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

[acappsella]

I'm -

[ running his hand through his hair and then freezing ]

. . . . Wasn't that. . . just a dream? A bad dream . . . ?

[syncintohell]

[ He looks away, at everyone else looking ill and traumatized ]

If only that was the case. . .

[acappsella]

[ slowly, slowly dropping his hand

then he moves forward, reaching out for kuzuebiko's hand ]

What happened? What happened to you - ?

[syncintohell]

[ jerks his hand back— he, no, after what he did he cannot touch Ken. he realizes he's holding his shoulders and backs away ]

Nothing happened to me— if anything, I was the misfortune that fell upon others. Ken— Ken, I. . . What I have done is nothing that can be apologized for, you understand. It cannot be made up, so I cannot bear to . . .

[ for as eloquent as he always is, he either can't find the words or is reluctant to voice them ]

[acappsella]

[ hey why

almost chases after his hand, but he doesn't. just lets his hand hang there then, over his shoulder ]

. . . What did you do?

[syncintohell]

[ He hesitates. He hesitates a long moment avoiding Ken's eyes. It's painful to think of Ken looking at him with horror in his eyes, reproach or fear. He would never wish to bring him harm, or cause him to be afraid.

But after what he's done, dishonesty would be too much.

He deserves whatever judgement Ken would pass upon him. ]

I buried both Persephone and Anubis alive.

[ It's all he says— no attempts to excuse it; to contextualize why he did it. ]

1/2

[acappsella]

[ oh christ

is what ken might say if he remembered, you know, that he's religious. still, he's about that level of stunned - that is, thinking about it more he realizes that was their traitor goal and well, honestly, even though he was only around briefly as a traitor he remembers how he wanted to bury that sensitiv man - and anyone who would threaten him - alive. he's a coward, he knows that already; still, this is kuzuebiko - would he really do something like that? ]

. . .

[ he shudders, unable to help himself; he can remember himself being buried, and his throat closes - it's like he can't breathe - ]

[acappsella]

. . . hafta go . . .

[ it comes out as a squeak, voice breaking from the quiet, and then he repeats it, louder ]

We hafta go back! M'be 's not too late - m'be we can geddem out!

[ TURNING FOR THE GAME TOWER BACK UP THE ELEVATOR KUZUEBIKO COME WITH M ]

[syncintohell]

[ that. that hadn't even occurred to him. he can only remember it as finality, as a sealed choice and not something that could be undone. Numbly, he stumbles after Ken— yes, he cannot simply idle when he can act. ]

I — yes, if that is what can be done I must at least endeavor to do that much! If all I can do is return them to their unit for closure, then it would be the worst betrayal yet to leave that work undone, with two members forever out of their reach and fates unknown!

[ TWO IDIOTS HEAD FOR THE ELEVATOR, LET'S TRY TO GET BACK IN TO THE HELL MANSION ]

[acappsella]

[ LET'S TRY TO GET BACK IN TO THE HELL MANSION!!!

the elevator does open but he tries to jam it close and it's not actually like closing hm

also where are even buttons? how will they get anywhere?? what floor is this????? ]

[syncintohell]

[ well, the mansion was at least all the way at the top so that much is easy to know

but sure he'll HELP NAZUNA JAM THE DOORS CLOSE]

[acappsella]

[ ARE THERE EVEN LIKE BUTTONS??? ????

regardless though they're likely to catch anubis or persephone (or maybe that's lucifel, who knows) just in terms of like, Seeing Them With Their Own Two Eyes and ken stops, sort of just pale like he'd seen a ghost


because

well

he, ]

. . . . I'nnt that - !?

[syncintohell]

[ he's more concerned with Ken, so when he pales Shu's focus is entirely on him. It takes his words for Shu to follow his line of sight to see his former victims, still alive. He feels weak at the knees, unsteadied by shock, relief something that slacks the thread of grief and desperation that had wound him so tightly.

So yeah if Ken passes out Shu isn't going to catch him, he needs to lean against the elevator door for a second. ]

[acappsella]

[ WHAT DO WE DO

WHAT DO WE DO

WHAT DO WE DO

WHAT DO WE DO

WHAT DO WE ]

. . . G-Ghost. . . heezzaghost!! We - we godda -

[ PANICS ]

C-call a priets!? Ecshorshize. . . . We godda call'a priets!!

[syncintohell]

[ He was temporarily overcome, but Ken's panic gets him standing up straight again ]

Ken, do calm down; take a moment to breathe! If they are fine then that is for the best, yes!? Make no assumptions as of yet! It is possible another aided them, before we were able!

1/2

[acappsella]

[ oh that's true

WEW

DEEP RELIEVED SIGH ]

[acappsella]

[ but if they're alive, that means very importantly: ]

........... You . . . godda talk t'em, then - right?

[syncintohell]

Me— after what I did? They do not need that horror inflicted upon them now!?

[ He sounds very startled and just like no no no ]

[acappsella]

. . . . Yeah, it would be terr'fying! But you - godda take responsivebility, right - !?

[syncintohell]

Yes— I, yes, have no intention of avoiding it. I— But should I not give them room, rather than picking apart the wound so soon?

[acappsella]

[ . . . guggghhghHhhhHh THINKING HARD ON IT ]

. . . Yeah. I would hate to see you so soon too, if you did that to me.

[syncintohell]

I will not avoid them forever. But now is not the time to approach.

[acappsella]

. . . Yeah.

[ what now ]

Let's. . . go home. . . ?

[syncintohell]

Yes. I do think, for now, that is for the best.

[ Ugh, he's unsteady now after the panicking thought of having to approach them. Supports himself on the wall, but. yes. homewards. ]

[acappsella]

. . . . You need help? Here, I'll lend you my shoulder.