YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT

[sictransitgloriamundi]

WHO: the Captain + You
WHAT: contractually obligated price is right game
WHEN: 11/18, like nightish?
WHERE: Bellona Theater
WARNINGS: N/A, currently

[you've heard the announcement, the sound of Friday's cautious optimism as she spoke it. you've waited all day. now, it's time for the game.

the amount of effort that has gone into this production at Bellona can be safely defined as “minimal.” there are three podiums, with three slate boards and three pieces of chalk. there is another podium, currently empty, next to a plain folding table. there is a tablecloth draped over the table, covering a lumpy, inscrutable shape.

the most remarkable thing is the giant wheel set up on the other side of the empty podium. the slices of the giant circle are colorful, but also completely blank. the Captain actually spends 30 minutes prior to the start of the event simply sitting in front of it, back to the audience, and spinning it, listening to the loud clacking noise pick up and then die down again, before spinning it once more.

clackclackclack clack clack. clack. clackclackclackclackclack.

it's gonna be a long night.]

Comments

[konpeito_aji]

"You'd have to haunt them. And I'm fine, hopefully I've made it up to Klaus, since he had to deal with the negative effects of it, not me."

Nobuanga softens as she explains about being Ruby's family here. "Good. She needs that. Hm, I know some of the teens... but not enough. And although I remember my own teen years a little hazily, I don't think my experiences with them are going to be particularly useful. Maybe just a party? A relaxed one. Deputy Pratt mentioned a soup party where everyone could just chill on bean bag chairs, whatever that is. It sounded like torture to me, but maybe it's something they'd be more into?"

[millay]

"Oh. Haunt them? I don't think I could." Not in any meaningful way. So she guesses she couldn't make someone take on her unfinished business unless she found a way to imprint herself in coding, but that would only count for other Hosts.

"The adults in her life have a lot to answer for if they show up." She's not going to do anything to make problems for Ruby's relationships, but she will certainly not be staying quiet about it. "I suppose it's possible. I guess I'll see what she would like. I'd like to spend more time with her in small ways at least." To distract her from little things.

[konpeito_aji]

"Another reason to conquer Delos. They removed all capacity for meaningful growth, not just your consequences or justice."

A nod! "I have already become determined to punch both her Uncle and father, I wasn't aware I shared this sentiment with others!"

And a much softer grin. "I think that would mean a lot to her. You can try the arcade, or even just tinkering, maybe."

[millay]

A beat. "How do you mean?"

Maeve isn't certain punching is how she would go about it. If they were young and forced into things the same as Ruby, there is some understanding there, but... "I think I would be more likely to emotionally punch them than physically punch them. It is sometimes a more lasting damage. I just wish they could...think about how things affect children. It is the only reason I would feel guilt waking my daughter. Then she would have to live with the knowledge of her deaths."

There is a nod about that, though. "I have been learning some of the arcade. I still do not understand very much, but a young man showed me Dig Dug. It is a digging game." She pauses before adding. "If you do not dig with intention and careful forethought, you will be killed by your enemies."

[konpeito_aji]

"For even others. Internal justification is easy to override. External cannot be ignored."

A slow nod, "Emotional is much worse. I am not upset about her age. I was much younger when the wars found me. It is that neither of them saw fit to teach her unarmed defense, nor how to recover after battles. This is the most basic of soldier teachings in my world, but I remember now... Remnant isn't my world, but still. They seem inadequate as mentors, to say the least. Teaching someone to be more than just a weapon, to do more than just war -- though that isn't common enough in hell, it should be the first things parents teach, much more than weapons themselves. Even Gozen taught me more than just that. Even the monks know they have no choice."

As for Dig Dug, "Is it fun? It sounds fun. I wish to play. I'm not sure she enjoys digging as much, but she might enjoy the other side."

[millay]

"I wonder if anyone in that world knows anything about recovery after battles." Not that Maeve knows shit about it either. They didn't teach Hosts things like that. They just woke them up and hoped for the best. Still, if she ever meets the man that started her on this journey...she will probably go for the jugular. Emotionally and physically.

"It is more fun than I thought it would be. And it became a competition! Which probably made it better." She smiles a little. "I can show you how if you want to sometime."

[konpeito_aji]

"Fair..." He scrunches his face, trying to adjust his thinking. Japan had been in war since before his Grandfather's time, so everyone knew about needing to be more than just a weapon. Time itself seemed a bit off on Remnant. "Wait, why do you want to kick their asses?"

A giant grin. "That sounds like the best, yeah teach me, and then I'll defeat you. Mufufu."

[millay]

"Because they put so much on her shoulders. She still feels that she needs to be on, to save the world." She frowns. "She's just one child, younger than everyone else...but they all expect her to be the one to save them all? To lead them?" It's ridiculous and frustrating. "They've put so much pressure on her and she shouldn't have to live with that."

Maeve smirks. "As if you could, darling."

[konpeito_aji]

"Oh," a soft sad smile. "I'm not sure they could have prevented that. Perhaps I'm thinking too much of my own circumstances, but if I hadn't become clan leader and taken on my father's dream and gone even further; beyond uniting Owari, but all of Japan, and saving the world, even as a teenager, then I'd have been stuck in Hell with everyone else, and my even younger brother would have tried to step up. No way out. But they could have at least given her a better chance to even do that. They didn't even teach her how to be herself or protect herself without a weapon, or against other humans," an annoyed huff.

And then he smirks. "Never know if you don't try." He's going to do his best and then some!

[millay]

Maeve just hates that there's no one helping her to carry the burden. She's just expected to do it alone. And she has a team, but most of them are young, too. She has her uncle. Her uncle could be able to do something to take on some of the burden of it, but he doesn't. As far as she knows anyway.

"I cannot help her terribly with that. I cannot fight very well in hand-to-hand myself. But I can at least help take some of the burden for her if she still feels beholden to leadership. I can still help in some way."

There's a hint of amusement in her expression. "I'm sure you will."

[konpeito_aji]

True enough. And Nobunaga's smile softens. "Then I will teach her unarmed, and you can help her still be a child. And we'll both be here to show her how to be a person not just a weapon."

[millay]

She nods. "I know Peter is doing his best, but I'd appreciate it if she learned as much as she can." She smiles slightly. "She needs more solid people in her life willing to help her."