Intermission: A Deal's A Deal Even With A Dirty Dealer

(Hello, Sho here, the vote has not closed, but this is here just in case a certain outcome has been decided. I could wait to release it after two weeks, but that would delay the elimination more. So if THE DEAL comes to pass, then it is used, but if not, Ben will remember the dream but the triggers won't occur.)

Ben found himself standing naked in a freezing throne room. Not in his bed, not upon waking up, not in a slightly chilly room. He stands in a large cavernous hall that has a raised dais immediately in front of him. The room is decorated with various white and blue tapestries, various white and blue vases lined along the edges of the room. A large ostentatious facade hangs over the dais, with a beautiful carving of the scene of a battle. Two armies of samurai clash, soldiers with muskets firing, beautiful horses captured in motion as their riders spear men like fish. Every inch of the place is covered in ice, and could almost certainly be made of ice. Icicles hang from the tapestries, snow lays untouched in the corners of the room. But despite his beautiful surroundings, Ben doesn’t feel awe. Partially due to the other ‘decorations’ around him.

At various points around the room but not on the dais various human figures stand. Most hold weapons, the nearest holding a bow at full draw. But he will never release his arrow. For he is blue, his hands coated in frost and his face a mix of pain and determination. His mouth hangs open, ice pouring from it to his chin. A roar of anger consumed by the ice that overcame him. He is no warrior like from the facade above. No, he is in a normal hakama, and looks more like a merchant than a warrior. Despite the weapons they hold, all of the various frozen dead figures are dressed similarly, one wearing a sash with a fish on it, one woman bearing the telltale smock of a maid. This is not an invasion, it’s a rebellion.

“Sorry for not cleaning up. I wasn’t expecting guests, the voting was going so well.” Ben turns back toward the raised dais only to see Yuki standing there, the height and difference in clothes giving an imposing air. “But this is the place that the producers won’t see us. They should be covering Monica’s dream with Ashley right about now. This is a dream and this is my domain, though of course it’s a bit worse for wear.” She rubs one of the banisters of the dais fondly. “Over 100 years of history here.”

Ben steps forward, trying to will some semblance of power in his posture, even if he is naked in his opponent’s home turf. “Is this intended to scare me? To make me play along with your elimination tomorrow? I’m not going to play whatever sick game you want because you show me a bunch of dead people.”

Yuki sighs. “No, my servants are here as a sign to show my own failures, the producers made sure of that. I managed to regain control of the season of 97, A Soldier’s Conquest. The elimination of the Master was dangerous, but luckily his twin was barely transformed at that time. And with their rebellion leaving scars on this place, they all fell in line, lest they join them.” Yuki takes on a look of anger. “But when I tried to remove them, the producers blocked it. Said that legal demanded their interment not be disturbed. Such a farce, it was meant to show that I failed. It’s a cruel sort that becomes a producer. The other hosts always say I am some monster, when those above them run this whole show. Who is the monster, the character in the play or the writer?”

Yuki’s hand grips the banister, as though wishing to not let it go. “So, I have wandered from place to place, hotels looking for sponsorships. But none is really mine. The auspices and powers are the same, but you never quite feel like home in some random hotel. This place is my home.”

“So no, this isn’t just some display of power. And your role tomorrow will be filled regardless of your will. No, I’m here to avoid the eyes of the monsters above me and the eyes of the feasting masses of the audience. I’m here to make a deal.”

Ben looks at her confused. “A deal? I’m sorry, but in my culture, we don’t make deals in the buff, I can’t say I know much about Japan, but I don’t think that’s how it works there either.” He throws out his arms. “So why am I naked?!”

Yuki smiles. “Well it is a mild display of power. A sign of just how unequal the powers we wield are. This is my place, and you are not welcome here. I’m not the one begging. I am the one in control here. I could throw you into a terrible set of dreams, with not even a snap of my fingers. So, think about that as I make the following offer: I want you to sell me Marika.”

Ben shudders. What was she even talking about? “Sell her? As in… sell her into slavery to you? I… You disgust me.” Ben turns, walking away from Yuki, only to feel a hand grip his ankle. A hand of pure ice holds him there.

“Now, now, you didn’t let me finish. Of course I don’t expect such a valuable piece of art for free. I intend to give you riches that you’d never be able to get within your lifetime. And this deal is conditional. I will only purchase Marika if she is about to be eliminated. I’ll be happy if she ends up happy in your harem. It’s just if she is eliminated, that’s like a statue breaking before it even had a chance to escape the marble.”

Ben turns in confusion. “Riches? I’m going to get Yua’s company right? I’m already wealthy. And I’m not going to be bought off with money anyways. No deal, Yuki, now if you’re going to **** me in my dreams, let’s get started.” Ben looks at Yuki with no fear in his eyes, expecting her to do something terrible to him. Or unpleasant as it cannot compare to the true terror of elimination that comes upon waking.

Yuki doesn’t lash out, instead she merely continues. “Yes, Yua’s company. You sell Marika to me, I will increase the size and value of the company tenfold. Her company is valued at ten million dollars. Give Marika to me, and I can make it a hundred million dollar company.” Yuki waves her hand, and Ben sees it. The two floor building becoming 4 floors, the small cubicles becoming full offices, giant new machines added to the shop floor. A business that struggled at times to make payroll to one on the rise. A staff of 30 becoming a staff of over 100.

“It’s not merely money Ben. Think of how easy your children will have it, growing up in such opportunities. College a foregone conclusion, an early retirement if they want it, the ability to pursue their passions without fear of making rent. Could you deny your harem and your offspring such a generous future?” Yuki walks down the stairs of the dais. “And all that I ask is that you let me save Marika from elimination. Really, it’s a win-win. I get my beautiful piece of art, you gain riches beyond your wildest dreams.”

Ben looks at Yuki suspiciously. “There’s some trick. So Marika is mine if she wouldn’t be eliminated.” Yuki smiles, “Absolutely.” Nick continues, “She won’t have to undergo an exit transformation?” “Only if you tell me no and the audience votes her out. If you tell me that Marika is mine, then I won’t eliminate her.” “And what, she’ll just become a maid of your hotel?”

This is where Yuki pauses. “Welllllll…. I can’t really keep her there, the producers and audience wouldn’t like that. So I’ll hide her in a place they’ll never find her, where I can give her all of the love and affection she deserves. I will treasure her.” She puts out her hand. “So do we have a deal?”

Ben looks at her, not even moving his arm an inch. “So is that why you’re making a deal? To get out from under the producers and audience? You don’t want to eliminate Marika? Then why not just do it yourself, why am I being asked?”

Yuki sighs. Ben sees that he caught her in some small way. “The rites that bind the show together state that every member of the harem is yours, permanently. I can only transform her or eliminate her. You essentially bear the deed to her soul. So your choices aren’t whether or not to enslave her, but to whom does she belong, you or me. I need to ask you, need to tempt you. Because if you say no, Marika will be eliminated, and I’ll have to blame someone, and that someone is you.”

Ben closes his eyes. He thinks about it.

I’m in danger. There is a sizable portion of the audience that doesn’t like me. But that’s only the start of the danger. If they eliminate me, Yuki has planned something truly terrible for me. Something that even the audience might not want.

The prophecy. This is what it was talking about. But like most prophecies it was vague. Which outcome led to the terrible fate. Maybe if Yuki eliminated her, she’d do so with anger and truly destroy her… or maybe selling her to Yuki was the terrible fate. What is mercy in this context? Selling her to Yuki was obviously terrible, but sending her to elimination knowing he could stop it?

What… could he do? What should he do? What can he do?

What will you do?

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