Aftergathering 6

[clearasmud]

Rule 17 hits like a gutpunch. The plan she'd talked about, as improbable as it already was, had just become much harder.

But something - someone - digs its heels in inside her, the same way it did prior to their most recent trial. The presence of their latest, insurmountable hurdle, has the odd effect of only making Youko more determined.

They're going to win.

There's hot soup, rice, and tea in the kitchen. We're holding a meeting tomorrow morning in the conference room. I want you to be there.

- Youko

Comments

[sunsong]

Wonder who the tattle-tale was.

[ about their ghost thing...she gestures to the new rules, looking annoyed. ]

[blazeit]

It was probably getting kinda obvious after a while... I mean, he's almost definitely watching us, right? Between the seances and the salt circles, he probably figured we were like... collectively losing our minds, or obviously up to something.

[ Maybe both simultaneously, Bakugou honestly couldn't blame somebody for thinking they're collectively losing their minds at this point... ]

[sunsong]

Yeah, you're not wrong. Still...it makes me kinda happy us talkin' to them apparently pisses him off so much, you know?

[blazeit]

I think I know what you mean... like we must be doing something right, which is why he's telling us to stop doing it.

[sunsong]

That's it exactly! I mean, if it weren't us doin' something right, he wouldn't give a single fuck, don't you think? Even if it's breakin' the rules now...it ain't like he can enforce what they do.

[blazeit]

Yeah, half the rules basically feel like they're there to cover his ass after he fucks something up.

[ HE COULD GIVE THEM THE STEAK KNIVES BACK... It's not their fault that Dio thought they were acceptable projectile weapons. ]

Maybe the ghosts can attack the shadow thing better than we can...?

[sunsong]

[ UGH, DIO, WHY ARE YOU RUINING THINGS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE!!! ]

Well, they're in another realm, aren't they? And that thing doesn't seem to be entirely...here. Maybe it's more wherever they are than wherever we are.

[blazeit]

It's not the least likely possibility, I guess.

... Back then, during the execution... did you think the flashbangs were working? Like, the shadow thing was retreating, but I couldn't tell if it was because it had to or if it was deliberate.

[sunsong]

I think it's unlikely he'd make a rule against somethin' he wasn't legitimately annoyed or worried about.

[ So, it had to have some kind of effect, but... ]

...But I don't think it was enough. She tried her best for us, but...

[blazeit]

... Yeah. We need to try something different, just lighting the place up isn't going to be enough. But we don't have enough opportunities to try new stuff, that's the big problem.