Heart Game: Intensity (Turn 2)

[idolpro]

In the beginning, there is nothing but darkness and silence. A sleep that gives no rest but one out of necessity in order to keep functioning. Behind closed eyelids, the numbers of a clock tick down - one painstaking second at a time.

TIME UNTIL REBOOT:


And then you wake up.

As you shift to a standing position, you feel something sharp and pointed press against your side. Digging into the nearest pocket, you will find two small puzzle pieces. And from their odd shape, it looks like they would fit into a 3D spherical puzzle. Odd. You've never seen them before, but you do get a sense that these are a currency of some sort. Spend them wisely!

Game start.

Comments

[rollplayinghouse]

Mine...?

[considers for a long moment]

I want to reach a point where I can make my own decisions about my life and help the people I care about. Instead of constantly being manipulated or hurting them.

Of course, if I'm really going to have that power, that means I can't be trapped on a Hell idol show. Or anywhere else. So that aligns with your goals, right?

And... you're the person I care about the most, so...

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

It does and it doesn't. I never plan to leave here, you know. Not permanently.

[rollplayinghouse]

By "here" do you mean Tokyo-F? This show? Or Hell in general?

Because I assumed you weren't leaving Hell, at least.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Hell mostly. With my name gone and Mokuba here, I don't have a reason to return back to my world anymore. And any overthrowing is going to be a long and messy process.

[rollplayinghouse]

Then yes, I know that. What, did you assume I was ignoring that in my domestic fantasy? People clearly need houses and food and downtime in Hell, too.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ That was 3,000% the wrong icon ]

I wasn't assuming anything. Did I say something wrong?

[rollplayinghouse]

...No. Sorry.

Anyway, I don't think anything about that is contrary to your priorities.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ After a long pause ] Do you still think you don't help people?

[rollplayinghouse]

[a pause of her own, her fingers curling tighter]

...No. I do. But I could do a lot better.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Of course you could do better. Everyone could do better. But that climb is part of the thrill of it.

[rollplayinghouse]

...I know that.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Okay. Then. Did you want a tour of the place?

[rollplayinghouse]

Ah... Sure. But first—

[she pulls her puzzle pieces out]

Did you need these?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Uwaaah! You found more pieces of my puzzle!

[rollplayinghouse]

Are you missing a lot of them?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I think so. There are so many pieces that don't fit. And there's not enough mass for a full sphere. [ He sighs ] It's be so much easier if I could build something to solve this.

[rollplayinghouse]

Is it easier to build something to solve a puzzle than to just solve the puzzle?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Sometimes! I remember Yugi telling me it took him 8 years to solve King's puzzle.

[rollplayinghouse]

Ah.

...Hopefully this one won't take you that long. You can get some help with it, at least. Even if you can't build a robot or whatever.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ Which reminds him ] Are you good with puzzles? Do you want to help?

[rollplayinghouse]

I'm not, really. But I do.

Well, I'm not very good with normal puzzles. Since it's yours, maybe this one will be different.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ If she tries to slot in her own pieces in the puzzle, it's fairly easy to do. They are hers, after all! The rest of the puzzle, though, is still a hot mess. Accurately reflecting its owner. ]

[rollplayinghouse]

[She's visibly surprised when she fits her pieces in, but after that she's clearly at a loss.]

There's still a lot more of it...

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ He nods at that. There is still a lot of work to do, but--- ] I know. But I've made so much progress today. More than I have in a long time. [ He laughs ] You can almost even tell it's a sphere now.

[rollplayinghouse]

[smiles faintly]

I'm glad.