Open 332: Tainted Love - Over!

[Papa Zito]

Another late night at the office.

Damon Killian removed his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. The Games Network was doing well, maybe too well, and that meant lots of late nights. He reflected briefly on the irony of having fought so hard to rise to the top, and having absolutely no time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.

2024 was going to be a good year, he decided. The Network was now far-and-away the most popular thing broadcast on any medium, with ratings and sponsors that dwarfed the competition. The only issue was keeping things

fresh

. While many shows had done well and had attracted a huge, dedicated following, others had flared quickly and died almost as fast. The decision to go 24 hours, no reruns.... well. One must do what must be done.

He picked up his glasses again and turned his attention back to the computer. He'd done enough work on Project Running Man for the night. That one was going to be huge, he could feel it. But what he really needed to finish up was Project Tainted Love, set to debut in less than 3 days...

Moderators

Papa Zito

Player List

The Lovers

1. princesskdw
2. bvoigt
5. Herodotus

glowball

7. ScrewTheTells

The Dreamers

3. kondi2424,

Mafia Lover

, lynched Day 1
6. GhostWriter,

Town Lover

, committed suicide Day 1
4. SleepyKrew,

Mafia Lover

, was lynched Day 2.
8. tclawren,

Town Lover

, committed suicide Day 2.

And Me

1.

Game Events

End of Day 1 | Start of Day 2
End of Day 2

[Papa Zito]

General Rules

1.) Votes must be

bolded

and at the start of a line. If we don’t see it, we wont count it.
2.) Unvoting is nice, but not necessary.
3.) Once a majority is reached, that person is lynched.
4.) If there is no majority at deadline, there will be no lynch for that day.
5.) Each day will have a deadline of 2 weeks.
6.) Do not talk about this game outside the thread except in your designated QuickTopics.
7.) When you die, you are dead. Stay that way.
8.) Do not edit posts. Do not use invisible text. Do not use small text.
9.) Do not quote any communication from the mod (that includes PMs) in the game thread.
10.) If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time, please let me know. See rule 12.
11.) If you do not post for 72 hours you will be issued a prod. Failure to post for another 24 hours will lead to a force-replace. The fourth such prod will also lead to a force-replace.
12.) If you notice mistakes aside from the vote count, PM me. Bold notification about vote count issues in the thread.
13.) Play to win.
14.) Play with the spirit of the game in mind.
14a.) This means ASK before you do something you think I might question. Questions are good. Modkills are bad.
15.) Have fun. Remember that everyone playing are actually real people and treat them as such.
16.)

Red

is our color. Don’t use it.

Game-Specific Rules

1.) This is an open setup. All role PMs in the game are listed below.
2.) Roles were determined using random.org.
3.) This is a nightless game. Once a lynch is achieved, the game will immediately proceed to the following day phase.
4.) Lovers are divided into four pairs. Each of the Mafia players are paired with a Town player.
5.) Town lovers do not know their partner's alignment.
6.) Each lover pair has a private daytalk quicktopic.
7.) The Mafia pair also has a private daytalk quicktopic.

[Papa Zito]

Possible Roles

Town Lover

Welcome to Open 332: Tainted Love,

PlayerName

! You are a

Town Lover

. Your relationship has the following completely realistic quirks:

• If you or your Lover are lynched, the other will automatically suicide, Shakespeare-style.
• You do not know your partner's alignment. See, totally realistic.
• You may talk to your Lover anytime during the game here

You win when all threats to the town are eliminated.

The game thread is here. Please confirm via PM. Good luck!

Mafia Lover

Welcome to Open 332: Tainted Love,

PlayerName

! You are a

Mafia Lover

. Your relationship has the following completely realistic quirks:

• If you or your Lover are lynched, the other will automatically suicide, Shakespeare-style.
• Like most people, you have a lover on the side. You may talk to your Mafia buddy at any time during the game here.
• You may talk to your Lover anytime during the game here

You win when you control 50% of the town.

The game thread is here. Please confirm via PM. Good luck!

[Papa Zito]

From his vantage point in the control booth, Killian observed the crowd below.

They were a particularly raucous group tonight, over a thousand of them jammed together in narrow seats and spilling over into the aisles. Such conditions were obviously extremely dangerous but made for great TV, and the government had been warned to turn a blind eye long ago. He could only imagine the smell and the heat as the anticipation grew.

Leaning back, his eyes flicked to one of the many monitors mounted along the walls of the control booth. The contestants were undergoing final prep and nearly ready to take the stage. The emcee was chatting amiably with a small crowd of dancer girls. Cameras were moving into position. The booth operators were barking commands, people were scurrying about backstage, and in this moment just before the premiere of a new show Killian couldn't imagine feeling any better than he did right now.

And then suddenly it was go time. The emcee took center stage, a high-tech looking monstrosity of glass and iron. In a semicircle behind him were the Booths. Beyond the stage, the crowd roared. As the emcee began, nearly breathless in apparent excitement, to explain the details of the new game, the contestants began to file out behind him in pairs and enter the Booths.

They looked scared to death. Killian smiled.

First Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (0):
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (0):
4. SleepyKrew (0):
5. glowball (0):
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: princesskdw, bvoigt, kondi2424, SleepyKrew, glowball, GhostWriter, ScrewTheTells, tclawren

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

Scared as they may be, the contestants immediately began to do battle. From within their Booths, they began to hurl insults and accusations at one another. Because they all knew that hidden amongst them were two moles who would get double the prize money if they managed a win.

Killian glanced at the clock. Five minutes in and the game was already underway. That was a good sign - if the game started slowly viewer interest may quickly drop off. The crowd was already starting to come up with chants for knee-jerk favorites. The emcee (a 20-year veteran who knew his craft) had already faded into the background, recognizing that he wasn't needed to prod the game along.

Everything was going according to plan. Killian began thinking of where he might want to vacation with the bonus money that was surely coming his way.

Second Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (0):
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (0):
4. SleepyKrew (0):
5. glowball (2): bvoigt, SleepyKrew
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: princesskdw, kondi2424, glowball, GhostWriter, ScrewTheTells, tclawren

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leader is

glowball

at L-3.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

Herd mentality was something that had always fascinated Killian. He'd studied the phenomenon for years, in college and afterwards, as he found it an invaluable tool both in marketing and in show business. Below his perch in the control booth the mass of humanity now swayed and chanted as one, nearly drowning out the words that the contestants flung at one another in near panic. It was at this point Killian realized that the crowd was far more interested in the inevitable outcome of the round than in the round itself.

Third Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (0):
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (1): tclawren
4. SleepyKrew (2): GhostWriter, glowball
5. glowball (1): bvoigt
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (1): SleepyKrew

Players not voting: princesskdw, kondi2424, ScrewTheTells

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leader is

SleepyKrew

at L-3.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

Prodding princesskdw and kondi2424, as neither has yet to post.

[Papa Zito]

The chants grew louder with each successive vote cast. The crowd wanted blood. The crowd wanted the Booths. And it looked like the crowd was shortly going to get what it wanted.

Killian glanced at his watch and frowned. He loved the energy but they'd only managed to squeeze in two commercial breaks so far. His sponsors wouldn't be pleased if the first episode ended so quickly.

He practically jumped out of his chair as his phone rang. The readout showed the network President's redline number. Looks like he had been keeping tabs, and had probably noticed the same issue. With some trepidation, he answered the line.

Fourth Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (4): bvoigt, ScrewTheTells, GhostWriter, SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (2): tclawren, glowball
4. SleepyKrew (1): princesskdw
5. glowball (0):
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: kondi2424
Players V/LA: tclawren (9/5)

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leader is

princesskdw

at L-1.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

glowball has requested replacement. Looking now.

[Papa Zito]

Herodotus replaces glowball

[Papa Zito]

"Killian," he answered.

"I assume you know why I'm calling," came the voice on the other end of the phone. The voice was old, but still strong. Killian had only met the President once, the day he moved into this position, and then only for five minutes. To speak to the man almost always meant that things were going horribly wrong.

"Yes sir," Killian replied, glancing at the clock. If they could squeeze another 3 minutes in, they could probably make the next commercial. "We have a timing issue."

"That's putting it succinctly. Yes, we have a timing issue. But that's not why I'm calling."

Killian raised an eyebrow and sat up in his chair a bit. "Sir?"

There was a short silence on the other end of the line. "Killian, have you seen the numbers?" He sounded a bit impatient.

Killian had not actually seen the numbers. He should have seen the numbers. The numbers were the whole point of the exercise. He'd gotten too caught up in the moment. Touching a button on a remote, a monitor flashed to the current viewer ratings. Ratings machines had been made mandatory ten years ago, and ever since each network knew exactly how many people were watching each show, in realtime. Scanning down the list, he finally found Tainted Love and blinked.
"We're killing it, sir."

"Damn right we are. We need to keep this thing on the air and milk this audience. People are falling off other nets and tuning in just to see what the fuss's about. It's got momentum, don't lose it Killian."

Killian considered. "Sir, what if we made this a Viewer Special? Instead of episodes, just once block?"

"That's perfect. Next break signal the emcee that he's working late tonight. We'll make it up to him later. Make sure he knows that."

"Yes sir," Killian replied as he hung up the phone. He rubbed at his tired eyes. That meant another late night for him too. Oh well. Life in show business.

Fifth Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (3): bvoigt, GhostWriter, SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (2): tclawren, glowball
4. SleepyKrew (2): princesskdw, kondi2424
5. glowball (0):
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: ScrewTheTells
Players V/LA: tclawren (9/5)

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leader is

princesskdw

at L-2.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

The next couple minutes moved mercifully quickly. There was some rearranging being done with the contestants' votes which was drawing things out. Each unvote was greeted with a chorus of boos.

Killian settled a headmic over his head and depressed a series of buttons on the side. After a brief tone, there was a curt "This is Thompson."

Killian grimaced. He knew from that tone that his emcee had probably guessed what the call was about, and was none too happy. "Bobby, it's Damon. I have good news. Our ratings are through the roof. We're beating out

Real Murders

by almost 4:1."

There was a pause. "Well, Damon, that is good news. Why do I need to know that now though?"

"I had a quick conversation with the President." Damon gave Bobby a chance to let that sink in. "He wants to make this a sprint instead of a marathon. We're going to do all the contestants tonight. Oh, and he mentioned you'd be compensated well for the overtime."

There was a sigh. "Fine, " Thompson replied, "but your ass better be right up there with me."

"Wouldn't be anywhere else, " Killian replied, and severed the connection. Down below, the crowd had started a new chant. They scented blood in the air.

Sixth Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (3): bvoigt, SleepyKrew, kondi2424
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (3): tclawren, Herodotus, ScrewTheTells
4. SleepyKrew (1): princesskdw
5. Herodotus (0):
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: GhostWriter
Players V/LA:

With 8 players alive, it takes 5 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leaders are

princesskdw

and

kondi2424

at L-2.
Deadline: September 16th @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

The Booths were large cylindrical structures made of glass and stainless steel. A curved table and a pair of curved chairs, also made of stainless steel, were within each Booth for the comfort of the contestants. The contestants spent most of their time on their feet, and sometimes on the table, however.

The edges of each Booth were highlighted in neon green. The audience had really paid no mind to this, thinking it just for aesthetics, until now. Now, with the final vote cast, one of the Booths changed from the pleasant green to a deep ruddy red color. The sudden change, and a quick realization of what that change meant, shocked the crowd into a complete silence.

Bobby Thompson, looking somewhat like a misplaced friendly grandfather, walked slowly forward to center stage. His face was solemn, grim, and he held the microphone tightly. "Ladies and gentlemen... friends. We have a decision." With those words, the lights and the green neon of the other Booths went dim, making the red Booth stand out even more.

"It seems our contestants believe that one of this pair of lovers is an infiltrator. A person bent on sabotaging the game." Thompson spoke gravely, as if the world teetered on his every word. Up in the control booth, Killian was impressed with the man all over again.

"And now it is time. Now, my friends, it is time to learn the truth. Are our intrepid contestants one step closer to victory? Have they rooted out the evil amongst them?" As he spoke, his words grew louder, and stronger. The crowd rose with them. From behind the dimmed Booths the dancer girls began to fan out, swaying to an unheard beat.

"NOW LET US FIND OUT!" Thompson suddenly shouted. The crowd awoke with a roar the rattled Killian in the control booth. On the stage, the two doomed contestants began to hurl themselves at the walls, desperate to break free and escape. But there was no escape. The ceiling of the Booth began to slowly lower itself; electricity came alive on its surface and arced hungrily at the two horrified contestants trapped below. They tried to hide, one beneath the chairs and one beneath the table, but those were soon crushed beneath the ceiling, and the crowd was treated to their screams.

Thompson stood silently for a moment, then turned back to the remaining contestants. The crowd fell silent. "Ladies and gentlemen, you have chosen...." he paused here for dramatic effect ... "wisely." The crowd erupted into applause, and Thompson had to strain to be heard, despite the amplification of his microphone, "... and we will see if you can close out the deal after this commercial break!"

Up in the control booth, Killian glanced at the numbers again, and smiled.

kondi2424,

Mafia Lover

, was lynched Day 1.
GhostWriter,

Town Lover

, committed suicide Day 1.

Final Votecount of Day 1

1. princesskdw (2): bvoigt, SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
3. kondi2424 (5): tclawren, Herodotus, ScrewTheTells, princesskdw, kondi2424
4. SleepyKrew (0):
5. Herodotus (0):
6. GhostWriter (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (0):
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: GhostWriter
Players V/LA: bvoigt (9/12)

[Papa Zito]

Thompson stepped back from the spotlight, still wearing that grandfatherly smile. The crowd was roaring and chanting and almost a living thing in and of itself. The contestants were constantly at each others' throats, requiring basically zero prodding. And the first Booth had worked perfectly, no sign of the mechanical flaws it had shown during test runs.

Despite an easy gig and a guaranteed bonus coming his way, the smile quickly slipped as he walked quickly backstage. He hurried towards his dressing room, jamming a number on his phone quickly as he went.

Safely inside, he hissed immediately as the other end picked up, "How much? HOW DAMN MUCH?"

"Oooooh, " came a gloating voice from the other end. "Pretty much all of it. Hope you weren't planning on a vacation, Bobby boy."

Thompson clenched his teeth. "It was supposed to be impossible.

Impossible

to get it right the first time. I took measures. I-"

"Now now, no need to start telling me how much you cheated. I've got quite enough already without having something to blackmail you with." The voice was amused. "You knew how much you lost, why are you calling?"

"Double or nothing" Thompson spat. "I got the cash. You still feel lucky?"

There was a pause. Thompson could almost see him shrug. "Sure, fine. I'll take your money. Talk to you soon then Bobby boy." The line went dead.

First Votecount of Day 2

1. princesskdw (1): SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
4. SleepyKrew (0):
5. Herodotus (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (1): tclawren
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: princesskdw, bvoigt, Herodotus, ScrewTheTells
Players V/LA:

With 6 players alive, it takes 4 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leaders are

princesskdw

and

ScrewTheTells

at L-3.
Deadline: September 23rd @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

In the control booth, Killian stood and stretched. The night was starting to wear on a bit, though one couldn't tell from the still-boistrous crowd below. He turned and strolled over to the windows that overlooked the main plaza.

The plaza was massive, much like the Games Network building itself. Visitors must climb 14 marble-sheathed steps to reach the plateau, which was dotted with planters and fountains. To the casual observer these seemed merely decorative, but Killian knew they also served the purpose of preventing vehicles that managed to make it up the stairs from getting close to the building proper.

Like many nights, Killian could see the tiny figures of people crossing the plaza and heading towards the building. These people were generally of two types: The smooth methodical strut of hired cops, always wielding a Move-a-long and itching to use it, and much slower pace of those who were condemning themselves to torture (or worse) at the hands of the Games Network for the entertainment of its millions of viewers. The second type were always alone; desperate people who had no other way to provide for their families, whofigured they may as well throw themselves on the mercies of the Games if it meant their children wouldn't starve. That's part of what made Tainted Love so unique, as it was a game of pairs, a first for the network.

Killian's phone buzzed again. It was just one of those nights.

Second Votecount of Day 2

1. princesskdw (1): SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
4. SleepyKrew (1): ScrewTheTells
5. Herodotus (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (1): tclawren
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: princesskdw, bvoigt, Herodotus
Players V/LA:

With 6 players alive, it takes 4 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leaders are

princesskdw

,

ScrewTheTells

and

SleepyKrew

at L-3.
Deadline: September 23rd @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

Killian clicked the phone off. It had been one of the New Show Advisory Board with feedback on Project Running Man. Seemed there were concerns about government interference, about game control with something that was happening outside the studio, insurance, lawsuits, and so forth. Killian knew their concerns were valid but he couldn't help but feel frustrated with it all. He knew deep down that it would be the show to end all shows, true reality TV.

Killian let his gaze wander as he chewed over the details in his mind. Co-Op city stretched before his gaze; a rotting husk of a city, a blight upon the earth. When the economy completely crashed a decade ago, the city had fallen completely apart along with it. Outside the few "civilized" areas, which were heavily patrolled by rent-a-cops, most of the city was completely lawless and more-or-less in ruin. It was a fertile breeding ground for the kind of desperate men and women who made for great ratings for the network, and also made up the vast majority of the network's audience. These people had no hope for real regular employment, no chance at education, no way to make a better life for their children, and no hope. No hope except to earn a big prize by playing one of the Games.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to the crowd below. It seemed as though another decision was near, and the crowd was roaring for blood.

Third Votecount of Day 2

1. princesskdw (1): SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
4. SleepyKrew (3): ScrewTheTells, princesskdw, bvoigt
5. Herodotus (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (1): tclawren
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting: Herodotus
Players V/LA:

With 6 players alive, it takes 4 votes to lynch.
The current wagon leader is

SleepyKrew

at L-1.
Deadline: September 23rd @ 11:59PM CST

[Papa Zito]

Prodding princesskdw

[Papa Zito]

He didn't have long to wait.

After all the screaming, it all came down to a final vote. The lights were immediately extinguished, and a suspenseful hush fell over the crowd. Breathless, the crowd waited in the dark, until a single cone of light suddenly shone down on center stage, illuminating the grim, sorrowful figure of Bobby Thompson. Thompson's eyes were downcast, his old-style microphone clasped behind his back, as he seemed to take a pause and let the enormity of the moment sink in.

When he raised his face to the audience, and to the cameras, there were tears coursing their way among the wrinkles of that worn grandfatherly countenance. Quietly, he raised the microphone to his lips. The audience, here, in the ruined apartments, in the streets, and in offices across the nation, hung on his every word.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a decision. A pair of young lovers has been sentenced to death. A pair, just starting out in life, with so much to look forward to, so much to plan for, so much yet to experience. Here, on our stage, their lives are at a premature end." Muffled noises came from one of the booths, barely seen behind Thompson's spotlight, as its occupants threw themselves again and again upon their glass prison. "But the question remains. That one important question - has the game been won? Or must more young lovers face a bitter end?"

The booth was suddenly illuminated in red. The crowd began to chant quietly, watching the roof of the booth in anticipation. The pair inside also scrambled beneath the table, desperate for some protection. There was a pause, and the roof did not move, and the crowd became restless - until they saw the two beginning to crawl about in the Booth again, banging feebly upon the walls. Seems hiding under tables doesn't help much when your air supply is gone.

"And now, the results, " intoned Thompson. A dramatic pause, and then the threw his arms open wide. "The final traitor is dead!" The stage suddenly exploded in fireworks and lights. The crowd exploded in response. Thompson could barely be heard. "YES! The contestants have won! They and their survivors get the big cash prize! A big hand for the winners of the first Tainted Love!"

The crowd continued to roar their approval. The remaining lovers were released from their Booths, and collapsed on the stage in relief. Up in the control booth, Killian glanced at the final ratings numbers, and smiled.

SleepyKrew,

Mafia Lover

, was lynched Day 2.
tclawren,

Town Lover

, committed suicide Day 2.

Town Wins!

Final Votecount of Day 2

1. princesskdw (1): SleepyKrew
2. bvoigt (0):
4. SleepyKrew (4): ScrewTheTells, princesskdw, bvoigt, Herodotus
5. Herodotus (0):
7. ScrewTheTells (1): tclawren
8. tclawren (0):

Players not voting:
Players V/LA: