Taking Responsibility.

[trustbound]

A while after that space behind and above the game room has been accessed, after things have been looked over, Jericho can be heard over the intercom; apparently, it works over in that area as well. "Wow, you guys really are having a great time going through our stuff, aren't you? Good for you! Seriously, look at all of you go, utilizing Rule Four and everything. It's cute as hell. I'm guessing you want something out of all of this, though – I mean, we absolutely could leave you there to just sort of mull things over until somebody else dies, but that seems like a waste of everybody's time, and believe it or not, I'm not too crazy about wasting tme. So if you're all happy with what you found, go ahead and head down to the courtroom – as always, we'll be waiting for you." And as he's said, the door the courtroom below is unlocked and open when you arrive; as always, feel free to follow that darkened stairwell down to that familiar room made of concrete and steel. There are so few of you now. Kyrie's photograph has joined the others in the circle that have their pictures in monochrome, their podiums draped in black – but notably, the podiums have all been rearranged. There are definite patterns to it, if you look; either way, feel free to find and take your place. The pit in the center of the circle remains darkened, but it isn't as though it matters much for the time being, given that there would be no one in it; after all, the thirty-sixth podium, across from all of you, is occupied. Hilda is standing there, dressed in black as always, a notebook folded tightly against her chest – not the notebook that killed Aligula, but a nice leatherbound one. She looks at everyone expectantly as they walk in; the implication is incredibly clear. It's you against the guilty. Take control of your fate, and hold them responsible. When she does speak, it's simple and straightforward, especially as compared to Jericho's rambling. "Let's begin, shall we?"

Comments

[trustbound]

That's true, but I don't know why that is. That obviously isn't something that should be happening.

[matchbreaker]

I don't either but...

[ . . . Okay she should do that she'll point at the book Hilda's got ]

Is that Ziska?

[trustbound]

[She just...pulls the book she's holding a bit closer at that.]

Why?

[matchbreaker]

Because [ And she'll pull her book out as well as a pen ] Luca and I found Ziska earlier.

[ she's not sure where this is going or if it'll leave the violence or something, but... ]

[heritrix]

...Who's Ziska?

[trustbound]

Ziska is my friend.

[heritrix]

So you regularly chat with her? [...huh.] Just to confirm then, there's two copies of her in this room, right? The one Elda is holding onto, and the one on your person.

[trustbound]

...No. The one I have is mostly blank, and it doesn't talk back. I write in it a lot because my memory is bad sometimes, and I like keeping track of all of you.

[heritrix]

...I see. [Rin folds her arms.] Well that's good. I was concerned for a moment we stepped into some strange alternate dimension when we investigated that area, but so long as there isn't two Ziskas, that's probably not a concern.

That said, it does bring to mind a new question. Have you always had memory problems, since you were a child?

[trustbound]

No. They're recent.

[And the nature of them is possibly kind of alarming?]

[matchbreaker]

This book.

[ . . .

. . . Okay let's just write in the book to see if it's still working. ]

Ziska are you still there? Say hi?

[trustfellows]

HI THERE!

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda holds the book aloft for people, and will pass it off if they want ]

See! It's a talking book!

[trustbound]

Don't hurt her.

[She will flip a fucking table if anyone does.]

[matchbreaker]

I won't!

[ :T ]

We've just talked a little with her and I put her in the bag for a bit!

[trustbound]

...That's acceptable.

[trustbound]

...I see.

[Mnnngh.]

Congratulations, I guess?

[matchbreaker]

But isn't that strange? I thought it was strange from the minute I saw this thing. It's identical to the one I've always seen you writing in.

[trustbound]

...It's strange, yes.

[matchbreaker]

Actually, the whole room we found it in was strange. If I had to guess... it was your and Alena's bedroom. Complete with differentiated twin beds, a differentiated closet of clothes, and that incomplete cat from earlier.

[trustbound]

Okay? I used to stay in a room with Alena and I left some of my stuff there. So what?

[matchbreaker]

Why would a a second Ziska be there? Not to mention the placement was weird, if I had to guess we went up several floors of stairs but I have no idea how it'd connect to anything else. Not to mention that unfinished robot cat. What, do you just make them for sport?

[trustbound]

I don't make anything. Alena used to make all the mechanical stuff. That includes Ziska - Alena made her for me. And besides, there's only one of her.

[matchbreaker]

... So the one you're holding is a fake?

[ Because you just saw her write in this thing and it got a response. ]

[trustbound]

It's just a notebook. I like writing things down - I'm bad with names and faces.

I wouldn't try to replace her.