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

[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.

[unbr8kable]

You're telling me. Lotsa people got some weird ideas on what an ideal happy ending's s'posed to be.

Also, when'd you get Lucifel hooked on card games?

1/2

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

First memory.

He took my marketing strategy a little too literally.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You don't have complaints, do you?

That was by far the most sensible of the worlds.

[unbr8kable]

People weren't allowed to have cars. How is having to bike up Mt. Fuji sensible?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Keeps everyone fit for rigorous card battles.

[unbr8kable]

You don't even get to use your drawing hand! At least driving gets you that. What's a card nerd need with leg day?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Balance for when you duel on top of skyscrapers.

[unbr8kable]

[Snorts]

I figured you had special shoes...or just hid a chair in your coat or something.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Who plays card games sitting down?

[unbr8kable]

Most poker players?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Amateurs.

[And then huffs]

Didn't actually run into you in Lucifel's world. Pity. Normally there is at least a little crossover.

[unbr8kable]

Maybe you were too busy in a gaming fugue. I was stuck climbing a mountain all day.