[Voice//Posted in "Seeking" because that's the only place a Discard can post]

[formerly_known_as_prince]

[The voice on the other line is determined, a little disgusted. What follows is the world's most obvious warning.] Hello everyone. My name's Utena. And i've...played and won this game before. Or one very similar to it. I don't know why you've all been brought here or what everyone's motivations for dueling are. But I know this: whatever you were promised, you're not going to get it. The people who run this will use you Players until they have no more use for you and then they'll throw you away and start over with the next batch. As for the Weapons, i've seen what being owned does to someone.

This whole thing is disgusting.

Comments

[stoppedhiding]

If you're familiar with this game, or one like it, do you happen to know who is behind it?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

If it's like the last one, it was conceived by a fallen prince, desperate to regain his former power. He believed that using the energy and nobility of the duelists he could open the seal where his former power was kept. I don't know who's in charge of this game but I wouldn't be surprised if it's him or someone very similar.

[stoppedhiding]

[ Then it would likely be better not to fight at all... Hm. ]

And you say you won before. How?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

A strong connection to my Bride, the equivalent of a Weapon. And I was probably manipulated into it from an early age.

Although the final duel's outcome was...in doubt.

video

[duchy]

It's not as if we're really owning people. It's just a game, isn't it?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

Of course we're really owning them! When you're a Weapon, you have to do whatever the Player says and can't leave.

[duchy]

But people switch around the next round, right?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

Then it's revolving door slavery. That doesn't make it right.

[duchy]

It's not slavery if you switch back and forth.

she doesn't know how to say 'only a semantic distinction'

[formerly_known_as_prince]

You're just making words that let you weasel out!

[duchy]

What do you mean?

[Blinking with genuine confusion; to a sort of eight-year-old it's a game, at least.]

[formerly_known_as_prince]

[She mellows a little. He's just a kid after all.] I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. You see one of my best friends was used as a Weapon for a very long time in a game much like this one. It hurt her a lot. I don't like to see other people going through that, even temporarily.

[duchy]

Oh.

[Well, that makes sense.]

How long?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

[She thinks. How long? Back into the time of myths, certainly.] I don't know exactly. A very long time.

[duchy]

She never got to be the one fighting?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

She protected one person, once. She spent a very long time paying for it. It doesn't matter that much though. I've seen some people play both roles. It didn't make much of a difference.

[duchy]

Maybe it's not the same game? I mean, that doesn't sound like a game at all...

[swordofzero]

You have played this before?

Do you know who is behind this?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

I don't know who's behind this game. The last one was conceived by a fallen prince, desperate to regain his former power. He believed that using the energy and nobility of the duelists he could open the seal where his former power was kept. There's a couple difference, but overall they're pretty damn similar.

[swordofzero]

Fallen princes desperate to regain power sounded feasible to Suzaku, though since he had met many from different worlds he guessed was probably not a Britannian prince.

But it could be something similar?

is she about to make him majorly misinterpret things?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

I'd guess it is.

Are you Suzaku Kururugi?

Yes, very likely sob

[swordofzero]

Yes. I am. Do you know me?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

Feferi said you were a good person.

[swordofzero]

Oh [Suzaku frowned at that] Feferi only wishes to see good in everyone.

[cullscuttlefish]

I don't like it, either, and I...I don't like being a Player, either. I changed the words of the vow we're supposed to make, because I want to protect everyone. It's the first thing I said to do.

...but this isn't the first kind of game like this?

[She gulps.]

...if you need someone...well...

can we say she told her her name back in their intro thread?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

That's a good start.

I'm afraid it's not. And it probably won't be the last.

I'm not good at staying on the sidelines. But you and Dave are the only people I think I could trust to be their Weapons here, so I guess i'll take you up on it.

yep! sorry that RL ate me and I dropped it. ;w;

[cullscuttlefish]

Do you know Suzaku Kururugi? He's in this school, too. He told me that changing things from the inside is the best way to go. I believe him, and that's what I'm trying to do.

Dave is a good person. He was one of my friend's best friends. If you need someone next round, Utena, then you should go to him.

But I don't know how it works between schools for this one, so...I'll come by your room, then? Or we can meet outside the dorm or something.

what is happening in that icon?

[formerly_known_as_prince]

Oh man, it's a real mess in here. [She'd come to rely on the Rose Bride's cleaning, she had to admit.] I'll just come over to your place.