(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]

[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...

[liftoft]

I mean it! That's how I do things. If I were mad at you, then the only way I'm gonna feel better about whatever it is is talkin' it out!

[liarliarliar]

[goatee tug]

I see...

[liftoft]

[ gentle fuss! ]

'Course, I'd wanna do that even with an enemy, but since we're brothers and friends and everything, that makes it even more important! We understand each other better when we talk it out, and--I want us to understand that stuff.

This place is awful, but Alcheme's supposed to be home, where we can be safe. With each other, too!

[liarliarliar]

It's very safe. Don't worry, don't worry. Ah, you've gotten worked up!

[liftoft]

Well sure... 'cause you're unhappy, and I care about that. I can't help but get worked up about it!

[liarliarliar]

You're unhappy too, right?

[liftoft]

Ha, nn--

[ he's halfway through denying that almost before he realizes he's doing it, and noticing that brings him up short. Sure, he's not really comfortable sharing, but... Shouldn't he at least be deliberately choosing to not do it? He frowns at himself, awkwary quiet for a second. ]

... Nnnot. Not about the same thing. Not about your sister.

[liarliarliar]

The general state of the world where people die and there's nothing to be done for it?

[liftoft]

[ huffs.]

Ah, that's something most people are upset about most of the time, right?

... It's... Nit that exactly, but I don't really know how to say it, right now.

[liarliarliar]

Then think on it and tell me later!

[liftoft]

...Yeah, you got it! So you gotta come home soon and listen to me, 'kay?

[liarliarliar]

I'll try.