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]

Hey, Assured.

There's someone trying to take responsibility right there, and she isn't wrong in doing so.

[bloodisthicker]

Stop hiding behind Rachel like you have been this whole time, Jericho.

[trustbound]

It's cute that you think you can order me around? What the hell are you even trying to use to get me to engage with you guys, other than throwing some damn buzzwords at me that you picked up from me in the first place?

[bloodisthicker]

Well, I'm not going to pretend that I don't want to physically shove those words down your throat in some manner, honestly, but it's a very strange, unpleasant feeling to watch someone flail around committing roughly the same mistakes I made and then continuing to have no sense of self-awareness whatsoever. I'm just thinking about how bad people like Korra and Tenzin had it and feeling embarrassed about it all over again.

[trustbound]

[...Uh.]

What?

[bloodisthicker]

...Okay, maybe that was slightly incoherent.

The fact of the matter is that you seem to have started out with good intentions and now you're just... murdering a bunch of people to fix your problems, I guess? We've all been there.

...

I mean, I've been there, minus the murder. But you're on a path that's not going to go well for you, Jericho.

[trustbound]

The path I'm on is fine, Assured, I don't need life lessons from you of all people.

[bloodisthicker]

People who have to convince themselves that the people they're dealing with deserve what's coming to them aren't fine, Jericho. I'll admit that I'm a total mess, but I'm talking to you like this because I know why I'm a total mess and why you're a total mess, too.

[heritrix]

Yeah, but when someone's stabbed, we don't put the knife on trial.

[trustbound]

God, for all you guys like to scream about Rachel and her feelings, you really like comparing her to inanimate objects.

[heritrix]

I'm just using her own definition. She had to have gotten that from someone.

[Rin waves a hand.]

What exactly is the point of this trial, though? Because that's been unclear from the beginning. No one's died, and Rachel claims neither you nor her lead us to those rooms back there. Other than hiding her identity, I don't know what she's meant to be taking responsibility for, and you wouldn't go to all this trouble if there was nothing more to it than that. We could have had this discussion in the foyer.

[trustbound]

It's easier to keep you from pulling something stupid out of your asses down here. Rachel's there to oversee the discussion, seeing as it deals with us and our stuff. You've been over this..

[bloodbiter]

Even if she's trying, she isn't the one who's responsible.

[trustbound]

She's deemed that she is, and given that she's running the system, she would know.

[bloodbiter]

She doesn't know everything about this situation, though, does she? Somehow, her memories have been altered.

[trustbound]

It's not like I'm intentionally keeping anything from her.

[bloodbiter]

Intentional or not, how can she make a sound judgment without all available information? Besides... Earlier, she confirmed that there was a flaw in her knowledge, and said that you don't want to tell her where it is coming from.

[trustbound]

Because there's no way for her to resolve it. It's just going to frustrate her.

[bloodbiter]

So... There is something you're keeping from her, then, regardless of your intentions in doing so.

[notaccurate]

So you would throw Rachel under the bus to keep from facing consequences for your actions? That is pretty low, even for you.

[trustbound]

It's not throwing her under the bus. She's running the system, and she's declared herself responsible.

[notaccurate]

Don't pretend for a moment that she wasn't made that way, Jericho. And don't pretend that you are not taking advantage of that fact.

[trustbound]

Alena's designs are hardly my goddamn fault.

[notaccurate]

So now you're blaming your own family for the fact that you are using someone to your own nefarious ends.

[trustbound]

I'm not blaming her for anything, just saying that her designs are not my fault. There's a difference.