WEEK 2 - TRIAL

[foundationmods]

TRIAL

The morning seemed so far away yesterday - yet, it also seems too soon when morning comes and you are all yet again ushered to the third floor by The Lady. The Captain is there, in all of his....glory? It's hard to tell.

The doors close, and he speaks up, this time reclining on one of the couches in the room.

"You know the drill - Since one of you have died during the game, it's your responsibility to try and vote someone out. You have six hours to talk about it, but then-"

He taps on a box on the coffee table in front of him, labeled 'VOTES'.

"-you'll have to put in your vote so someone can be punished. You all saw what happens when you refuse to play, right?"

He leans back, placing his hands behind his head.

"So get to it."

As he says that, music begins to play in the room...


VICTIM: YOSHI NANASE

27 GUESTS REMAIN.

Comments

[escardos]

I don't know.

[ flat says that in an emotionless tone, his gaze distant. the smile on his face, however, stays on. ]

I don't really know much about myself, actually. There are parts of myself that don't sync with anyone I've ever met, and I see things that no one I know can see. Even if I'm not the monster that Makoto thinks I am, I might still be one back at home, so it's not like she'd be wrong, right?

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

Why do you think you might be a monster back home? You've always seemed bright and energetic to me, even if we haven't spoken much.

[escardos]

"He doesn't make sacrifices. At first, I thought that he had too much kindness for a mage, that he was defective. But he's not even that. His purpose is fundamentally different. It's like finding out the tube you thought was a telescope was actually the barrel of a cannon. He's something...something different." [ he recites this in a neutral, passionless tone, despite the smile on his face. if anyone notices, he's reciting a conversation from his memory. ] "That boy is no child of ours. He's nobody. Nothing. Just a phenomenon that slipped in from some other world. We just got it into our heads that he was our son and named him. There was never a child called Flat, just a flat expanse with some unintelligible scribbles on it...isn't that right?"

[purrtagonist]

[his eyes flash, anger visible in their depths]

Who said that to you?

[escardos]

My parents. When they realized I wasn't normal, they had that conversation that I overheard. From then on, they attempted to kill me five times, each time failing.

[ he shrugs ]

After the fifth time, I simply asked to study in the Clock Tower, because a lady recommended it to me-- and they let me. That was ten years ago.

[purrtagonist]

Listen to me.

[reaching out and grasping him by the shoulders, knuckles white]

Flat Escardos is not a monster, no matter what his shitty parents said. He might not be "normal," but he isn't a monster.

[justfists]

[oh. no.

she's been casting aspersions on him for so long, but she can't take that. she reaches out to him, lightly touching his arm]

Escardos-san...

[escardos]

Mm, don’t look sad Makoto.

[ he smiles, regardless of her accusations. ]

You’re only trying to do your best, right? The Professor would probably be doing the same thing as you right now. You just wanna find the truth— like your name, right?

[justfists]

[she smiles a little at that. and pauses, before, well, pulling him into a hug. She's really, really sorry for this.

It's a brief one, but... hopefully? Maybe? It offers comfort?]

I'm sorry for having to accuse you of being the Barghest.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . stiffens a little the moment that name comes out of her mouth]

. . .

[dereban]

. . . wait. How do you know that name? We only knew the the spider was called the Jorogumo, didn't we?!

[diesifkilled]

[stops

and just stares.]

[xenoqueen]

...Excuse me, what?

[enter_the_darkness]

The what...?

[moonlightbeast]

[That. Hm.

Atsushi makes a very panicked face and is suddenly doing the 'cut' motion under his chin. He's trying to be discreet but it probably isn't discreet at all.]

[escardos]

[ flat’s eyes widen— more over her actions than what she says.

but then he smiles, hugging her back gently. ]

It’s alright, Makoto. Even if you’re wrong, I don’t blame you.

[latebluemer]

[Her eyes widen, but she doesn't say anything just yet. Hm.]

[dereban]

[ HEY JUST GONNA ACTUALLY SPEAK UP NOW ]

That's fucked up. Your parents are fucked up. Parents shouldn't fucking... kill their child? Even if you're not what they think is "normal"?

[thejusticewagon]

Yeah, exactly! I mean, the way you think seems great to me, so you’re definitely not the one who’s in the wrong there, Flat!

[escardos]

Mages aren’t like normal people, though. For the sake of their craft, they’ll do anything— even kill their own children. I don’t agree with it, but that’s just how it is.

[jumpedtheshark]

Flat-kun....

[She doesn't know him well. There's... really not much she can say to this. Still....]

[rosebridled]

[ ... ]

[moonlightbeast]

[Oh no]

Th-that's-

[He will try to grab Flat's hands if he can. Because this is hitting extremely close to home for him, and he knows how lonely that can be.]

Even if people say that, just because they say it doesn't make it the truth! You are you, and nobody's opinions can ever change that!

[messianic]

Flat-san...

[... :(]

Do you believe that?

[13thpromise]

[ ...

He. Doesn't say anything for a moment yet, but boy. Those words... ]

...What? That's not -

[ ...There's just so much going on. He doesn't really like it at all. There's so much he wants to say.

And though he wants to say more, he doesn't for now - there's so much they need to focus on. But, he's remembering what was said. ]