(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

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

It's not like I'm exactly the greatest boyfriend ever, y'know.

...Which is actually kinda what I want to talk about.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

[...Is he breaking up with me??? No, or he wouldn't be holding my hand right now... would he...]

I'm happy that you're my boyfriend.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

I wanna keep being your boyfriend. And... I wanna keep trying to not be too shitty at it. But, well.

[he falls silent, unsure what to say since he doesn't want to have the full discussion out here]

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

. . .

[Walking on into the lobby and heading to the lift for Private Matters]

Come on. It'll be okay.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

...Okay.

[up to pep dorm we go]

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

[UP TO PEP AND INTO RISE'S ROOM, leading him to sit on her bed.]

What do you want to say, D☆☆dl☆m☆n-s☆n?

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

...Well, first of all.

After that game a while ago where I said I'd kill you... I've thought about it a lot. And I decided I'm not going to do that.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

Oh...

[She knows he hates everyone and wants them to die, even if he cares about her that doesn't change that, but hearing him say he isn't going to kill her, especially after she left him hanging, strikes Rise right in the heart.]

...Really? Even, feeling the way you do... I know you can't help it, so... I'm really happy to hear you say that.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

I mean, it's...

[he shrugs, a little awkward.

this feels like a mistake, especially now. it's admitting that he's changing, that he really might be losing the things that have defined him so long.

but if he can't say this, what's even the point of being in this relationship?]

It's not like anything's really changed, y'know? It's just that nobody stays dead here, and if I killed you you'd just come back sad. So.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

I know. I know it won’t change so easily, but, it still makes me happy.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

...There's also another thing I need to tell you that, uh. Isn't gonna make you happy.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

[Aaaah here we go]

It's okay, I'm ready to hear whatever you have to say.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

[takes a breath]

There's someone else I like. In addition to you.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

...

.....................

Oh.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

You weren't ready for it.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

Ah, maybe I just accepted it super quickly!

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

I mean, you don't have to accept it? I can just stay away from that guy if you want.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

I didn't say I wanted that.

Which guy is it?

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

It's, uh. It's Ruler. Lucifel.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

Oh. I see.

[That makes sense, he was just as distraught as Rise at the beheading, wasn't he?]

...What do you want now, D☆☆dl☆m☆n-s☆n? If you offered to stay away from him, I imagine you're not telling me you're leaving me for him.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

I told you, didn't I? I wanna stay with you.

It's... there's a lot of people here who are dating more than one person. But if that's not something you'd be okay with, I get it, and I'll respect it. You're more important.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

[...Rise leans over and pecks him on the cheek.]

You’re important to me too. I know that you wouldn’t want to hurt me like that, and I’m happy.

But I don’t want to deny you someone you like too. You know, I’ve only really spoken to Lucifel-san in passing. It would be nice for me to get to know him properly too.

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

[...blink]

Wait, you're... you're saying you're okay with it? Seriously?

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[heroicsacrifeyes]

[Nudges against him, voice light]

Well, I want to check him out first. I have to make sure he’s good enough for you, not just anyone gets to date my boyfriend.

But if he passes... I think it would be okay. It wouldn’t be like we were any less... right?

Re: RESULTS, END GAME

[avestan]

Right. I don't like you any less or anything like that.

[reaches out to touch her cheek]

But... honestly, I thought for sure you'd be angry, or upset.