DECEMBER EVENT PART THREE: WITH THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE

[sailmods]

[the voice from the imaginary loudspeaker resounds again.]

I do believe that’s the best you all can do. Hopefully it will be enough… Gather in the lobby at your earliest convenience. There, you will find an elevator. It will take you to your next location. [pause] Mind the severed heads.

[the elevator they find in the lobby is not one that had been there before: it is strange, a bit too large and industrial for what is generally a Victorian manor. nothing will compel them to board it, but… hey. if you stay behind, you miss out on all the fun, right?

and the fun starts here. because, as soon as they board the elevator, and the door closes, it drops.

not that far. not enough to harm. certainly enough to startle, especially after it evens out, before plunging a few more feet. the effect likely wears off after the fifth time it does this.

eventually, the elevator stops completely, and opens to a large, mostly empty room. in the center is a large circular stage, ringed with enough podiums for everyone that went on the excursion - living and dead. some of the podiums are covered in white sheets; one might notice that the number of dead corresponds directly to the number of covered podiums.

the Captain is present, of course. he sits on a raised throne separate from the circle, dressed in a suit a tiny bit different than his normal one. he sits with one leg crossed over the other, looking down at them with a completely neutral expression.]

You may take your places. [he gestures magnanimously, then holds up his hand; please reserve the expected freakouts for after his announcements, thanks.] The game is very simple. You have the evidence; put it together, and decide on the guilty party. Only a unanimous decision will bring you the justice you seek. [a faint smile] The one you always seek, at least.

[another gesture]

Questions. Comments. Threats against my life. Concerns.

Comments

[neverleave]

[Whoops hot takes from a wrung out teen coming through]

Shut up already. He did it. He's accountable, he admits it. Stop arguing and cast your fucking vote.

[winepouring]

[ Unfortunately, he isn't even phased by being told to shut up. ]

Natsuno, do you honestly believe he's responsible for his actions here after hearing his account?

[neverleave]

[Immediately and without hesitation:] Yes.

"Vile" is a part of him. He kept his armor. These people's blood is on his hands.

[Red circles flash in his irises as the calm demeanor finally cracks, anger seeping through.]

Haven't you been listening? He and the captain want this. The captain set up this entire "game" so he will be bound by its rule and have to destroy "Vile." Every moment you spend arguing about it is another moment we're stuck here playing out a sick joke. Just let us get this over with!

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Ingrate.

[neverleave]

I played, didn't I.

Don't expect me to act like I enjoyed it.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

You're stupider than you seem if you think any of this was meant for anyone's enjoyment.

[neverleave]

...no. No one is enjoying this. [Well. Pratt and Aiden are.] It's what's needed, right? So let me put it in another way -

I played. Don't expect me to act grateful for being pulled into it in the first place.

[Seriously dude half the people in this room had to murder a loved one and they didn't even come back, don't make it everyone's business!]

[myagic]

Hey, you shut up! Don't talk to him that way!

[sictransitgloriamundi]

[he opens his eyes again for the first time in a long while; at some point between now and then, the glamour slipped, and he stares at them with sockets of unblinking black flame.]

Can you little bastards even fathom how remarkably easy it would be to not do this.

[myagic]

[Slightly creepy but she glowers right back.]

What, not let us power your magic reserves? This reality is your creation! If that armour is really the cause, it's obvious who let it in here.

[sictransitgloriamundi]

If I truly had a say in what turns up at my doorstep, why the fuck would you be here.

[myagic]

Did you forget?

[She pointedly raises her right hand, clenched tightly.]

Or was it not entertaining enough for you?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Oh, you mean the time you set off fire magic in an enclosed space and have since acted like it made you St. Lawrence the Martyr. You mean that.

[myagic]

Oh, the enclosed space I couldn't see because of you and your sick game?!

Besides, let's get one thing straight. Skulduggery's the martyr here! And that just works wonders for you, doesn't it?

[sictransitgloriamundi]

If someone puts you in a box, and you then fill that box with fire, it is actually your fault that you got burned.

[myagic]

Idiot! The fire's supposed to bust the box open! [OBVIOUSLY?!] So it's still your fault!

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Do you not understand how even succeeding in that requires you to at least partially immolate yourself. Do you not actually know how fire works.

[actuallyawolf]

[grudgingly]

... he has a point.

[myagic]

Hey, whose side are you on?!

[sictransitgloriamundi]

Reality's, obviously.

[myagic]

Shut up! You're just trying to pretend you're not responsible for anything!

[Which is totally a counterpoint...somehow...]

[sictransitgloriamundi]

I'm responsible for a lot of things. I am not specifically responsible for you lighting yourself on fire.

[winepouring]

[ Shi Qingxuan waves his horsetail whisk. ]

"Vile" was a part of him that he cast out; the current Skulduggery can't be called the same person he was back then.

[ He is honestly not convinced at all, and he would gladly continue arguing Skulduggery's innocence—so it's less about that and more about not wanting to dig further into what seems to be Skulduggery's old wounds that makes Shi Qingxuan tuck his whisk into his back collar again. ]

...But I'll agree that it's better to end this now and get it over with.

[neverleave]

[Sorry, Shi Qingxuan. Natsuno can't appreciate you stepping back on account of having an intense reaction to the horsetail whisk. He gasps and takes a step back, his entire body shuddering in fear and disgust.]

[winepouring]

[ ... You know, not the first time he's had that happen, but for once he has no idea why.

Whatever. You do you, Natsuno, Shi Qingxuan will be over here not sure if he should be glad he got the last word or insulted that Natsuno is looking at him like he's some sort of unspeakable horror. ]