FINAL TRIAL

[foundationmods]

TRIAL

After a very, very long six weeks, it has finally come. The last time everyone will need to trudge up those stairs and meet in the master suite. It's do or die time, and hopefully everyone knows what needs to be done by now.

As soon as the guests walk into the room, they will be able to smell the food that the chef has provided: duck l'orange, served up on a nice platter. Eat up everyone!

There are a few unexpected guests this time. A large group of the rats is here, and they show up in a swarm as they carry Gabe into the room, much like how they had carted him off to the Child Daycare last night. Once he is deposited in the room, Gabe will also stand up and remain there, crossing his arm and looking a bit standoffish.

They're not the only unexpected faces around here, though...

VICTIMS: ICHIGO KUROSAKI and THE RESORT THE HOTEL

10 11 GUESTS REMAIN

Comments

[stepsinshadows]

[Don't use that language around him young man!]

Well there's your first mistake: I'm not a good person, so getting attached is a bad idea. Besides...

[His gaze ends up drifting over to a specific spot in the room, one that might appear empty to the living.]

...apologies aren't some magic cure-all that fix everything. Some things can't be undone.

[justfists]

... You know it's better than doing nothing, right? You can't just say "it's not worth the effort, it changes nothing." The effort matters.

[stepsinshadows]

No, it doesn't! Pretty words and 'I'm sorry'-ies don't make a goddamn difference when you can't actually fix what's wrong in the first place! Words mean nothing if you can't back them up with actions!

[justfists]

[she slaps him.] Then actually do something!

1/2

[stepsinshadows]

[Unfortunately, the shadows lingering around Gabe respond by slapping her back before he can stop them. They're surprisingly solid when they want to be, too.

And when she gets slapped, she will feel tired. Like a small bit of her energy just got drained.]

2/2

[stepsinshadows]

[And then the shadows die down (but don't disappear completely) and Gabe is left holding his head, like he suddenly has a migraine. Which might partially be because of the slap, but it's partially for other reasons too.]

[justfists]

[well that does get her to step back?! And she's a little surprised at how tired she feels, since... well... Fighting is in her blood. punch first, ask questions later. And yet. it adds a whole new meaning to what he said with the "curse."] ... When I said do something... [okay, she's gonna. stand up. sry all.]

[resortghosts]

[IMMEDIATELY reaches for her hand]

[resortghosts]

[Well.

Suddenly, Gabe will have breathing problems and feel like something is pushing him down.

Actually, uh.

Everyone might feel like that, sorry.]

[dolleyed]

Gh-- Wh-what the?

[resortghosts]

[ Thud of ghost eating floor, ouch. ]

[stepsinshadows]

Fuck-

[As if he weren't already having problems. Now the shadows are freaking out and growing bigger, and wrapping around his body. It's like the shadows are trying to protect its host or something.]

[resortghosts]

[Whatever ghost this is tried to grab the table to steady themselves before they both go down]]

[swordhandled]

G-guh--!

[resortghosts]

[







eep]

[swordhandled]

I get attached to people I probably shouldn't be, consider it a family trait. I'll say those words again and again to you, so get used to it.

[ but he watches gabe's gaze move across the room and he can hazard a guess at who gabe is looking at. he... offers a small wave to that spot. ]

But, I know they aren't a magic cure-all. I've seen and used magic. But they can still do so much good. You can't change anything if you don't make that first step. You need to crawl before you can walk, yeah?

[stepsinshadows]

Your cousin is here too, so I can see the resemblance.

[Your family is full of people with big hearts, Owain.]

It's not that simple, kid. What happened, it was an accident. I was acting with what I thought was legit information. It ended in disaster, but I didn't make the wrong call there. Apologizing when I made the best choice possible in that situation, even if that choice ended poorly, isn't a genuine apology.

[swordhandled]

... Let's start from the basics.

Do you regret what happened to Ichigo?

[stepsinshadows]

Of course I do!

[swordhandled]

Then let that be the basis for your apologies! You acted with the best of intentions in mind, but you were wrong! Apologize for the mistake.

[wrongtiming]

You're not even going to consider it when, like, everyone is telling you that's the least you can do?

[stepsinshadows]

It wouldn't do any good.

[He doesn't even sound angry there, just defeated.]

[wrongtiming]

It's not about what you think, it's about what we want to hear.

[stepsinshadows]

Honestly, it's not about what you guys want to hear either.

[He's still looking at that same spot.]

[wrongtiming]

...You don't think he wants an apology, too?