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

[beguiledcard]

[ About that....

This guy sure is taking his time coming out, huh? It's after everyone else has had time to climb out on their own, he finally crawls out, wearing those same robes, daggers tucked away carefully.

He's going to be... hanging back, looking around the room with a sort of stunned kind of calm... though he will offer Jonathan a small wave and somewhat awkward smile. ]

... Soooo, guess watching over you guys wasn't in the cards, after all.

[ Outright rejoining them was. ]

[losergod]

[ You asshole you are getting a hug. ]

You stupid jerk.

[ Now he realizes. Now he knows. This is entirely how Anri felt. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ O-oh... ]

C...

[ He relaxes slowly into the hug, and then... sorry, C, you're getting actually clung to for a moment. ]

... I missed you, too.

[losergod]

[ He still... can't see Akira's face right, but... whatever. He can deal with whatever his mind is conjuring up. Akira is worth that much to him, truly. Even if he hurt him. ]

I remembered everything. I have a daughter, Akira. A daughter and a sister and an entire house of people that I created. An entire house of tenants, and, god, some of them are soap-drinkers but... but they're important to me.

I can help you remember, too. The machine downstairs...

[beguiledcard]

[ Soap

drinkers






ok. ]

... Well, them being important to you is... all that matters, right?

[ ALSO...

... A MACHINE, YOU SAY? He can have... his memories back. Some part of him was starting to think they were just... gone. This is the longest he's been without regaining a single thing. ]

You can?

[losergod]

[ Hello Charlotte is a strange canon. ]

Yes, we can. We more than can. I did it myself. I did it to everyone here who wanted it. We all remembered everything from our pasts. Nothing about here, sadly, or how we got here, I think Marie destroyed those tapes, but... there's hope for you to remember what you forgot about your friends, Akira.

Please. Let me be the one to return those memories to you. Whatever you're missing.

[mementodagger]

[Yurick approaches Akira quietly. He doesn't look good, but he manages a small, nervous smile that lasts for a few seconds.]

I wanted to apologize for striking you. I had no right to do it. [Softer:] But after I found that black hair, I... I didn't want it to be you.

[beguiledcard]

[ That not looking good thing kind of suits him, too, in a way. He sure is looking even more awkward - up until he hears those initial words. His expression softens completely, especially as he hears the last part... ]

... I never wanted it to be me, either. But, of course I forgive you.

[ There might be a hint of something haunted that wasn't there before, but he also wasn't actively remembering dying, back then. ]

So, you were the person who messed with the evidence, huh... [ holding a blink, and then reaching out to touch his shoulder ] I'm sorry.

[mementodagger]

Yes. And I'm the one who should be sorry. I thought it would be a minor task, a small price to pay for remembering what I'd forgotten. I didn't care about any of you at first, but... that quickly changed.

[Knowing Akira isn't angry with him helps a little. But it doesn't change what he did or the bitter irony of his memories.]

It was all for nothing, anyway. The memory I worked so hard for... it... I don't know if I can bring myself to go home now.

[beguiledcard]

[ His brow tenses, and then he looks down. Several emotions flicker over his face at that. He fights to ignore the ache in his own chest. ]

... I outright killed someone for nothing, in the end. [ HA HA ... ha ... yeah, guess what Naoya told him ] But, that's...

[ Oh boy... He's running a hand over his face for a moment. ]

You don't have to tell me, of course... but... [ definite, genuine concern is here ] Why?

[earietale]

[GET READY FOR TACKLE HUGS AKIRA, CAUSE YOU'RE GETTING ONE]

Akira!

[beguiledcard]

[ HE WILL GLADLY TAKE ONE, AND EVEN DO ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE HE SPINS HER AROUND TBH... ]

I was so worried about you... [ that they'd find her in that river, too ] You did great, Barbara.

[earietale]

[PROBABLY A GOOD THING CAUSE HE PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT TO GET KNOCKED ONTO THE FLOOR.]

I-I can't believe it...you're actually okay...

[She squeezes him just a little bit tighter, trying to confirm he's real just out of fear she's losing her mind. It's supposed to be impossible, but...she's grateful it isn't.]

Thanks. I just...tried to be smart, you know?

[beguiledcard]

[ He won't tell her that "okay" is probably a strong word, but... he gets what she means. Being alive is a huge deal, considering... what they all witness in some way. He knows he asked some people not to look... but... ]

You didn't just manage to try. You are smart.

[ There's a small smile as he closes his eyes a moment. ]

I'm really proud of you.

[vividsins]

[ A wave from the bar. ]

[beguiledcard]

[ He's going to return that wave, and then eventually make his way over. ]

... Gotta admit, now that I'm not about to die... I always had this feeling you were planning something big.

[vividsins]

Here? Oh, I would have sold every single one of you for the right motive. But the lack of memories reduced the urgency to get home. It's quite fortunate for all of you!

[ .........Baku is not a good person. ]

...My Princess is worth too much to me. I'm sure you understand.

[beguiledcard]

[ Ah.

Well, his eyebrows lift a little... and then his expression softens a bit. He nods. ]

... Yeah. I do understand.

[ THAT BAKU ISN'T A GOOD PERSON, AND ALSO THAT AKIRA DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM TO TALK, HERE... ahaha... He rests a hand against the back of his neck. ]

In the end... everyone has a price.

[backuphero]

It's for the best... I did a pretty bad job looking out for everyone, in the end.

[It's like getting his memories back. He's laughing and crying all at once, and he practically throws himself at Akira, pulling him into a tight hug.]

Welcome back.

[beguiledcard]

[ IMMEDIATELY SHAKING HIS HEAD?? ]

I just... wanted to give you some kind of goal, because having a goal - something to focus on... keeps you alive. And that, alone, felt like one of the most important things, for me, at the time...

[ He's just gonna latch onto him, okay? HE... KEPT THINKING YOU'D JOIN THEM??? ]

So... I'm proud of you, Jonathan. Really proud of you...

[backuphero]

[He has not heard those words anywhere near enough from anyone in his eighteen years, and that's enough to set him leaning his head against Akira's as he latches back, trying not to make wounded-animal noises even though he's delirious levels of happy.]

I never thought I'd see you again. We tried... we tried, and it didn't work, and... you gave me someone to hang on to. Everyone, but...

[He laughs helplessly, not even trying to stop the tears running down his face.]

You saved my life. Probably Nagisa and Yurick's too. I can't thank you enough for that.

[theserpentsmiles]

[How about for a change you don't get to see someone coming. Not until his arms are around you.

Sorry if he gets Halley's black tear-goop on you.]

[beguiledcard]

[ There's a very soft hitching of his breath, but that's about it, at least. Once he realizes who this is, he's firmly wrapping his arms around the smaller frame, smiling softly. ]

I'll admit I spent a lot of time worried... but you did so great. I'm proud of you, Nagisa...

[theserpentsmiles]

You were alive this whole time...? [More importantly.] Are there any blanks you need filled in...?

[beguiledcard]

Not... the whole time, but Kerri fished us out of the river and took care of us. Gave us clothes, fed us... even gave us weapons and helped us fight our way here.

[ He nods. ]

We learned that this was something we'd apparently signed up for, but none of our memories ever returned, so it's all still very...

[ Vague... gesture. ]