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

[matchbreaker]

Well I don't agree with that choice.

[ . . . ]

What if it is something worse than death, though?

[bloodisthicker]

...

Hm. There are two ideas I can think of there, one of which makes slightly more sense than the other.

I've told you how technically, where I'm from, everyone reincarnates, but only the Avatar remembers their past lives, right? Well, it's possible for the Avatar's cycle of reincarnation to be broken under certain circumstances, basically. So if we were to be "neutralized," maybe it'd kill us with no chance of being able to be reincarnated into someone else.

...Or, since multiple universes are involved, we're effectively catalysts to destroy every version of ourselves. But... that'd just be stupid, since surely there are Tarrloks out there who had perfectly normal lives since their father choked on a sea prune and died or something before he could teach them about bloodbending.

[matchbreaker]

I was thinking along the lines of the first one, given we know that ghosts exist both in my world and here. So maybe they're trying to kill the ghosts too. But that second one...

[ She shivers a little at that, that's an awful idea. ]

[bloodisthicker]

That's why I'm thinking it's the former, honestly. Because there's clearly something that persisted after we died, whether it's here or not... so neutralizing us would just erase even that.

[evilfrenzy]

Either of those are sound theories [since Rideaux's world also deals with reincarnation] though...I would lean toward the second, personally.

[...]

Perhaps by their definition of complete neutralization, they want to ensure that I will no longer exist in any capacity.

[MAY AS WELL USE HIMSELF AS AN EXAMPLE, HE'S ON THE HIT LIST...]

[bloodisthicker]

...I still feel like that's far more trouble than it's worth, but.

[evilfrenzy]

Not to them, obviously. And they've apparently got the means to do it.

[Which he's trying very hard not to think about to be honest.]

[bloodisthicker]

...

Yes, they... do.

[that's really fucked up.]