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

[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".

[featherbeaned]

Yeah, it does depend. There's no pleasing everyone, and it's not like my thoughts here aren't selfish. They are.

Still. I don't want to change somebody's feelings, or my feelings. Those're mine.

1/3

[fromthedepthsof]

I do not think any of us want to. But I do not think it can be avoided in this "game", even if we try, and we will have to "play" it to "protect each other"...

2/3

[fromthedepthsof]

[...]

3/3

[fromthedepthsof]

Well. It is fine, though, because this is just "one game", and there are not many of us here. I do not mind "playing" your way this time.

[featherbeaned]

[ ................ ]

You don't have to coddle or patronize me, you know.

[fromthedepthsof]

Then, shall we "outvote" you through "force of numbers"~?

[featherbeaned]

You could. Or you could just not talk to me like I'm a fresh innocent daisy.

Like. Yeah! I don't wanna play hard right out of the gate! I like most of the people here and I don't wanna hurt them, even if that doesn't actually matter in a "game", 'cause everyone is gonna do whatever they have to to protect themselves and their unit.

I think I'd have an easier time ripping somebody's arms off than I would stealing their feelings. Especially if stealing their feelings is gonna do weird things to my feelings. That's what I'm trying to say.

[fromthedepthsof]

I see.

[Actually, that's a lot of words to process and he's not sure what she means by "fresh innocent daisy" at all, so maybe he doesn't see? Oh well.]

Well, that is fine with me. Ah, I am starting to feel like I would like to "steal color vision" myself. It would be interesting to see what a "shrimp" sees~

[featherbeaned]

... All I know 'bout shrimp is that they're tasty.

[fromthedepthsof]

They are very interesting creatures~ They can see many more colors than we can. And some of their relatives can live for a very long time~

[featherbeaned]

More than humans? Humans don't have great vision anyway, right?

[fromthedepthsof]

Yes... they have better eyes than some other "mammals", or just very different eyes, but they cannot compare to many "birds". "Shrimps" are especially good at colors, though, apparently. Not just compared to "humans".

[featherbeaned]

Huh. Wonder how dragons compare.

How'd humans even find out that shrimps can see better colours, anyway?

[fromthedepthsof]

It seems humans are just very good at taking other creatures apart and "figuring them out". "Marine biologists" are powerful...