endgame pt 1

[idolpro]

Who: Competitors no longer hungry for games
Where: The Game Tower
When: Day 408, night (the game took the whole day)

[ Wow! That was wild. Wild ass shit.

Now you're all here. Most of you remember everything that happened. Some of you might remember most things, but not Session 18/19 because time and stuff. Don't worry. It'll show up in your dreams. :)

Anyway, you're probably wanting to go home now. That's too bad! The doors are locked, so you can just sit back and vibe.

All screens show: Please wait. Processing results.

Powers are off too—but then, you're also not currently injured or suffering from status effects.

All of you except for members of AlcheME!, who all 1) can somehow open the doors and leave, 2) have powers on, and 3) are not healed or revived whatsofuckingever. Status effects are OOC optionally kept, but no extra abilities (such as Flames) are kept.

Well.

It seems like they're probably definitely rock bottom so. ]

Comments

[at_heart]

[ ...Holds Emet's gaze for a moment, then his lips curve up. ]

I'll show you mine if you show me yours?

[ Trade of personal thoughts? ]

We can hold off until — well, maybe until I'm dead, but you know. Mild inconveniences.

[firstworldproblem]

[That does seem to cheer his mood up!]

What a privilege it would be being able to grant aide and succor in the worst of times. To be able to help, to ease other's pain.

I suppose the grizzly nature of deaths must be jarring over time, but it is more of blessing than simply work.

[at_heart]

[ ... ]

You sure do have a way with words.

[firstworldproblem]

You do not agree?

[at_heart]

You mean, do I think it'd be nice to get to share the load a little? Sure.

You just... kind of talk like — I don't know. A book of poetry, or something.

[firstworldproblem]

Not the first time I've been accused that my manner of speech is winding.

Now, go on. You had thoughts of your own. Were you not going to share?

[at_heart]

[ Just one more beat of hesitation. Emet's words were very pretty, but he's not completely sure he actually heard a 'yes' anywhere in the poetry. ]

—Right. And after I go, you'll go?

[ Maybe it'd be genuinely nice to unload a little, he doesn't really want to take this directly to Eichi or anything, but he sure would rather this be an equivalent exchange.

Plus, you know. Evasive's only fun to a point. ]

[firstworldproblem]

A fair trade.

[He nods.]

And this is one of your first games, is it not? I am curious to see how a fresh set of eyes sees it.

1/2

[at_heart]

First ever. Hell of a way to pop your cherry.

[ Heh. His eyes refocus on the beer and he has a slow sip, then: ]

Wasn't so much a thought about the game itself, though, more like...

[ Pauses. Sets the can down. ]

What you said, about Eichi trusting me. [ His smile twists a little. ] I don't know about that, but he definitely bought me all my abilities and said I could pay him back by never letting LiliS just roll over again. [ Runs a fingertip down the side of the can. ] I went — I think it was at least four rounds. [ The memories are still straightening themselves out in his head. ] Thought I might be doing okay, at least, until halftime.

[ And now he just has to hold his breath and hope no one from his unit is about to fall over dead. ]

[at_heart]

[ Slants a grin back at Emet. ]

That the kind of thing you were hoping for, old man?

[firstworldproblem]

I more meant that I hope he can trust you in time. I would not expect a scant few weeks to build the bonds of reliability so quickly.

And what happened at halftime to make you change your mind?

[at_heart]

[ And a scant few days even less, but Lupine just shrugs, tight. ]

Yeah. I know. Wasn't a complaint about your choice of words.

[ It's just the position he was in anyway, even more the second round without Eichi, when he realized Tenn was following his lead. ] [ There's a not entirely insignificant pause before he answers the question, though. ]

Anyway, that's when I saw the scoreboard.

[ He's using 'halftime' in the loosest sense, although in his case it was after his first two rounds, almost exactly at his personal halftime. ]

[firstworldproblem]

So you decided to raise the stakes. Are you upset about your decision?

[at_heart]

What? No.

[ Almost — a little darkly amused by the thought. ]

I gave him like. Three chances to back down and leave Tsukasa alone. He wasn't interested. [ A shrug, noticeably less tight this time. ] One good punch was all it took.

[ His gaze does go a little distant, but then, lower: ]

If anything, I didn't raise the stakes enough. And now they might be about to pay for it.

[firstworldproblem]

So is that your regret? That you didn't change your tactic quick enough?

[at_heart]

[ Pushes a hand through his bangs. ]

—I don't know. Maybe. I know I could've pushed for it from the start. Let Tenn and Eichi statue-hunt while I tracked down someone willing. [ He doesn't regret, doesn't think he'd change, the part where he tried to make it a good fight. ] ...If I'd been by myself from the start, maybe more people would've just attacked.

[ Punctuates this with a slightly amused glance at you, Emet. As an example. ]

Not saying I'm sure I would've won every fight. My ego's not that out of control. [ Heh. ] But I wouldn't be sitting here, counting up all the times I almost had the chance.

[ Leans back in his seat, his eyes fixing on the screens again. If he can't even keep LiliS out of the absolute bottom here, why is he here. ]

[firstworldproblem]

[He pats his shoulder.]

As you said, it is you first game. You learn. You grow. You are also bereft of your memories where you could draw upon inspiration and similarities. So do not be too hard on yourself.

I think you have the type of fighting spirit to keep moving, to find ways to achieve your goals. And LiliS was better off than I expected. They usually end up on the bottom tier. So do take solace in that.

[at_heart]

[ ...lets that settle on him for a moment. Still doesn't know if they're in the bottom, but he does know they didn't come in dead last. And yeah, he sure has...... learned some things for next time. Including that, effective as it was, he's pretty sure he never wants to throw a thermal detonator at a zone full of people. ] [ Then he points a crooked smile Emet's way, and it's only a little weaker than it could be. ]

So, there you go. Succored.

[ And for all his commentary on and reaction to the wording, he sure does appear to have remembered and understood it. ] [ Has another sip of beer. ]

[firstworldproblem]

I have faith that you will do fine.

[And on dynamite he will have to disagree. It was the first thing he was given in one of these games and throwing them from that day forward was ever a delight.]

And so soon will some of these anxious idols blossom in blood and gore and injuries stored given. It will be a gruesome sight for sure. And then the work of sensitIV and pep will begin in earnest.

Much is burdened on them, but in the end I do believe in this case they are the luckiest.

[at_heart]

[ Well, faith sort of. prickles at him, the same way trust had earlier. Lupine glances away. ]

Because they can actually do something about all the pain and death?

[ Yeah, he doesn't currently disagree. ] [ And sorry, Emet, but he doesn't even like guns, pretty much prefers his fights up close and personal. ]

[firstworldproblem]

Have you ever had to watch someone you love die and be able to nothing about it?

One's own death is simpler in comparison.

[at_heart]

[ There's a bit of a pause there. Because one the one hand, probably most of the people here have had to die at least once. But on the other hand... mmm. After a beat of studying Emet Alexander's expression, Lupine's own expression goes slightly more distant. ]

Not here yet. [ Heh. ] That'd be a mean trick, huh? Here six days, and already in love.

[ Impossible? Maybe, maybe not. —Doesn't think it would've been possible for him, though. ]

[firstworldproblem]

Semantics. You get the idea.

People will die in these games. 'Tis simply the reality of it. Such abilities have use above all others.

[at_heart]

...Yeah, I do.

[ Quiet. He definitely agrees. ] [ After a beat: ]

Was that what you had to share?

[firstworldproblem]

That I find their attitude after games a little childish and sometimes a bit insulting? Yes.

But I am also aware that a great strain is put upon them. One they did not ask for.