"Well, obviously," Rodney tells him, sidling closer and reaching for the back of his hand. "In the name of science. But it makes sense, doesn't it? This is a learning tool. It's supposed to be horrifying but it's still basically a game. Maybe a hyper-realistic and railroaded-without-choices sort of game, but a game nevertheless, otherwise they wouldn't put it right smack down in the middle of the festival for everyone to try. I don't think pain and suffering is on the menu."

He pauses, pinching-fingers primed and ready, and gets distracted. "Maybe suffering." But he's perked up now that he knows it will be awful but not awful-awful. "But that means we'll be able to get closer, we just have to avoid getting shot and dying horribly plus all the psychological scars from any non-fatal wounds we acquire." Not that he sounds almost cheerful about it, but he sounds almost cheerful about it.