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

I will, as soon as I see her again. I... well, she probably needs to rest right now, but I guess we all do.

[Wednesday sighs. She's absolutely exhausted. Now's really not the time to make plans.]

Thank you.

No problem. Let's go back to the dorm first. I've got a few deliveries to make tonight.

You won't be up too late, will you? I mean, after that...

[Other people, Wednesday, didn't wear themselves out by crying for the best part of three hours.

[Other people are still tired. That's not it.]

Nah, I don't want to keep everyone up either. These'll be quick drop-offs.

Oh, I'm sure you won't be keeping us up. But I really think we all could do with the rest right now.

[Even if that's all that happens--

[She's not kidding herself that it's going to be easy to sleep.]

[ Light chuckle ]

I didn't mean just Peps.

Oh, um...

[She smiles, slightly shamefacedly.]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be thinking so narrowly.

It's not narrow. I just have a thing for visiting people after bad games. And unfortunately, I wasn't able to do it last time so I have to make up for it.

So that's... your way of getting through?

[She smiles. She thinks she gets it.]

Part of it, anyway?

Kind of. But I think it's more... I want to do whatever I can. Not just for my friends but anyone who might need it.

I hope I can be like that, too. I don't really know what I can do yet. But I want to.

Like I said, take your time.

I... think I'm going to have to. I'm not sure I could go visiting now even if I knew someone would want to see me. They'd think I wanted them to look after me...

[Shen presses her fingertips to her eyes.]

My eyes must be all swollen. I suppose I look pretty awful, don't I?

You look like you need rest. We all do.

But nah, you couldn't ever look awful.

[oh no you're making her blush]

You're really much too kind. I definitely think I need rest, though.

Let's go then.

All right. And thank you.

[She catches at his hand and squeezes it briefly. It's not much of a thank you, but it's the best that she's got.]