Nine-Nine Heart - Run 1

[idolpro]

[It's time for a new an exciting place, right? A land of adventure and fun and excitement!

Wait? Then why does this look like Tokyo-F. Like a Tokyo-F that has seen better days.

A dark purple haze has settled over the city, thick and suffocating, oppressive and heavy. The sky above is filled with yawning teeth and blinking eyes stare back at you. Buildings lie in tatters and their remains litter the landscape.

A few proud buildings still stand tall! The most prominent one among them - THE GAME TOWER. Though it is sporting more of an evil villain castle vibe than you remember. And it certainly used to be taller and not leaking out that purple smoke filling the air. Nonetheless it stands as a beacon in the city, the focal point in the ruin around you.

A voice echos in your head. "Find the Dark Master."

GAME START!]

Comments

[puzzlekeeper]

... No. I'm not so sure they would.

Their system may be a rigged disaster, but it still relies on some things to work. The only reason we're all playing along like we do is because they're consistent - if the consequences of throwing were put off on the winners just for the hell of it, would any of us bother playing along anymore?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Then why throw in a game where your ties to the community mattered after ruthlessly punishing those who didn't abide by their ridiculous rules of unit unity?

[puzzlekeeper]

You already know the answer. Because we're in hell, and our suffering is good for ratings.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

And that also proves my point! If we get too complacent with one thing they'll just change the rules on us without warning. So the rules and the winning conditions don't fucking matter.

[puzzlekeeper]

Well then, what do you intend to do about that? How are you going to play?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

The moves that keep the key players in play. And that includes---

[Dramatic pointing at Nine-Nine]

This idiot!

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Giving Nine-Nine a sidelong, long-suffering look. ]

And out of curiosity, how have you decided who the "key players" are?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Those that remember who the real fucking final boss is.

A low bar that surprisingly few seem able to fucking clear.

[puzzlekeeper]

[ For a moment it looks like he's about to protest.

Even opens his mouth to do so.

... Then, after thinking on it a second, realizes he really doesn't have enough faith in the majority of these fuckers anymore to argue the point. Sucks, doesn't it? ]


...

I guess you're right.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[It really sucks.

The agreement, though, is a little surprising.]

My my, is our dark paladin already so jaded?

[puzzlekeeper]

You say "already" like I haven't had time to see more than enough.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

What was the straw that broke the camel's back?

[puzzlekeeper]

Guess.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Guess?

[Taps his chin thoughtfully.]

Something post trial. Since you seemed to be still on board then.

So---

It's either you're upset that no one decided to save your unit in the popularity contest or---

Something else happen to you in the murder free-for-all?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ He shakes his head ]

No. I knew we were going to lose any popularity contest. That's not what concerns me.

[ It's whatever!!! ]

... My first game here - the game with the puzzles - I watched someone sacrifice a life when there was still more than enough time to save both of them.

Then, in the game with the poisoned vials - when there was an easy and guaranteed way to save everyone - two teams chose to play to harm anyway.

Then, in the free-for-all, I watched people behead and dismember my teammates and ask questions later.

And now, I helped Primrose home after she suffered one of the worst deaths I've heard of, and find out multiple teams were led to completely avoidable slaughter because one team thought that was an acceptable sacrifice.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Not one unit. Four.

Two units lied and two didn't say anything until it was too late to herd the cats into a unanimous decision.

But you're right - on pure numbers, the best case scenario would have been only four deaths instead of the seventeen that did occur.

Though still going by that logic, she would have died anyway since she was the only one from Heart Soldier Senshi.

[puzzlekeeper]

I know. And she told me that's what she wanted, that she deliberately played to that end, and I can live with it - it's her choice. But the rest of it...

[ What the ACTUAL fuck ]

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

So what do you intend to do about it?

Put Heart Soldier's protection above the rest? Only focus on a few units within the community?

[puzzlekeeper]

[ Looking mildly offended by the question honestly. ]

I'm going to continue playing as I always have. I'm not giving the psychopaths in charge what they want.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You'll have to fill me in on what that strategy is. If you're willing to share.

[puzzlekeeper]

Heart Soldier has always played to minimize damage as much as possible, and not hold grudges or retaliate. Surely you've noticed that by now.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

So then that free-for-all game was a fluke? Or were the other units gunning for you?

[puzzlekeeper]

I never said I wouldn't finish a fight someone else starts.

Believe it or not, I didn't initiate a single conflict in that game.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Depends. How many "conflicts" were you in?

[puzzlekeeper]

Two.

Three, if if you want to split hairs about one of them lasting two rounds.