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

Not available is a little farther than not interested. I'd take a win even if it wasn't with all the items on the wish list.

[Putting both hands up by his ears with one finger pointing straight up.]

Hope you don't mind getting your own set of demon horns. They might be a necessary fashion accessory.

I wonder if they'd let us match.

[backtracks to the door to frame Nine's face with his hands, leaning forward so that their foreheads gently rest against each other.]

... how do you feel about all this?

Of course they would.

Pissed. Are you surprised, really? I don't like losing. Not permanently anyway. I can handle a few setbacks. And I don't also appreciate my options here being limited. Our obstacles are difficult enough.

But...

[Draping his arms around his shoulders.]

I'm still here, aren't I? B seems to think that even being dead they'll just send you back home with your newly constructed body from here. So maybe Heaven's offer isn't off the table completely. In any case, I'm not one to give up. So if that option isn't available, fuck it. I'll find something else.

How much do you trust Yugi and King?

Mm. Maybe B-san's right... either way, no matter what happens, we'll both search for another option until we find it. I'm not one to give up, either.

[closes his eyes briefly.]

... I trust them to do what they think is best. Yugi-kun is kind and genuinely wants the best for people.

I hope you're right.

[Kissing the tip of his nose.]

Alright. Now that this is out of the way, you should show me what you're thinking about building for your game.

[takes a deep breath before letting his hands drop, and nods.]

Okay. C'mon.

[though it's unnecessary, he takes one of Nine's hands to lead him over to the desk. there's some basic map sketches and some generic figure designs, as well as at least one prototype sculpted figure.]

It's going to be alright, you know. I won't fail twice.

[Chuckling in a good amused way at the hand holding as he is escorted to the desk. He leans his chin on Anubis' shoulder.]

So who are you going to invite. B, I bet. Ha! He could probably grow some of your creations to life size.

I'd have to put a lot more detail in if they're going to be life-size! But... yeah, he already said he wants to play an Illusionist.

Missing his old powers from back home, is he? I can't say I blame him.

Pick a class for me.

Hmm... is "Thief" too obvious?

Of course not. Who else is going to laugh as their other party members walk into traps head first and they don't say anything?

[l-laughs]

Yeah, it's perfect for you.

Who else... Who else...

Tatsuya would be a bard, wouldn't he? Have you hear him play?

Only a bit. But I've liked what I've heard. He'd make an interesting bard for sure.

I'll see if I can't convince him to play more often. It is soothing.

Alright. Who else?

I'm not sure yet. Um, possibly Nya-san -- he said he was interested in board games, but I don't know if this is the kind he meant. Maybe Cobalt-san?

I'm sure if you gave Nya something to dress up in, he'd be there with a grin on his face. Cobalt would be fun, too.

Need help with any of the supplies? I could help you get books at the library for architectural inspiration.

Oh, would you? That might be pretty helpful, as far as inspiration goes.

MmmHmm.

What other materials do you need? Or actually... maybe a tabletop room is an potential upgrade I could do. You'd have to live with the industrial theme.

[turns a little awkwardly to eye him.]

That would be handy... but I still think you should get a better bed.

Gonna have to steal that from somewhere else. I think Joker got his from Taisho. Ordering a nicer room just gets us a larger version of shitty bed I think.

[Kissing his cheek.]

And besides, we can get creative. We don't always have to use the bed.

You could ask Sanguine-san about it.

[pause.]

Getting a bed, I mean! He said he got a room upgrade with a new bed. Not about... bed alternatives.

Yes. Outside of Silk I'm not having any bedroom conversations with any of my unit. Pinnacle of awkward.

But I'll look into it. I'm sure we can find something that works.

It'd be easier to spend the night that way.