BETRAYAL AT THE HOUSE ON THE GAME TOWER - END

[idolpro]

Who: Traitors and Survivors, Exael
Where: The Game Tower, and leaving it
When: Day 25, morning-- it appears that game lasted the bulk of day 24 into the night.

[ Abruptly, the nightmare ends.

You, in the rooms you kept restarting in, awoke. Before you can even panic, before even despair, the elevator doors were open in front of you to take you downstairs again. It could be a trap, sure, but your head is quiet— those fucking ghosts are gone. You also appear to be wet like someone dumped, perhaps, a bucket of holy water on you while you were asleep. All your wounds are gone, and you have been left bereft of any physical damage from your ordeal.

Unless you choose to take some with you. Nothing prevents you from taking any of your spoils downstairs with you, if you wish it, though all revolvers will have no ammo.

On the screens as you descend back to the lobby, Exael is clapping on screen, broadcast showing her in the mansion's entrance hall. "And so close the gates to this forbidden garden, and so closes this chapter of our story! Just as—" her hologram flickers as she doesn't seem to notice, chattering still to the cameras, "so too will—" fzzt, fzzt. Static, flickering, and then back into focus, "So give them all a hand! Everyone, you've done well! You stand before us still, ready to present us all with more marvels after having survived such grisly wonders with—" "—in the balance!"

As she speaks, she doesn't notice a figure approaching behind her. He's in a slick suit with both hands in his pockets, and you've seen him before— his portrait is in the foyer. His shoes are utterly silent as he walks across the marble floor, till he's right at her back.

"Audience and actors alike, we've been blessed with—" Her hologram doesn't flicker this time, but she stops speaking. Her eyebrows furrow as she tries to figure out what's amiss, and only belatedly begins to slowly look over her shoulder.

"Exael," he says with a friendly hand on her solidifying hologram shoulder, the effect spreading beneath his touch, "We need to have a chat about your requisitions paperwork."

She tilts her head, eyes wide with a finger tapping against her cheek as she thinks, "I didn't do any!"

"Yes," he agrees, smiling with all his teeth. "I know."

The broadcast cuts. The doors open to let you leave. ]

Comments

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Probably not actually okay. He doesn't give any indication of even having heard her.]

[unbr8kable]

Hey.

[She--how in the hell does this stuff even work?--she--moves to cup his face instead, hand clammy]

I'm--sorry, please come back.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He flinches back a little at the touch, but his eyes come open at least.]

[There's an instant before he processes that it's really her, and those couple of seconds seem to drag on forever. Then something clicks: the sight of her pushes back whatever else he was seeing, and the confirmation that it's her hand on his face chases away whatever else he thought was there.]

[He's still not really breathing properly, but. Baby steps?]

[unbr8kable]

[Okay. Okay. Worst person status confirmed, good job, asshole. Now, focus. She ducks her head, sucks in a shuddering breath of her own, gets her expression back in place before looking back up.]

...Breathe with me, okay? You'll feel better if you do.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[He nods, jerky and a little unsure.]

[Actually responsive is probably a good sign, though, right?]

[unbr8kable]

[Possibly??? She is flying blind here, already failed the 'further fuck up your best friend'-check. But breathing, haven't screwed that pooch just yet, so, trying again]

In for three, then out for three. Let's try it. One...two...three...?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[This time he's actually following along with her. The counting seems to help, honestly.]

[The too-shallow gasps level out into something that's approaching normal, and trembling subsides, a fraction at a time, until it doesn't seem like he's in danger of - whatever that almost was.]

[unbr8kable]

[Good. Good. Her shoulders sag, and she lets the count slow then stop. At some point she's taken his hands, though, and doesn't let go]

Okay?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[His voice sounds wrecked, but:]

...thanks.

[unbr8kable]

[winces]

...Sorry.

[crossmyheartandhope]

P-pretty sure that's my line.

[His eyes slide away from her face, but he's still holding onto her hands like they're a lifeline.]

[unbr8kable]

[Her grip is on the crushing side herself. She shakes her head, voice a little wobbly, a little high]

Nope, that one's all for me. I--

[--should probably keep her mouth shut, among other things, and for once she does.]

You ready to get back home?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[It takes him a beat too long. His voice is definitely unsteady when he answers:]

...yeah. That sounds. That sounds really good.

[unbr8kable]

[returns a small smile]

We'll find Wire. And he can take care of you. It's gonna be okay now, alright?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Jesus, that sounds even better.]

[For a second it looks like he's going to start crying again, but he just breathes for a second, fighting the impulse until it passes.]

...okay. Yeah. Okay.

[His hands squeeze a little tighter on hers.]

[unbr8kable]

Okay. Cool. Good. We'll go whenever you're ready. Don't have to rush.

[crossmyheartandhope]

I think I'm - I'm good.

[unbr8kable]

You sure?

[not pushing this time, anyway]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah.

That - that okay?

[unbr8kable]

Of course. --You don't have to check in, you can do what you want, you can go where you want. Okay?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[This time there actually are tears, but he blinks them back and nods. When he thinks he can trust his voice not to crack:]

Thanks, Nem.

[unbr8kable]

Don't.

[takes a breath, softer]

You don't owe anyone anything, okay? Especially not me.

[crossmyheartandhope]

I can. I can still say thanks, though. Can't I?

It's just.

[It's just that he's really goddamn grateful for every little thing right now. It's just that everything seems like A Lot.]

I just. I mean it.

[unbr8kable]

...I know.

[It's just that that's the problem.]

Fine, I said do what you want, you should do what you want.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Totally gonna. No stopping me.