Initiative.

[trustbound]

Rachel looks a bit conflicted about what should happen from here; Lisbeth is still on the floor, but she's told her what she should do, and so... Well, she's never really been good at saying no, though she does walk up and reach out to pet Lisbeth's hair gingerly for a moment before turning to everyone else. "We should leave." And with that, the courtroom changes, all at once; it was one thing, and then quite simply it isn't, and the podium circle has been replaced with a round spread of consoles wrapping around a center spire. The room is no longer concrete and steel, but rather stark white, all done up in glossy tile that looks like it'd crack if you hit it hard enough with something – that said, it's not recommended to try, given that it's just as indestructible as everything else in the building. Rachel approaches the consoles, reaching out to touch them, fingers tapping gently against several of the unmarked buttons; it's probably not precisely necessary for her to do so, given the state of things, but she seems to like doing it, so do it she shall. There are a pair of slots that look like keycards are required; she glances at them for a second before manipulating more buttons, causing a small panel to open up in front of her – it looks like an authorization mechanism of some sort, the kind that you press your hand against to get it to recognize you. "It's going to be a bit jarring when you wake up; sorry about that, but you've been asleep for a really long time. I'd suggest giving it a moment." She pauses, though, once that's out there, glancing back at everyone. "I'll be on the other side with you, but not like this. We can still talk, though, if you like." And with that she just turns and presses her hand against the panel without waiting for an answer; the next thing you're aware of is the flash.

Comments

[lackinginfaith]

We saw that, too. Thanks. It was a lot to think about, but I'm glad you did. I don't know how we would have made it otherwise.

[matchbreaker]

... Golly, it helped that much?

[lackinginfaith]

You definitely gave most of us hope. Some of us were a little... well, those are the people who wouldn't have been happy regardless.

[matchbreaker]

I'm sure Kirei was rotten the entire time.

[ Huff. ] Among others, of course.

[lackinginfaith]

You have no idea. And Terumi was being himself all over everything. The man's disgusting.

[matchbreaker]

I did have to deal with them for several weeks, if you recall.

[ They survived an okay length of time. ]

[lackinginfaith]

Unfortunately for everyone involved.

[matchbreaker]

Well, we made due!

[ You know, until him and Mikoto brutally killed some people? That was awful. ]

... It's a shame you had to be lonely there, earlier on.

[lackinginfaith]

It's fine. Okay, it isn't fine, but I've been alone before. Jean and I talked things out, at least.

[matchbreaker]

Oh.

[ . . . She's kinda had Jean thrown under the bus the whole time here but.

... You know if Caren got over it then. Okay. I guess. ]

... To come out the other end shows some strength.

[lackinginfaith]

We were both being paranoid because of our homes. Trying to help just hurt things. I should've been more like all of you.

[matchbreaker]

... All of us? What do you mean?

[lackinginfaith]

You know. Trusting each other. Doing your best to do something impossible.

[matchbreaker]

... Don't make us all sound so different. We barely were united until about the time Kirei died, you know. Even then, I doubt I could have rallied anyone until I won over Ushiromiya. By then... so many of us had died.

[lackinginfaith]

You did a pretty good job from where I'm standing, no matter how long it took.

[matchbreaker]

I won't refuse that compliment.

[ she looks around the room, he eyes focusing on the other people who stood beside her against Lisbeth at the end. ]

... Aside from Rin, I won't go out thinking of them as the ones I was closest to. But the connection we had will linger with me.

[lackinginfaith]

I won't forget any of you, either. Hopefully it all ends up better than it was, even if we can't just go see each other anymore.

[matchbreaker]

Oh, I'm confident it will.

[ She smirks. ]

Everyone changed for all this, right? The horror's going to linger, but so will the lessons.

[lackinginfaith]

I should hope so. I'll miss you all, you know. If you do find a miracle and get to move around, maybe I'll have to come up to shore and see you again.

[matchbreaker]

... Ah, right, mermaid?

[ She laughs a little, and then... uh?

... Well Elda's going to smack her ass like she expects that to turn her legs back into a tail? ]

I'm sure Rin'll work out a miracle before this is over! Dunno if that'll work for all of us, but she or Luca can be an intermediary.

[lackinginfaith]

[Caren sputters and turns an interesting shade of purple.] Th-- What was that for!?

[matchbreaker]

I thought that might make your legs turn back into a tail!

[ Was it a nice ass...... ]

[lackinginfaith]

In what universe would that work, and why would you?

[matchbreaker]

Dunno! There's a world were people are green and bacteria talk, after all.

[lackinginfaith]

Look, if you want to see me turn into something, fine, just hands off.

[Caren reaches into her pocket, draws out her shell necklace, and clasps it on. With a small breath, she calls out:]

Purple Pearl Voice!

[In a flash of light, Caren... well, she still has legs, but she's in a different outfit and her hair and eyes have again turned bright purple. Like her mermaid form, but in a tiny minidress with frilly gloves and high heels. She's holding what looks like a toy microphone, and her pearl's moved from inside the shell to embedded in the mic.]

Happy?