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

[notaccurate]

[That. That sure is something. And Luca would probably appreciate that a lot more if he actually understood most of it, but 'fake person' is enough for now.]

So...if you are fake, and you control this place, does that make this place fake as well? What about all of us, are we fake too?

[trustbound]

[...Hmmmmmm.]

I guess that depends on how you're defining "fake" in all of those instances.

[notaccurate]

You'll have to forgive me, I do not exactly know what an 'artificial intelligence construct' is, thanks to my world not having that. But, ah, I was wondering if either us or this place were something similar? At least in the 'artificial' sense.

[trustbound]

Don't worry, your souls are entirely real. I can't do anything to fabricate those. Either you've got a soul or you don't, so in that sense you're all "real" for the time being.

[bloodisthicker]

...

So are our souls just... kind of floating in this space we're currently in, or...

[trustbound]

...I mean, you are standing right there. So no?

[bloodisthicker]

...Are our physical bodies actually dead, I suppose I should ask.

[he just wants to make sure, because like.]

[trustbound]

Oh, hell no. I haven't cut you guys off yet, and destroying you or burning you or something before that would not be anyone's idea of a good time.

So you're still in them, just not piloting them around right now.

[bloodisthicker]

Because we're here.

...

Okay. I think I understand.

[notaccurate]

Given the fact that you specified 'soul' there, is it a fair assumption to make that our bodies aren't real?

[perpend]

....Rideaux said he found vitals readings for the dead...!

[notaccurate]

Well, if their souls are still here, those souls would have vital readings perhaps?

[Look. He's pre-computers, he's trying alright?]

[perpend]

No, that’s not it. They’re alive.

[evilfrenzy]

[...he has no idea where this is going since it's beyond even his world's understandings but-]

As I said, the readings were very clearly for living bodies. If our bodies here are fake here, perhaps those vital readings are for the real ones.

[notaccurate]

So...after 'dying' here, they got real bodies somehow?

[evilfrenzy]

I believe it's more that they've had our real bodies this entire time. Though I couldn't say where they might be.

[Fortunately Rachel will clear that up...]

[trustbound]

You experience things, don't you? As far as you're concerned, they're as real as anything else.

Just because they don't physically exist doesn't make them less real.

[...Oh.]

[heritrix]

You materialized our souls. [...] Honestly, I don't know why I'm surprised anymore. If you can use the Second Magic, why not the Third Magic, too.

[trustbound]

...It's not magic, but I think actually explaining it would upset you. A lot. So just keep assuming it's magic and it'll probably be fine, because it's close enough for our purposes.

[notaccurate]

[oh indeed.]

'Not physically existing' certainly makes it more difficult to go home, you know. But I bet neither you nor Jericho had any intention of sending us home int he first place, did you? In fact, I am willing to bet that any incentive you two put out involving our homes was faked.

[trustbound]

I haven't cut you guys off yet, and burning you before doing that would probably be...not great? So your bodies do still exist and you're still...in them, I guess. You're just not in them here.

[...]

These bodies don't exist.

[better? that's probably not better.]

[notaccurate]

[No, it's not better. This is so confusing and he doesn't even know what the hell anymore.]

Can I ask 'why', then? And don't give me a line about all of us being bad people and deserving punishment. Yes, I know we have all done bad things. But if they're bad things worth being punished for, then why are we here? Why go through all of this time and effort if you're just going to kill us anyway?

[trustbound]

Oh, that.

Because people like to watch that sort of thing here.

[notaccurate]

[W H A T]

People are watching us?!

[evilfrenzy]

...Excuse me?

[WHAT LUCA SAID BASICALLY.]