Apr 2017 Archive, part a

Aye, Zim was my creation - you are welcome to write him as you see fit, he got basically zero characterization in my work. He's strong enough to move the heavy ordinance around, stable and mature enough to be trusted with the heavy ordinance, and beyond that, he's completely up to you.

Cool. Thanks, I just needed to know who she reports to. The BFG's are just there "in case of emergency", much like the tanks, artillery shells and clown masks. They'd be gathering dust if Lucy wasn't polishing them regularly.

It's not a Fallout character, but I'd imagine a few suits of T-51b would come in handy.

The character I'm creating is one of the Armoury staff, an ape called Lucy who has a slight fascination with big guns and likes to climb over the armour and hit it with a wrench when she gets stressed. I was asking about the Armoury because I'm not sure if I can make her the head or just a senior agent.

He wouldn't happen to be part of something called the Ka-tet of 19 by any chance, would he?

And a further twenty for quoting the Forbidden Serpent.

[()

... you will be hunted down and given thirty lashes for your disrepect.

[()

The EPC has a few of those SIDRATs from Master Who lying around, doesn't it? I imagine shoving a reluctant canon face-first into a temporal vortex would prove both entertaining and productive.

hS

And here I thought we were a community of readers who could interpret from context.

hS

But come on, at least tell me the chainmail bikinis are made of solid gold or something. You can't skimp on outfits, even the skimpy ones!

(Despite not being a PPCer, I think I have a say in this since I design a lot of characters.)

I like long coats as well (or just jackets), but more in the Sherlock kind of way, or perhaps the way that General Hux does it in Star Wars Ep 7. It makes you look very intelligent. I'm also partial to high collars and high boots. Also, any sort of shirt or jscket that fastens sideways! I don't know much about the personality of this Aviator girl, but I'm just offering a few things that I often do.

-Twistey

But I think black, hooded cloaks are cool as well. They're perfect for rogueish characters, and they give that aura of mystery as well.

The only thing I'm uncertain about is that they cover ammo belts - should I put them over the cloak for Sergio?

Just going to nab your spoiler block here...

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As below, I'm glad the ending got you! It's everything I wanted and more! *spins around gleefully*

Ahem. Yes.

I did have fun writing the twist, although it was also hard to kill off a character that I both like and have no actual current intention of killing in canon. Overall, though, this particular fake mission was both interesting and fun to write. Twisting everything while knowing that Dawn wasn't going to set it right in the end...it's very different, and, well, kind of a lot like doing the badfic games, actually!

As for your second paragraph...yeah, from my perspective that was definitely intentional, but from the imaginary fanfic writer's perspective it was probably more along the lines of 'she starts out ordinary but special, builds a relationship with Oliver, anD THEN SHE GETS COOL POWERS SO SHE CAN TAKE OUT THAT STUPID CLINGY LAUREL AND THEN SHE'S GOING TO GET THAT COOL MAGIC FROM ONCE UPON A TIME BECAUSE YOU'D TOTALLY NEED MORE THAN JUST CONTROLLING METAL TO PROPERLY BEAT DEATHSTROKE COME ON.' So yes. From the imaginary writer's perspective, she was probably meant to...well, to go from semi-ordinary (if increasingly rather lucky) to extraordinary in the best way. Unfortunately, it doesn't really come across that way. Not to mention the many tense changes...

In conclusion: I'm glad you enjoyed it (and that you were surprised, of course, since that was my intention). As for the Purim RP, it's probably going to go up after Pesach (aka Passover) by now; so, after at least a couple more days. On the other hand, it might go up tomorrow, but I may hold off so that I'll actually be able to participate too. That would be nice. It is going to happen, though, despite the longer than usual delay.

Thanks for the review!

~Zing

My dear hS, your spoiler block is most amusing. I shall try one of my own, since I suspect it might be a good idea.

Gil-galad was a spoiler block
of him the spoilers sadly block
the last whose block was fair and strong
between the spoilers and the throng.

His block was thick, his lance was keen.
His shining helm afar was seen;
the countless spoilers of fiction's field
were hidden deep within his shield.

But long ago he rode away,
and where he dwelleth none can say;
for into darkness fell his star
in Badfic where the shadows are.

...and, now that I want to actually maybe write a drabble about that...

I'm so glad I shocked you! I ran with the idea of the agent not surviving, despite how hard it was to actually write, because, well, it really is unusual! And fun! You don't get to do it very frequently, because really, how often can you kill off your main characters? Unless, of course, you keep bringing them back...which then leaves you with the Supernatural effect, wherein you lose tension because the audience knows by now that the three main characters are probably never going to be permanently killed off. So it was very fun. Despite the fact that actually writing a death scene for Dawn was kind of difficult--not from the mechanics of it, really, but mainly because I'm not actually planning to kill her off anytime soon.

As for concrit...sure! Good stuff, that, no matter the season.

1. No, I didn't post it on April 1st, though I did start writing it then! I think I mentioned somewhere that April crept up on me? Well, it really crept up on me. I hadn't given an AFD story any real thought in the preceding few weeks. I still really wanted to do something, though. Unfortunately, I finished in the early morning hours of April 2nd, and while I liked what I'd written, it's so far off what I generally write for the PPC that I wanted to both look it over myself while awake and get some other opinions. So I waited. And it's just as well that I did, because I got to make some good edits that way. And, of course, the beta comments were pure gold.

2. Annalise...yeah. She is meant to sort of build gradually, with the hints that in future chapters she'll go even further off the rails. She warps the characters very OOC, changes tenses a lot, and has made the whole thing exist in a somewhat nebulous time setting--it's probably set pre-series, but at the same time Robert Queen is never mentioned (and the same with Laurel and Sarah's mother), and it's just...well, it's meant to feel off, especially if you know the show at all. But hopefully also at least somewhat if you don't know it. She is meant to be not the worst of the worst until she jumps the shark with the X-Men powers, though.

3. I can't take credit for the original idea, actually--I'm pretty sure I've at least seen the concept discussed before--but...hm. I do have an old and unfinished thing for a Sue in the process of being reformed, but I'm not sure it's going to be continued anytime too soon. I also love Mary-Sue parodies, and should continue mine at some point (I used a chapter of it for my Permission piece, actually), but even that isn't really from the Sue's perspective. I suppose it'll really depend on whether or not I find a badfic that would work with it?

Something that would be interesting and perhaps more easily done, however, is to tell a mission through the POV of a character who's been warped OOC. I'm not sure if it'd work better or worse with someone who's extremely OOC than with someone who's only somewhat OOC and watching everyone else act weirdly with confusion, but...hm. I think I'll keep an eye out for this sort of thing as well.

Anyway, hope I've answered everything...and thanks for the review!

~Zing

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Backslash: "Whew! Normally this is the part where I'd throw a major fit for ending up in second place, but I'll just suck it up this time around because nothing I can say will ever change anything by this point. Almost half of us died by complete accident, including me, and the victor most likely managed to remain the last one standing by sheer dumb luck rather than, from what Whitney told me, that epic battle that concluded last season. Whomever was in charge of this whole thing probably wasn't doing a very good job, at least as far as I know. For my taste, I'm glad to be not only in the top three like Whitney was last time - higher-ranking than her, in fact! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Whitey - but also to not have to worry anymore about getting myself killed! Huzzah!

"...I am never doing that ever again."

Which might be spoilers, so...

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Saki

Uh. Didn't expect it to go that way. And... well... might be my own fault, even. I think what did us in is the potion Shiro made some days ago, keeping it in a water canteen was a terrible idea. Still, fifth place!

Apollo: I never saw my death coming, literally. Although I really want to meet Suta outside of this now. She didn't have to pretend to want to snuggle for warmth, although it was kind of fun to play along.
Well done to whoever killed me, I kinda wish I knew how to do that before. Let's meet up afterwards and have a drink.

Kaatah: She found my secret base then said "it'll never work you stupid suit rat." Well I showed her, I showed her oh so well. And I'll show them all! Fear the suit rats. FEAR US! *ahem* sorry. The feast was a trap so I never went for it, and the magic ring I found should be just what I wanted...

Backslash and Suta are being interviewed together. Backslash looks rather uncomfortable, especially since he's sitting right next to the tyrannosaur he shot to death that day.

Backslash: "I... I guess I'm in the final seven, aren't I? That can't be a good sign."

Suta: "Don't beat yourself up over it, little furry guy! You're doing a great job of staying alive, and that's what counts! Survival of the fittest and whatnot."

Backslash: "I shot you. I literally shot you down the throat. Why did I do that? If we could've just TALKED a little more..."

Suta: "Hey, at least I barely made it into the top ten. And really, didn't you even listen to what I told you before I barreled at you at top speed?"

Backslash: "Mouth-first, mind. I reacted on instinct and muscle memory from Dino Crisis."

Suta: "Pfff. Yeah, my bad for making an awful first impression. But really, it was gonna be down to either you or me if we both ended up being the top two. I didn't want you having to make that choice. Though to be fair, I DID have my stomach in mind when I made it for you. Sorry 'bout that!"

Backslash: "But... But I thought we were from the same district!"

Suta: "Knowing everything else that's happened thus far, districts are a moot point by now. It's everybody for themselves, like it or not."

Backslash: "Dear Bionis..." *He buries his face in his hands and scarf.* "So, uh, no hard feelings, right?"

Suta: "Not at all, actually. I had a lot of fun with these games - I made a few friends, got to find out what you furry thingies taste like (blech)... and really, there were others around here who went down in less dignified ways. Anyway, best of luck to ya, mammal guy! I'm sure you'll do great in the last few rounds!"

Backslash: "I just hope I don't die to poisoning. Steel-type immunity and all."

Suta: "Don't worry. Just keep suriving and doing what you're doing and who knows, you may even win! I'd knock on wood but, well... I've got a big head and little arms..." *She winks, teeth bared.*

Backslash: "Was that a reference to something I don't know?"

Suta: *smirks* "Yes, indeed it was."

She's got as many kills as the rest of her district combined. Which, considering Shiro and Ami played well and in line with expectations, is quite something.

She's also already my best ranking Agent ever, as her being in the last seven beats Agent!Sergio's best placement (eight in the third edition). She's my youngest and least experienced Agent, and has beaten my oldest and most experienced one. Go figures.

Saki

That's it. The fasdter people die, the faster this is over, and the faster I'll get back with my friends! Well, of course I can't beat some of them in a straight fight, but that's what traps are for, isn't it? That hydra never saw it coming! And Wobbles is really nice, she helped me set up the other trap and... bang! Another kill!

Will I be albe to get more kills next episode? Don't miss it! Magical Girl Pretty Saki, I'll kill them all!

*glances sideways* Did I do it right, Wobbles?

((No I don't want to apologize and you can't make me.))

Jack: *ahem* "Right, you'll want to hear about that, won't you? Okay. I first got the Idea after I heard they were restocking the Cornucopia. I wasn't stupid enough to go for it again, but I figured someone might be. After I finally pulled Apollo away from whoever it was he was snuggling, we both agreed to try an ambush. Both of us are hunters, in a way, so I think that helped in coming to an understanding."

interviewer is indistinct

"Oh, the hacking?" grins "Well, when Dee mentioned he was getting bored, I managed to convince him to leave me his screwdriver. Knew it would come in handy. I'd spotted the Sponsor systems a few days ago, and I knew it was point and think. Told Apollo to wait there, and he did." shrugs "I said we'd come to an understanding, but I never said how long it would last. . ."

...thanks to a long-overdue appointment with FicPsych.

Apollo: (noticeably out of breath) Who the [BEEP] thought it was a good idea to put goblins in this? Nasty little buggers almost killed me, and THEN I was captured by one of the others, thankfully that second attempt to force another tribute to choose between me and someone else went as well as the first one did, although this time for the bastard who got me. Didn't realise it was my dragon friend until after she'd helped me escape, all I can say is that hobbit knows how to do her knots.

Kaatah: So I found out how to play Solitaire. That's a good thing, right? Spent most of my time doing that, waiting for part of my grand plan to come together, and then two other tributes came along and I went to hunt with them, I mean I was looking more for parts than people to kill, but I managed to survive it.

Kaitlyn: ... oh. Well. Bother.

I thought this game was supposed to be about fighting? But the one time I tried it, I got eaten like a basket of mushrooms.

Morgan: Staying undercover, staying in the background... it's the Time Lord way.

Kyaris: I'm... really tired, actually. This Arena is messing with my heads. How many more people need to die before I can win?

hS

The lab is still a mess from the previous day. The whiteboard is now almost completely blank, with only a very simple drawing of a sad face on it. Daphne and Nass are sitting rather glumly at their workstation. Well, Naas are: Daphne is actually slumped over the workstation, face down, with a bottle of some sort of brown liquid in one hand. There isn't much liquid left.

Tess staggers in, bags under her eyes, and takes a seat next to Naas.

TJ: What a disaster. Were you able to recover anything of the hologram's programming?

NGvH: Only the memory banks. The personality core is… somewhere. I don't know. Apparently our networks were designed by that human mathematical artist while he was in the middle of migraine.

TJ: Escher? Wouldn't surprise me.

Tess reaches over and pulls the bottle out of Daphne's arms. She uncorks it and takes a big swig.

TJ: I suppose 15th place isn't bad.

NGvH: What kind of soft upbringing did you have where 15th 'isn't bad'?

TJ: Out of 60? It's not bad.

It's only now that the two techs notice the camera.

TJ: Oh! Uh, sorry. I guess we should say something? An official statement.

NGvH: Sure, I'll say something. We were absolutely robbed.

With one final drunken snort from Daphne, the camera feed ends.

I had the biggest, dumbest grin on my face as soon as I read about said kill, though. I know the RNG doesn't play favorites, but I still hope that if Suta doesn't win, she still goes down fighting. She's been stealing the show for my taste and I'm thrilled to see that she won't be leaving the Games empty-mouthed. XD

Backslash: "Where IS everyone? They're either too scared to fight me, or they think I'm too annoying to spend the night with. I'm not fond of either possibility. *Sigh* I miss Whitney already..."

Suta: "I seriously wanna say 'I told you so', but I'm not outta the woods just yet, literally! Anyway, protip, Kaitlyn: Don't even try to goad a Big Jaw when she's gone for three days without anything to eat. Yeah, like that'll go well.
"Also, I'm in the top 15! Whoo, go me! *triumphant roar*"

Considering both Acacia and Ami (well, she isn't technically an AI simulation, more of a simulation body acting as an host for her ghost) seem to have been sabotaged, either there's an Ai-resenting hacker somewhere... or the teams behind the simulations sabotaged each other.

Considering Corolla's behind Ami's channelling... I guess I have to keep my little techie under better surveillance.

Saki

Saki is sitting on the ground, hugging her knees.

We're very few people now, and we're likely going to start really going at each other now. So it's better to stay on my own, but... I don't like being alone. Shiro's gone, that sniper girl's gone, Keiko didn't even qualify, and I don't know if I can trust the other poeple anymore. Is this how Shiro felt in our fic? It's terrible.

He doesn't look at the camera.

((I think he's well and truly broken at this point.))

Apollo: Gotta admit, didn't think I'd survive a run in with a dragon, but it was actually quite good, even if they did leave me before I woke up. I really need to sort my sleep cycle out. I heard the Digital Division had someone superhero stuff in it and thought I'd try and get some more powers on top of my existing one. It didn't work, but it was worth a shot.

Kaatah: To be fair, it wasn't too much about what poison to tip arrows with, more Zeb saying random stuff and me saying whether it would kill a Quarian or not. Most of the time the answer was 'yes' by the way. Thanks for the food sponsor, even more thanks for making sure I could eat it.

Holo-Acacia: Holo-Acacia is currently sitting underneath an artificial tree. There is a concerned look on her face, although it's a bit difficult to tell as her entire form keeps flickering and artifacting.

I see-see-see-see-see-seem to be SUFFERING from some sort of tech-tech-technical error. Rorre lacinhcet-hcet-hcet-hcet fo tros emos. I am detecting a grrrrrrrrreat deal of co-co-co-CO-co-CO-corruption in my memory baaaanks. Emergency rebooting may be-be-be required.

~~~~~~~~~~

The lab is a mess. There are bits of paper and pictures everywhere. The whiteboard is now covered with various panicked notes (along with a few curse words, which have been blurred by the camera's automatic filter). Naas is typing away on his computer, while Daphne peers at the screen from over his shoulder.

DStA: Have you been able to trigger a reset yet?

NGvH: I'm trying, but the system isn't responding. Not sure if that's because of the hacking or interference from the actual Games location.

Tess runs up and hands a tablet to Daphne.

TJ: The latest readings, Doctor St. Auguste. Degradation has increased another eight percent. She may not be able to keep her form together much longer.

Daphne pulls at her hair (which is noticeably messier than usual).

DStA: Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable! This is clearly sabotage! Someone is out to get the plug pulled on our holo-agent program. Probably those [EXPLETIVE DELETED] AI rights people. I've told them dozens of times, the holo-agents have no sentience and are thus not true AI! We are no longer in the business of making AI!

Naas and Tess pause in their actions and give Daphne an odd look.

TJ: Don't you mean 'we are NOT in the business of making AI,' ma'am.

DStA: Never mind that! Tess, get me a meeting with the Hornbeam. And Makes-Things, if he's back. Also, scrounge up a list of any hackers in the PPC who could do something like this.

TJ: Yes ma'am.

DStA: Naas! Do whatever has to be done to keep Holo-Acacia online.

NGvH: Don't have to tell me twice, doc.

The camera feed ends.

Kaitlyn: I'm making frieeeends. I made friends with this awesome lady who has a steampunky dragon, I am so jealous. I think we got on really well, too - she was certainly much more fun than the Time Lady and the violent guy I met during the day.

((Haha Agent Kaitlyn has a crush on Caprice. >:D))

Morgan: I'm doing my best to not die by not doing anything that might upset anyone. It seems to be working.

Kyaris: Medical supplies? What do I need with medicine? I'm still nimble enough to evade that Levy woman, aren't I?

hS

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
*The bags on his eyes are deep and long and his face has gone red. He is in a sort of daze, leaning against a rock. He looks very enervated.*

Hello, PPC legend Acacia Byrd, I fink yer incredibly cute, too. Yes, PPC legend Acacia Byrd, I agree wif that statement. No, PPC legend Acacia Byrd, I don't fink yer a hallucination as a result of my horrendous madness brought on by a consistent lack of sleep and perhaps unfortunate chemicals in my brain. Yes, PPC legend Acacia Byrd, you do got me wrapped hopelessly around yer finger.

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
ELIMINATED: 19TH PLACE

...
Rat.
Did you honestly just push me down an elevator shaft?
You turned my death into a mockery. I spent an entire night figuring out how to turn one of my most useless parts into a weapon, and then... you shove me down a shaft.

Well, then. I won't repeat the threats and oaths I gave as I fell - for a variety of reasons. But realize that I meant every one of them. I'll find you, Rat, and carry them out.

Now, then... nineteenth place. Not too bad, really; I do wish I had won, but given my disadvantages, I'm not surprised that I didn't. Had fun with a few of the deaths, met a few honorable Agents - all in all, not a bad experience. Minus those couple of times where I lost my head a little.

Well, time to get back to the RC. Here's hoping it's still reasonably intact...

... which is quite good for a character who, in her orginal badfic, was pretty much dead before the story even began. Also, she's probably going to get angry at Daphne for her interpretation. Saki does Tactical Cuteness, not pointless self-praising!

One keeps you alive, the other makes people more willing to kill you just to shut you up?

Saki

I've got to ride a T-Rex! And she was really nice, too. Too bad Zeb somehow captured us both and tried to get the other guy to kill us. It didn't work ass he intended - I did my best puppy eyes and managed to make him not want to kill me, and... well, Suta's a T-Rex so he wasn't really into attacking her either.
So Zeb mauled him instead. It was scary. He's so nice in my time, was he really so feral in 2017?

Wobbles "If I so much as brush past technological artifacts Bad Stuff starts happening sharpish" the Clown.

Is smuggling.

Sci-fi.

Technology.

Well then.

Dax: "Avandra's [censored], was a 20 Constitution not enough to save me from that? Did I not get a saving throw? The rules of this universe are stupid." She folds her arms and fumes; her hair, which normally moves about her head in an invisible breeze, goes limp. "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."

Zeb: Zeb twitches and shakes his head. He opens his mouth a few times, but can only make a strangled choking noise that sounds like an attempt to roar. Dried blood is caked under his claws and in his mane.

"Lux...ray..."

Caprice: *sigh* Well, that was embarrassing. Also painful. But at least I'm in the top twenty! Which is kind of why I did it? I was thinking, you know, there's not that many of us left, maybe it's time to get serious. Just goes to show you should never get too serious in HQ.

Whoever finds my dragon had better take good care of it, ya hear me, jerks?

Peace out.

----

~Neshomeh

E.V.L.: "..."
"..."
"...WHAT. THE. BLOODY. [BLEEP]. I AM SO [BLEEP]ING STEAMED RIGHT NOW. ONE KILL. ONE. KILL. THAT WAS IT. I DIED WITH FEWER KILLS THAN A COUPLE OF COMPLETELY MUNDANE HUMAN BEINGS AND A [BLEEPING] HOLOGRAM. AND TO POISONED FOOD, NO LESS. I. JUST. [BLEEP] IT, I'M DONE. I HATE THIS [BLEEP]ING GAME. I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT. [BLEEP] YOU. [BLEEP] YOU ALL." *storms off*

Backslash: "...I don't know about you guys, but something tells me that this place is turning out a whole lot weirder than I thought it'd be. My wonky time sense is giving me headaches, I've talked with people from the future, and for the love of - nobody in the PPC should be acting this weird! Oh well. I'm not interested in winning this game, but I won't miss it once I get inevitably bumped off."

Suta: "Well, there's one thing I never thought I'd have fun doing - taking people for rides on my back! I'm sure Apollo and Saki had a lot of fun while they were with me. Lemme make this clear, though... I'm nobody's Yoshi. If I can get the chance to eat you guys, I will. Consider yourselves warned!"

(Poor, poor E.V.L. X'D Didn't even get the dignity of dying while fighting someone else, either. Rayner is never gonna let her live this down...)

Apollo: Spent the day on the move, felt like someone was watching me, so I tried to lose them as best I could... I think I've gotta move again, bye.

Kaatah: I'm never going near Luxury again *shivers*. Although the next part of my plan to hack the arena seems to be going well, now I've got the Sci-fi tech in the Fantasy area, all I need is a little bit of magic...

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
Yeah, dunno. Nuffin much's happened. I saw a lightsaber fight. And I saw someone sharpenin her hair. But other'n that, nuffin much's happened.

Holo-Acacia: I don't think that was an overreaction. There are only three things The Phantom Menace should be praised for: the soundtrack, the final battle, and Ewan McGregor. Everything else is just the start of a long, bad road.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hey hey, it's lab time! The whiteboard has been cleared off of most of the technical information: right now, it's being dominated by a list of pros and cons regarding the Star Wars prequels. Daphne and Tess are standing in front of the board having a very heated debate.

TJ: I'm certainly not saying that it's a work of craft, doctor, but you have to admit that Revenge of the Sith had its moments—

DStA: I ADMIT NOTHING!

TJ: Doctor—

DStA: A few solid moments do not make up for multiple films worth of poorly-conceived, poorly-written drivel!

The debate continues, but it's at this point Naas pokes his head into view very close to the camera.

NGvH: Ah… sorry for this, everyone. We were discussing the events of the last day, passions flared, and well… here we are! Uh… I suppose I should say something like 'we're very proud that Holo-Acacia now has the most kills in the Games.' Because we are. We're just… distracted.

He coughs.

NGvH: Um… good day.

The camera feed cuts out.

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
I am not a hoarder, little voice in my ear. I'm looking for something to use for shoes, since the ones that let me survive well are gone.

...okay, fine, maybe I wanted the dragon for another reason. It's been a long time since I've flown, after all! And the food was nice. But that doesn't make me a hoarder. Even if I did technically steal from a Districtmate.

Also, Cupid: Pity that you're out. Remind me to find you back at HQ - you were a good fighter, as far as I could tell.

E.V.L.: "...I'm becoming more and more convinced that the one bloody kill I've had was just a fluke. If I don't get another before dying, Pony Boy is NEVER going to let me live this down."

Cupid: "That's what I get for trying to talk people into appreciating my sense of humor, I guess. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to snag a few rounds of the good stuff... It's been a long week."

Backslash: "Oh, don't mind me, just trying to survive out here... Everyone else be damned by this point..."

Suta: "When's the next meal? I'm staaaaarving!"

Jack: wearing the stupidest grin "LIGHTSABER DUELS! Ah, nothing finer. You do a couple of backflips, a couple of impractical, flashy sword swings, shout something vague about the high ground, and boom! Guaranteed win. That's the most fun I've had all games. . . . What are you looking at me like that for? I didn't keep it, no. That'd be all against the rules and stuff." nods sagely

"And yeah, Dax and the Enervated Rat Catcher there were good guys. 10 out of 10, would hunt—er, well, work with again." cameraman brings up Dax's interview "Oh, she mentioned me? What'd she do that for?" stares at the camera in utter confusion

... Which, conside4ring she's the least skilled of my four contestants for this edition, is quite something unexpected.

Shiro

Now I understand why Sergio said it's better to stay away from that woman. She dragged me in a fight that resulted in our deaths. Now, excuse me, but I'm going to see if Keiko managed to get her Remote Activator fixed...

Saki

I got to play hide and seek! That teleporter not working was quite a shame, though.

Wait, Shiro has been eliminated? Uh. I'm sure someone was cheating, Shiro is stronger than this! *puffs cheeks in anger*

Zeb: The Luxury looks rather ashen-faced. He opens his mouth, tries to say something, and lets out a choked sob.

Dax: "So, like, my hair's always kind of had a mind of its own when I'm in my natural form, but then last night I had the best idea to try teaching it to grab stuff. Prehensile hair! Now I can use it to strangle people in the arena... or maybe tie them up, if they ask nicely." Her grin widens. "I know I'd love to ask Jack..."

Matthew walks into his RC, carrying a paper bag.
Ellie, Toby, and Ajax all have their eyes glued to the TV

Matthew: Heya Ajax, how yah feeling?

No response

Matthew (Holding up the bag): I gotcha some Bleep Products.

Toby: Shut it for a moment

Matthew notices what's going on on the TV.

Matthew: The [Censored] is going on with Levy?!

The image on the screen easily hints that Levy will be immediately sent to FicPsych when she's out of the game.

Kaitlyn: So I hung out with that Time Lady, Morrigan or whatever her name is, but got a bit lost come morning. Sooo I hid behind a waterfall. There were mushrooms. ^_^

Morgan: This is... is anyone else finding this kind of boring? I hardly run into anyone, and everyone I do meet is friendly. Not that I want to have to fight, but... you know?

Kyaris: Oh, come on! I put my heads down for a nap, and next thing I know my legs are all tied together? How is that fair?

hS

Apollo: Had a nice talk with Evangeline, then overslept and found myself hheld captive by a madwoman, I kind of feel sorry for Ajax, but thankfully his death gave me the time I needed to slip free. Figured Saki would make a good meatshield and I ran for it, so it seems to have worked.

Kaatah: I'm so sorry, I hadn't meant to electrocute you Barid, I even left some signs up saying 'Danger: Quarian at work.' that the replicators made for me, but you just ignored them and then ruined my second attempt at hacking into the Arena. Although that does give me an idea for something I may try, so maybe you're not a complete bosh'tet after all.

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
*he gives a drowsy, bleary thumbs-up, before dropping into sleep. He shudders for a few moments, suddenly bursting awake and howling 'NO, YER NOT ALLOWED THE PORTAL GENERATOR.' He notices the camera, gives a drowsy, bleary thumbs-up, and drops into sleep again. He is, once more, awakened by night-terrors involving his partner and a portal generator. This repeats for the entire day, without break.*

Holo-Acacia: Water. Yeah. Great thing to give a being made of electricity and light. Thanks.

Weapons, on the other hand? Much better gift! Especially when it's a gift you take for yourself!

~~~~~~~~~~

We return to the lab. A few more notes have been added to the whiteboard, most notably "THEFT PROTOCOLS=GOOD" and "MORALITY PROTOCOLS NEED WORK." There is now also a trolley with several jars on it. Every jar seems to be filled with some sort of jelly. The technicians are currently huddled around these jars.

TJ: So it appears that concrete, when shot with the Jellificator, becomes boysenberry jerry. But wood becomes gooseberry jelly.

DStA: Still no grape?! Dah! This is maddening. More targets!

The camera feed ends.

E.V.L.: "Ho hum, ho hum." *She shakes her head in total disappointment.* "Would somebody please walk up to me and say 'kill me now'? I'm getting pretty thirsty."

Cupid: "Hey, there has to be at least some form of dignity around here, is there?"

Backslash: "...dear Bionis, if this game ends up becoming some kind of Resident Evil knockoff, somebody's head's gonna roll in short order..."

Suta: "Why do I get the feeling I'm being followed?"

Jack: "I was more than happy to work in shifts with those guys. They're professionals, through and through. Just glad Wobbles didn't take Dee's mugging that personally."

The subject of Larkus is brought up.

"Yeah, I grouped with Lu'ci'ten. I'm not gonna go in on my own just to prove a point. For some reason, though, she was pretty concerned about proving the point to the corpse. Somehow, I don't think it cared." grumbles about professional kills

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
I told you to stop talking. It was your fault the replicator broke, not mine. The meal was good. But no, oh no, you just wouldn't. Shut. Up.

Well, tell me, then. Since you feel like talking so much.

How does it feel to--

We interrupt this interview to spare you a ten-minute-long description of what Lu did to Larkus. A rather detailed description. Fairly sure those things weren't supposed to go there, Lu... that's not what replicator parts are meant to be used for...

--hmm? Because I enjoyed myself.

Evelyn: But...But...But...We were gonna bond over guns! It was gonna be great!

But still, to kill me in my sleep. Are we sure she isn't a hunter?

Thank RNGsus it wasn't mine...

Zeb: "I met this really nice shapeshifter last night and we shared stories. She was... well, nice. But I miss my partner." His ears and tail droop. "Sorry, it's just not the same playing in the games without her."

Dax: The changeling looks almost unusually somber. "Remind me why that kid hasn't been given a nice retirement already?"

Shiro

*looks at his deck of cards* ...I actually have no idea how I managed to play Solitaire with a deck of Magic: The Gathering cards. Or why I even bothered. Kaitlyn was pretty nice to hang out with, though.

Saki

Kaitlyn is very fun! Oh, you want to know about that thing with Ajax? Don't worry, even if he wanted to kill one of us it wouldn't have been me! I'm too adorable to kill!

Ami

To whoever thought it was a fun idea to alter the coding of my simulation to make me act like a zombie: I'm going to haunt you. Trust me, I'm a ghost. I can, and I will.

The camera observes Levy subconsciously invoking an "Out, Damned Spot!" moment in a cave with a stream water moving through. Matthew enters the room, exhaling slightly. He runs over to her, trying to get her attention through the tears, Levy ignoring him. He finally gets her attention by forcing her to face him.

Matthew: Levy, snap out of it!

Levy goes in to hug Matthew, wailing into his shoulder. He shoos the cameras away.

***

Cameras cut to Ajax, silently trying to become one with the couch. Ellie is also seen, in a valiant attempt to cheer him up via several small explosions. Someone takes the camera and points it at himself

Toby: Hiya, Toby Williams, DoSAT. Ajax isn't quite feeling up to the whole interview thing, so if you could just go back to wherever you came from you floating Ball with a camera attached, that would be great.

Caprice: *opens a hatch and pokes her head out from inside the steampunk dragon* Is she gone? Did I lose her? ... Okay. Whew. I should've known better than to ask Luxury for anything involving the words "eat" or "magic wand."

... So I'm the last survivor of my district. Shoot. If I'd known Barid was around last night, he could've shared my hiding place. I may not be able to work this thing, but the control cabin is at least a safe, insulated place to crash.

----

Caprice apparently really likes the SciFi Sector. She's spending a lot of time there.

~Neshomeh

Morgan: I... spent some time talking to Grey's partner last night. She's... I think I need to make time to talk to the Notary once I'm out of here.

... no, the repeated use of 'time' doesn't mean I'm planning any TARDIS shenanigans. Who do you think I am, the Doctor?

Kaitlyn: So I've been chatting with those kids from totes-not-the-future, Shiro and Saki. They're pretty fun actually! And neither of them tried to kill me, which is a big plus.

Kyaris: I... am lost. And I think I broke something. And, basically, this is not a good day.

hS

Apollo: I want to be clear on one thing. The ONLY reason I wanted to cuddle up with the Rat-Catcher was so I could stab him with the little dagger I'd found and then pretend he'd died during the night. Unfortunately that never happened. Heard Kelly got killed over the night for some reason, which may have been why I was a little angry in the morning and, well... Jesse was too good an opportunity to miss.

Kelly: I have absolutely no idea why I did that, no idea at all...

Kataah: The firewalls on the arena are impressive, and I've had experience with getting pas firewalls thanks to the Geth... Hmm I wonder if I could try that...

Holo-Acacia: Jelly.

She holds up the Jellificator and blows across the barrel (despite the fact that there is no actual smoke coming out of it).

An important part of any balanced breakfast of butt-kicking!

You know, 'cause you put jelly on toast. Or a bagel, I suppose, if you're more into that. I think I screwed this up. Can we do the bit again?

~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the lab, a whiteboard has been set up next to the monitor, which now has a shot of Holo-Acacia curled up next to Evangeline. On the whiteboard are various technical doodles and random brief notes. One such note, "HUMOR PROTOCOL NEEDS WORK," has been underlined. Only Naas is present, and his attention is focused on the monitor.

DStA: (From somewhere out of sight) Naas!

The quarian quickly taps a few buttons. The monitor changes, now showing the jelly incident on a loop. He turns to face Daphne and Tess as they step into view.

NGvH: Doc?

DStA: Have we gotten that information on the jelly gun yet?

NGvH: I got waitlisted. The tech said the request needed to be put through to Makes-Things.

TJ: But he's in the Games right now!

DStA: Ugh! The tangled weaving of this department continues to frustrate me. Naas! Get it through other means.

NGvH: You mean hack our own systems?

DStA: I would never say that.

She turns to the whiteboard, picks up a marker, and writes "DO IT" in big green letters.

NGvH: You got it, doc.

The camera feed ends.

Caprice: The Ironic Overpower is messing with me. I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't gonna get to ride Voltarmi and was cool with that day I spent with Suta and those other guys... but then I found this. *she gestures at a beautifully crafted metal steampunk dragon on the ground beside her, gleaming with golden scrollwork and arabesques* A freaking robot dragon! But I can't make it work! Where's Makes-Things or Dann or anyone from DoSAT when you need them? This is so frustrating. *she kicks the dragon; it goes clang* ... Ow. Okay, go bother someone else now.

----

Caprice, you can't have a dragon. I already have two dragon-riders. I don't intend to make you a third. Stop this obsession right now. {X D

Incidentally, I'm imagining the mechanical dragon in the style of Magic: The Gathering's Kaladesh plane. Check this stuff out. I know MTG is fantasy, but I don't see why the aesthetic couldn't appear in a sci-fi setting. {= )

~Neshomeh

Michael

Of course that is what I did. I was rather tired yesterday, and I required some rest. ... No, I do not know how they found their way in. However, I must thank Evangeline for killing me before Suta ate me. I have no wish to experience digestion. Now, if you'll pardon my abruptness, I should go find my partner. He is likely still disappointed by the results, and I had best console him.

Jack: "I don't cuddle."

((New team-ups, eh? This ought to be interesting.))

E.V.L.: "Finally! I was wondering how soon it would be before I actually managed to kill someone. It was also nice of Suta to help me deal with Michael, because he was putting up quite a struggle before she literally stepped in - and ON him, no less. And Suta, you're welcome for the snack. You needed the meat, I needed the blood. Win-win!"

Cupid: "Honestly, that should've been me snuggling with the Rat-Catcher that day. He looked so warm! I don't know if Jack was as willing to be a temporary cuddle-buddy, though - heck, I don't know if ANYBODY would at a time like this! *Sigh*... Steph, if you're watching this, can I sleep at your place tonight? Please??"

Backslash: "I swear, if I have to go through ONE more embarrassing situation before I inevitably get killed off... Ugh. I hope Whitney doesn't get any ideas from this..."

Suta: "So that's what humans taste like. A lot like those little mammals I used to have as a hatchling, but skinnier and bonier. In short, major props to E.V.L. for helping me avoid starvation, but just this once, because people just aren't nice to eat. Why Big Jaws in other media always try to eat you mammals instead of bigger game, I have no idea."

The Notary (ELIMINATED: 38TH PLACE): I am not terribly skilled with a lightsabre, I admit, but I still should have been able to beat a small, bespectacled human. I think the turning point of the fight was when that poxy bloody jetpack came screaming out of the sky and hit me in the head, causing me to fall forward and impale myself on the human's sword. Still, I've seen the clown on enough caffeine to kill a bull elephant. I think this constitutes a lucky escape.

Wobbles the Clown: I DON'T THINK REPLICATORS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT

ALSO I CAN SEE THROUGH TIME

GOTTA GO BYE BYE NOW

[NB: This footage slowed down 300x]

Morgan: Grey's out.

Hmm.

Kyaris: I got friends! So that's kind of awesome. I didn't really expect to spend an entire night and a day actually with people.

Kaitlyn: I thought Curff was my friend... but then he tried to kill me... so now I'm sad. :(

Maethorwen: There is a word I have come across: 'hubris'. It seems that my people are particularly prone to it. Alas, I had not truly considered this before. I will think on it, and return to battle more vigilant than before.

I am not dead. I am just resting.

~hS

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
The 'no sleep' fing's gettin me horrid. Hallucinations, everywhere. Havin a hard time tellin what's real and what ain't, but after watchin three people arguin about cuddlin wif me, I fink I've just decided nuffin's real.

Bloody Errant!

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
A fine meal is a fine meal. I don't mind too much if magic was involved. So, Larkus, you can hush your face and not break any more replicators. They're kind of useful.

I am, however, very proud of my Districtmate! You may have spent the last two days running in circles, Makes-Things, but you made up for it last night. I'll want to see all the footage once I either die a horrible death or win these games.

Shiro

Sorry for that, kelly, but even if you were sincere... well, I'm sort of taken. Saki would've killed you if I didn't... possibly more slowly and more painfully. And if she were to believe I was going to cheat on her, she would go after ME afterwards.

Saki

I'm the cutest thing in the entire Games, of course I should get the cuddles! Though I'd have preferred if they were Shiro's...

Ami

So, another calm day today. I received both food and water to last me a while, so I nested up in a nice vantage point. Haven't been able to get my sights on a target yet, but a sniper has to be patient.

Levy: VIVA LA REVOLUTION! VIVA LA REVOLUTION! CHAIN STALKERS TO TREES! LEAVE THEM TO DIE! VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Ellie: See, this is what happens when someone inexperienced with the mechanics of a Jellificator attempts to mess with one: An ally turns into jelly.

The feed cuts to an image of Matthew, Ajax, and Luxury huddled together and trembling, probably scared crapless from the supposed Suvian they recently encountered.

Ajax (In a weak voice): Why were Suvians going after Levy?

Matthew (In a similar tone): I don't know man, I don't know.

Lux begins drooling in slight ecstasy. Noticing this, both Matthew and Ajax push her away.

Evelyn: "Well, I got lost, but I made a poisonous thing. I think that's a fair trade. Tomorrow should be more interesting at least...unless I get lost again."

Leaving his kids to do his job for him? :P

Zeb: "Well, I had to team up with somebody today to hide from another tribute. It was... I mean... she was nice, I guess?"

Dax: "Woooooo! I'm a ghoooooost! Look at me, I'm all dead and stuff! ...Yeah, I know, I'm not transparent. Shut up, I can dream."

Apollo: Saw Kelly in the evening with someone else and then saw they had a follower, so yes I was thinking about her, partially wondering if she'd get a double kill, but also hoping I'd be able to beat her. With the sun came food, which was welcome although not as welcome as a hatchet would have been, still it hasn't been too eventful for me so far.

Kelly: Had a rubbish ally last night, they let us get robbed, so I ditched them in the morning and found my friend from the start again. We agreed on another truce, kind of hoping this will work out okay.

Kaatah: I thought I was being really sneaky last night, turns out my mouthpiece still glows when I breathe, thankfully Caprice told me that as she chased me off so I know for the future, ended up sleeping in a tree. Ran into a trio of others in the morning and we set off to hunt others, that was fun, but I can't help but think this'll end badly.

((OOC: Sorry it took so long for me to post these, I've been getting bogged down with RL stuff.))

Holo-Acacia: So yeah, the leg thing…

She looks down at her leg, which occasionally glitches and flickers like an old CRT monitor.

I really have no idea how that happened. I can still walk and everything, it's just kinda weird.

~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the lab, all three technicians are gathered around a monitor. It is showing a loop of Holo-Acacia toppling inelegantly out of a tree.

TJ: How… did that happen?

NGvH: Could be some sort of technological incongruence between her hologram and the holographic arena. Electromagnetic interference?

DStA: We need to run tests. Tess! Fetch Holo-Jay, three interns, and two large industrial magnets. Naas! Book us a holodeck for the afternoon and collect the necessary PPE. This needs to be replicated!

Daphne finally notices the camera.

DStA: Ah! Well, ah… Holo-Acacia persists, despite this… injury! That shows the durability of our technology and the expertise of our programming! We look forward to seeing Holo-Acacia continue to make strides.

The camera feed ends.

Evelyn: "I tried to team up with some people and I think that went ok. There were some weird ghost things going on though. I thought I saw that Time Lady, but now I'm not sure."

Caprice: It's too bad Voltarmi's out, but I got to ride Suta instead! Our little team didn't wreak fearsome Cretaceous devastation on anyone, but that's okay. We had fun. And I got to hang out with Acacia freaking Byrd! ... Okay, a hologram of her, but still! Where do I even go from here?

---

Probably nowhere good. The RNG will come up Caprice eventually. {= )

~Neshomeh

((Apologies for my lack of interviews. Incredibly busy week at work))

Voltarmi: I knew I should have stuck with the ghost ploy. But what can you do? Sometimes a dinosaur comes along and steals your thunder.

Barid: Da vidjagame section didn' work out for me an' now da high-tech place isn' workin' out. I should'a jus stuck wit da fantasy or magic sections.

Kyaris: Pfft, did they think they could scare me? I wasn't scared... I wasn't! Didn't you see me chasing Levy around later? Is that the action of a scared woman? I ask you!

Morgan: I'm not saying anything until I get a chance to talk to Grey.

Kaitlyn: Someone stole my stuff. And the sword-kid didn't want to hang out with me any more. And my leg really freaking hurts. I am not having a good day.

Maethorwen: This 'Monty Snake' is hilarious! In my thousands of years, I have never encountered anything so entertaining. My eternal gratitude to Curff for introdu-

Ahem. I mean, I spent the day perfecting my stealth techniques. No-one shall expect the Elvish Inquisition.

hS

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
Met some chaps, and we all decided we'd work together to get a nice sleep, shifts and whatnot. Didn't work. I ain't slept for days, now. Every time I close my eyes, I have the same nightmare, where I'm sittin there, and Errant bursts in from the door, holdin the RA. And she fiddles wif it and says 'Hey, Catcher, it's my turn! I think I know how to use this, now!' and then she goes 'Hehe!' That's when I wake up. It's been affecting me. Fink I've been hallucinating, now. I swears. I been seein people run and hide behind waterfalls, and some crazy-looking person gettin followed real careful by another person, and a clown and some chap holdin hands, and some half-nude lady pulled a sword out a stone but it talked. Fink I'm goin crazy.

E.V.L.: "So it seems that even this carnival of carnage isn't going to keep a lady from getting her beauty sleep."

Cupid: "GYAAAAH! MAKES-THINGS, I ALREADY SAID I WAS SORRY ABOUT THE INCIDENT WITH THE TRUCK! ISN'T ONE APOLOGY ENOUGH FOR YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE?! AIEEEE WHAT IS THAT IN YOUR HAND?! OH GODS OH GODS RUNNING SOMEBODY HEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!"

Backslash: "Drat. Back to the drawing board, and without even my Monado replica to save me! Ugh..."

Suta: "Note to self, twenty bedsheets don't make effective camouflage when sneaking up on prey. And honestly, that should've been an awesome three-way battle back there! It'd be a perfect send-off for at least one giant reptile... wouldn't it?"

(I'm laughing so hard at Cupid being chased by Makes-Things, send help. The continuity nod was too good to ignore. X'D)

Michael

One moment... excellent. This shall serve. Thank you for your patience. My apologies if I would rather be brief today, but, well, I was up all night. I did my best to sleep, but neither Dax nor Cupid seemed interested in doing so. It was, however, something of a relief just to be relaxing, instead of worrying about my safety for a change, and both are quite entertaining, so while I did eventually grow rather curt, I'm afraid, it was still enjoyable on the whole. Oh, the Arena? I was attempting to create a place to sleep. Foolish, I know, but such things happen when one is tired. Thankfully, the situation has been remedied- for now, at least.

... and she goes and takes part in the slaying of a freaking dragon. The thing is, I can totally imagine her going for it given the chance.

(Though, since the slaying of Voltarmi seems to be mostly Jesse's doing, it means she's bagged the Detective? I guess having gotten killed by a twelve-year-old anime girl (and one looking like the Friendly-To_All-Living-Things Sakura Kinomoto to boot) really does explain why he's so reticent in his interview...)

Shiro

The night was rather uneventful for me, and during the day I got myself a high tech rifle of sorts alongside a team, but we didn't find anyone so in the end we didn't accomplish much... Wait, Saki did WHAT?

Saki

Someone stole my stuff during the night, but then WE KILLED A DRAGON! Well, Mr. Cowboy did, but I guess I was a good distraction? And then I did get that other guy!

Ami

I think the most interesting thing happening today was me helping that Time Lady set up an hologram. Or, rather, I was the template she reverse engineered to do that. Y'now, me being an holographic ghost and all...


For the record, Saki loos more or less like this.
https://safebooru.org//images/2104/1aad8afd0fef6733f1bb0d8f57a27abd2315696d.jpg
This cute girl (well, one looking exactly like her) just helped slay a DRAGON and killed a TIME LORD.. What has the RNG done?

Ellie: RUDIMENTARY?! YOU CALL THIS RUDIMENTARY!?

She takes a breath.

WhileIdoadmitthatthisweapondoeslookratherrudimentaryIhavecreatedthisweaponwithallofthecraftingknowhowIhavepickedupinnotonlyinmytwoplusyearsworkinghereaswellastheabilitiesthathavecoursedthroughmybloodsincevariousfeaturesinclude-

The Interview ends there

Matthew (In a hushed tone, looking towards The Witness): I'm trying to find out what makes her tic. Is it pure insanity or is she in cahoots with some Sue or something.

Also: Evelyn, Levy was gonna join our group, I thought I told you this.

Levy: I was hoping Matthew's group would've helped me out against all these people chasing after me, but no. Come the next day and some other person comes after me.

Ajax: I'm riding a T-Rex, your argument is invalid. Also I did not need this water Mysterious Water Sponsor.

He flicks a hand towards a tree, it dissolves into water.

See?

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
So those days happened. Yes, Kaatah, I did hear you - Caprice was just quicker. No, Dann, that did not scare me. My eye was watering from the suppression of my laughter at how ridiculous you looked.

Guess it's normal, getting jumped by surprise never do any good. And I'm still not getting how the duck I found myself being nursed to sleep by that Time Lord. Too damn weird.

Now, normally I'd be going back to the projects delayed by this duckfest, buuut... *hands out locks of hair* I think my partner will want to pay you a visit really soon. And joining her just seemed to be an interesting option.

The Detective: "Excellent, right—got the cameras going, there's the bit with the interviews, and I can leave? Right, brilliant. I died." sits expectantly "Well, what do you mean you want more? I'm dead—thank Rassilon you don't work in Medical if it's that difficult for you to work out. Can I leave yet? Please?" pan to Jack

Jack: "Got some supplies, at least. Should be enough to last a while, what with what Dee mugged a clown for. rolls eyes . . . Oh, the non—Suvian? Well, what did you expect? Looked exactly like one, for one thing. I mean, shifter—c'mon. Best thing to do is what you learn to do on the job. Just run. Better safe than sorry, and you live to fight another day."

Alleb

Bravo, Sir Jesse, bravo! The dragon never stood a chance. I shall make a true knight of you yet!

Jesse

*is downing his entire flask of whiskey in one go*

Errant

I like the SciFi Sector! It reminds me of the Tower. That four-man fireteam towards the end of the day was great; too bad we didn't find anyone. Do I get XP for this? I'm reaaaaally close to getting a new grenade!

-Alleb

Zeb: "Like I said, I'm gonna win this for the Aviator and Elanor! Oh, and Ave—if you're watching, give her hugs for me!"

Dax: "Man, even though we're in the middle of a giant death arena, that Cupid sure knows how to have fun!"



The Aviator saw the interviews, saw the news of the Detective's elimination, and turned off her console. She quietly carried a snoozing Elanor to his response center to see how he was doing.

Ten Knuts says Zeb kicks it next round in a fiery explosion.

Because the enter buttons on trackpads are deserving of a fate worse than death,

The Detective: Claps Jack on the back."There might be hope for you yet, stabbing someone in the back like that! I'm so proud."

Jack: shrugs "Learned that trick from a demon, thought it might work here. Glad it did."

And you'll get a double whammy of them as well (seeing as I don't know where else to put the Post-Qualifier interviews).

Post Qualifier.

Apollo: The qualifier was fun, well if you count a day and a half by yourself fun. I grabbed a bag from the centre and then sprinted out of there, mainly because by the time I got there I was kinda scared of staying to long and getting killed, Theo looked like he wanted to do that but the guys he teamed up with kinda kept him occupied which I'm thankful for. Had a great time hunting, then a less great time at night when I got my foot stuck in a rabbit hole. Thankfully no one heard me and I survived the night, and the qualifiers. So, yeah it was all good.

Kelly: I'm so sorry Ami, but I needed that bag, or at least I thought I saw some Celestial bronze in there. Turns out it wasn't, but I really thought I needed it at the time. Seemed to spend the rest of the qualifier alone which wasn't bad, found some flowers that unfortunately couldn't come out of the arena... I wonder if I can get some of them from the organisers...

Theo: THAT WAS AWESOME! Every Mandalorian should do that, thought about killing Apollo at the start, but I'd built up an alliance with a couple of others somehow that kept me distracted, and then our daytime raid was brilliant, even if the guy wasn't home we were all professional in our ransacking of it. I went my own way at night to try and get a kill and then I didn't need to because it was all over. Bring on the actual event!

Kaatah: I didn't want to get into any trouble at the start and just tried to survive by myself, I met with a couple of others around nightfall and we decided to have a truce which was nice. And then we were attacked, I've fought alongside a lot of others before but this must of been one of the toughest fights I've had, I'm so glad I wasn't alone, although I didn't want to kill them they left me no choice.

Actual Games Day 1

Apollo: Yeah, so I'm kind of sorry for that Levy, but it needed to be done. Still I managed to get into and out of the cornucopia unharmed which is good. Managed to nick a bit of food from that hologram, not sure why she needed the food but I'm grateful she had it. Hopefully I'll find someone in a position to kill soon, I'd rather not let Kataah win our own competition without a challenge.

Kelly: Found a real nice guy who agreed to share some stuff with me, I gave him my RC number just in case. I mean it was kind of a fair deal for me getting the actual backpack. So that was good. The rest of the day wasn't as great, I found out about the quarters the hard way, I wasn't exactly trying to smuggle the stuff from one part to another, I just didn't realise the boundary existed. Oh well, at least I didn't die.

Theo: No comment.

Kataah: Running worked in the qualifiers and it worked again. I'm so grateful for The Sunflower's Witness, I never heard Albert coming, although I'll admit it was a bit weird thanking a sentient flower for help, they normally don't do things like that.

Sorry for the long wait! I had a lot going on!

Anyway, Eusabius' Day 1 interview, at long last:

Eusabius: "I... did not expect to go out so quickly. I am almost disappointed, to be honest: I was taken out well before the games could truly begin. Well, I suppose there is always next year of course. We can try again then, and hopefully I will go further then."

Jack: "I knew meds were gonna be the most valuable supplies later. I didn't know I was gonna be the one needing them."

The Detective: "I saw some food, thought to myself, 'Most everyone on my team does eat food,' so I thought I'd snag it. Wobbles just happened to be holding it at the time. Besides, you've gotta be an idiot going up to the Cornucopia in the first place, she deserved for something to go wrong. Though I got out just fine, which is . . . weird. Decided to make a run for Fantasy Farthing, and magic ring get! Now magic how, I ask you?"

((OOC: As requested by hS. I've added a little something to… well, add a little something.))

Holo-Acacia: Right out of the gate, someone tries to jump me! Well, that might have worked on Holo-Jay, but I'm not exactly a stranger to this. A little bit of improvised teamwork, and two competitors are already out of the way.

Also, someone stole my food. Good thing I don't need to eat, or else I'd be pretty hacked off.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rather than one of the four quadrants of the current Hunger Games, this camera seems to be set in a rather spartan lab. There are two individuals standing in view, with a third sitting at a nearby computer. All of them are wearing black lab coats with DoSAT patches. The one closest to the camera, a tanned, middle-aged woman with greying hair tied into a bedraggled bun, clears her throat.

DStA: Hello to you, fine viewers! My name is Dr. Daphne St. Auguste, of the Testing and Application Division in the Department of Sufficiently Advanced Technology. These are my colleagues: Tess Jachowicz—

She gestures to a younger woman with braided brown hair and glasses standing behind her.

TJ: A pleasure!

DStA: —and Naas'Gehlen vas Headquarters.

She points over at a male quarian typing away at the computer, who gives a casual salute without looking over at the camera.

DStA: We are the team behind Holo-Jay and Holo-Acacia. The technology was originally meant to supplement agents working in the field, but apparently there were "concerns" about dispatching holograms.

TJ: Along with complaints from the Friends of AI Society.

DStA: Which were ridiculous! The holograms are not "true" AI. A true AI would have the capability to self-rationalize and expand beyond—

TJ: Ah, ma'am? You're starting to ramble.

DStA: Was I?

NGvH: *without looking around* Yup.

DStA: All right, very well. As I was saying before, we are the team behind Holo-Jay and Holo-Acacia. And while Holo-Jay has fallen a bit short of our expectations—

Naas'Gehlen snorts. Daphne shoots him a quick glare.

DStA: We are quite confident in the performance of Holo-Acacia. Not only have we incorporated all the data acquired from its performance in the previous games into the current model, we have also taken steps to make its personality more like the original Acacia.

TJ: It was sort of just on a default mode last time.

DStA: In any event, we are quite confident in our creation and hope that it can win some fans! And perhaps a bit of support from the Board for our proposals.

NGvH: You said that last part out loud, doc.

DStA: What's your point?

The camera feed ends.

POST-QUALIFIERs:

Alleb

A pit. I fell into a blasted pit! *sighs* Well, at least Sir Jesse remains within the arena. Perhaps he will be able to get some decent training. Oh, Sir Yocherry died as well? Perhaps I can train out here, then!

Jesse

*slightly wild-eyed* Get me outta here! First I got roped into huntin' down other tributes--hunting them--and then I ran into the clown and her partner, and ended up tryin' to kill someone again! And now Alleb's dead, so I ain't gettin' any sympathy outta this. Soon as I'm outta here she's gonna want to know what I learned. *pulls hat over eyes*

Errant

I found Catcher! And he didn't even kill me! I also met this Morgan lady and someone named Jack. They seem fine. Hope we don't end up killing each other! I wish I had my scout rifle and my Sparrow. Then this'd be really fun!


DAY ONE:

Alleb

Give them a left hook, Jesse! Now the right! Show them the error of their ways! *camera is knocked over by over-exuberant swordmaiden*

Jesse

Eaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I almost died in there! *nervously glances from side to side* This is worse 'n waitin' on an ambush from the heights.

Errant

Whoo, that was close! Almost got caught by those two. I wonder where Catcher's gone off to, though; I can't find him. I left to find some more weapons and told him to stay right where he was, but when I came back, he was gone! I hope he didn't get hurt somewhere.

((Btw, Errant is actually female. Es not very important, though. ^_^ ))

-Alleb

Yocherry
Nevermind about that 'smash' thing I said. Nevermind that. There ent smashen, not today.

*He punches the wall to his side, leaving an imprint of his fist.*

I'm usually better than this! Sorry, fox-fellow.

The Enervated Rat-Catcher
The only fing I wanted, in that moment - the only fing I could have dreamt of, in that moment. All I wanted - all I ever wanted, in that moment - was that chocolate. And they took it. They bloody took it. They could've killed me, but they took the chocolate, instead.

They'll regret that, they will.

If they're in my district, alright. This is totally fine. Yup. Ignore the burning house, everything's fine, really.

Michael

I am not quite sure what it is that causes others to run from me when I am only looking to work with them. It is quite unfortunate. However, I shall attempt to make the best of this, of course. It will simply require some careful planning. I had best take advantage of every weapon that comes to hand. ... Oh, Excalibur? Yes, it might have been rash of me to discard it so quickly, but I do know something of Soul Eater. I believe it was Rule 58 that was the final straw. ... You may ask him. I am attempting to forget the details of that particular encounter. Perhaps I should have taken the warnings of the pixies at face value, however, I was rather curious to see precisely how irritating Excalibur is in person. This was a mistake on my part.

((Also, this day's title. Thank you. Thank you so much.))

Shiro and Saki
(because them both crafting potion means they were together, right?)

Shiro: So, this morning I tried teaming up with this Barid dude... I think he was a troll? The good kind of troll, though. Anyways, we tried taking down this crazy girl, but she managed to get away.
Saki: I'm sure you'll get her next time! Anyways, we ran into each other afterwards, and now we're crafting potions!
Shiro: I never thought it was so simple... or it is only in this simulation? Anyways, I can sprinkle poison on out weapons to improve our fighting ability-
Saki: And I've made plenty of healing potion if Shiro gets hurt!
*Saki hugs Shiro, who blushes*

Ami

I hoped to find something better than this old hunting rifle, but it still got me a kill - Eusabius, was he called? Anyways, when a big man with a pike meets a small girl with a rifle, the big man is a dead man.

Too bad I've lost track of Acacia - we would've made a great sniper team. But now I'm working with a sentient T-rex. Yeah. I'm wondering if she'll let me ride her?





And so, we have the PPC version of ARK: Survival Evolved? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2b/ArkSurvivalEvolved.png

Legard: Well, I'll grant you this, Yocherry, the Notary was indeed strapped to a jetpack, and the sight was indeed really funny. Sorry for killing you, but I'd have to turn my back to you, while you were lying just next to all of these weapons. The Evil Overlord List spoke.

And I guess I was lucky we were so soon in the competition, so I could convince Von Lilith of not killing me. If half of the things about her are right, I'm not tempting my chance against her.

Rhyslea: "Do you hear me? That wasn't curare! Whoever's up there laughing at me because I died from tasting curare, knock it off!"

Zeb: "So, uh, I got all this chocolate in the hopes it would convince others to team up with me, but I guess it's not working so far..."

Dax: "Haha, did you see their faces when I did that? Turned into a Sue and scared everyone off? That was awesome! Haven't needed to kill anyone yet, but when I do... well, I've got nineteen levels in fighter and one in barbarian." He briefly shapeshifts into Bruce Banner. "You won't like me when I'm angry."

Shimon:

*sits composedly in front of the camera* Well. I do not pretend to understand the lucid and ephemeral nature of these holograms. Some trick or flaw in their design is the only possible explanation for what happened. Rest assured, Albert Sproggins, Former Chicken Soup Machine Repair Man, that if ever we met under similar circumstances in reality, any wound you had the misfortune to inflict on me with your pathetic weapons would be quickly healed once I tore your flesh and consumed your unworthy peasant blood, an honor you don't deserve, you miserable little cretin! *whoops, yeah, he's mad; his feathers are all ruffled* *the camera quickly turns away and flicks off*

Caprice:

Best. Day. Ever!

Okay, so I'm standing there in front of the Cornucopia, right, and I'm looking at all this stuff. Lots of great stuff. Food, weapons, tools, you name it. But just before the buzzer goes off, I see it: the jetpack. I don't have time to think anymore, so I just go for it. It's total chaos; it's like everyone was in there, which is nuts, right? But I make it! I grab this thing, I pull it on, and I'm trying to figure out how it works when I see something coming at me from the corner of my eye. I'm like, "oh, crap, I'm done for!", but then I hit the button, and I am out of there! Whoooo! What a rush! I am so sad it only had enough juice to get me to the SciFi Sector, you have no idea. But hey, best place to maybe find another one, right?

Unless I find that dragon first. I saw someone riding on its back for just a second as I was zooming through the air. Next time, that's gonna be me!

----

Don't worry, Shimon will get over it. He's not actually into biting people; too intimate and messy. {= )

~Neshomeh

Lu'ci'ten Gyrvain
Well. That was... interesting.
I didn't even have a weapon yet. Am I so fearsome that the sight of me causes others to flee? Admittedly, it was incredibly amusing to watch, but still.

And anyone who tries to say that the replicator breaking was my fault is delusional. I don't care how the footage looks. It was in no fashion my fault.

Calliope Istoría
ELIMINATED: 46TH PLACE
I... died?
Well, I guess I should've seen it coming. I got a little carried away with my victory yesterday, and I didn't really think about the fact that I was fighting a representation of Acacia Byrd. And Ami, but she was focusing more on whatever-his-name-was. Bussy! Let's call him Bussy.

Personally, though, it would have been lovely if I had been one place up. I like fives more.
...Why are you looking at me like that? Yes, that's the only reason. It's really rude to imply that I would have an ulterior motive, you know! *begins muttering* Even if I usually do...

Matthew: Okay Ajax, that was uncalled for. All I suggested was a team up but you went all mental on me. Dramatic Soap Opera Music plays I'm hurt, my own partner, attempting to strike me down!

A single tear is added in post-production

Ajax: Currently unavailable for comment. Currently running laps around the Digital Division. Suggest playing Deja Vu with footage.

Levy: Is the whole deal of men chasing after me going to be an ongoing thing now? Because I don't like it.

Ellie: Well hiding that dragon was a good mental exercise. Speaking of which, you may want to turn around.

The Camera flicks around to see a tree, smoking at what is assumed to be nostrils.

Kyaris: Phew! That biped who smelt of rats was more dangerous than he looked! If this wasn't a hologram, I think I'd be down another head after that fight!

Morgan: I got to ride a dragon. I got. To ride. A dragon.

... this is going on my RC wall.

Kaitlyn: Ow. :( I thought hiding out in the fantasy section would be fun. There might even have been hobbits there! But then that mean old tree tipped me out and now my leg's all busted. Ow.

Maethorwen: I slew someone today who was begging for mercy. That makes me... uncomfortable. It is the sort of thing Lo- Curufin would have done. But... the purpose of these games is to win. Why would I let someone live if I had the chance to eliminate them?

((Trying to get a handle on Maethorwen's character. Also, yes, I absolutely missed the Morgan-Voltarmi teamup in the transcript first time round - this is why you need to read them, folks! The images you get out are amazing.))

hS

The Notary: HOW THE [CENSORED] DO YOU [CENSORED] FLY THIS [VERY CENSORED] THING AAAAAAAAH-

Wobbles The Clown: Man, I'm hungry. And bushed. I've done a loooooot of running in my life, most of it away from things, but homicidal agents haven't made an appearance in my life for, like, four months now. Guess I'm outta practice. Oh well. Hope I'm still kickin' tomorrow! =oD

Albert Sproggins (ELIMINATED: 42ND PLACE): How did I kill a vampire? Never mind the fact I lost, how did I kill a friggin' vampire? All I had on me was a 13F pipe cleaner I found in my trousers and a cassette tape of Chas 'n' Dave's Greatest Hits. Actually, thinking about it, it was probably that. I, er, disposed of it afterwards. Sorry Karen. Must've been yours. Catch me listening to that dreck...

^_^

("I AM NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY", in Circular Gallifreyan. Yup.)

hS

Keiko seems to have a knack for mirroring her parents' demises - in her first partecipation, she placed exactly like her mother did, and this time she went out with a failed ambush just like her father did in the third edition.

Shiro acted just like I expected him to - keep a low profile, and strike when he sees a good chance.

Saki... well, she seems to have made friends pretty quickly. Was she using the fact that she looks cute and innocent like Sakura Kinomoto to her advantage?

Ami having to withdraw from a struggle for equopment makes perfectly sense - she's quite small physically, and she is trained as a sniper so close quarters is pretty much the opposite of what she can do well. Sicne she likely hasn't got her rifle in there, her making a spear to fight makes sense.

In that post, I'm actually not asking for permission now, I'm just asking whether I need to ask for permission later, when I've left Scratch for more peaceful places, when my fanfic reviews are in full swing, and most importantly, when all y'all have gotten to know me a lot better.

-Twistey

I mean REALLY close.

hS

Victory goes to doctorlit this time round. http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-566472666 Congrats and good luck with the rest of the matches!

Well, I won't haunt this tournament anymore this year.

After 6:00 PM Eastern Time during the week. I usually hang out in the writing room if I'm available.

Name a time that's good for you and I'll be only too happy to see how well your team'll work. =]

I still have a small buttload of work to do for college (thanks, poor study habits), but I think I can carve out some time on Wednesday afternoon. Say, around 2:30? Does that work for you?

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7anythinggoes-562225571

This is what I get for having a team full of sweepers, I guess.

Would you be free any time today? I'm availlable anywhere after 3:30.

http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/battle-gen7ou-563207768

You are hereby challenged to a duel between our good selves, as proxied by half a dozen captive animals whom will beat each other up with fire and lasers for our collective amusement. =]

Hardric I issue you a challenge. I'm free most of the weekend and then for the next two weeks as it is Easter Holidays for me.

Hiya! Can't wait to battle you (also I don't think I've ever met you before so nice to meet you by the way)! Would you mind waiting until Monday or Tuesday afternoon for our match? I have some school stuff to take care of that's kind of got my schedule for the weekend backed up (and I still need to get my 'mons to level 100, ehehe...).