(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

[foolmetwice]

[crap now what does he do]

[uuuuuh]





Shit sucks. Sorry.

[eloquent]

[rollplayinghouse]

[huffs, almost a laugh]

It does.

...Thanks.

[foolmetwice]

I didn't really do anything.

[a beat]

But yeah. You're welcome, I gues.

[rollplayinghouse]

It doesn't matter if you did anything. It's just nice.. to have people.

[foolmetwice]

. . . well, if it's good enough for you. . .

[rollplayinghouse]

...

[She uses her grip on his hand to pull him in with significant force for a hug. They're both bloody enough they can't really get more messy.]

[foolmetwice]

[stiffens in surprise, eyes widening[

[. . . but eventually, his arms snake around her, grip loose but still firm]

[rollplayinghouse]

[Good. She's just going to bury her face in his shoulder for a little bit.]

[foolmetwice]

[yeah. okay]

[he'll hug her for as long as she wants him to, then. he won't move to pull away. because even if he didn't initiate it, maybe part of him needed this, too]

[rollplayinghouse]

[It's pretty long before she releases him, head still turned down so she doesn't have to make eye contact, though her voice at least sounds a bit calmer when she speaks.]

...Thank you. I should go... I'm going to future is now. I'm sure you have things to get back to too.

[foolmetwice]

[he's looking down at the ground when she pulls back too, so he also doesn't have to make eye contact]

I-- yeah. I should. . . Heart Soldier, and all.

I'll catch you later. Take care.