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]

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.

[notaccurate]

Mhmm, right. Nothing is ever your fault, is it? Next you'll tell me it's not your fault that the general public doesn't see 'your grand vision' with these games, nor is it your fault that there is 'general unrest' among them.

[trustbound]

Actually, that is literally not my fault, and it probably has something to do with the dystopian crapsack that happens after some absolute dipshit decides to eat God and punches open an unstable gateway to your world. You know, one that stays open for approximately three seconds before the whole shitshow just fucking collapses and kills some absurd number of people. Ever dealt with that? Just some absurd amount of energy manipulation just crashing down on an urban area? Pretty sure that shit ripped souls straight out of bodies. But you know what, sure, keep blaming me for the state of my world, whatever.

[bloodbiter]

...What?

[U M]

[trustbound]

You fucking heard me.

[YOU...MAY NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD HIM BUT SURELY YOU HEARD.]

[bloodbiter]

But...

[Okay, let's just leave aside how she understood basically none of that.]

Punishing us won't change what happened.

[hesperos]

... What the hell.

[trustbound]

Yeah, pretty much.

[hesperos]

So, you ever think that the way you're going about this hasn't already pretty much blown up in your face and hasn't actually done you any good at all?

Because it doesn't look to me like running set ups like these are fixing anything. Just making things worse.

[perpend]

...I see.

[HE DOES NOT SEE AT ALL]

[trustbound]

At least somebody does.

[perpend]

[looks at the camera like he's on The Office]

[notaccurate]

[That does get him to pause for a moment, because what the fuck.]

Was this meant to be a solution to that problem? A proverbial 'screw you' to anyone who might be powerful enough to come to your world and cause problems? Or was that and this entirely unrelated?

[trustbound]

It's not exactly unrelated, let's put it that way.

[bloodisthicker]

...

No wonder you're a mess.

[trustbound]

I... Thanks?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . ] Nope, never dealt with that one myself! Still, that detail only adds to the discuss we're gonna have, doesn't override it.

... That's so terrible, though.

[ I mean, staying on topic, but. ]

[trustbound]

Didn't expect it to, just saying that Inconspicuous needs to fucking not.

[evilfrenzy]

That...certainly puts what you said at the last incentive announcement in a new perspective.

[like

wow]

[trustbound]

...Yeah, kind of.

[heritrix]

[........]

I can't, but I can think of a person or two who could relate, even if it's on a smaller scale.

[And jesus christ, were they fuck-ups for it.]

[trustbound]

Good for them, I guess?