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

[justonezero]

[Yeah. Yoshi remembers some of that, now.]

...Maybe I can talk to people for you? But...

[He's so unsure. If he messes this one up, Kohaku will definitely suffer again.]

[dolleyed]

... it's all bullshit. Every decision I can make here is complete and utter shit.

[ He hasn't thought this way for a long while, but suddenly he really wants to be home. Home for real, in his world, where he has a clear path and clear goals. ]

What's the point of being free if it's like this?

[justonezero]

[...]

If you come back, I can try to talk to Archer. I was already going to ask him and Red for help with Ellie, too.

Archer's pretty high up. He might be able to do something...

[But that's about all he can offer.]

[dolleyed]

Hey, I'm used to dying. Not like it does me any permanent harm.

[ He says that even though he is clearly entirely miserable at the prospect of going back to the Foundation despite being given a choice to do otherwise... but there is a matter of pride where he can't let a child protect him and where he can't admit that dying hurts even when you know you'll come back. ]

[justonezero]

Yeah, but...

I don't want you to die.

[It doesn't matter how many times he can come back.]

That's... what I was trying so hard for. I didn't want my friends to keep dying...

[dolleyed]

'It matters', huh? 'Dying matters because we are us'. Blue said something along those lines, too.

Funny, because when you keep doing it, it feels the other way around. Like nothing matters at all, ever, not you, not dying, not anything at all.

[ He'll just pet Yoshi's head some more now. What a change from prior meetings where Yoshi had fully accepted the inconsequential nature of Kohaku's torment. ]

[justonezero]

[He keeps his head tipped down as Kohaku pats him on the head.]

It still hurts though, doesn't it?

[dolleyed]

Sure does, but remember what I told you about my eye? I'd been hurting for a whole lot longer already.

[ He sighs. Pretending to be semi-alright is actually helping him sort his mind a little bit. ]

Doesn't mean I like it though, that's true. I wanted nothing more than to be free. Now I have freedom in front of me and it looks... pretty boring.

[justonezero]

I've only died once and I really don't want to repeat it again...

[Kohaku's situation becomes so much more horrifying after only a single firsthand experience of his own.]

Szayel's pretty easy to work with, at least. And he's already making a limiter for me, so maybe he can do something to help you, too?

[dolleyed]

Can't hurt to ask.

[ He smiles a little, because Yoshi's concern is, while not surprising, still kind of cute. ]

I mean you do kind of get used to dying after a while. It stops being horrifying and starts being more of an annoyance.

[justonezero]

I've died and come back and you still say concerning things!!

[Hey Kohaku why is this your life.]