarliarliar]

Haaa....

Well, at least I know we're good. You and me.

[liftoft]

Of course we are! I'd tell you if we weren't, okay? That's a promise, and a man--

[ blinks, hesitates, continues.]

--I always keep my promises. Especially to you guys.

[liarliarliar]

An X promise is a good promise.

[liftoft]

Heh, obviously!

[ beams, just-- so pleaed. And then has to duck his head, slightly misty about it.]

[liarliarliar]

[head pats for the bro]

[liftoft]

Ha... Sorry. I'm good, I'm good.

[liarliarliar]

Cute.

[liftoft]

Haha--! That's your area, man! I need more warning if we're gonna swap!

[liarliarliar]

We can share.

[liftoft]

'kay, that sounds good to me. You're bein' pretty cool right now too, if you ask me.

[liarliarliar]

I'm just trying to do my best.

[liftoft]

Mm, well, that's the most important part. That gets you like, ninety-nine percent there!

[liarliarliar]

[boy]

Wow that's math...

[liftoft]

The important part is, we helped each other out, right?

[liarliarliar]

Right. We did.

[liftoft]

So, ah--you were gonna help out Heart Soldier, right? So I'll see you later?

[liarliarliar]

I'm gonna help out and. Maybe give the rest of Alcheme some space.

I told Eclipse he can use my room.

[liftoft]

Huh--? You're not... Gonna come home? 'Cause you think the others might be mad at you, or something?

[liarliarliar]

It'll at least be awkward.

[liftoft]

You really think so? Joker wasn't in the game, so I doubt A cares that we didn't go with Bad End... And C loves you, right? And you got a lot of the same friends, so if he feels bad about them its not like you don't...

[liarliarliar]

N's people all got blown up.

I'll come home when I can handle myself.

[liftoft]

... Mm, here's what I think: we all agreed in the game, and if we didn't wanna and we didn't speak up, that's on us. And I don't think that's what happened! If we ain't okay now, then we should do whatever it is we need to feel better, but there's no reason you gotta try to fix it before anyone's got a problem.

If you need to be away from us for a while 'cause of you, that's one thing, but "givin' Alcheme space" for our sake, when nobody's said they want that...

[liarliarliar]

Ah...

I need to take care of me a little. Let's go with that.

[liftoft]

Okay. I get that, y'know? I just don't want you to do for "us" since... At least for me, I'm always gonna wish you were around! Even if I were mad.

[liarliarliar]

Heeehhh...