imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

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 ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah... He would, probably or Loki, I'm sure. But... I'm not sure if it's right to trouble them right now. How did you know that he would?

[ in particular, she means. ]

He's your... well, you're friends, aren't you? From before?

[And - well, and then there was the secrets game.]

I met him on my first day. He's been very kind to me, and we're strangers... so of course he'd want to help his oldest friends, as well.

[ She momentarily forgot that literally everyone saw that. But she is now remembering as she says "friends."

And her cheeks... color some. ]

It's true that Hakuryuu and I know each other from back home, but... he's a very kind and generous person. I think he'd help someone in need, regardless of whether or not he knew them prior to arriving here.

... I would like to not trouble him, though.

Oh, but you won't be troubling him at all.

[She's not so much jealous as wistful: what would it be like, to matter to someone like that? It must be nice, Wednesday thinks--anywhere but here, it must be...]

I'm sure he must be worrying about you, too... I mean, don't see him if you don't want to. But I'm certain you wouldn't be putting him out.

I suppose it might just worry him more if I avoided him. I'll go see him. Thank you, Wednesday.

Oh, you really don't have to thank me! I haven't done much of anything but cry on you...

[Is she blushing as she wipes at her eyes? Perhaps a little.]

I shouldn't keep you, Hiryuu. I, um... well, I hope you feel better soon. I know there's probably not a lot I can do to help, but if you do think of anything...?

Don't say that. You've been very kind and worried for me. Anyone would be grateful for that.

...

If you wouldn't mind, maybe you could stop by my unit and see how they all were? Things were a little tense for us. It would be good for them to have someone who cares come by to check on them.

Oh, I'd be glad to! I'd be glad to get to know all of you better, too.

[It seems a reckless thing to want, suddenly--

[She wants it anyway. Wants it more than anything. She can't turn her back to everyone else simply because it would be easier if there was nobody else to worry about but herself: if she herself were the only person here to worry about, Wednesday thinks she'd just stay in bed.]

You've been very kind yourself, Hiryuu. Thank you.