PEACE WEEKEND

[airlockedmods]

[It's your first week here, and you've been offered a fantastic prize for killing someone: an all-expense paid vacation! It's a pretty standard prize as far as reality game shows go.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), this isn't exactly a game show.

It seems that no one has died this weekend, and the deadline for the prize is now expired. There's no announcement from the Overseers to that effect; in fact, none of you have seen either of them since Tuesday. Maybe they'll make a reappearance soon, but for now, it seems that you've got a moment of peace.

Hopefully nothing happens to it.]

Comments

[quadjumps]

... Why are you telling me any of this? To get me to stop acting that way? People can't change overnight.

[newcycle]

I know.

But you're not even trying. And I don't want to have to stand over you and try to bully you into it all the time.

[quadjumps]

[ yuri gets quiet. ]

Why do you care? You're just doing this for the others, aren't you?

[newcycle]

I mean, I'm sure it'll help them...

But no. This is a really stressful situation, for everyone. Even you. I know you can see it, or you wouldn't lecture me about trusting people if you weren't worried too.

I want you to help. Just... don't end up isolating yourself.

[quadjumps]

...

[ don't end up isolating yourself.

she's smarter than she seems. no matter how many fronts yuri puts up, people always manage to see right through him. it's annoying.

but he can't let her see weakness. ]

That's how I've always been.

[ alone. ]

[newcycle]

You don't have to be.

[a pause, and then more firmly:]

You shouldn't be.

[quadjumps]

[ he's leaning his back against the wall, now. ]

... Maybe I like it better that way. You don't know me.

[newcycle]

No... I don't. But even so, I can tell you don't really like it. You're just saying you do.

[she puts a hand on his shoulder]

Try, at least?

[quadjumps]

[ when was the last time someone spoke to him like this? with genuine concern and...

he shudders when she puts a hand on his shoulder, but he's looking at her with a weird mix of confusion and....gratitude? it's hard to say. ]

No promises.