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

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You think I have the worst intentions. And you know what, usually I do! Because I don't actually give two fucks about most people's feelings!

[rollplayinghouse]

...It's never about thinking you have bad intentions.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Look we can keep dancing around the issue or we could just stop.

You're important to me.

I'm apparently shit at expressing that.

Take that fault or leave it. Because the constant doubt translates to disappointment.

[rollplayinghouse]

You're not shit at expressing it, though. That's not the issue.

The issue is that I am. Isn't it?

[Some emotion is creeping into her voice now.]

You think everything I say is a criticism of you. You always think I'm not trying, or that I don't care, or that I'm disappointed in you, and I can't do anything or say anything to change your mind. That's the only reason I have doubts. Like I say every time, you've done more than I could possibly even expected to be there for me.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

And if I said that none of those things were true.

Would you be happy?

[rollplayinghouse]

...I'm already happy. I'm happy you wanted to make me Queen of Hell. I'm happy you wanted to make me Prince of Vengeance, even if I'm less sure I want to do that one. I'm happy that you wanted to give me my house. I'm happy that I'm an important person to you.

I'm just also scared I'll lose you. And I don't want our relationship boiled down to a demon contract.

And I'd be happier if you believed me about those things, yeah. But that's still only a start. I really want to do better than "not making things worse" for you.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

That wasn't a demon contract.

It was a future. Together. Practical. But not ideal.

If you haven't noticed, I've sent most other people away. Because that life isn't suitable for many.

[rollplayinghouse]

...I haven't noticed. I haven't seen much of this place.

Is it so bad that I want a better future than that? You— [she turns slightly to indicate small Intensity] —said it, right? You can do better. Everyone can always do better. That's part of the thrill of it.

We've always... pushed each other. That was good, before.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ Flatly: ]

There isn't going to be a happily ever after. Not for me.

That's a fool's dream.

[rollplayinghouse]

I didn't say that. Stop assuming I have some unrealistic romantic fantasy in my head.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I wasn't talking about you.

You're the one who is in charge of your own future.

[rollplayinghouse]

I wasn't talking about me either. I was just talking about "happily ever after."

When I say you can do better, that doesn't mean I'm imagining there's some magical solution that will fix everything.

But that "King of Hell" was a long way from that. I don't think you need to lose your body. I don't think you need to keep the productions the way they are. I don't think you need to run me through a gauntlet and sign me on as a minion to give me the power to stand beside you. 

Maybe you think those things are possible and want to plan for them. Fine. But maybe I also want to plan for how to avoid them. Since when are you a man who resigns yourself to a worst-case scenario?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Then I'm listening.

[rollplayinghouse]

...

[she exhales]

That's all I want. To talk about that kind of thing.

I don't mean to—make it sound like nothing you do is right, or I'm never happy...

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

So tell me what you'd have me do instead.

[rollplayinghouse]

...Well, like I said, I'm going to become someone who can be Queen of Hell. You don't have to give it to me.

For the rest of it... I can't just give you an answer right now. I'd want to work with you. But there's no reason to think things have to stay the same as they are.

It sounds like Liar and Vengeance started the productions to keep the Damned from fading away, right? They haven't always existed. Which means you could easily replace them with something else as long as it serves the same purpose of anchoring their identities. Why don't you use card games, or something?

And Asshole and Lady Death were human, and they still seem pretty human. She apparently has plenty of time to hang out at bars and go to shows and whatever even with whatever power struggle they're in the middle of. It seems reasonable to think it could be the same for you.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Is that what bothered you? The lack of humanity?

[rollplayinghouse]

...I mean, like I told Cardigan, I think the dragon wings are cool and everything. It wasn't that part.

It was more... especially because we're here, it felt like either you had to transform yourself into something else to become King of Hell, or you had to cut out everything 'soft', or... something like that. And I don't think you need to do that.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You think I can get away with being weak? In that position?

[rollplayinghouse]

Those things aren't the same as being weak.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Then enlighten me on which "softness" is a strength.

[rollplayinghouse]

...Caring. Trust. Support. You have people you can count on for more than whatever you put in their contract. There are things you don't have to control and worry about every moment. There are people, even strangers, who will give you assistance not because they're getting something in return, but because they see who you are and what you're doing.

Of course, those can be weaknesses too, but hard things can go brittle and shatter, right? It's not as simple as that.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Oh yes. Trust. Support. Believing that others have your best interests at heart. Or at the very least, that you are aligned in your priorities and thus willing to help them.

Using that to my advantage was exactly how I overthrew the existing regime.

You think I would leave something like that open for exploitation after the fact?

[rollplayinghouse]

...If it was an advantage before, why couldn't it keep being one? It's not like your work stops once you're on top, right?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

It's not just about work. It's about goals and alignment.

People joined the cause before because they had something to gain for overthrowing the status quo.

Now that I am the status quo, there has to be something else it in for them. Abilities, promises - those things work best. And a contract is a way to outline our obligations to each other.

And them being willing to sign the contract itself is a show of trust at best. But more realistically mutual understanding.