(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

[eatsthecanary]

[ good thing Whisky is here. expert comforter. ]

They already know you're hurt. And if they're not idiots they could guess you're upset.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ He may not be an expert comforter but his logic is flawless and, funnily enough echoes something that Raijuu told her some time ago.

STILL THOUGH ]

I don't like it. I--don't want to be a problem.

[eatsthecanary]

Do you think your feelings are burdens for other people?

[ he can guess because Lucifel talks exactly like this!!! ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ hiccup ]

I don't know?

[ she


has never stopped to really think about it one way or the other. ]

But people give up things--a--and sacrifice them for me, 'n-- [ sniff ] I don't want them to have to do things for me just because I'm sad.

[eatsthecanary]

Would you do things for them if they were sad.


[ bluntly, like his tone implies his line of thought should be obvious. ]

[dragonheartedgirl]

Of course.

[eatsthecanary]

So why can't they do the same for you?

[dragonheartedgirl]

I didn't say they couldn't!

[eatsthecanary]

But you don't want them to?

[dragonheartedgirl]

I just--don't want to be another thing that stresses them out. This place--is bad... and everyone is burdened.

[ so there you have it

by implication she does see her emotions/self as a burden. ]

[eatsthecanary]

[ yeah uh ]

So you do see yourself as a burden.

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ sniff ]

Maybe? A little...

[eatsthecanary]

And you don't think that's a problem?

[dragonheartedgirl]

It's the truth, though. All of my life people have felt it's necessary to look after me. So--I need to be... more self reliant. More reliable.

[ and all of this right now--it's not helping. get yourself together, yona!! ]

[eatsthecanary]

Isn't it fine to be upset after you've just died?

[dragonheartedgirl]

We came right back. And it didn't even last very long--and it was just the once. I should be used to it by now.

[eatsthecanary]

You're so convinced.

[dragonheartedgirl]

I just...

[ actually, no she really... doesn't know what to say for herself. ]

Sorry.

[eatsthecanary]

I don't know why you're apologizing to me now.

[dragonheartedgirl]

It-- [ sniffles ] -- felt like the right thing to do?

[eatsthecanary]

Because you told me you were upset?

[dragonheartedgirl]

No. Because--thec expression you made. You're mad, aren't you? Or... disgusted.

[eatsthecanary]

If I were disgusted I wouldn't be seeing two people who think the same way you do. It's just tiring.

[dragonheartedgirl]

You're seeing double Whisky? Are you okay?

[ she. definitely didn't understand that the way he meant it. ]

[eatsthecanary]

I'm married to two people.