FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL


[Once everyone has managed to gather every piece of evidence they can get their hands on, there is, at last, a sense that they can go up to the top on the elevator that works. Granted, with access now granted, they probably could have gone up at any time, but it they would have been ill-prepared for what might be up there.

In any case, they might not have needed to worry.]



[Barbara will no doubt recognize this place as where Marie brought her just the previous week. It is a master control room, filled with buttons and levers that line the walls. However, the dome also allows for a view of what's outside - of the skies, the stars, the planets. The alpine valley the Base is situated, with its bubbling waterfall, and the crystal-clear blue lake it empties into, surrounded by flowers below the Base's base. The lake itself empties into a crystal clear river that looks to be narrow, but deep and rapid.

In the center of the room, near where the elevator rises out of the floor, is a chair, with a giant plush of that cheeky raccoon snuggled into it. Once everyone has come into the room, the elevator melts into the floor with a slurping sound. Now, everyone is here - and there's only one seat, meaning almost everyone will be standing for the duration of this discussion. There's no food or drink here, either - the Titled will have to make do with whatever they brought with them.

There's is a rumble below, as the Titled, together with Bottson and their menagerie of animals - gather together for one last trial. Everyone and everything in this universe may be at stake, and ultimately, either they all go home - or no one will.]


[It's time! The objectives are simple in this trial. It's time to finally answer the questions the Titled have about why they are here - and face the Mastermind of the Base.

Most importantly, though - who's got dibs on that chair? It's the only one in the room!

In any case, good luck, Titled!]

Comments

[theserpentsmiles]

[....Marie was awful - from the logs, it sounds like she wasn't very nice to Halley, either. But the two of them were family. Nagisa can't begrudge her this, not when he's forgiven his own mother.

...He moves slowly, for once being careful to ensure she knows he's coming, and them gently wraps his arms around her. This is a hug. He is hugging her.

She seems to need it.]

I'm sorry we took your family from you. [Not sorry for killing Marie, she deserved it, but....he's sorry there was collateral damage. Of course, there always is, isn't there? But that doesn't make it any less important.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

[Halley freezes at the contact, as if she's never had one before.

She actually seems to shake a little, as if expecting Nagisa to do something to her in her vulnerable stare.]

[theserpentsmiles]

[Nope, nothing. Just a gentle embrace. She...really doesn't know what a hug is like, does she? He thinks she must have read about them in books, or seen Ivy give them to her husband or son... He gives her plenty of room to wiggle free and escape if she needs. His guard isn't fully down - it never is - but it's down enough. She couldn't kill him, but she could hurt him if she wanted.

It's just a hug.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

[The next thing Nagisa might know, there's a nine year old now openly sobbing black goop on him.]

[theserpentsmiles]

[He rubs her back gently - it's okay to cry. It's okay to grieve. He doesn't care about black goop or germs or whatever. Right here and now, there's a crying child. Like Sakura, in some ways...

He'll hold her as long as she needs, and anyone who tries to interrupt this is getting a Look shot at them. Let the girl grieve.]

[ichbindereinzelganger]

[snff....snff...]

m-my dad...oh...i-if...if the base didn't eat her, it probably...

[snf]

[theserpentsmiles]

Probably...? ...You don't have to say, if you don't want to.

[He's here to listen. It's not just about information, she....god. She's had Marie, but she's been alone these ten thousand years. He can't even imagine....though it makes him wonder. What does time look like for someone who moves at mach 20?]

[losergod]

[ So it's not much, but he's going to lay a hand on her shoulder, since Nagisa is already hugging her. He's... sort of a germophobe, okay, this is hard for him. But she's just so gentle and kind and it's... yeah. She doesn't look anything like the monsters his own brain conjures. ]