WEEK 4

[bathymetric]

Another trial, another week, and still you're probably running lower on answers than you'd like. And on people - you lost three since last Sunday. By the end of this week, you'll have been here for nearly a full month, yet still the days crawl on.

You wake up Sunday, again with no memory of Saturday, but this time with a simple message on your devices: You may resume requesting items, if you like. Enjoy. Guess it really was just a stealth motive after all, but at least it's being communicated that it's over! That's something, at least.

And when you leave your rooms on Sunday, there's another new area to explore! This one is... certainly more ambitious in its construction than the last one, to say the least. But hey, you have a pretty neat place to host parties, if you feel so inclined! That's... fun...

Hey, you gotta find the fun in situations like this where you can! Silver linings, right?



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to Week 4! Remember to turn in AC here, threads for regain coins here, and if you feel so inclined you can visit Angel's office hours over here! ]

Comments

[philoxenia]

Hmmm. I suppose it's a little mean to them...

[ Sometimes depression is dyeing your hair pink and going to town on plastic moles. It's fine--

Either way, she turns to Ema and seems to consider the challenge. ]

If you'd like to taste defeat, then absolutely.

[snackooed]

Oh, wow! And here I was actually considering going a little easy on you. But if you're that cocky...

[ Watch out, the labcoat's coming off-- ]

Well, maybe I'll have to go up to about...call it, 40% of my power? I can't just let you keep bashing in moles like you own the place.

[ She grabs an (extremely) padded mallet and taps it against her palm a few times... ]

[philoxenia]

If you had gone easy on me, I'd have demanded a rematch.

[ She actually manages a little laugh. Listen... she can be pretty damn competitive. There were some pretty nasty Monopoly and Scrabble games with her brother and his fiance. ]

Only 40%? We'll have to see. I'm ready when you are, Ema.

[snackooed]

[ It's a younger sister thing, really. There's nothing more empowering than having a little leg up on your older sibling...and, more importantly, having the bragging rights that come with it. ]

Ready to get smoked, you mean! Three, two, one...go!

[ Ema hasn't done this in years, and it absolutely shows, despite her talking a big game. But she doesn't lag too far behind the targets as they pop up...maybe she's warming up? ]

[philoxenia]

[ When Ema gives the go, Mira's on it. And when she's not beating the shit out of the things just to get some of that tension out, she's pretty accurate. She's certainly aware of Ema's skills--and when the round ends, Mira tilts her head slightly. ]

Hmm. You're not bad, but is that all you've got?

[snackooed]

I told you, that was 40 percent...

[ She pouts a little bit at the disparity between their scores...she doesn't want to admit it, but Mira trounced her.

For now. ]

I'm just getting started. But I will say, I might've underestimated you, just a little...is all of that pink from some kind of super-mode transformation?

[philoxenia]

Ah, that's fair. I'm excited to see you at 100 percent.

[ She tucks a bit of hair behind her ear, looking... actually sort of pleased with herself. ]

It might be. Don't tell anyone else my secret, okay?

[snackooed]

I will say, you wear it well. It's a cute color, but there's always a touch of rebellion to dying your hair to something dramatic...

[ She takes the glasses off the top of her head, so they don't jump around while she's trying to smack little light-up rodents. ]

If you've gone and powered up without me, though, I think that might be grounds to make it a best two out of three. Unless you think we need to make it more interesting...

[philoxenia]

You think so? I'm glad I chose a good color.

[ Ah, it's getting serious.... Mira tapes her mallet against the game cabinet. ]

That's fair enough. I won't make it easy for you, and I expect you'll do the same. Should we put a prize on the line?

[snackooed]

I might be a little biased, but it is one of my favorites.

[ She does have a little ensemble going on-- ]

Anyway, if there's something on the line, I can't afford to keep holding back, especially when I'm down a game. Go ahead and name it.

[philoxenia]

[ Ema has excellent taste, as far as she's concerned. ]

Hmm... I do have an entire gingerbread house. Or... a box of chocolates?

[snackooed]

Four weeks in, you should know I'll never say no to chocolate. Unfortunately, in terms of things from that machine, I don't think I have much that you'd find appealing, other than a stuffed toy or two...but you can always hold a favor over my head. You should also know I'm the kind of person who takes those seriously.

[philoxenia]

Stuffed toys... my weakness.

[ She lets out a hum, considering it before she nods. ]

I don't doubt it. You're a reliable person, Ema. Alright--a favor it is, if I don't see a stuffed animal I like.

[snackooed]

We have a deal, then. And since you won, you're counting us down for round 2. I'm not holding back this time, so you better not get too cocky after the last one...

[ Or, probably more accurately, don't pity her for losing after talking so big-- ]

[philoxenia]

You'd better not hold back!

[ Pity her? Never. Mira readies her mallet. ]

Alright... Three-- two-- one-- go!

[ time to whack the shit out of some plastic moles!! With the higher stakes she's definitely putting her all into it, too, even more than last round. ]

[snackooed]

[ Alright, ultra instinct time. There's a lot on the line here, and she has to work her way up from a deficit...she's not gonna go down without a fight!

...Unfortunately, it seems like the power shift from "40%" to "100%" isn't actually quite that drastic. Not to say that she didn't improve; she's absolutely moving more quickly, now that she's warmed up, and heck, maybe even pulling off a slick move or two? But this isn't exactly a Rock Lee situation. Maybe a little more like a Rocky Balboa situation.

But if she's not gonna win, she's at least gonna try and make Mira sweat. ]

[philoxenia]

[ It was a valiant effort, Ema... Alas, you get trounced. Still, Mira sure gets a heck of a challenge, and by the end of it... ]

You definitely gave me a run for my money, Ema. That was a great game.

[snackooed]

[ Oh, that makes her more steamed than losing does-- ]

Y-you don't have to rub it in just because you smoked me!

[ She's almost tempted to noogie that pink right out of her hair! ]

[philoxenia]

[ Let's be real it wouldn't take that much effort.... Cause of death: noogie-- ]

I mean it, absolutely! Totally honestly, Ema.

[snackooed]

Hmph! Well, fine. You beat me, fair and square. But if you think this is over, you're sorely mistaken.

[ She makes a big show out of huffing and puffing...but she sticks her fist out for a pound, nonetheless. ]

Mira Delacroix, I hereby pronounce you the undefeated Whack-a-Mole Champion of the Pacific Ocean. Wear that title with honor and pride.

...But not too much pride.

[philoxenia]

I'll look forward to the rematch.

[ Oh-- Heck. She can't help but smile widely as she bumps her fist against Ema's. ]

Don't worry--I don't intend to wear it lightly at all. It's the highest honor anyone could bestow upon me here.

[snackooed]

The title may be an honor, but I'm going to train hard, and you'll have to defend it someday. When that time comes, I won't forget the sting of this defeat.

[ Despite how dramatic she's acting, she can't keep that pout on forever; when their fists bump, she breaks character, and starts to laugh... ]

More importantly, that was a lot of fun. Almost fun enough to make me forget that I owe you a stuffed animal, and a dessert...

[philoxenia]

I hope you won't forget! Let it fuel that motivation.

[ She's laughing too, lightly, which is so normal it almost gives her whiplash. Still, she's grateful. ]

Don't worry--I'm patient. Besides... I wouldn't mind playing a few more games. No high stakes, just two friends having fun. I haven't played some of these in some time, after all.

[snackooed]

Geez, don't say that it's been a long time for you, you'll make me feel like some kind of grandma, or something...

[ She slings her labcoat over her shoulder, and puts her glasses back on... ]

Before today, I don't think I've set foot in an arcade since I was...I dunno, maybe 12? They're like dinosaurs back home. I used to save and save for the big prizes, but unlike a certain Champ, I was actually very impatient, so I would blow all of the tickets on cute erasers that barely worked, and those finger torture puzzles?

[philoxenia]

If you were, you look great for your age.

[ She wrinkles her nose, though, at the list of prizes... ]

Ah, the finger puzzles... I remember getting stuck in one and panicking that I'd be trapped forever. Luckily, I was able to figure it out... but it was still pretty terrifying.

I always tried to save up for the big stuffed animals, though. There was one--a panda, that I really wanted, but could never get enough tickets for...