imeeji_frontstage

~GAME~

Who: everyone!
When: day 17, morning
What: GAME TIME

[ today, when the GAMESHOW notification goes off and the phone maps lead you to the game tower, the debris is still everywhere, the lobby is empty, and the elevators are unlabeled. The rules don't appear on your screens until after everyone has filed in, the doors have shut behind you, and the elevators have started up and risen at least a few stories.

your phones light up with instructions at the same time as the elevators all shudder to a stop, and a sharp hissing noise starts up as thin blasts of air enter from the walls and fills the room with a horrible, horrible smell. like straight up sewer rank awful. Luckily you won't have to deal with it for long, since you pass out so fast you won't even remember hitting the ground.

You wake up on the floor of a room with the rest of your unit. Mukuro's face isn't on any screens, but the first thing you might process as you regain consciousness is his boyish voice filling the air, shifting from calmly informative to as energetic as ever. ]

… courtesy of danna's abilities, we have much more exacting control over a much broader range of possibilities. Ah, and the stars of our show have just begun to stir!

Then, let's go over the rules of today's event once more!

[ and then he does show up, waist-up on the large tv-sized screen on the wall, smiling brightly beside a diagram demonstrating different possible outcomes - labeled with T's and B's and X's over "losing" stick figures. ]

Prisoner's dilemma! The max-tension psychological classic, with a secret agent feel~

This one is all about trust and betrayal. Originally, two people would be interrogated separately for information, and told that they would be spared if they turned on their partner. But if both of them kept their mouths shut, then their captors would have less over them and they both could be saved. While if they both betrayed one another, then they would both be punished! For either of them to win, at least one of them would have to take the risk and decide to "trust"~

Today's game is a three-person variant, or rather, a three-unit variant! This means that instead of just one other person, our idols will have to carefully consider the thinking of two whole other groups of people in their decision-making! But like the standard "prisoner's dilemma," only one person each is placed at risk ☆ Just like a sacrifice!

[ briefly, the display switches to images of flower arrangements ]

Additionally, since the idols haven't been told who their partners are, we've provided them with a small means of communication - courtesy of this goryou - for them to find some way to identify themselves, earn the other units' "trust," and get a read on what kinds of people now hold the fate of their unitmate in their hands!

[ and back to Mukuro, a bust shot with the diagram gone now ]

The results this time will be a little more complicated than the original "win/lose" scenario. In this case, even trusting each other won't get a good result. Betraying each other is worse, but only betraying someone who trusts you will save your sacrifice and bring your unit victory~! That's why it's important to convince the other units to "trust" no matter what!

And trusting someone who ends up betraying you - well, wouldn't that be just horrible?

Leeet's go! ♥

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he expects the little jolt of pain so he braces himself for that ]

It's true that in the long run, winning a game nets you surprisingly few games, considering the difference of investment. A live's much easier than the thought of torture and death.

[ At least it's not a handshake or a hug. ]

Easier, and no one has to be hurt or hate you for it.

That doesn't terribly concern me.

Not even if it's your teammate that's hurt? Or you?

It'll concern me if I'm hurt.

[ largely because that would be an inconvenience ]

And if my teammate being hurt means we lost.

You really don't care about the other people on your unit... at all?

[ he tilts his head ]

Should I? It's not like the games require for it.

Well, no... but... usually, you work better with people you like... and it's less lonely, too. Do you really not have any friends here?

[ there's a beat ]

What would you define as a "friend"?

[ as if no one jumps immediately to mind ]

[ listen

she's seen memories with people who have dog heads. Whole dog heads, Whiskers, not just the cutesy kemonomimi like you have. Dog heads, with dog snouts and tongues, talking with human words, wearing a suit, flapping around his middle-aged man hands.

At this point, she's not going to question someone not understanding the definition of the word "friend." ]

Do you mean the general qualities of a friend, or someone I would want to be friends with?

[ Hiryuu has been through a lot ]

Let's go with both. I'll see if I know anyone that would fit.

Alright. Well... Generally speaking a friend is someone that is kind to you and that you enjoy talking to and spending time with. They usually share some of your interests, but even if they don't you find things you can connect with each other over, like similar world views or experiences.

In my case... for example...

[ uhhhh what're her best examples here ]

Gold and I can't cook, so we became friends when he helped keep me from setting the building on fire, and now we're learning to cook together. And Shuten, Abi, and Raijuu and I all have difficulties with technology, and they've all tried to be nice to me when I was upset even though Raijuu's really bad at it. And B always makes me laugh, and I always make him laugh, and he's a thoughtful person that cares about people and I like that about him.

... Does that explain anything?

[ that seems to have him thoughtful. ]

Well.. I can think of someone I don't mind spending time with. We have similar hobbies, and even seem to have had similar jobs, from before this place. They say that they "trust" me.

[ trust has its own figurative airquotes around it, but at least there's ""someone""" ]

So would that qualify? I can't say that I really care about them, though.

Strangers aren't just born automatically caring about each other, after all. It's by getting to know each other and gradually coming to trust and care about each other. So, yes; I think what you're describing is a "friend."

Then by your definition I do have a "friend".

[ hmm. ]

But what would caring about them feel like?

[ jesus fuck whiskey

if you manage to make her accidentally become somewhat self aware from you innocent questions we may have to give you a prize. ]

Caring? Is.... Well, if you care about someone, then you think about them a lot, in a general sense. In a specific sense, if they're sad or upset or troubled, then you feel bad for them, and you want to do things to make them happy or help them. And when they're happy, you feel happy too.

[ look he doesn't have the self-awareness to realize a lot of people other than him care about a lot of people here yet.

and part of him still thinks caring people sounds like a pain in the ass tbh. ]

I see. If that's what you're using to define it ...

I can't say that I care about a single person here, yet.

[ So he really is a man whose winter hasn't seen a spring yet.

...

But that doesn't mean he won't. ]

Then I'll be rooting for you, that you find someone who understands you, and someone you understand in turn.

Even if we understood each other would that entail that we cared about each other? Just by your definition.

I suppose it's not a guarantee. But the more able you are to empathize with one another, and understand each other's joys and pains and worries, the more you'll be able to care.

[ i just had the most horrible idea of her buddy bonding with him. just to show him. what a human heart filled with love and hope is like. ]

[ do you really want to break a cat like that

he does seem a bit dubious. ]

I suppose, it's one of those things where I'll have to experience it before I fully understand it. Like "love".

[ why wouldn't I want to break a cat like that ]

... Normally that's the way it would work. ... If you're up to it, though, there's something else we could try.

What would that be?

We have an ability, the "buddy bond," that lets us share our emotions with other people. I've been working really hard to get enough points to buy mine, and I finally had enough to buy it from the shop. I'm still waiting for it to be delivered, but if you'd like, I can let you feel what it's like to feel "care" and even "love."

[ his ears are upright and interested. ]

If you wouldn't mind, then... I'd be interested. I at least would want to get a sense of what it feels like.

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dragonheartedgirl - 2018-07-22 09:24 (UTC) - Expand

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eatsthecanary - 2018-07-22 17:56 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

~GAME~

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