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

[emberserker]

[It's fine, half of them are Street Fighter II remakes anyway.]

Are you sure it isn't just that they weren't built for you?

[hardnosed]

Do you think I'm stupid?

[emberserker]

That wasn't what I was getting at. [which isn't a "no"] I think you're too big to have any level of dexterity.

[hardnosed]

[ She almost snaps I know before it registers that Anna's not actually saying she's too big to use the controls as intended, which she's well aware of. She's saying she's too big for any subtlety. Honestly, the fact that her first read was a charitable one galls Jasper way more than anything else. ]

How inept do you think you'd look trying to operate a Roaming Eye? [ Okay, she wouldn't at all look ridiculous sizewise, since much smaller Gems can pilot them with ease, but she doesn't know that. ] I'm more than capable of accomplishing what I need to with equipment that's the proper size. Your standard isn't mine, so who cares who it was built for?

[emberserker]

In that case, why are you blaming the controls? You just admitted it was because they weren't made for you.

[hardnosed]

I just said that I don't care about that when the end result is the same. You can't be much good yourself, if you'd rather bicker about them than actually play anything.

[emberserker]

Excuse me? I have priorities!

[hardnosed]

Could've fooled me.

[emberserker]

What, you think I go around playing these all day?

[hardnosed]

Obviously not. Then you might be good at something.

[emberserker]

You... you dare say that to me? You know who I am! I don't care what you or anyone else says about me being "weak" or "untalented," you're just lying for your own self-satisfaction!

[hardnosed]

[ She just looks like she might smirk, then crosses her arms, regarding Anna like she's something unpleasant she narrowly missed stepping in. ]

... Too easy.

[emberserker]

Easy to what? Do you think you win by making people upset because that's all you can do?

[hardnosed]

Like you're doing any better? [ Oh, that was a snap. ] Just because you're short doesn't mean you always have to rise to the bait!

[emberserker]

You think this is some kind of game? No wonder he gave you that title, you've got iron where your brain should be!

[hardnosed]

No.

[ Jasper's voice booms. She doesn't slam her fist into the nearest game's screen, in a great show of self-restraint, but her arm twitches as if she's close to taking violent action. The fact that she's holding back makes her angrier than anything else. ]

This isn't a game. This is a battlefield with inane rules and dishonest combat, and there's only one person on it worth fighting, so unless you've got something worth hearing to say, you can just shut your mouth.

[emberserker]

Ugh...! Don't you mock me like that, you piece of gravel!

[Anna moves to shove her way past Jasper. She obviously still can't actually move her, but has she gotten somewhat stronger than Week 1? Must be the weight room.]

[hardnosed]

[ Huh! She absolutely notes this, and it absolutely does not keep her from standing still, an obnoxious immovable object, in Anna's way. ]

Is that what you think this is? Me, mocking you?

[emberserker]

[Anna growls up at her.] Don't give me that, what else is it?

[hardnosed]

I think you're a petulant brat who can't tolerate being kept from what you want for five seconds. You're too entitled to handle this captivity, and you're too weak to break free — but you know that if you try anything, you'll get caught out. And you're too afraid of that to make your move. So every week, you come by with the same speech. "I'd like to see you do any better." "Are you even trying to get out of here?" "You just admitted it yourself!"

[ To her dubious credit, she doesn't do a voice. ]

You think I don't know what you think of me? You think I'm some coarse, loudmouthed brute who doesn't consider a thing she says or does. You think I haven't got the right to look down on someone as important as you. But when I talk down to you, you always come snapping back, don't you? You can't help yourself.

I'm not laughing at you. I'm sick of you.

[emberserker]

[Anna's face is shadowed. She clenches her fists at her sides.[

I'm not weak. Or afraid. Get out of my way.

[hardnosed]

Make me.