Ideal World Endgame

[idolpro]

Who: Beautiful dreamers
Where: The Game Tower
When: Day 271, morning

[When you wake, the folding chairs and divans from before have all been cleared away. You're lying asleep on the floor, healed of all injury.]

[You remember the events of the worlds you've visited as though visions seen in a dream -- though for those of you torn from your perfect existence, there is an ache inside you which will not fade for some days... the pain of something precious that has been lost.]

[Out beyond the windows of the tower, the sky is no longer a perfect blue; the vegetation is no longer as lush and inviting.]

[The view is of Tokyo-F, exactly as it's always been.]

[Near the far wall, there is an open book on a pedestal. The pages are empty. It is titled GUEST BOOK, and a pen waits nearby.]

GUEST BOOK | SOUVENIRS | WINNERS

Comments

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Whew! What a ride.

Intensity looks uninjured (just a few scuffles) as he wanders through the crowd of people, looking around for a select few dreamers.

Most notable about him is a flower crown (which he hasn't noticed) and this book tucked under one arm. Thanks, Yvette!]

[puzzlekeeper]

Intensity--

[ . . . flower crown . . .

Don't laugh ]

. . . That looks good on you.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Oh good. One of the people he was looking for.]

What are you even---

[ . . . Insert one thoughtful pause]

Actually, I don't care.

[And grabs King's arm to reel him in]

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Allowing himself to be reeled in. He looks unhurt, just tired. ]

I take it yours went well?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Well as in we had to smack everyone awake kicking and screaming, yes.

[But then suddenly very serious]

I haven't stripped you of your title yet, right?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ ????? ]

What?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Just what I said. I haven't beaten you in a proper tournament since---

[Well.

Ever.

(But let's gloss over that part.)]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Hey, dude.

You okay?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Just giving Hurricane a puzzled look]

Yes. Why wouldn't I be?

Well besides the---

[Gestures to everyone else who do not look okay]

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean. Yeah. There's like -

[Gestures]

And there were all those bandits and whatever. You and King get out okay?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Well enough. I assume that when you broke the illusion, bad shit also started happening where you were.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah... got it in one.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Well at least she woke up then.

But it seems like Her Majesty also has a destiny complex. ... Is that a requirement for being a paladin?

[unbr8kable]

So, did you cry?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Looks mildly offended]

Why would you even ask such an absurd question?

[unbr8kable]

Angel was worried you might. That's how we got her outta there. You should be happy to have such a thoughtful partner.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

. . . Cry because what? She'd never wake---








[Oh]

[unbr8kable]

[Her expression goes a little more wry, and she nudges against his arm, gentle]

You get stuck in a bunch of stuff?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Counts off on his fingers]

Seven.

With varying degrees of "perfect" to the world.

[learntofly]

[ Snapping a photo of the flower crown ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Flips the book over so the cover is facing his clothing. He doesn't know about the crown yet]

What?

It's a gift.

[learntofly]

[ flips the phone around to show him the picture ]

I was looking at your new fashion statement.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Oh.

But it is so tempting to just delete that with FiN powers.

But does he have the energy to start a technology war right now...?]

Casualty of war.

[As he rips it off his head]

[learntofly]

[ biting back a laugh ]

Eh, is it that embarrassing? You looked cute!

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Never put me and cute in the same sentence again.

That niche is already filled on our unit at least a dozen times over.