Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

Again, the elevator is waiting for you after the allotted time for investigation is over; it idles almost patiently at each floor, waiting for everyone to be on board before sending all of you up to the courtroom high above. Over a third of your original number is dead. The losses are made all the more apparent by the addition of several greyed-out portraits around the podium circle at the center of the room; Kira, Mercy, Judy, Nick, and Kimbley have all joined the ranks of the deceased, their podiums draped in black. Meanwhile, the lectern above stands empty. The Wordsmith waits for everyone to find their place in the circle before he speaks; once that much has been done, his voice can be heard easily throughout the room. "Welcome back, Apprentices. The past several days have been troublesome indeed, and I need not point out that your number has dropped significantly. But a matter even more pressing requires your attention at the moment. In accordance with Rule Seven, the guilty seeks to leave the university and rewrite history. If you wish to prevent that, hold them accountable and have them take responsibility for the fate of Incendiary." Nineteen Apprentices remain. However many leave here at the end of the day is up to you.

Comments

[uncouthhatcher]

Like I said, we did you a favor. Just shut up.

[sportadork]

... No. You don't get to pretend this was for anyone but yourselves.

[uncouthhatcher]

I'm a selfish guy. I always have been. I don't believe in doin' stuff for justice's sake, I do stuff for fun or if it's to protect things that are important to me.

[But he pauses here, fidgeting with the hand still bandaged and then redoing the other.]

... But if what I end up doin' benefits someone else, if it helps 'em live last a week I end up dyin' [with or without Silver, it's starting to sound like] then that's fine. Kimbley wouldn't have been put on such a big trial, he wouldn't have givin' you guys the chance, but we ended up givin' you guys that.

I ain't gonna say it wasn't just for ourselves, 'cause between you guys and the world we love, we've lived in? Definitely choosin' the latter. But considerin' you guys know now, I'm glad to be seein' the people I've become attached to bein' able to live another week. Got it?

[sportadork]

[he's quiet for a while... then, he sighs.]

I won't let that week go to waste.

... I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

[ravagers]

[ She's been quiet this whole time, because all of this is... too much. Way too much. Vanille wipes her eyes and gathers her strength. She's quick to cry, always, but there's a point now where she's got to be strong. ]

I won't-- [ Her voice cracks there, for half a second. ] --let it go to waste, either. Thank you for-- for giving us a chance.