imeeji_frontstage | 🚢 pew pew pew, you sunk my battleship.

Who: Everybody!
Where: Game Tower
When: Day 517, Morning

[ you arrive in the game tower to the sound of a deafening siren, but there's no surreal transformation this time. the interior has already changed, looking like the inside of a submarine... if you had to guess! if the hissing pipes and flashing lights haven't already started grating on your nerves, then surely all of the random beeping and booping computers will. suddenly, all of the tv screens flicker to life, ]

[ ...dⁱ_ng! it looks like the elevators have arrived. ]

I really do hope you know that I don't take even an ounce of pleasure from making you play all of these ~awful games [ she's definitely all of the sincere. ] but here we are again. [ big biG BIG sigh. ]

I would be, should be, impressed that some of you managed to solve Shi's puzzles, but I don't really think that you d~i~d~. Instead, I believe there was a lot of guessing going on! [ squints accusingly!!! ] So if you enjoy guesswork so much, then have I. got the. game. for you.

[ RULES 💀 ROOMS 💀 RESULTS 💀 MINGLE ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She sniffles. ]

You're cold too... I'm so sorry. I couldn't do anything to help you.

[ And instead, she's having to comfort Lumine when she's badly hurt and so afraid of sharing herself. Her shame is immense. ]

-- Don't do that. If we try to out-guilt each other on this we'll never do anything else ever again. [ Besides, based on the emotions Aliza's projecting, beating her will be a challenge. She is loaded up with guilt far past maximum. ]

We did our best, and we're out of there now.

I know. I--You're right. I just...

[ She's definitely not trying to compete. She understands Aliza's guilt, more like--that urge, that feeling that if they'd been able to work together better, to have each other's backs, then they'd both have come out okay.

She sniffles, sobs, inhales shakily, and gets it together again. ]

We did our best. It's going to be okay.

[ She has to repeat Aliza's words, to reassure herself--because it still feels overwhelming and like a bitter pill to swallow. They were so close to winning but suffered so much anyway; what even was the point? ]

I understand. Pretty words can't change what's in our hearts.

[ So she just -- pulls Lumine a little closer. ]

But just know that I'm here for you, okay? I'm glad you were with me in spite of it all.

Me too.

[ As weird a thing as it feels to say since of course she'd rather Aliza not suffer more than she already has in life--there is some strange comfort in sharing a traumatic experience with someone, in that unique kind of understanding. ]

I'm glad. And--thank you. For helping Venti.

That's something you don't need to thank me for, but -- you're welcome even so.

[ Thanks to emotionshare Lumine will feel her affection for Venti is abundant, overwhelming... but not romantic whatsoever. About as intimate as can be had without a romantic undercurrent, though. ]

I know you'd look out for Doctor if you were in a game together, so.

[ She's glad that Venti is so loved. It genuinely warms her heart to feel that affection, even if it's not for her. That gets her a watery smile. ]

Of course. Anyone you treasure, I'll do my best to protect.

[ Aliza cares about Lumine a great deal too. But their bond is newer, that's all. And Venti has the added boost of offering Aliza a home after Imeeji, basically offering her only chance for a future. It's a lot to compete with. ]

[ But Aliza does give Lumine a kiss on the forehead. Just trying to be comforting in the best way she knows how. ] Thank you.

Is there anything I can do for you? [ Her emotions are tremulously hopeful. The best way for Aliza to feel less like the abject failure she is, is to help others somehow. ]

[ That's also okay. Lumine doesn't really see relationships or love in terms of anything being a competition--and it makes sense that given all their extra history Aliza's feelings would be stronger for him.

She laughs, just a little. ]

I feel like I should be asking you that. You're having trouble moving, aren't you?

My back got broken. Low back. I can't move anything from the hips down.

Has anyone tried to heal you yet?

[ Surely she's not just stuck like that..! ]

Yeah, Venti did. Doctor explained that scar tissue on nerves can take a long while to recover from even after it's healed up. So it might be a while. Or I might need to buy some new parts. [ Having a new spine installed sounds unpleasant to say the least. ]

...I can float to get around, so... you know. It's not so bad. [ Aliza tries to smile. It's very watery. Also her hair turns white. This sucks, but she's trying to make the best of it. ]

[ sniffs ]

You need your lower body for more than just walking, Aliza.

[ I mean, obviously she knows this. but. ]

You don't have to try to pretend it's okay.

[ Oh, she knows. This is going to be horrible, especially for a restless thing like her. But she's tired of her feelings making everything harder for everyone around her. ]

[ Aliza swallows hard and her smile falls away despite her best efforts, but refuses to let herself break. It's past time she repaid all the support she's been given. ]

I'll make do.

[ Some piece of her wonders if her spine will be just compensation for AlcheMe's grudge from the poison game. Most of her thinks it probably won't be enough. ]

Edited 2022-12-14 03:24 (UTC)

🚢 pew pew pew, you sunk my battleship.

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