FINAL INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

FINAL INVESTIGATION

[Well, your time, your anger, your losses have led up to this.

It's time to go, and that blue card will give access to the floors above. In particular, there is the floor Barbara mentioned before the throne room, which seems to be a good idea to check out beforehand.

Indeed, it's much like the previous floors the Strangers had lived in, only smaller.]



[There is another elevator in the area, but that is inaccessible. Even using Marie's card doesn't seem to work on it. Hm. No matter. Marie's card works on all of these rooms, so it's fine, right?

In any case, if there's answers to be found about just whose in charge - and what in the world is going on - this is the last chance of finding them. You've all gotten this far, and as your teams descend on the rooms, you can feel the end is near. Hopefully, that end is not that of the universe - or of Ivy.

Good hunting, Titled.]

Comments

[mementodagger]

[Yurick is mostly okay with the way the survivors have been split up.

Mostly.

He hasn't forgotten Angela's reaction to the reveal of his betrayal, and she still doesn't look too charitable toward him. They didn't exactly get along from the start, and that only makes it worse. So he'll stay clear of her. The last thing any of them needs at this critical juncture is infighting.

Though he's not exactly sticking too close to anyone else, either. Jonathan might be there, and Hitsugaya is on his side as far as he can tell, but it might not take much to tip things out of this bizarre forgiveness he's being shown. He's staring off into the distance, geared up with all the things returned by other people. There's a small rectangle of hammered silver in his hand, dangling from a beaded cord, and he keeps rubbing the metal surface or flipping it over and over in his palm.]

[backuphero]

[They're getting ready to fight! Maybe. They're getting ready to explore! Definitely! They're going to get out of here! Hopefully!

...and Yurick looks like someone shot his dog in front of him and kicked the body.

Crap. That won't do. So Jonathan just strolls up next to him, and gently leans his over to bump his shoulder against Yurick's own, a quick touch.]

You holding up?

[mementodagger]

[Yurick startles out of his daze, but it's really little more than a blink and his gaze redirecting to Jonathan.]

Ah? Oh... yes, I suppose so. I'm keeping my distance from those who would likely want me dead or at least maimed, though.

[He flips the pendant over in his hand again, squeezes it.]

I'm worried, Jonathan. If we're trapped here, tensions could escalate again. If we escape....

[backuphero]

If we escape and you don't want to go home, come with me.

[He says it with an easy smile, like they're talking about the weather this place doesn't have.]

And if we can't just yet, I've got your back.

[mementodagger]

... it's strange to think others care about me, especially after what I did.

[Suddenly he's not looking at Jonathan anymore.]

I didn't even hesitate when she offered me the deal. I would've thrown you all to the wolves in a heartbeat that first week, you meant nothing to me. Every time there was a murder, as I learned more about the technology and how all of you investigated, I became a better saboteur. And yet each time it became more difficult. I knew why, but I couldn't bring myself to think about it.

[backuphero]

Where I'm from, they call that "havin' a conscience".

[He's speaking so very levelly that the put-on drawl seems natural, for those few words. Then his voice is back to normal.]

You did what you thought you had to, and you regretted it more every time. Then... Yurick, I'd be a horrible person if I didn't think you deserved a second chance. We're just humans. We mess up. Sometimes it's really spectacular, but....

[mementodagger]

[Yurick snorts lightly.]

Try telling that to Angela. She seems to think I deserve a one-way trip into the incinerator. Maybe she's right. But it's not really her call, not when most of you idiots are fond of me for whatever insane reason.

[backuphero]

She'll come around. She's just... she's really hurting, and I don't think it started here. I'll get between you if I have to, all right?

[He fixes Yurick with a steady gaze underlined by a crooked smile.]

Think I've told you all this before, but... you're my brother, and I know what it's like holding yourself off alone. If not wanting you to do that anymore makes me crazy I'm fine with that.

[toushiro]

Yurick.

[ he approaches his roommate before the investigation begins. he knows yurick may be feeling uneasy, after everything that's happened. and hitsugaya isn't exactly trusting of him, but he hasn't been antagonistic towards him, either.
it is what it is. ]

We're trusting you to be truthful with your findings today.

[mementodagger]

[It's not surprising, Hitsugaya is as pragmatic as he is, but the firm remark still makes Yurick's heart sink a little. He doesn't crumple, he has too much experience in burying his emotions for that, though he does drop his gaze in an almost submissive manner.]

I have no more reason to lie. Whether you believe me or not, I didn't do it to hurt anyone, only to recover what was taken from me. Now Marie isn't here to make us kill, and she can't return more of my memories.

[toushiro]

[ he watches as yurick's gaze drops, and hitsugaya only nods. cold as it may be, he doesn't have a whole lot of room in his heart for forgiveness and understanding.

still, he does believe that yurick is being sincere. he has a point. with marie gone, he has nothing to gain from lying again. ]

Fair enough.

[ ... ]

I believe you.