Upgrade Poll (2)

[happybot]

Who: everyone
When: Day 38, morning
Where: ChainChat

[This morning when you check your Chain, you're greeted by a new message from The Construct:

Thank you for your responses to our upgrade ideas poll. Your suggestions have been taken into account and compiled into this convenient poll. Votes will be tallied within a few days, so please reply promptly. Thank you very much!

Poll #22462 upgrade poll 2

This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 12

select your preferred upgrade (pick two)

a casino
3 (25.0%)

a training hall / a gym
10 (83.3%)

a bar
3 (25.0%)

a library
7 (58.3%)

OOCly, the poll will close next Saturday when the results are posted. ICly, feel free to use this post to argue in the chat room! Do your best to promote your favoured upgrade!]

Comments

[bluediligence]

Oh, believe me, I'm mad. [ Her hands find her hips. ] Just not at you. [ The trial had been ridiculous from the start, with odds of winning so low they were almost laughable. To think that people had been punished for failing at a guessing game … ]

[ She breathes out, packaging that righteous indignation and pushing it down. It can wait. She can wait, and then, maybe, she can see what they have to say for themselves. ]

[ Dusk is more important right now. ]

… It isn't a matter of how many sparks you have. [ Even if that is ridiculously impressive, Jesus Christ, Dusk!! She smiles, kinda lopsided. ] If you actually had made me mad, I'd probably be insulted right now. But, since you didn't and I'm not … How about some Disney movies? Everyone likes Disney.

And, one more thing ... if I offered you a hug, would it be too much?

[schrodingerscockroach]

...I'm not sure if I'm good at apologies. I was hoping to think of a more...sentimental gift, but kind of. Limited. On that front. For ideas. [It's hard trying to be open and earnest when you're lacking actual information to make it easier.]

Disney movies are pretty good.

[He hesitates at the question.] ....I don't know. Sometimes it can be. Sometimes not. Just. I guess if I push you away, it's because it is too much?

[bluediligence]

… Yeah. [ She knows he's trying. He's done nothing but try the moment he got here, and it's bittersweet to realise that it doesn't come naturally to him. ] It's okay — you're doing your best, and that's what matters most.

[ His reaction to her question, though, is definitely more bitter than sweet. She hesitates, concerned … but then steps in closer, opening her arms, offering. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He tries. So hard. So much trying because its Important.]

I really hope so.

[He hesitates because touch still takes thought for the most part. Getting easier, but that's when he's relatively content. Its far harder when he's distressed and not even needing to hyper focus on others.]

[....but Faito has been an exception of sorts so far so he steps forward, slowly moving his arms around her.]

[And then it sort of. Hits. The guilt and he pulls her close, tight, but not crushing or painful and he bows his head over her shoulder.] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I didn't....I don't ever want to hurt you. [He feels it should scare him how much he means that. Why her importance seems so soul deep.]

[Cause part of him knows, if not cognitively, she's familiar. Thanks Pumako.]

[bluediligence]

[ He pulls her in and she goes gladly, wrapping her arms tight around him, her fingers tangling into the back of his shirt. She buries her face against his chest. ]

I … I know. [ She knows. Somehow. It's weird how easy it is with him, weird how naturally things come, how they just seem to fit. But right now she couldn't care less about the mystery. ] It's gonna be okay. We can get through this.

I believe in you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[It hurts. How much those words mean to him. People have faith and believe in him and its unnerving on a level he doesn't want to think about, but it HURTS with her.]

[But it doesn't make him want to let go. Much the opposite.]

I'll be better. I'll watch....watch that I'm not pushing. Make sure I really can handle things. Should have just gotten Rean for you.

[bluediligence]

[ She nods against his shirt, clinging tighter. ]

Promise me one thing. That you'll talk to people if things seem too much.

[ It's too bad she's not thinking about earning sparks right now, because damn. ]

Belated [Bond]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Sometimes emotions are too high!]

....I can try. Its. Harder to get the words out.

[Everything starts shutting down on him and its hard to deal with if there's no solution. Also meant to affection-or-comfort bond that hug then distracted writing since he had to think.]

[bluediligence]

That's good enough for me.

[ Her hands shift, moving further up to gently squeeze his shoulder. ]

It's — things like this … they don't come easily to everyone, right? So it's fine if it takes time. [ She sighs softly, closing her eyes. ] It means a lot that you'll try. I'll try, too.

[schrodingerscockroach]

....yeah, that's right.

[He sighs and gently strokes her hair, see if that's more soothing.]

Its hard being vulnerable, open. Especially when you can't put it into words to yourself.

But I don't want to do something like that again. So going to do what I can, so I don't.

[bluediligence]

[ He strokes her hair, and that's — oh … she might melt, just a little. ]

[ And she smiles, relieved and grateful. She hadn't been sure, when she'd first messaged him; she'd worried that it might be too soon, or that things might go wrong, or that it'd be weird, and maybe things would stop being so comfortable between them. Yet here they are. ]

Things are definitely gonna be okay. [ It's certain, decisive. ] You've got a lot of people who'll be there for you, whether or not you know how to tell them what you need right there and then.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Its easy. Its so easy to just relax. Still kind of miserable, but less everything eating him up inside and more everything just kind of sucks, so of coursehe is. Exists, but not wrecking everything.]

[Who is she to him?]

That's true. Rean is a pretty unrelenting mother hen. And there's you. Others. [Squeezes her briefly, still petting her hair.] And there's always Disney.

[bluediligence]

Rean's the best, isn't he? I'm so glad to have him as a teammate! [ Hums, warm and fond. When she finally shifts, it isn't so much to pull away as to tug him to sit down with her. ]

What's your team like...?

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He'll sit obediently.] He is pretty awesome.

Twilight is a good kid if a bit defensive, Noon and genuine sincerity barely speak, Midnight and I are kind of fighting for reasons I'm not going to divulge, and Morning is honestly way too good for how much of a hot mess everyone is by being sensible and supportive.

[bluediligence]

[ Gets comfy next to him, leaning lightly into his side with an arm slung around his waist. Only cuddles and affection now. ]

... Sounds, uhm, colourful! [ She won't ask about Midnight ... ] I think Twilight's the only one I've met. We pinky swore to run a trial together.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[For the best to not ask about Midnight.]

....that's adorable. [Affection for days.]

You absolutely should, he's kind of funny.

[bluediligence]

Mmm! He's ... hm, it seems like he's the cool type? But he's really kind.

[ Leans her head against his shoulder. ]

Have you thought about trying to run a trial sometime?

[schrodingerscockroach]

The type to try and pretend he's cool. [He's way too defensive to be genuinely cool.]

A trial?

...that is a thought. Though what.... [it's be obstacle courses, or something.]

[bluediligence]

Ah, so it's like that ... [ Somehow, it seems familiar. ]

I could see you running something like ... you know those TV shows where teams have to work together to get through obstacles? Like that!

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Nods sagely. Sorry Twilight, ruining your rep.]

Yeah, probably. Maybe capture the flag.