Mark stopped in his tracks as the new contestant confronted him. He looked the character up and down before chuckling and tilting his head. He had to admit the man had a fair point, but Mark simply wanted to beat out his frustration. Though, as he saw the steam come from the mans body he felt his instincts kick in and sighed as he used his sword as a cane to lean on. "Alright, fine. We'll play it your way, for now," he gave his previous smart mouthed target a quick glare as he continued to goat him on. "We'll settle this later," he hissed and looked to Willow. "Okay princess, talk!"

@Mistory @Leaves

Jessica's body was a machine at the moment. Her right hand was picking up sugar cubes and plopping them into her mouth, and her eyes stayed fixated on Skyler's wings. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Her mind was starting to introduce the idea that perhaps all the extremities in front of her weren't a drug-induced hallucination.

Of course, Jessica has the iq of a limestone coffee table, so this process abandoned the usual critical thinking that came bundled with having and existential crisis, and jumped between the two extremes of "Real" and "Not real".

It was then that the guide began to conjure illustrations mid-air to help her narration, explaining why everyone was reborn and gathered in anime starbucks. The brawler's fists balled up and began to shake with excitement as she saw herself in one of them. Her final moments played out for all to see. "I just got shot point blank in the face! Awesome sauce!"

---

"Ma'am! Ma'am!" A Jessica in a lab coat approached another Jessica in a lab coat, their bodies being inexplicably well lit in their mushy pink office. The first Jessica straightened her back and spoke again. "I'm afraid Jessica has gone off the rails general, the realization of her death has driven her into a state of shock! She's in danger!"

Jessica the general fixed her non-prescription ornamental glasses and addressed her underling. "Jessica No. 27, tell me what happened the last time something like this took place." Number twenty-seven stammered as she recalled those events in crystal clarity.

"Y-you mean the Chuck E. Cheese incident?"

"Precisely!"

"We survived!"

"Exactly!!"

The Jessica-in-command adjusted her glasses in such a way that light dramatically shone off of them. "That's right soldier, we live and we ADAPT like WARRIORS. Now hurry up and get these trauma files placed inside her memory cabinets and ignore our evanescent existence as figurative representations of a dumb girl's subconscious."

With a firm salute from both parties, Jessica number twenty-seven shifted through the manila files, making sure to keep things nice and tidy. A file labeled "My death lmao" was gingerly slotted between others similar in appearance within the conscious memory cabinets, in between folders "Full House theme song" and "Gay thoughts". In the external world, Jessica was moaning and drooling like a zombie, ignoring all the conflict in front of her, hyperfixated on Skyler's wings.

Skyler calmly closed his book and stored it away as Willow spoke again. He wasn't particularly fazed by the revelation of his death. He'd apparently had some time to mull it over as he worked on the garden during the transition. Apparently this place didn't have anyway of measuring soil pH outside of dying plants according to his aggravated writing. Too bad he couldn't remember much about that. Oh well, I'm sure given time I'll remember. He though to himself as Willow paused for questions.

Then a situation erupted. Someone was yelling, swords were being drawn, threats were made, and now an elf was leaping over- He snatched his coffee out of the way- tables to escape. Skyler chuckled quietly at the elf now dabbing on the table. "You are absolutely ridiculous. Get down before you trip silly. You just died, no need to break you neck just after you got here." An odd noise caught his attention. He glanced over and froze. A girl stared down his wings, drooling. He shivered, thoroughly creeped out, and scooted further away from her. He slipped his wand out his bag and rested it on the table, just in case she decided to try fried wings today.

"Everything okay over there?" He hesitantly asked the girl.

@Leaves @HokumPocus

Ysran simply sat back and watched the events unfold. The man smoking a cigarette seemingly began to lose his temper, and threatened a few of the others. Unfortunately, nothing came of it. The situation was defused, and everybody sat back down. Damn shame. He always found people fighting over nonsense to be quite amusing. He supposed that he could step in, see if he could re-ignite the the fire... No, involving himself likely wouldn't be the best idea. He sat back in his chair.

"Yeah, I've got a question. Are we stuck here forever, or can we pass like, some 12 trials thing and go back? Even just temporarily." Suddenly dying wasn't exactly on Ysran's to-do list, and left a lot of stuff behind. There are a few things he should probably burn, or bury. Yes, bury sounds better, give others another chance to live in his legacy. Then there was the matter of his Occult group. He didn't want them killing people in a murderous rampage over the death if a friend. Then again, they were mostly rational. Perhaps they'd just mourn? It would be the smart thing to do.

Olive just lowered her head and groaned to herself, arms over her head to protect it in case anything crazy started happening. She briefly saw a snippet of her death play out on the magic-television, and all color drained from her face. It was only a few seconds long, but showed plenty. A painfully thin young woman was lying in a hospital bed, a breathing mask attached to her face. She groaned again, fingers clawing at her table. With any luck, everyone was too busy focusing on the fight to notice the familiar dark hair.

A sigh escaped Christopher as he shifted, his shoulders falling. The steam disapated, and he never even noticed. His eyes eventually found the images willow had conjured up, and was abit...disappointed. he found his rather quickly a simple man, bandaged head to toe, sitting in a simple bed, in a simple room. And then the moniter flatlined. No-one...no one was even there to see him go...nhe had thought he came to terms that nobody was left but...it still hurt. It hurt to know he really was all alone in the end...damn.

Taking his glass, he gave a grumble, downing what was left as he took a seat beside a raven haired elf who seemed rather distraught. He looked her over for a minute, before his eyes fell on her ears. His hand absent mindidly came to his own, and he shook his head.

Giving her a nudge, he smiled "Hey, ease up. Not like things can get any worse." He rolled the glass in his hand, thinkig aloud"does physical relationship factor in here? If thats so, we could be cousins" he gave a grin to her flicking his own pointed ear. He winced upon doing so, and grumbled"sensitive...ow..."
@pumpkinbot

---

Hans simply watched everything unravel in silence, paying specific close attention to Willow's explanation. And above else, he came to witness how some of these people here couldn't really accept their fate. On the other hand, Hans was more tolerant to such explanation. Who can say why, but his memories are not lost so easily, unlike so many others here. He didn't even need to see the video tape depicting his demise to be reminded of it.

Hans also remained out of the commotions. There was no need to remain in it. He was too violent and aggressive to argue with logically. Instead, he simply contemplated on what was going on. This place, this world, according to Willow, was simply a huge RPG game, but with less computers and stuff. And to the legends of that 'thing' he saw before dying, this was a place where his inner most desire were fulfilled. A place where all was possible. True for most part. He did wish for another life, but not really this way.

The boy checked his sword and knife. So this was a real thing. Assuming everything Willow said was the truth, he would have to work himself to not die here. Well, death is as light as a feather now, but it's better to not die. But was he going to do it alone or with a team. That was the only question lingering in his mind now.

"Allow me to inquire. He addressed Willow. "Are we doing this, all of this, by ourselves or with a group?"

@Poi

"I know this may sound confusing, even outright a lie. It was hard for me to fathom that I had died and was given another chance, just as you all have been given." Willow explained, and as if on queue, she clicked her fingers. Soon, images manifested out of bluish arcane light, each one showing how their ends came to be. Aear sunk into their shoulders whilst they stood next to the drinks table as the image of their past flashed upon for all to see. It's bad enough that everyone can see me die from a sea creature - but to of done it while wearing my labcoat for Marina-corp...well that's just embarrassing. Aear looked around seeing others react to their deaths, her words, and the overall situation that everyone has seemed to have found themselves in. Willows voice faded into the background I'd only for a moment until they heard "Perhaps you remember playing as knights or heroes as a child. The world of Alcone has infinite possibilities, and now, you can live out those childhood days as a reality" They chuckled to themselves laughing at the idea that those thoughts stopped once one reached adulthood. I do that on my spare time. On Tuesdays I was Theodore the time mage; A man untouched by time and incapable of death. Every other day when not working I helped run a guild online in FantasyEnd Online...Oh god! Whose gonna help now? How will they know I've passed?! A few moments of pure nothing passed their mind as they stared blankly at the realization that they are in fact dead. Just as soon as the thoughts began to set in Aears attention was immediately drawn to the dagger that appeared out if thin air and inti Willows hand. Seeing this act if magic reminded them that they too possessed spells (though not many) making them want to try just one out. Whispering to themselves Aear said Alright, you've got thisDuin ún As soon as the words were spoken with their hands cupped and palms up; a pool of water began to fill in them and shape itself into...a cat? Ok not bad, definitely cute and clearly made up of water. Alright primarily a surveillance spell...hmm how do I survail with this? Aear stopped to laugh at the thought of a survailing serval and placed the cat onto the floor. As they picked their glass back up from the table their eyes began to glow and the liquid in the glass stood still as if it were a mirror. It showed images of...peoples ankles? Wait no now it's shifting to...Oh god no nope nope not looking at that. It was then Aear looked down and saw their new pet grooming itself with its leg held up high and realised they had been seeing through the cats eyes.
@Poi

Then, all hell broke loose. "Ya'll ain't actually falling for this, are ya?" he asked before glancing towards the stranger that appeared to be of an avian race."And you, bird brain! Take off that stupid get up, look like a jackass in that thing!"
"Tell us what's really going on, or I'm testing this thing out on you first!" Aears eyes widened in shock at this man's behaviour. How could anyone so callously make threats upon another life? Then a loud proclamation happened "I have ears!!"Did she not before hand?
Wait do some of us not have ears?! Oh...i don't remember sign language very well. Aear began feeling a bit ill at the thought of being unable to communicate to others; however that thought was soon thrown away by the smoker extraordinaire "Really now, then how about I see if they're real, eh? It'll prove me wrong and we can magically put them back on. That's how it works right?" What?! No she definitely didn't cover maiming just the idea of death. Oohhhhh is this my penance for being an atheist? Was I worked away to hell to be tortured by a man with severe anger issues? More and more people began to stand up against him in attempts to defend the poor elf. It was absolute chaos. Aears eyes dash about as each person stood, threatened, defended and coward at the situation at hand. Then there was her...what appeared to be a very simple minded girl drenched in her own drool as she stared at the fairy near her. Was she looking to eat him? Did she admire him? Or was she simply...not all there? My attention was once again grabbed as the violence began to subdue when someone jumped into the table the fairy was at and...dabbed? Really? This is how we settle fights? At least now we can get some quiet and more explanations.
@Achronum@HokumPocus@Joker892@Pumpkinbot@Leaves

Olive perked up as someone else stepped close to speak to her. He had a similar elven physiology, save for dark blue skin, which struck her as a bit odd...though everything here was odd in some way or another. "Hey, ease up. Not like things can get any worse. Does physical relationship factor in here? If thats so, we could be cousins."

Olive stammered for a moment, unable to focus on finding the English speaking part of her brain with a strange creature in her face. Eventually, she found that casually closing her eyes and brushing hair out of her face to (poorly) feign nonchalance worked to help her train of thought. "I-I, ah...ahem, I don't know. I'm still...adjusting. You're new here, too?" She paused, then, "You do bring up a good point, though. Do I have, l-like...elf-parents? Are they like my real parents, or...just some people I don't know? Was this elf I am now somebody else before I died? Did I just take someone's bo--" Olive closed her eyes and let out a sharp breath. She took a few moments to regain her composure, then craned her neck up and shouted toward Willow. "Do we have families here?" A simple question, but one that'd likely have an interesting answer, no matter which way you slice it.

---

Instead of cracking under the revelation of everyone here having already died, Haruka simply shook her head and sighed, crossing her arms. Admittedly, she was rather unsettled by the whole thing, but she had a persona to keep up. She was Black Moon, a stoic, badass ninja. However, from this point on, the ninja part of that persona may be more than just an act. It was rather exciting, actually, and Haruka was grinning behind her scarf.

"Hey."

A voice called out to Haruka from behind a table. After turning to face the owner in response, the ninja was surprised to see...

...the man from before, and his dog.

"What the heck are you doing here?" Haruka asked as she walked closer to the man, who was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed behind his head. "Didn't you vanish before I went inside the Guild with Willow and the others?"

The man nodded. In response, Haruka placed her hands on her hips. "Why are you still here, then?"

"Because my partner and I died, just like you."

"Makes sense, I guess," Haruka said. She then tilted her head slightly. "What did you call me over for?"

A light chuckle could be heard from behind the man's mask as he began breaking his (admittedly uncomfortable-looking) position and sat upright. He then motioned towards the seat on the opposite end of the table. "Sit down. Make yourself comfortable."

Haruka took the seat and attempted to rest her legs on the table, to which the man rapidly shook his head in response. "Sorry, kid, but that won't make you look cooler." The younger ninja then sighed, annoyed, and instead sat upright, crossing her arms on the table.

"In the past," the man began, "I would have given you a different name, but for now, you can call me Clyde." Clyde pat the dog that was laying down beside his chair. "And this is Interceptor, my partner and best friend."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Clyde," Haruka said, holding out a hand for the older man. "My name is Haruka." Clyde accepted the handshake, and shook the younger ninja's hand firmly.

"Likewise, Haruka." After the handshake had finished, Clyde quickly cleared his throat and began speaking again. "The reason I called you over, as well as brought you here from the river, is because I want to be your mentor. If you'll have me, that is."

"Of course!" Haruka said excitedly, her stoic disguise having been broken. Clyde chuckled in response.

"Someone definitely seems eager." Clyde looked over at Willow and the rest of the group of newcomers. "For now, however, go back with your batch of new recruits and listen to what Willow has to say. We'll talk more after."

Haruka nodded understandingly. "Of course, Clyde. Thank you." The ninja stood up from her seat and waved goodbye to Clyde as she walked back to where Willow and the others were. The older ninja simply nodded in response.

Chaos.

The room had exploded into outrage and threats, both verbal and physical. Some were slinging insults like how a monkey slings dung, and Willow was at a loss as she watched the crowd with a worried expression. True, Willow did just tell them that they had died, but she had not expected a reaction just like she experienced. Still, it was her duty as the staff head to keep people under control within the guild's headquarters, and Willow had no wish to be a witness to the glowing fists radiating an icy mist in the behind the group as they argued.

Coughing loudly, Willow attempted to draw the attention back to her as a short girl with feline traits stepped forward, standing beside the staff head patiently, although she seemed to stare down the angry swordsman with an intense cold glare. A number of small tablets, similar to those that archaeologists find in ancient ruins. Each tablet seemed to glow with streaks of blue, as if they had built in LEDs inside that shined through little cracks. "Well, that was an experience. Not everyone believes me when I tell them of their demise, but I've never had someone react like that!" Willow explained, turning her attention to those who had asked questions in the midst of the loud fighting and shouting.

"I'm afraid that we have no knowledge of someone being able to return to their former lives, Ysran. There may be a way to be resurrected and return home, but to anyone's knowledge--even the Guild's knowledge--there doesn't exist a way to return." Willow replied to the elf that had asked the question. Ysran had been silent the entire outburst, and Willow was thankful that he hadn't joined the argument, but she was also disappointed that she couldn't give an answer that he might preferred.

Now looking at the dragoon, Willow nodded to his question. "You'll be working in groups determined by the tablets my friend has in her hands. Each have been programmed with useful statistics and data for your time in Alcone, and they'll also determine which of those seated next to you will be partnered together. Each has a number that will light up for a moment, and whoever has the same number will be in a group with you. If you remember drawing sticks or numbers for partnerships, then you shouldn't have any issue." Willow explained to Hans with a motion of her hand, signalling to the girl to pass out the tablets to the group. Mark was still received with the cold glare as she passed the tablet to him, making it evident that she had quite the attachment to Willow and held a grudge against the swordsman for his earlier threats.

While the girl was passing out the tablets, Willow looked to the elf that had been quickly targeted by the swordsman who had threatened to cut off her ears. "Yes, you do have a family, but allow me to ease your worries." Willow explained, alluding to the frantic conversation the elf had with the half-elf sitting nearby. "I'll be frank. As our swordsman demonstrated, not everyone believes they died. The townsfolk, unless they happen to be in a situation like you, will refuse to believe you. They might even label you off as insane depending on who you talk to." Willow continued to explain, her words being the harsh reality of being reborn in Alcone.

Still, the staff head held up a finger, as if she had more to explain."However, to explain the sudden appearance of a large group of strangers, each one of have been provided a family through the magic that brought you to this world. You didn't steal someone's body, but the townsfolk seem to believe as if your parents have been here the whole time, caring for each one of you since birth. If you like, you can visit them with the coordinates that have been implemented in the tablet given to you." Willow replied, glancing at a small pocket watch that ticked away around her wrist.

"I don't want to keep you all for much longer, but I still have to explain a few more things. I'm sure some of you may still have more questions than answers, yet I have to ask that all further questions be addressed later. We wouldn't want adventurers going out into the world without an idea what a quest is." Willow finished, looking towards the crowd as she watched their expressions while they devoured what information she attempted to provide to their conflicted thoughts.

---

"Everywhere you look........everywhere you go,... there's a heart.......... a hand to hold onto..."

"EEEEEeeaauuuuuuuuuuuuuughhh oooooooooooooo"

Jessica violently slammed her face onto the table, aligning her spiritual and physical forms like shaking a ketchup bottle. A stranger gently placed a tablet on top of her head in the middle of this process, helping to awaken her somewhat.

The fairy seated near her had asked her something earlier, but she couldn't at all remember. Still, it seemed strange that he was nervously staring at her. The brawler thought about breaking the silence. "Don't cha know it's rude to stare at people?" She said with a wink. The tablet that was on top of her head fell loudly while this happened.

After staring at the contraption with glazed, emotionless eyes for several seconds Jessica finally registered that it had text and such. She heard all about this word business in her years of school. Letters made words, and if you got enough words together, then baby, you got yourself a sentence! And don't even get her started on paragraphs. Still, the concept hurt her head, which was used to thinking via the mental version of crude microsoft paint drawings. She furiously furrowed her brows and began to think. This...... process.... was stopped by a glowing number.

Immediately her face shriveled in disgust. Eaugh, numbers. Those are just letters but with extra steps.

Still, after listening to a solid twenty percent of the woman's instructions it was clear that they would determine the teams that would form. The blonde stared at the "one" that was displayed on the device. Jessica beamed proudly, brighter than the number. One! the number everyone knew! It was the first number, unless you counted the number zero. The thought caused her disdain to double. Pfft. The only dummy-dumb dweeb numbnuts who say that are stuck-up MEGA WEENIES and mesoamericans that existed in pre-columbus America using the long count calendar system.

The woman who guided them stood prepared for more questions, but Jessica didn't care too much. Instead, she energetically jumped from her sugar covered seat and cupped her gloved hands around her mouth.

"YO! does anyone in this starbucks have the number ONE????!?!?"

Olive relaxed as Willow answered her question. On one hand, her not-parents know her and expect a symathetic parent-daughter bond she won't be able to reciprocate due to simply not knowing them...but on the other hand, at least her sudden appearance didn't wipe anyone else out of existance.

The cat-girl started passing out tablets--the stone kind, not the iPad kind--and Olive soon found one in her hands. With the way it was lighting up, it may as well have been the iPad kind, though. She studied the information on the front of it, squinting at a few things and briefly adjusting her spectacles. Wait, when did those get there? She took them off to examine them for a moment, then simply shook her head and put them back on.

A large number glowed on the tablet's surface. "YO!!" A voice pierced through the crowd, causing the elf to wince. "Does anyone in this Starbucks have the number ONE?!" Olive peeked down at her number...then glanced over to the man that had just threatened to remove her ears moments ago. She opted for silence, and held her tablet close to her chest.

A short feline-like woman began passing out tablets of some sort. His specialty! Let's see what... oh. They're electronic. Damn. So, a number would pop up on here to tell him what group he was is? Huh. Looks like two others knew their numbers and shouted it out to the group. Ysran looked down. Four. Group four. Here's hoping he'd be on a team with someone intelligent. Or, perhaps not? A total buffoon could easily be manipulated. Guess he'd have to find out.

He took another sip of his drink and scanned around once more. Sure were a lot of magic users. He could almost... feel their magic. But that was it. He couldn't tell much else. Maybe with further studies he could get more specific. For now though, he'd likely need to work on his own magic. Did he have a mana pool? Could he only cast them twice per day? With any luck, the answer would be clear.

---

So there's no return...

There's no way out of here. You cannot transport your consciousness, your soul out of this place. Even death wouldn't help, since you would just be revived. It's an endless loop.

Hans wondered if this really was his wish, to live another life for an eternity? This surely wasn't what he had in mind. Still, it was not bad, comparing to his former world. And the fact that he would be working together with a team made it easier. In theory, of course.

A small girl with ears soon handed Hans and the others a stone tablet that appeared to be quite old for his time, but befitting for the age. The setting of the town was pretty medieval after all.

Or not...

The tablet that appeared to be entirely ancient, suddenly glowed blue in light. And within it were data and charts of Hans himself, along with a very large number in the center, as according to Willow, indicating the team that he would be joining with. What sort of world is this? An uncomprehensive mix between technology and fantasy. Hans was more and more convinced that this was an RPG game rather than a normal world for living beings to spend their lives in. Also the fact that he also had parents here. Honestly, the mix did not go on well with each other, that it just didn't make sense.

Oh well, not the time to delve onto that. Let's see who is on his team.

Hans need not to go investigate, as one already spoke out: A black haired boy with a notable scar in his right eye. He was in team two, the same as Hans over here. The dragoon, or he was labelled so by the stone tablet, turned his tablet containing the number to the guy, saying.

"It appears that we are on the same boat. You seem competent. My name is Hans Joachim, you are?"

@Leaves

"Don't cha know it's rude to stare at people?" The girl winked and then became absorbed with the tablets that the girl was passing around. Skyler just blinked a few times, not sure how to respond, and turned back to the elf that had just sat down. He nodded and smiled in repsonse to him before turning his attention back to willow.

"I'm afraid that we have no knowledge of someone being able to return to their former lives, Ysran. There may be a way to be resurrected and return home, but to anyone's knowledge--even the Guild's knowledge--there doesn't exist a way to return."

Skyler shrugged at that revelation. He'd made peace with his death. Returning from the dead would only cause more confusion and issues than he was willing to deal with. Plus, he had wings here.

While the girl was passing out the tablets, Willow looked to the elf that had been quickly targeted by the swordsman who had threatened to cut off her ears."Yes, you do have a family, but allow me to ease your worries. I'll be frank. As our swordsman demonstrated, not everyone believes they died. The townsfolk, unless they happen to be in a situation like you, will refuse to believe you. They might even label you off as insane depending on who you talk to."

Skyler frowned a little at that. That seemed wrong. A family created memories together over a lifetime of joy and sorrow, of frustration and excitement. What point was there to a family that didn't have any of that and just existed for the sake of existence. Convenient sure but... Skyler shook his head as he received a table from the girl. He just wouldn't ever visit them. Simple enough.

He glanced down at the tablet. A glowing four stared back. His wings fluttered a bit more as butterflies fluttered in his stomach. Hopefully, who ever he was paired with was a bit more accepting of this whole ordeal than most of these individuals. Guess it was time to find out!

"Team four anyone?" Skyler held up his tablet as he shouted across the room.

@HokumPocus@Leaves

...so they had families...

"...should we even visit them? It seems kinda...wrong, taking someones love like that. We dont know these people. But they think we've been here all along..."

If this was a dream,it was a pretty damn realistic one...glancing at his bizarre gloves, christlpher sighed. No he couldnt be dead...not yet. He still had things to do...for...
A thought dawned on him. How did they get chosen? Were they picked to come here for a reason? Or was it just a random occurence?

Could they actually know people here from their own world? Christopher moved to ask, but was to late. She had asked for them to wait...fair enough...

As another woman handed out a bizarre set of tablets, he took his, and glanced it over. Stone? But...it began to glow, and he looked it over in surprise" well then...eh...number 3, anyone?"

This was all fake, right? Just some sick assholes game to mess with peoples minds while living out their own fantasy world. He's seen it before, but as he listened and let his mind cool down from his rage it all began to become real. His eyes never stopped glancing around in hopes he'd find a camera or some sort of crappy prop to help label this whole thing fake. He never found a single shred of evidence, just more fantasy bull. Then in a moment of realization he pressed his hand down onto his gut, searching for the pain of his most recent buckshot wound. Nothing. He quickly yanked his lower part of his shirt up and felt his mind become numb to the world. He definitely was plugged in the gut by a shotguns shell, but under many past wounds from his life a single large scar covered his belly. Mark shook his head and scoffed. No way would he have survived an injury like that, his organs must have been nothing but mush. Yet, here he was. Standing tall with the same amount of energy as always and no pain holding him back.

As he began to sink deeper and deeper into his mind the cat eared women who had been giving him a dirty look came around with a tablet looking devise. Mark, not taking his eyes off of his scars simply snatched the tablet away from the women and glanced towards it. "One..." he said a loud for others to hear, though no anger or annoyance could be heard. Only emptiness and defeat.

Olive took a deep breath to calm her nerves, then shouted atop the din of the others. "Number two? Where?" She briefly glanced around at the others, then pointed a hand toward Forrest. "What did you have, again? Two?" The scrawny elf started shimmying and shuffling through the crowd of others trying to find their own groups, while also trying to keep one arm around the tablet, with the face of it turned inward. On the tabet's face, glowing against her chest, was a bold number 3.

(Fixed.)