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

[heritrix]

[So would that make her Rachel, or Angra Mainyu.]

Well, ethics does have something to do with this, judging by the means we were brought into it all. What even counts as a "bad person"? By your definition of it.

[trustbound]

[You fucking know what, she just abruptly unfolds her arms, letting that notebook fall to the floor so she can slam her hands down on the podium and just - ]

I don't know! I do what I'm told, I don't know what else you want! Other people decide the truth for me, whatever they say is true - what the fuck else do you want from me, this is all I know how to do!

[heritrix]

I don't want anything from you. [And she's saying that with absolute sincerity.] You're just a pawn that's been used, and you say this is all you know how to do, but I think you want more. That's why Jericho is hiding things from you, and why your memory is faulty. Somewhere down the line, I think your definition of a bad person stopped perfectly matching his.

[trustbound]

He wouldn't do that.

[She's still obviously upset, but that...does not sound as certain as it could.]

[hesperos]

Are you sure about that?

You already know what lengths Jericho would go to ensure he has control over the situation, given what happened with Alena.

[trustbound]

Alena is technically safe. She's dead, but your friends weren't wrong in saying that she's still here.

[hesperos]

Yeah but you don't want her to stay like that forever, right?

Since I'm guessing if Jericho wants to keep this thing running that's where she's going to be staying.

[trustbound]

[...]

No, I don't.

[hesperos]

Alright.

Rachel, can you hear me out for a second?

[ He's going to take a moment here and take a breath. ]

People can have good intentions. They think that getting rid of evil people will help with the world, universe, whatever, because they're tired of seeing people suffer or they think there's some way to change it all from within the system from the better. They try they damndest to make the thing happen, because they also believe they're the only one who can.

Sometimes they end up failing miserably and then deciding that drastic measures need to be taken. Along the way at first they feel kinda bad about the innocent people who they manage to involve and then they figure it's worth the sacrifice.

... Then, at some point, they change. They become someone entirely different -- unrecognizable -- and on their own, they continue to grow worse, until somebody stops them.

If you ever want Alena to be back by your side like how it used to be or whatever -- for this to end, Jericho needs to be stopped now.

[trustbound]

[She's quiet for a moment, just thinking that over, though she still seems worked up.]

You're talking about Alexei. Right?

You don't get to stop Jericho the same way you stopped him.

[hesperos]

[ ... ]

Well, I figured that wasn't gonna be an option anyway.

[ ... For a variety of reasons. He'd prefer to stop Jericho that way, and he still wants to -- and he does plan on making him take responsibility. ]

But you won't object to us stopping him another way, right?

[trustbound]

...I don't know.

[hesperos]

So you're saying that's a 'maybe', then?

[heritrix]

Of course he would. If you lost contact with the world outside, that means he's all alone, isn't he? You're the only one he can count on. If you turned against him, he couldn't keep doing this; that means he'll keep you on his side by any means necessary.

[trustbound]

I'm not the only one. Hilda is still here. Alena is dead, but she's...also still here. Like your friends are still here.

[heritrix]

[...can he see them, though? A question to ask later.]

Let me frame this in another way, then. Would he be able to keep this exercise up without you? His own notes seem to think he can't.

[trustbound]

[...]

No.

[heritrix]

The next question for you to consider is how important is this to him, then. What matters most to him, Rachel? How he treats you, or continuing this operation?

[trustbound]

How he treats me doesn't matter. Like I've said, this is my purpose. It's what I was put here to do.

Besides, maybe once he's done with all of this, he'll go back to being the way he used to be and we can figure out what to do from there.

[heritrix]

I only said it because you seemed insistent he would never do that to you. From everything you've told me, I think he absolutely would.

[That notebook is still on the floor, right? Rin's going to move towards it, if that's alright.]

So before you make any decisions on anything, I think we should get to the bottom of that. You can't act properly if you don't know all the facts.

[trustbound]

[It's still on the floor, yes.]

I know as much as I need to.

[heritrix]

Some part of your design seems to think otherwise, if memories that don't make sense are resurfacing.

[Is it okay to pick the notebook up? Rin is approaching it like she intends to. Actually, she'll ask outright.]

Can I look at this now?

[bloodisthicker]

....

[Likes: saving people.]

What changed with Jericho?

[trustbound]

He was a good person. He wanted to save us. I don't know what he was trying to save us from, but that's what was important to him.

[bloodisthicker]

...

Listen. I know this is difficult to hear... and Jericho probably doesn't want to hear it either, if he's listening.

But he's not going to change for the better if he doesn't stop what he's doing and listen to those instincts telling him he was wrong. Things will never go back to normal, I don't think... but he might be able to change for the better if he accepts that and stops.