(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

[composeur]

[ .... you can practically watch the gears behind his eyes turning. he actually sits up as well. the pen in his hand now clicking softly as his thumb flicks the little plastic thing on the side that holds the instrument to clothing when not in use. click. click. ]

..... Kohime? [ it doesn't matter too much who this person is actually connected to, and besides he still doesn't remember the names of everyone on his unit so on to the next turn. ]

And you did, too? You wanted to protect someone?

[syckophant]

The cat girl.

[Can't miss her. She's one of BARiTONES' bouncers. Also just acts like a cat, so.]

I did, yes. [Brushes a lock of hair from his face.] There is someone on avante who I'd prefer to keep their head.

[composeur]

[ what if he just.


looks at that piece you just tossed at him and mentally backflips the fuck away from it for now]


-- OH! The cat girl, I know her! I saw her on the battlefield, fiercely tearing down fortresses like a beast!! I wanted to pet her~ But it seemed kind of rude to try to pet her just then.

[syckophant]

[Laughs, actually pretty tickled at them doing verbal gymnastics around the truth of the matter. Just like dancing on stage without touching each other.]

I doubt she would have appreciated such a gesture in that moment. Just like if you had spotted her playing~ With her claws out, you'd be liable to get scratched!

[composeur]

[ i mean whenever he touches you on stage it's usually to toss you across the room so it's probably best to keep it like this for now. ]

Right? Just like a cat! I wanted to pet her, but I have to let her get to know me first right? I have to let her sniff my hand, and maybe feed her some milk~ Then after a few hours maybe she'll deign to let me touch her, but only for a few seconds before she's decided she has something else much better to do... like a Queen!

You should bring me home to meet your cat!

[syckophant]

Exactly like that~ I think you and her would get along swimmingly. [He doesn't, he thinks Kohime will probably claw the fuck out of Leo, but that's fine too.]

If you would like to, I wouldn't mind inviting you into my dorm, Tsukinaga-kun.

[composeur]

Demon King Shishiou!

[syckophant]

Oh, is that who you are roleplaying as? How colorful~

[composeur]

It's my name! I was christened with it upon my rebirth~ You should be polite and use a person's birth name, you know.

[syckophant]

Mhh! Is that what 'Tenshi' is to you...?

[composeur]

.... I never said I was polite.

[syckophant]

Hmm. Well, then I will have to debate your own name~

[composeur]

I like Demon King Shishiou. [ hmph ]

[syckophant]

I like Tsukinaga Leo~

[How does he mean that? He won't tell.]

1/2

[composeur]

[ oh. ]

[composeur]

[ .... ahhhhhhhhh ]

You know, I think I heard a superstition once. About how if you dwell on the dead for too long, you'll get dragged down with them. ... or something like that.

[syckophant]

Fufufu... A good thing I'm long since dead, then.

I can dwell on whatever I'd like~

[composeur]

Does that mean you don't mind getting dragged down? You might get your pretty wings stained with mud.

[syckophant]

How much further can I really be dragged down anyway... ?

[IN LITERALLY EVERY WAY.]

They're already stained with blood, what is a little mud?