+ The Time Has Come, the Time Is Now +

[vitaelamorte]

Who: Everyone in Wonderland!
Where: The chessboard hills
When: Monday, June 11, all day starting at 10:00 AM
Rating: R for (sometimes excessive) violence
Summary: The Queen of Hearts has declared war and the time for battle has come.
The Story:
♥ ICly, the Real Things who will act as pieces volunteered and are led by the Red Queen. The Mirrors were chosen by the Queen of Hearts without being given a choice. The Queen of Hearts announced her choices to her Mirrors very directly, with an order to show up at 10:00 AM on the chessboard, ready to fight. The Red Queen announced her choices more politely, but just as firmly, with a text message sent out over the network listing her pieces and requesting their assistance to protect their fellow Real Things. Characters were not ICly able to respond to this message.

♥ Those pieces who choose to obey the summons will have time to gather any items or weapons they might want to have with them, within reason. Those who don't heed the summons will find themselves suddenly and instantly transported to their square on the chessboard when 10:00 AM rolls around. They will arrive with anything that was on their person at the time, as well as one weapon (whatever it would be normal for them to use). Likewise, any spectators who are not in or around the stands by 10:00 AM will find themselves transported there.

♥ Each player sports an armband, white for the Real Things and Black for the Mirrors, with the shape of their assigned chess piece embroidered in the opposite color. Royalty pieces wear crowns indicative of their status. Should a pawn be promoted to queen, a crown will appear on their head.

♥ Pieces will find that they can't leave their assigned spots until they're told what square to move to by either the Queen of Hearts or the Red Queen. And if they refuse to move, after a couple of moments, an unseen force will scoot them along to their new space.

♥ When threading moves on the board, please find the appropriate top-level under which to comment! It might be helpful to label your thread with which move/encounter you're playing out.

♥ Players on the board can not communicate with those in the stands and vice versa (other than by jumping around and flailing, I guess). However, players on the board can communicate directly with those in squares adjacent to them or with any challenger whose square they share. Since some pieces have a lot of down time, feel free to have them chat with others on the board while they're waiting around.

♥ Directions from the Queens can be assumed. Go ahead and play out moves without waiting for a comment to officially announce them.

♥ The plotting and info post for this log is here.

♥ For your convenience, here are links to the thread headers:

The Donation Box
Pre-Game
The Game - Moves 1-20
The Game - Moves 21-40
The Game - Moves 41-60
The Game - Moves 61-80
The Game - Moves 81-100
The Game - Moves 101-117
The Holding Area
The Stands

Have fun!

Comments

[naughty_nurse]

[Mikan is surprised by Monika's outfit, but she supposes it makes sense, in its own way. Kinda reminds her of Mondo and other gangsters. She looks at Monika, then down and away - what can she possibly say in such a situation? She wants to hope for the best, but...]

... G-Good luck...

[255000255000255]

[ A strange look comes over Monika's face. She hadn't thought of Mikan in ages. It was shocking to see she was still around, really, and even more shocking to think she'd want to come wish her luck. ]

Oh, hey.

[ She stands there awkwardly for a moment. Should she be grateful for the encouragement or not? Like, it's obviously being wasted on her, but the thought of it is nice. ]

Um, thanks. [ She smiles a bit. ] I'm probably gonna die, though!

[ That may come off as morbid, but it was true, so. ]

[naughty_nurse]

[YEAH IT'S MORBID. She jerks, startled, and tears begin to well up.]

M-Maybe it's... just a game! Maybe no one has to get hurt...

[But it's clear she has difficulty believing what she's saying.]

[255000255000255]

[ OH JEEZ she forgot she was dealing with a limp noodle. Monika laughs sheepishly, making calming gestures with her hands. Well, a hand and a machete. ]

Yeah, maybe! Or it might not be. I just wanted to be a little prepared!

[ Prepared to look like a fool, but hey. Free body! ]

Anyway, don't worry too much! I have plenty of lives left, ahaha!

[naughty_nurse]

[Nope, those tears ain't going away anytime soon.]

... Even so... That doesn't make death meaningless. That doesn't make what you'll do meaningless. More than anything... I don't want you to get hurt.

[255000255000255]

[ Monika grimaces. She...doesn't really know how to handle tears. Not when they're caused by concern for her well-being. Since when do people care about her? It's supposed to be the other way around! This is so weird. ]

Um. That makes two of us!

[ Should she say something comforting...? ]

I'll do my best to stay safe, okay? I'd like to get out of this alive as much as you do.

[naughty_nurse]

... Miss Claire... she'll be putting up a medical tent. I'll be working there too.

... If you get out this, but you get hurt... we'll take care of you. That's a promise.

[Sniffle sniffle.]

[255000255000255]

[ Okay, this has got to stop. There's too much caring going on!

Monika shoves her machete into the ground so she can grab Mikan's shoulders. ]

Don't worry about me. I promise you that it's not worth it.

[naughty_nurse]

[Mikan stops, startled.]

Huh? W-what do you mean?

[255000255000255]

[ Monika opens her mouth for a moment to say something, but she shakes her head. She was going to at least thank Mikan, but she didn't want to keep encouraging her. ]

L-Look, there are more important people to be worried about. I don't matter in the end. So save it for someone who needs it, okay?

[naughty_nurse]

[Too late.]

Of course you matter, everyone does! Everyone's important to someone, and you're important to me!

[Sure, Monika might be... kind of weirdly bitchy sometimes, but that doesn't mean she's a bad person! right?]

[255000255000255]

[ She yanks her hands up like Mikan just caught fire. What is this? Like, she may as well have said "your poetry sucks" or "video game characters are stupid." It would've gotten the same reaction!

Monika awkwardly lowers her hands. This might be the weirdest day of her life. ]

Um. Thanks. [ For lack of anything else better to say, she adds on: ] You're important to me, too.

[ She wasn't sure of the veracity of that statement, but...the timing felt right? ]

[naughty_nurse]

[A smile doesn't come, but there is softness in her eyes, appreciating what's been said.

... She is curious about the reaction, but it'd be rude to ask.]

... Good luck, Monika.

[255000255000255]

[ Monika rubs her lips together, still staring at Mikan like she's grown a second head. Then, without warning, she pulls her into a hug.

This part actually feels right. ]

Thanks again, Mikan.

[ She releases her from the hug, glancing away and pretending to adjust her mask, that way her face can't be seen. Her cheeks aren't pink! ]

I'll need it.