idolpro | AVANTE EN GARDE

AVANTE EN GARDE

You find yourself in a room like this.

It's a simple theater room with a giant colorful couch for everyone to sit or lie on if they so choose, and on the screen, you'll find a screen with twenty clones of a single, sexy assistant holding boxes, each box being labelled 01-20.

Also by sexy, I mean she's wearing stained sweatpants, crocs that are like 10 years old, and then this shirt. She looks grumpy and put-out, almost like she doesn't wanna be here.

There's also a remote that has the numbers 01-20 for you to press, and also buttons "DEAL" and "NO DEAL".

Oh yeah, and popcorn and soda!

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Great, musical torture.

Ah... we have to eliminate some cases too, right?

Does it matter? We don't know what they are, so just pick some.

Maybe the first four, and then... something else, then.

Fifteen? I'll pick fifteen.

All of that is fine with me. I don't think it really matters in the end.

[ she still has a somewhat undignified set of pointed black dog ears ]

It doesn't particularly matter what we choose this round. What matters is how we approach the following rounds. Are we looking for the first punishment we find even remotely tolerable?

And what sort of punishments must we absolutely avoid, at all costs?

In all honesty, I'm not sure what to expect. My only experience with a bad game so far has been the Space Game.

. . . I would prefer avoiding whatever would be the most painful, though.

There are, unfortunately, a lot of rather creative ways for them to be painful.

Er—maybe I should give you some examples.

[ . . . . . Does he even want to know. ]

It... is best to be prepared.

[ ....this summer child. ]

Shrike is correct. You cannot expect to avoid pain, in this place.

[ blunt; absolutely not mincing words— ]

The least pleasant thing I have yet experienced was having my entire body melted while I still lived. But I have also been possessed by an angry spirit that drove me to torture others and died after having multiple limbs severed. There are many who would say I have gotten off lightly, for most of my deaths have been swift.

[ . . . Ahahaha Jesus Christ someone help him. ]

Well—

...it's been possible for us to have to forget people important to us. In other cases, to have major personality changes, like hair-trigger tempers or total optimism. Broken bones, lost limbs, constant bleeding, persistent illness, being melted or burnt, new fears—

So, ah. There's variety.

[ This place is the absolute worst of the worst. ]

I... I see.

[ it is in fact the worst. ]

So—we'll try and avoid the things that are really awful, but if you're afraid of something specific and you know about it—let us know, all right?

[ What if you're afraid of it all. ]

R-Right... thank you. I'll... keep it in mind as we continue.

[ Shoving more popcorn in his mouth. ]

Re: Discussion

softlyfalling - 2021-03-27 16:13 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

heavyliesthecrown - 2021-03-27 16:23 (UTC) - Expand

Personally, I hate the shit that gets in your head and forces you t'do things. Like you're some kinda puppet for some sick ghost to twist around, that goes and hurts people you love. One time that happened to the whole team, and we all murdered each other.

Or they can pump you full of your worst nightmares - like, they know what they are, somehow, on top of tearing you apart.

[ . . . . . . . . ]

OKAY...! OKAY ALREADY!! I think I get the picture...!!!

[ He's just going to mentally check out...!??? ]

Edited 2021-03-27 16:08 (UTC)

[Just watching the bad news train, and––]

Oh man, has no one had this conversation with you yet? Wow.

I knew that things could get bad! But I didn't really picture them being like this!

[ gentler, now that that bandage has been THOROUGHLY ripped off ]

The demons who control this place realize their goals if they drive us to become willing to do anything to escape it.

But we are still here, and still protecting one another. Whatever happens, we will be with you.

Re: Discussion

purrrnicious - 2021-03-27 16:19 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

heavyliesthecrown - 2021-03-27 16:29 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

worthathousand - 2021-03-27 16:48 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

heavyliesthecrown - 2021-03-27 17:35 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

worthathousand - 2021-03-27 17:44 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

heavyliesthecrown - 2021-03-27 17:51 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

worthathousand - 2021-04-04 00:23 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Discussion

heavyliesthecrown - 2021-04-04 00:50 (UTC) - Expand

Put that way, this room is actually a relief. Comparatively.

At least it looks like our host's... sibling? ...doesn't particularly want this to be happening either.

That is the opposite of comforting.

[ a soft snort ]

Right now, I just value an honest lack of enthusiasm much more than... whatever it is that makes Left how he is. At least there won't be salt rubbed in our inevitable wounds.

[ she pauses, then; lowers her voice ]

What are we prioritizing, here? Because this is a game of choosing our pain, not avoiding it.

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