thefoundation | FINAL TRIAL

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round 2

FINAL TRIAL

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

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[Ripley doesn't wake up peacefully. She sits up suddenly, her hands clenched into fists. The room swims as she clutches her head--Reyes, everything that's transpired in this goddamn trial room. And for what? They hardly did anything to solve the problem with the Foundation, and with these bodies, they can only expect more pain and terror.

She lets out a strangled-sounding sob as she stumbles onto the ground, gripping her own arms tightly. A wave of discomfort spreads over her as she takes a moment to collect herself, scrubbing at her face with her hand. She then glares towards Gabe. Her voice comes out as a low, threatening growl.]

You can't imagine how lucky you were that these kids were the ones handling your punishment.

Edited 2019-01-05 21:15 (UTC)

[hnrnghghhhh they could always take matters into their own hands]

[they could, but that would mean trying to convince everyone else here as well or risk being condemned]

[He's moving towards her as soon as he hears her cry out, but he stops once she begins to speak, hesitating.]

Ellen...

[She casts a glance at Hunter, her eyes crinkling with worry. She takes a shaky breath, gesturing with one hand.]

You realize--You realize there is nothing stopping him from doing this again. For God's sake, eight people died because he messed up. I died because he messed up, and you want me to just be okay with this just because I'm alive again?

More than eight, ja? Every death in this resort can be attributed to him and his careless, foolish decisions.

I seem to remember him blaming Phil for my death and the death of Flat, actually. During a conversation about how Phil deserved to be talked down to and punished.

[Medic looks over at Reyes, smiling in a way that doesn't reach his eyes.]

Remember that? Because I do.

[And he doesn't fucking like it.]

[Gabe's responding to that with a thumbs-up.]

I hear you loud and clear. If you want to get your revenge, go ahead and include it in your paperwork about all of this. I'm sure the Foundation would love to hear all about the stuff I did.

Thanks. I’m glad I need to fill out paperwork about how “disgruntled” I was over you telling me that I deserved punishment over being forced to murder my boyfriend.

[Still sarcasm.]

...

[WELL...the kids did tell him to start apologizing, so.]

Yeah, it was out of line for me to say that crap. Sorry.

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imstuck - 2019-01-05 21:49 (UTC) - Expand

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stepsinshadows - 2019-01-05 21:53 (UTC) - Expand

[She lets out a sharp, absurd laugh at that suggestion.]

You really fucking think we're going to be going back to the goddamn Foundation after this shitshow?! You're going to be dealing with us from now on, bastard. And, buddy, you're going to fucking wish you were with the goddamn Foundation.

[Is she overplaying it a little bit? Maybe. Is the on the verge of tears? Most likely! But she wants him to feel as threatened as possible.]

[Snake's a man of far less words than Ripley, but that look in his eye as he nods along with what she's saying communicates the sentiment just as well.]

I'm going back to the Foundation. If you want to be reported MIA and disappear into this world to do whatever, go for it. I'll just marked that you died on the paperwork, and they won't come looking for you.

[He can do her that small favor as an 'I'm sorry' for getting her killed, at least.]

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xenoqueen - 2019-01-05 21:50 (UTC) - Expand

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stepsinshadows - 2019-01-05 21:56 (UTC) - Expand

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blutsauger - 2019-01-05 21:54 (UTC) - Expand

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stepsinshadows - 2019-01-05 21:59 (UTC) - Expand

Paperwork isn't my area of expertise. I prefer to let actions speak louder than words.

[The threat is casually spoken, but there.]

I would suggest you stay far away from me and my loved ones in the future. For your own personal safety. Hide behind the children who will actively feed your ego and tell you what a good man you are, despite what you've caused through your own recklessness and inability to admit your faults. They're the only thing standing between you and my saw.

[... At least Medic is nice enough to warn him! :D]

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stepsinshadows - 2019-01-05 21:49 (UTC) - Expand

You're probably right. It's more than I deserve, I know that much.

[He knows she is right, that she has every right to be angry. And honestly? This is the reaction he had been expecting.]

It's all my fault. Whatever punishment you think is necessary, I'll take it.

[Even if she didn't specify it in the punishment given to the Hotel, he will still accept any punishment she gives to him. Or that any of the other PCs give, too. He knows he deserves it.]

I don't think any punishment would be enough to make up for what you've done.

[Ripley contemplates his proposition for a second, struggling up to her feet. She glares daggers at him, then turns around as if to walk away.

--And then she whirls around to sock him in the jaw, nostrils flaring in fury.]

You goddamn asshole!

[ Welp.

He isn't stopping it, but he's already ready to, uh. Keep those shadows from doing anything, if necessary. ]

[Welp. He definitely deserved that.

And thanks Vanitas, for keeping the shadows in check.]

[She flexes her fingers, grimacing as she storms off in the other direction. That punch may have relieved her immediate anger, but her resentment is still stewing.

She won't forget this easily.]

[Medic kneels beside her, putting a stabilizing hand on her shoulder once he's sure she's calm enough that she won't knock his lights out for touching her in this state. He speaks lowly, hopefully quiet enough that The Horde Of Friendshipping Teens can't hear.]

It's alright, my friend. No one said we can't do things ourselves the old-fashioned way later on.

[He's pissed and he's got a syringe with Reyes' name on it.]

[Ripley snorts, leaning closer to Medic to mutter back--]

As if they'd let us touch him with so much as a ten foot pole.

[Punishing him with death seems a little harsh for her, but she wants to make sure that he can never make the same "mistakes" again.]

Just because they don't want us to doesn't mean anything. I've done plenty of things in my life against orders, ja?

[Oh, don't worry, he's not thinking death. At least not a permanent one.]

[The corner of Ripley's mouth twitches. She doesn't smile.]

Yeah. I guess as much.

[She still looks vaguely uncomfortable. If it weren't for the fact that all of these kids were here...]

[She doesn't really move to stop any of the violence going on -- she absolutely is for giving the dead their satisfaction with the guy, after all, so long as the shadows don't act up again. Vanitas is apparently working pretty hard over there, though Aoi still keeps a watchful eye on things.

It's once things have simmered down a little that she speaks up, soft and tired.]

I don't think a lot of us were thinking as hard about how to punish him as we were thinking about how to end this.

[That and the people she cares about are way too soft on the guy and well. What can you do.]

[She stares at Aoi, then exhales sharply, crossing her arms. She still looks greatly uncomfortable.]

Do you think I wanted more people to keep dying? [She shakes her head. She sounds bitter and...exhausted.] Ending it now won't help anyone if we don't make sure that it doesn't happen again.

[She places her head in her hands, sighing. Lost in thought.]

I don't think that, Ripley-san. I don't think any of us do.

[They are all tired in every way known to mankind and now that everything's winding down and everyone has a little more weight off their shoulders all of that's come crashing down instead. It's not entirely bad, but it's something that's been building for a while; haunting their steps and their decisions.]

... I just don't want to kill any more people in this Resort. [her voice is still as soft, resigned and unhappy] If we kill him now, he'll just become a ghost. And if we want to end it after that...

[There's something in her that rebels even more at the thought of deliberately destroying someone's soul than at the idea of killing him in the first place. But that's her. And in the end, this is about what she can or can't do.]

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