[ In his defense -- not any odder than the people Steven works with dresses. At least you don't look like a fashion clown.
Fair is fair, so Steven shows Fukuda his own -- a deep blue mark that matches his undershirt, in sharp contrast with the red tattoos he already seems to have on his neck. Colour theme on point. ]
I've yet to meet anyone else with the same look. [ He smiles. ] By "teams", do you suppose we'll have to face off at some point?
[ You'd actually be surprised. Having a hole in your head is not the most outlandish thing Steven's seen over the last three years of his life, at minimum. ]
I see... the most straightforward train of thought, then, is that the theoretical "winners" get what it is that they wished for. Losers uncertain, but I suppose the safest answer there, too, is that they simply don't get anything.
[ It's all starting to sound like a game of sorts. ]
[People have been generally very polite about not freaking out over the hole and frankly Fukuda is a little confused.]
Aah. Though you'd think if it was such a situation, they would have explained such in their welcome letter. What we've been presented with currently doesn't suggest anything beyond "indulging will get you your wish."
[A pause, before;] Maybe it's a matter of bringing about a conclusion. Making the other teams unable to indulge.
[ You came to the wrong neighbourhood fucker, if you wanted people to react normally to your shit. Though, to be fair, no one has pointed out Steven's giant face scar as of yet either. ]
"Indulgence" in concept, in itself, is a luxury. I don't imagine it would be particularly difficult to not indulge...
...Though, then, the so-called "punishment" in that case would be, as I said -- that the loser doesn't get anything.
[ Could it really be that simple, an odd game with technically only winners in the end? ]
Aah. But what I'm saying is we haven't been given a finish line, a win condition. I doubt a single act of indulgence will secure someone their wish. With the given parameters, we could be stuck here indefinitely, to indulge. Our hosts have not given us a deadline or quantitative amount.
What they did mention was killing. If someone is dead, they cannot make the choice one way or the other to indulge. [He's not saying "maybe we have to kill the other teams to win" but he's also not NOT saying that.]
And certainly, I don't have any interest in having to kill. If that's truly the situation, it would be better to try and find a way to change the teams.
If I may be so blunt, would it possibly have anything to do with your injury?
[ He's seen some CRAZY ASS SHIT in his life, like a human man literally having his whole brain removed from his body but still walking and talking, but that's his world and involved a ton of technology. From his stance, he's not seeing any technology wired into Fukuda's grievous head hole. ]
[What a good question! That conveniently also draws focus away from him.]
I think our hosts are giving us somewhere pleasant and comfortable with all these amenities to get us to lower our guards. I feel like there's a twist coming.
Yes... that does seem like a given. All the pleasantries might just be enough to throw you off guard from the deeper implications. "Indulgence" doesn't have a strict definition, nor does it limit only us as those who can.
[ Cruel gods who run their own little games, seeing mortal lives as nothing but entertainment -- Steven's apathy suggests he's maybe not so unfamiliar with the idea. ]
[ It's not like he's participated in games just like this or anything -- but rather more a seemingly permanent nihilistic view that permeates him at times. Gods, and individuals given god-like positions, are often cruel, and that was the way of the world. ]
Who knows... it's too early to say. But if "death" is a mechanic, then I suspect something will happen soon enough -- after all, it seems too significant a notion to be ignored.
I suspect someone will go missing or turn up dead soon.
How pessimistic. People have to at least be given a real incentive to kill first, don't you think? We're all locked in here, surely it would be hard to get away with murder.
Our "wishes" are a form of incentive, aren't they? Though mine isn't something to kill a man over, I can't say the same for everyone else. And if the notion of not being able to get said "wish" is a playing factor...
...But then there must be a risk, or else one person could murder everyone else and walk away.
Mm, that's true, but as of right now no one has actually said there's a lose condition besides choosing not to indulge. It's just our assumption that there might be.
[ Paranoia bonding!!! The worst form of bonding. At least they're both extremely subtle / mild about said business paranoia. ]
I suppose not. That would be the best outcome, if everyone had the potential to get whatever it is they wanted...
... [ Though he raises the back of his hand, drawing attention back to it. ] Still, these aren't the most comforting marks I've ever seen. Yours appears to be a mass of eyes, while I'm not completely certain what mine is.
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Fair is fair, so Steven shows Fukuda his own -- a deep blue mark that matches his undershirt, in sharp contrast with the red tattoos he already seems to have on his neck. Colour theme on point. ]
I've yet to meet anyone else with the same look. [ He smiles. ] By "teams", do you suppose we'll have to face off at some point?
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Maybe... Maybe it's some sort of competition, whoever "indulges" more, that team wins.
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I see... the most straightforward train of thought, then, is that the theoretical "winners" get what it is that they wished for. Losers uncertain, but I suppose the safest answer there, too, is that they simply don't get anything.
[ It's all starting to sound like a game of sorts. ]
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Aah. Though you'd think if it was such a situation, they would have explained such in their welcome letter. What we've been presented with currently doesn't suggest anything beyond "indulging will get you your wish."
[A pause, before;]
Maybe it's a matter of bringing about a conclusion. Making the other teams unable to indulge.
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"Indulgence" in concept, in itself, is a luxury. I don't imagine it would be particularly difficult to not indulge...
...Though, then, the so-called "punishment" in that case would be, as I said -- that the loser doesn't get anything.
[ Could it really be that simple, an odd game with technically only winners in the end? ]
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What they did mention was killing. If someone is dead, they cannot make the choice one way or the other to indulge.
[He's not saying "maybe we have to kill the other teams to win" but he's also not NOT saying that.]
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That is, unless these marks changing is a variable. There's no sign of that at the moment, of course, but what do we know?
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And certainly, I don't have any interest in having to kill. If that's truly the situation, it would be better to try and find a way to change the teams.
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You're awfully calm about the notion of potentially being killed.
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I think I've been well prepared for the experience, in any case.
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If I may be so blunt, would it possibly have anything to do with your injury?
[ He's seen some CRAZY ASS SHIT in his life, like a human man literally having his whole brain removed from his body but still walking and talking, but that's his world and involved a ton of technology. From his stance, he's not seeing any technology wired into Fukuda's grievous head hole. ]
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[He regards Steven a long moment, as if he's weighing whether he wants to say something, but in the end;]
No, something else. More recent. Though it doesn't really matter, here.
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Dying, regardless, would be the most unpleasant outcome and best to be avoided...
[ Hm... ] What do you make of this place?
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I think our hosts are giving us somewhere pleasant and comfortable with all these amenities to get us to lower our guards. I feel like there's a twist coming.
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[ Cruel gods who run their own little games, seeing mortal lives as nothing but entertainment -- Steven's apathy suggests he's maybe not so unfamiliar with the idea. ]
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[It almost seems like this isn't his first rodeo.]
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Who knows... it's too early to say. But if "death" is a mechanic, then I suspect something will happen soon enough -- after all, it seems too significant a notion to be ignored.
I suspect someone will go missing or turn up dead soon.
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...But then there must be a risk, or else one person could murder everyone else and walk away.
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[Maybe other people aren't so paranoid.]
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I suppose not. That would be the best outcome, if everyone had the potential to get whatever it is they wanted...
... [ Though he raises the back of his hand, drawing attention back to it. ] Still, these aren't the most comforting marks I've ever seen. Yours appears to be a mass of eyes, while I'm not completely certain what mine is.
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It almost looks like a sword... Haha, they are quite ominous, aren't they?
[Still;]
I suppose all we can do now is speculate, though.
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Would you like to strike a deal, Mr. Fukuda? Of the informational exchange variety.
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What are you proposing, exactly?
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Two pairs of eyes are better than one, and better that there's less to be surprised by, wouldn't you agree?
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