(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]

Nope. Feels bad! We just have to do what we can until the pain ebbs.

[backstory]

I feel I am normally positive, but I'm not sure that I can remain as calm as you right now.

[liarliarliar]

This is terrible but exploding heads is tame compared to other things...

[backstory]

[THAT JUST. Makes him feel even sicker than he's been feeling already. He already looks like he's going to lose everything he's ate since coming here ever...]

[liarliarliar]

Easy there, Levi.

[shoulder pat]

[backstory]

Mm...

[He's trying to gather himself up.]

[liarliarliar]

...

[patpatpat awkwardly

its never gonna get better and it'll always be this way]

[backstory]

I really am sorry.

[He draws himself up and draws a breath to calm down.]

I am glad you are all right. I worried about you, among other people on various units.

[liarliarliar]

Ah, thanks, that's sweet of you. But you don't need to worry about me. Even if I get hurt, I'll bounce right back.

[backstory]

I believe you have a strong personality that may allow that.

[It's admirable.]

But you shouldn't be hurt, to begin with.

[liarliarliar]

You're a really good guy.

[backstory]

[He shakes his head, not wanting that kind of praise right now when he failed to save the person most important to him. But he will redirect their conversation a little.]

I have some ideas about what happened today.

[liarliarliar]

...mmm. I imagine.

Getting everyone on board would be quite the task though.

[backstory]

We should try, though.

[Brows knit]

No one really wants to see anyone else hurt. If everyone could agree, then...it would be at least one instance in which we could avoid tragedy.

[liarliarliar]

I'd like that. A story with a happy ending.

I'm wishing you luck.

[backstory]

Thank you.