showmaster | SHOWMASTER HEART GAME (SATURDAY)

SHOWMASTER HEART GAME (SATURDAY)

A familiar voice can be heard above you, you're not sure if they're talking to you or not but it does feel like you're part of this conversation:

"What a Wonderful Story that you have. I've read it many times when I was feeling sad. You know, I wanted to keep it in my personal collection, but it doesn't seem that's going to be possible. To grant my wish, I'd have to sacrifice what it means to be a reader ... to become the story. That's The End that I'm looking for.

...

...

...

...

..."

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[smiles back at him, her body language matching the other Awoken in the room now, even if she most definitely is not in pinstripe and glasses]

Pleasure’s all mine, Bear. I take it this DREAM has to do with what the Family values most in this day and age, yes? Or am I presuming too much from the presentation?

Of course! We exist specifically to see if there is a way to give blessings to those who can withstand such powers. That's the "dream" after all.

Isn’t that the truth?

It’s an awfully bold claim about the DAMNED, though, still…unless you can confidently say you’ve got the results to back it up? I can always respect a good solid dataset.

Well, it’s not much of a secret these days that LEGENDS were once human. Humans aren’t indestructible and so surely, neither are they.

Of course, of course. But have all the, mm, side effects, been accounted for? Not that there isn’t always a little risk in science, but Legends are such messy business by their very natures, yeah? Including when they disappear.

Well, we have various test studies, if you would like to witness them, you are welcome to see what we've done so far.

Of course I’d love to, and I’ll extend you a mutual invite. More knowledge, more progress, am I right?

[He then motions towards the door that she had walked through earlier.

But this time, the scene is different. It's a familiar one to her.

Inside is a room that looks like a worn-down lab, one that's been used more than it should have been. The walls are covered in scratches and stains that cannot be removed and the floors and ceilings are cracked. It's hard to ignore the fluorescent light above flickering in and out, adding to the cold atmosphere within.

The room smells heavily of chemicals, empty bottles lying about with one good sniff smelling like bleach. The large sink/tub near some of the counterspaces also smells like bleach. Medicine cabinets filled with unnamed prescription bottles and jars, walls covered in sharp gadgets that look terrifying, a metal "bed" in the center with leather straps, obviously meant to tie down limbs . . .

This place looks very unpleasant.

Yes, this is the same lab during Dixie's first subway run. However, there is one main difference. There is a small child there with purple eyes looking at you, holding a book to her chest.]

The DAMNED is a docile legend, ultimately begging for penance to truly be happy, and so that's what we've been working on. They regret the dependency that the Awoken have relied on all this time and support us in making humans self-sufficient.

[her ears have slanted back, but gently, not pinned flat against her head

does this baby Legend look like the Showmaster?]

Fascinating! So making up for her predecessor serves as her penance?

[100000000% no doubts about it.]

Ah no, no, this is little Estoria, she's as human as you and I. Her family wanted us to help her receive blessings but without the powers of Legends. She's already blessed somehow, and we're not sure where it came from. We've already pulled the DAMNED apart, here, take a look. Only a few in the family are aware of this.

[He holds out a little jar and inside she could see a tiny bit of flesh clanking against the glass as if trying to escape.]

Ah, my mistake, my mistake, I suppose I have my own research too much in mind, haha. So the solution and the jar inhibits it sufficiently from—I take it it’s trying to reform? And young Estoria here is to receive further Blessing from the DREAMER instead?

Oh, no, they will be her own, haha! Every single person who receives such blessings will become a DREAMER.

And yes, this is just a temporary measure until we find a way to keep the body from reforming.

[admiring, softly awed]

You really have cracked it, then. Isn’t the psychological stress on a DREAMER a bit excessive, though? Depending on the Blessings?

Not at all. You see, blessings are naturally limited, aren't they? No one is born with the power to set the whole world on fire. Once it is used up, so is the energy that's used. So likewise, with these new blessings, they, too, have limits.

For example, if one can create a large vessel, damage to the vessel will cause direct damage to the host. If a vessel carries a large amount of pain, erasing the memories of the pain will balance it out.

How useful.

D’you mind if I speak to the subject directly?

Feel free, it's fine.

[beckons]

C’mere, miss Estoria. Let me have a good look at you.

[She slowly comes over, hesitant, staring up at her.

She doesn't say anything.]

[reaches slowly for her hand]

Can you tell me a little about how you’ve been?

[She just stares up at her as if this is a trick question. She won't fight back if her hand is grabbed but she doesn't grab back either.]

Edited 2026-01-26 01:14 (UTC)

[she just very gently touches Estoria’s hand, and tries to use a Blessing

the ability is, essentially, swapsies: she can switch one thing or person she can see with something else in a different location, as long as she can picture the thing and location with exact clarity and they are not massively far apart. she is trying to transport this baby to her room on the Producer floor, and replace her with a pot of flowers from there

she does not expect this to actually work! but it is worth a try]

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SHOWMASTER HEART GAME (SATURDAY)

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cw body horror probably

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