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

[eatsthecanary]

[ Whisky waves, holding his stomach and looking faintly nauseous but altogether not too fussed. ]

[forthetainted]

Whisky!

[fusses for him, trotting over]

You okay?

[eatsthecanary]

[ he nods. ]

I just feel really full.

[forthetainted]

[e....ew....]

How...how much did you eat...?

[eatsthecanary]

... A lot. I couldn't really stop myself.

[forthetainted]

[errgh gross, rubs his face]

How many people did you attack...?

[eatsthecanary]

I wasn't counting. More than five or six.

[forthetainted]

M-more than...

[shit]

At least keep track! We need to know which units are going to want revenge!

[eatsthecanary]

Most of them were just as crazy as I was when it happened.

[forthetainted]

You... had a lot more excitement than I did.

You think they won't care?

[eatsthecanary]

[ hmm. ]

I don't think they won't care. But it would be strange for them to try to get revenge on me when a lot of them were already set out on trying to murder me too, and wouldn't have been able to control themselves either.

[forthetainted]

Did you go after anyone who didn't start it...? Or who hadn't lost their mind already?

[eatsthecanary]

[...,]

B, on Alcheme. Which I wouldn't have done if I were sane.

[forthetainted]

Apologize to that one, then.

[eatsthecanary]

Apologize for what? Not picking my targets smartly while I was out of my mind?

[forthetainted]

For hurting someone who didn't deserve it.

[eatsthecanary]

I don't feel bad about that part.

[forthetainted]

That's just more reason to do it.

It's principle. You shouldn't attack people who didn't deserve it, and being out of your mind doesn't change that. You don't have to cry about it, but you should still apologize properly.

[eatsthecanary]

[ :////. ]

So how should I phrase it? Sorry, I should've attacked someone else while I had no choice about it?

[forthetainted]

[You're incredibly bad at this]

Sorry I tried to eat you.

[eatsthecanary]

[ that's true. ]

I did eat him. Part of him, I mean.

[forthetainted]

Sorry I attacked and bit you, then...? Whatever, the point is, don't sound like you're complaining about needing to apologize while apologizing.

[eatsthecanary]

[ SIGH!!! ]

Alright. I'll apologize.

[forthetainted]

Good. Thanks.

[rubs his face]

What a mess.

[eatsthecanary]

I don't disagree with you there. Seems like lots of people got hurt.