Gretchen gets serious
Added 2022-12-01 00:00:06 +0000 UTCPrevious chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/alices-second-75095152?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
"Yes!" Not the best, but certainly not the worst either. Her piece moved towards it's new resting place, a red square.
"A mental one, huh? Wonder what that feels like.." Gretchen said without thinking. "Shit" she thought to herself, she was supposed to keep her cards close to the chest.
"What do you mean mental one?" Himari asked accusingly.
"Uhm.. I kiiindaaa.. Read the manual? And it said that each color represents something different.."
"AND YOU DIDN'T CARE TO TELL US!? What the hell Gretchen! It didn't occur to you that we deserved to know?!" Himari was having none of her shit.
"I'm sorry! It's not like we can alter the outcome by knowing anyways.."
"Well yea, but at least we know what the cards are about now! I don't know if I want a mental one like Alice.. no offense Alice.." She realized she might've said something that could upset Alice. Little did she know that Alice already hated her guts..
Whilst they were having their little argument, Alice had grown tired with their bickering and reached for a red card.
So underhanded and dishonest
Might as well give up on being modest
This is just the beginning
Your only focus should be on winning
Do you continue or chicken out?
It'd caught Gretchen a little off guard when Alice read the card, but judging from it's text, it wasn't a bad one. Something about modesty and winning? She figured it'd have something to do with making her more competitive, if that was even possible.
"I continue!" There was no hesitation whatsoever, just the brief moment she used to assess the contents of the card. It burst into flames right in Alice's hands who paid it no mind at all.
There were no visible changes on Gretchen this time either, just a sudden change in facial expression. As one would guess, the mental change was mental and thus everything was taking place within her mind. The plan of conceding the game once they'd passed halfway to let Alice return to normal went right out the window. Gretchen was here to win, no way in hell she would throw the game just like that.
Following the wave of determination and the washing away of any modesty Gretchen might've had in regards to the game came a sly grin. This of course caught the attention of her adversaries as she now considered them.
"..What did the card just do, Gretchen?" Rebecca asked, a little sceptical. She'd seen her face and knew something was up, she just didn't know what.
"It.. Made me more focused on the game, I think I understand the cards a little better now" She lied. It came so naturally to her too, she wouldn't dream of giving anything away for free. If they wanted to know what the cards did to her they could think for themselves, she was done playing the team player. This was a free for all as far as she was concerned.
"I see, that's pretty convenient, right? I mean, now at least we don't have to guess what the cards do" Rebecca leaned forwards to pick up the die and rolled it with slightly more confidence. She expected Gretchen to know what the card entailed, if they played it right, not everyone had to get halfway and they could chicken out of any card was particularly bad.
To Gretchen's dismay the roll was a good one. Rebecca was already ahead going into the second round with her throw of four in round one. This time around the die landed with five being the number facing up. Her piece moved well clear of the rest of the field and ended up on the first blue square of the game.
A little overdressed for the occasion
Perhaps it's time to show some appreciation
Hiding such a beautiful complexion is to everyone's chagrin
Let that tan glow by showing a little skin!
Do you continue or chicken out?
"Any ideas for this one, Gretchen?" Rebecca asked quizzically, obviously confused by the cryptic nature of the cards.
Gretchen was far from confused. She understood perfectly fine what the card entailed. For now it was a rather innocent card, so there was no reason to play her trump card and lie just yet.
"It means you'll get new clothes, your ..uniform isn't very suited to this "occasion". She used a word directly from the card to sound more convincing, not that she'd have to but it was part of the strategy of gaining their trust before dropping the ball.
Comments
Fair enough. There wasn't much more in there really. But from a player standpoint that wouldn't be a given.
Felixfalck
2022-12-01 23:39:57 +0000 UTCNo i get that part, what feels weird is that they actually dropped the question, i mean they should still be asking what the rules said instead of just forgetting all about it.
Grif end
2022-12-01 23:19:32 +0000 UTCShe is their friend after all. She simply read the manual, and forgot to tell them. At least that's what THEY believe. You don't get randomly suspicious to such a degree based on an oversight like that, especially when you've been friends your whole life. And with this in mind I figured it was natural for them to leave it be once she confessed to reading the manual. Not much more to interrogate about after that.
Felixfalck
2022-12-01 22:13:53 +0000 UTCKinda feels like the group dropped their interrogation of Gretchen too easily i mean it was established she knew what each tile represented but now they are asking her what the mysterious power given to her by the card says about the transformations ? Feels a bit weird.
Grif end
2022-12-01 21:46:35 +0000 UTCOn the contrary! I very much enjoy the engagement and alternative ideas. Don't feel that you're overstepping or anything! Please nitpick to your hearts content! :D
Felixfalck
2022-12-01 20:57:17 +0000 UTCUmm Sorry i guess? Still if you are ok with me being more nitpicky on the story so far and offer other suggestions let me know cause i tend to feel like overstepping otherwise...
Grif end
2022-12-01 20:31:03 +0000 UTCI feel a whole lot less clever when you've pretty much hit the nail on the head in terms of future plot. I wholeheartedly agree.
Felixfalck
2022-12-01 16:18:33 +0000 UTCThat's not necessarily the case sure treating her eyesight was good but the second change basically prevents her from ever chickening out, this means she will accept future changes no matter how bad they despite knowing what they might be about. The thing is as things stand she has the perfect winning strategy wait till someone reaches midpoint then convince everyone else to forfeit even using her better understanding of the game as a reason why. The above suggestion would however shake others trust in her ruining her strategy but also give Alice a more active role than giving everyone mean looks.
Grif end
2022-12-01 15:52:49 +0000 UTCPerhaps the game has been too nice with Gretchen up til now. Maybe a punishment of sorts would be in order. I'll try and get some ideas down
Felixfalck
2022-12-01 11:58:13 +0000 UTCI can see an interesting chain of events from this development. Alice who now i mostly ignored and has no reason to trust Gretchen snaches the rules without anyone realising then exposes Gretchen, not cause she has any desire to protect the others but turn these "bitches" at each other's throats since they are being too chummy, this leads Gretchen (possibly while fighting with an other girl) destroying the rules which would count as cheating.
Grif end
2022-12-01 11:22:04 +0000 UTC
