ALCHEME

[idolpro]

This room is not real.

That's the first thought that crosses your mind as soon as your consciousness comes back up. You're not even sure if that's your own thought, but the feeling doesn't leave no matter how much time has passed. The room looks nice and cozy, but everything feels wrong. You don't belong here, you're you, aren't you?

Aren't you?

You'll soon notice that there are other things that just isn't right. You can talk, but is your mouth moving? You can see, but are your eyes blinking? You also have ball joints. Nothing hurts, and you're fine, but it's a little weird.

Comments

[featherbeaned]

[ wow wow wow ]

[ she hates this ]

Cool! This looks fun!

[irregular]

So much fun. Intense fuckin' fun times.

[featherbeaned]

A right giggle. Can't wait.

[irregular]

Hey, Tea? I dunno if we discussed this yet, so, uh... is there anyone you wanna avoid?

[featherbeaned]

I'll be honest, nobody's been keen to talk to me about any of this.

[ Not that she's bugged anyone or asked a whole lot of questions about it. ]

So, what, we're playing along with this?

[irregular]

Well, generally, there's a whole bunch of really fucked-up catches that mean we kind of gotta.

... wait, nobody's mentioned Lilith?

[featherbeaned]

Who?

[ that would be a no ]

[irregular]

She's the catch.

Basically... people tried that at first. But if they don't think we're playing properly, they send us to her. She - well, I've never met her. But it's always, always, really fucking awful. Way worse than just playing would be.

1/2

[featherbeaned]

[ there's a couple of seconds of just, this face ]

[featherbeaned]

Well. If play's what we've gotta do, then we've gotta play.

That said, I don't want to kill anyone, or take their sense of self away from them.

[irregular]

Me either.

So... what'd you think? N suggested we should take stuff it maybe wouldn't hurt so much to lose. Like spite and stuff.

[featherbeaned]

[ ugh ]

[ wrinkles her nose ]

I see the logic, but ... ick. That is changing somebody, and changing ourselves, too. I'd rather take stuff like temperature sensitivity, ticklishness, sense of smell.

[irregular]

I guess...?

Thing is, some of the units we got here - they're gonna want to win. Baritones plays real hard in these sorts of games. Same with Taisho. I mean... I'm fine keeping shit small to start with. Seeing what kinda state we're in next round. But I don't wanna see you guys get hurt because we didn't think big enough.

[featherbeaned]

It's not like I wanna see you guys get hurt, either. We're a unit - a team. You're important to me.

[ She actually looks serious for once. ]

I want to keep being "me", with my own feelings. Nobody else's.

[fromthedepthsof]

A very interesting "game" by our ""producers""~

[featherbeaned]

They sure know how to show us a good time!

[fromthedepthsof]

They have a lot of "practice" by now~

Anyway. "T", is there anything you would not want to lose during a "bad game"?

[featherbeaned]

I like all of me, so I'd like to not lose any of it.

Ideally.

[ Tosses her hair back, raking her fingers through it. ]

Why, what're you thinking?

[fromthedepthsof]

[...]

I am thinking of the "rules". It seems we could take away something somebody would be better off losing in a "bad game", or put something we do not want to lose "on a shelf" where nobody can take it.

[featherbeaned]

[ Her ears twitch, flicking back ]

I ... dunno. Hmmmmmnnnn. I'm better at thinking on my feet and doing stuff with my own hands.

[fromthedepthsof]

We will be counting on you in a "game" like that, then~

Nn~... K and I were thinking that we could take the "spite" and "selfishness" from other "units". Because that will make them less "dangerous". How does that sound?

[featherbeaned]

[ wrinkles her nose ... ]

I see the logic, but I'd rather go for stuff like temperature sensitivity or colour vision.

[fromthedepthsof]

...I would rather do that too. But the other "units" will not be as "gentle", because they all have somebody to "protect". So I am not sure it would be a good decision.

[WHY IS THIS NEWBIE SLAPPING HIM IN THE FEELINGS TWICE IN A ROW. Danger newbie.]

[featherbeaned]

Everyone has people they want to protect. Everyone'll do what they think they have to, or what their heart can bear.

[ shhhhhrug ]

Maybe it's not strategic, but isn't staying true to your own heart an important part of being a "person"?

[fromthedepthsof]

"Protecting" what is precious to me is also "staying true to my heart", even more than trying to be gentle. Because I was not a very gentle person in the first place.

And... thinking about it, I am not sure that those things are really more gentle in the first place. I would... um. "Flip out"? If was not able to feel warm or cold anymore. So... it would depend on the "target".