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

[hashtagaesthetic]

...Objectively I'd have killed him, given the chance, so... don't thank me too much.

[grandschemed]

It sounds weird -- but it mighta been a kindness.

[hashtagaesthetic]

[shakes his head firmly]

It would have been a betrayal. Killing as kindness only works if it sticks.

[grandschemed]

A betrayal, sure. But -- do ya think the mirrors would be better?

[hashtagaesthetic]

[Shuten actually fucking shudders.]

No.

[grandschemed]

Then -- that's what I mean.

[hashtagaesthetic]

I know what you mean. But that's-- betraying and killing someone to protect them from ending up in a mirror only works if you get there first every time.

[grandschemed]

Mm. Weird as it might wound I appreciate it -- whatever you would have done to keep 'em out of those mirrors.

[hashtagaesthetic]

...Okay.

[doesn't actually want to get into how he bussed himself to prevent it from happening to Phoenix, only to have to watch Phoenix be tormented for a hundred years from inside mirror hell.]

[grandschemed]

[ buddy 8(. ]

... If you - - need anythin', just let me know, okay?

[hashtagaesthetic]

...Thank you. But you should probably worry more about taking care of Bad End, for now.

[grandschemed]

[ nods ]

I'll be takin' care of 'em. But the offers still stands fer later on.

[hashtagaesthetic]

...I appreciate it.

[grandschemed]

[ nods ]

I'll see ya around, then?

[hashtagaesthetic]

[a hesitant nod.]

I'll see you around, dear.