BETRAYAL AT THE HOUSE ON THE GAME TOWER - END

[idolpro]

Who: Traitors and Survivors, Exael
Where: The Game Tower, and leaving it
When: Day 25, morning-- it appears that game lasted the bulk of day 24 into the night.

[ Abruptly, the nightmare ends.

You, in the rooms you kept restarting in, awoke. Before you can even panic, before even despair, the elevator doors were open in front of you to take you downstairs again. It could be a trap, sure, but your head is quiet— those fucking ghosts are gone. You also appear to be wet like someone dumped, perhaps, a bucket of holy water on you while you were asleep. All your wounds are gone, and you have been left bereft of any physical damage from your ordeal.

Unless you choose to take some with you. Nothing prevents you from taking any of your spoils downstairs with you, if you wish it, though all revolvers will have no ammo.

On the screens as you descend back to the lobby, Exael is clapping on screen, broadcast showing her in the mansion's entrance hall. "And so close the gates to this forbidden garden, and so closes this chapter of our story! Just as—" her hologram flickers as she doesn't seem to notice, chattering still to the cameras, "so too will—" fzzt, fzzt. Static, flickering, and then back into focus, "So give them all a hand! Everyone, you've done well! You stand before us still, ready to present us all with more marvels after having survived such grisly wonders with—" "—in the balance!"

As she speaks, she doesn't notice a figure approaching behind her. He's in a slick suit with both hands in his pockets, and you've seen him before— his portrait is in the foyer. His shoes are utterly silent as he walks across the marble floor, till he's right at her back.

"Audience and actors alike, we've been blessed with—" Her hologram doesn't flicker this time, but she stops speaking. Her eyebrows furrow as she tries to figure out what's amiss, and only belatedly begins to slowly look over her shoulder.

"Exael," he says with a friendly hand on her solidifying hologram shoulder, the effect spreading beneath his touch, "We need to have a chat about your requisitions paperwork."

She tilts her head, eyes wide with a finger tapping against her cheek as she thinks, "I didn't do any!"

"Yes," he agrees, smiling with all his teeth. "I know."

The broadcast cuts. The doors open to let you leave. ]

Comments

[rollwillpowercheck]

[just kind of stares at him for a moment, then grabs his hand tightly.]

Nine?

[rollwithdisadvantage]

It's over.

[Squeezing his hand for a moment before attempting to pull him up to his feet.]

Let's pick up both our unitmates and get out of here.

[rollwillpowercheck]

[stands, only a bit unsteadily. he looks like he's about to say something... but thinks better of it. instead he nods, still holding Nine's hand tightly.]

I, um, think some of them already ran off.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

[The hand holding is mutual. Neither of them need blood circulation in their fingers.]

We can deal with them later.

You okay?

[Looks him over. Well, he didn't get stabbed after CEO stabbed him. Seems to be fine, and Nine Nine didn't get to fully experience his 'plummet of a building' stunt.]

[rollwillpowercheck]

[what is proper circulation anyway.]

I'm not hurt, at least. The blood's... yours.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

Yeah. Guess CEO took advantage of our little agreement before I could of.

[A harsh laugh.] Asshole.

[Leans his head against Anubis'.]

Good. I'd have to punch him twice if he hurt you.

[rollwillpowercheck]

[leans into that with a soft sigh.]

No, um.

[well, here they are. here's where it gets awkward. but it's probably better if Nine doesn't hear what happened from Intensity, so...]

I sort of... jumpedoffthebuildingfirst.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

...

...

You what?

[It was two against one at that point in Anubis' defense. Still...]

[rollwillpowercheck]

[takes a deep breath. he's still holding Nine's hand tightly, but he looks away, briefly.]

I know you didn't realize, but when we met back up, I was already... crazy, possessed, under the house's influence, whatever you want to call it. So when Intensity said he wanted your body, there was no way I-- well, it made more sense to make sure that. You'd stay mine instead.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

[Oh. Probably should feel bad he couldn't tell. He was so caught up in thinking Gold was going to murder him before he made it to Anubis he mostly forgot about the "I'm just saying that it's probably safer for you to assume that I'm not me."

He thinks about what is being said for a few long moments. Then he tugs on their joined hands trying to get Anubis to face him.]

Were you going to try to kill me?

[rollwillpowercheck]

[looks up, meeting Nine's gaze steadily. his response is slow as he tries to find words to describe his mindset.]

I... honestly don't know. When I couldn't find you, I remember thinking that I had to kill you, because you'd left me behind. But then it turned out that you were looking for me, and I thought maybe, as long as we were together... as long as you didn't try to leave, maybe it'd be okay. But since we'd be separated no matter what when everything reset, I still might have panicked, in the end.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

[He snorts.]

Of course I was looking for you, idiot. No stupid ghost is going to prevent that. You're stuck with me, so you better like it!

[Unless you are Atem, I guess.]

[rollwillpowercheck]

[laughs a little, in something like relief.]

I know. And I do like it. But try convincing the stupid ghost of that.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

Too bad I didn't know there were ghosts until it was too late. I would have convinced them. Fucking haunt someone else.

[Looking up at the tower. He wonders if Anubis remembers hitting the ground after jumping, but even he's self aware enough to not ask.]

C'mon. Let's get out of here.

[And tugging his hand.]

[rollwillpowercheck]

That's your plan? Exorcise ghosts by yelling at them?

[he sounds amused, and fond. he's perfectly willing to let Nine lead him away.]

[rollwithdisadvantage]

It's absolutely foolproof.

[Guess Nine Nine is just going to collect everyone he likes into BE=DE dorm. Yup. That's where we are going.]

How long were you in there? There wasn't any time between us being in the room with the Boss painting and then the next reset I was in.

[rollwillpowercheck]

I think it'd be worth watching, at least.

[his tone switches to something a little more serious.]

That last round was... it must have been my fifth after we talked. So eight in total.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

[Might be a hitch in his step as he walks.]

Fifth?! Quit being so damn popular.

[rollwillpowercheck]

It's not like it was on purpose! Complain to Exael or Boss' Evil Dad, or whoever.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

[Grunts.]

Like those two care. I don't even know if Exael is going to be around after this.

[rollwillpowercheck]

Don't say that. It'll be a problem if she isn't.

[rollwithdisadvantage]

I know. I know it is going to be a problem. One problem at a time.

[rollwillpowercheck]

[nods]

If I tried to problem-solve right now, I feel like I'd just go in circles, anyway...

[rollwithdisadvantage]

You need a break, a shower, and probably something to eat. Hell, I don't think any of us are really in a position to process out what just happened regarding the hosts.

[rollwillpowercheck]

Mm, the complicated stuff can wait for later. We both need a break.