PALACE GAME: Round 2

[cultfavorite]

You open your eyes—

You're standing in the vast lobby of a corporate building, facing the reception desk, where a Team Galactic Grunt is stationed—she's currently on the phone, though, and occupied. A few other grunts move through the lobby, looking as if they're on their way to their next assignment. All of them look identical. And if you watch their paths for a while, none of them actually end up leaving the room.

The walls are a bright, metallic, sterile blue with white, and the floor is made up of gleaming silver metal tiles emblazoned here and there with a gold logo. The reception desk is slightly to your right, and to the left of that there are three doors in the far wall in front of you.

To the right of the reception desk, there's a little area with a vending machine, a large ottoman to sit on, a potted plant, and . . . a dotaku? With a face? It's sitting resting on the floor next to the vending machine, and it's staring right at you with those red eyes.

Directly to your right, closer to the front door, there is a glowing green circle on the floor with a sign on the wall next to it.

What will you d—

Wait. Your phone is buzzing. Whether or not you had it with you back in the prison, you do now, whether in your pocket, in your hand, whatever. It's on your person, and it's vibrating demandingly for attention. If you choose to ignore it, a mechanical voice emanating from it begins literally saying the word buzz! buzzzzzz! buuuzzzzzz! in an increasingly irritated tone.

Check your phone?

Comments

[eggstinction]

[Moon moves to the back of the stage and as Sharpedo finishes its moves, he launches into the air! He soars up to the top of the amphitheater's dome and curls around and around on himself until he's a round armored ball. he hangs in the air a moment, long enough to let the audience guess what's going to happen next, then plummets down to the stage with a shrieking roar!! A Dragon Ascent with some meteor flavor!]

[cultfavorite]

Ohhhhhhh! The audience erupts, gasping and shrieking and applauding. Mrs. Butcher tips her head, watching this consideringly and giving herself a thoughtful little nod; then she glances over at Mr. Big Shot, who's trailed off from his phone conversation and is also now watching this happen, his attention finally captured.

With this, the musical sting sounds, and the emcee emerges. That was your show, Moon!

"Thank you, everyone, thank you!"

[eggstinction]

[applause!! Uncurls to go take a bow and headbutt Sharpedo, good job!!]

[cultfavorite]

The audience and judges are both chattering. Three of the judges are hanging back and not saying much, but Mrs. Butcher and Mr. Big Shot are going back and forth about something. Finally, Mrs. Butcher stands in her seat, and a hush comes over the crowd. They're on the edge of their seats.

"Hey, you two! I got a question for ya 'fore I decide how I feel about your show. Was that supposed to be Tough, or Cool?"

[eggstinction]

[lifts his head confidently]

It was a showcase of our toughness, but it's cool to be strong and it's cool to be fierce!

[cultfavorite]

She listens, mouth curving down, thinking this over. There's a dead silence. She gives Mr. Big Shot a long look, and he gives one back to her.

The she sits again, and the judges hold up their scorecards: straight 8s. Not bad! The crowd goes wild! 8 is a high number!

[eggstinction]

[bows again]

Thank you, judges! Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Sharpedo!

[cultfavorite]

Sharpedo is thrilled to have performed well, and to be thanked! He could almost pass for a Cute Pokemon with the way he lights up and swims around in the air joyfully. It's a good thing the judging is over!

The emcee steps out onstage to lead Moon off and pump up the audience for the next performance of the day. Once backstage, the usher who helped check you in greets you effusively.

"I knew you'd do great! You've got Tough down pat. Congratulations on winning a trip to Lake Verity!"

[eggstinction]

[sits up with his forefeet folded politely in front of him like a bunny]

Thank you! I did not know there was a prize. Is that very far from here?