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

[crouching_sin]

Oh? Interesting.

And we've been at a temple, somewhere called the Neutral Zone. I did tell him. He was... not pleased.

[theserpentsmiles]

That was how she pulled off the second motive. None of us bothered to try it until later.

Good. He- ...How is he? [Akira has been gone a while...]

[crouching_sin]

Ah. Annoying, since it means I can only carry so much of that back with me... my inventory can only be so large.

... Akira's fine. He'll be along soon.

[theserpentsmiles]

It seems to be pretty powerful stuff,though. It fixed Jonathan's concussion in seconds.

....it'll be good to see him again.

[crouching_sin]

[His mouth presses into a thin line.]

And how did he get a concussion?

[theserpentsmiles]

Commander-san. She tried to make him take the fall for Passepartout-san's death, after hurting him.

When Finch-san found the two of them, I thought- [He thought the worst. He thought he'd lost his brother.]

[crouching_sin]

... And I hear she's dead, which is unfortunate, since I wanted to give her a piece of my mind.

But he's safe, so it's all right.

[theserpentsmiles]

I wouldn't let her get away with killing my brother.

[Didn't let her get away with trying.]

[crouching_sin]

Good. I wouldn't, either. If Kazuya where here... even if we're enemies right now, I wouldn't let her touch him.

[theserpentsmiles]

That must be difficult. [Being enemies with either of his brothers.... He and Karma had opposed each other once. That had been hard, but necessary.]

As awful as all this has been, though, I wouldn't have any brothers if it hadn't happened.

[crouching_sin]

... I practically raised him. Granted, that was because I... forced the issue, making sure I was moved in with his family... but it'll be difficult to fight him. Though I'm sure he must hate me now.

Places like this... can be like that, it seems.

[theserpentsmiles]

Going against family....is hard. [...] My mother.

[That's an explanation, right?]

[crouching_sin]

... You don't have to say anything you don't want to or feel the need to, Nagisa.

Just know that I've... dealt with things, as well.

[theserpentsmiles]

She....wanted a daughter and didn't take defiance well, that's all.

[He's understating by a lot, but....she's his mom. And he does forgive her...]

[crouching_sin]

Do you need someone to toss her out of a window for you?

Cw: child abuse mention

[theserpentsmiles]

N-No! She wasn't that bad! She pulled my hair a lot, but she only drugged me the one time--!

keywords

[crouching_sin]

[... Oh that murderous aura just got much stronger.]

That's not okay, Nagisa. Parents like that should be separated from their children at the bare minimum.

[His tone is precise and clipped. He clearly wants much worse than that for her.]

Re: keywords

[theserpentsmiles]

She....only got this bad after dad left her, and she's been getting better...

[She's his mom, and he knows he'd be pissed if it were anyone else, but...]

[crouching_sin]

... That doesn't mean what she did was all right, Nagisa. She still hurt you badly, and you haven't even told me anything else she might have done.

[theserpentsmiles]

...she...tried to make me burn the classroom down, so I'd feel too guilty to even think about ever going back...

[crouching_sin]

... Nagisa, you're not going back to her. I won't allow you to.

[Nope, his murderson now.]

[theserpentsmiles]

But--...

[Somehow he doubts Naoya will take any arguments. And Nagisa won't deny what she did was awful or that it hurt, but.....he forgave her. That's what he decided.]

I....promised her I'd stay, through high school.

[crouching_sin]

... Nagisa. Who says she won't do worse to you? She's already demonstrated that she clearly isn't fit to take care of her child.

[theserpentsmiles]

[And yet this woman got custody.]

She's been getting better. She let me choose which high school I'll go to, and she was going to let me get a haircut after graduation...

[He's keeping the beads Yurick gave him no matter what, though.]

[crouching_sin]

... I can give you a haircut now, if you want. There's no reason she should be in control of that.