Act 1, Scene 1: Thing 2

[opening_act]

[ A notification on your phone goes off, letting you know the purchase of your meeting with Exael has gone through.

There is an attachment. Where are you, when you open it? ]

Comments

[opening_act]

[ Speaking of which, you get a message from Intensity:

Negotiating. Don't wait. ]

[ Exael bobs her head. You can see she looks a little worse for wear. She's got a bloody lip, gold ichor crusted at the side, and her skin seems kind of see-through luminescent in places. Maybe they're bruises. ]

I diiiid. Do you want to clean that up?

[liarliarliar]

These things happen. Ah, I had wanted to get you a cake for this meeting but I guess I blew that. Sorry.

Ah, clean what....?

[oh my arm....?

gonna text c and intensity first

go straight to exael or secuirty will come for you lol oops I'm fine]

[opening_act]

Your kind of visitors are a lot rarer than cake.

[ Yeah, your arm. She's going to go grab a handkerchief for that, since you're not injured or anything there's just blood on it. ]

[liarliarliar]

What kind of visitor am I? What makes me look like me and them like shadows, Miss Exael?

[takes the handkerchief and cleans himself up. geez rude at least it probably wont bruise

and looks around to see where they are properly]

[opening_act]

An idol visitor!

[ You're in an apartment. It's cavernous, which isn't a descriptor you'd expect to apply to any apartment in any Tokyo, but there you go. She has her ceiling tented with fabric and the walls, alternating wide pastel stripes, a trapeze (why), a wall that's pink neon signs and lava lamps, and out her window is a view of the place you were just at before— those spires and stars are distinctive. ]

You saw the game board, didn't you?

[opening_act]

Also message from Intensity:

Idiot! Don't do anything that is going to put yourself in danger! Understand?! ]

[liarliarliar]

[alcheme life (*「･ω･)ﾝ？

and pocketing phone]

I did see it, I took some pictures. I took lots of pictures, I hope they keep.

Is this your place? It's super cute.

[opening_act]

That's right! I like it too.

[liarliarliar]

So if you don't mind can I take a seat and we can have our charming chat? Everyone had things they wanted me to ask you and I want to try my best so I don't get fussed at.

And I have a lot I'm curious about.

[opening_act]

[ She gestures towards just like, a pillow pile on the floor. She apparently doesn't believe in chairs.

your phone buzzes in your pocket ]

You can ask whatever you like, and I'll answer whatever I like too.

[liarliarliar]

[takes a seat]

Thank you~

It'd be polite to ask how you are but... I'm not sure you're the type who answers that sort of question.

[peeks at phone]

You got in trouble with Boss' sinister not dad I assume? Who is that guy?

[opening_act]

[ It's another picture from Intensity, again of the people on the train captioned with the words Say hi to the audience.

She plops onto the pillow pile besides him ]

Of course. But my boss stepped in, since those two really don't get along.

I could say Azzy again, but that wouldn't answer your question.

[liarliarliar]

Ah, real quick--are we being broadcasted right now?

And of course I'd love elaboration. I thought that guy--Azzy is it? Was top dog? Is that not the case?

[opening_act]

Not unless someone's bugged my apartment.

[ she doesn't seem super concerned about the possibility ]

You can't play a game with just one side.

[liarliarliar]

Who is the other side? Tell me about your boss? Are you close?

[opening_act]

Do you want to see something cool?

[liarliarliar]

Yes!

1/2

[opening_act]

Okay, watch this!

[ She stands up, gives it a running start, and vaults into the air ]

2/2

[opening_act]

[ curls up in the air

hovers. stays there.

that's a lot of wings. ]

[liarliarliar]

WHOA.

[takes a picture]

...wait is this some elaborate angel devil theming of factions?? EXAEL!

[opening_act]

[ whump. back down onto the pillow pile, back in girl form. ]

Themeing isn't really the right word.

[liarliarliar]

What is the right word?

[opening_act]

The same phrase, just without that part.

[liarliarliar]

[YO DOG WTF]

Ah, and why are such factions interested in running this sort of reality show?

[opening_act]

You don't think Hell would think it made good TV?