Initiative.

[trustwellness]

With your course of study officially completed, for better or worse, there isn't much left for you in the courtroom itself; the elevator will take you back down to the first floor, where you'll be left off – it won't take you any lower than that. But then again, perhaps it doesn't need to. Take some time to reorient yourself, to be grateful that you didn't die, to do whatever it is you need to do – however, if you return to the main part of the building, away from the dorms... Well. There's something waiting for you in the foyer.

Comments

[trustwellness]

[Or, well. Perhaps "something" is a bit of an understatement; honestly, it's more like "someone."

Several someones, as a matter of fact – some of which you haven't seen in a very long time. But however much you may or may not have wanted to see them, it's difficult to say that you wanted to see them like this.

Twenty-two people – all of the dead that have passed here – are bound to the wall of the foyer.

They're split into two groups, in the order of death, eleven on either side of the clock; they're standing, but obviously not of their own volition – rather, they're being held in place by the familiar dark tendrils belonging to Angra Mainyu, wrapped tightly around their wrists, legs and necks, pinning them back against the red-painted walls as some of that silt flows heavily down their bodies. They appear to be whole and unharmed, but they also appear to be rather unmistakably dead - there's no fight in them, no signs of life.

It's a display, really; there's no way it isn't.

There's someone else here as well, however, standing between you and the deceased; she's short, with straight, shoulder-length black hair that seems as though it would normally be neatly arranged – but it seems to have grown out of its usual style a bit, lying wild and piece-y around her face. In combination with the tight black turtleneck and black pants...well, let's say she looks very much like someone that you would reasonably call Noir.

When she speaks, her voice is high and cold; she's smiling, but it's not a nice expression.]

It's good to finally get to speak to you all in person.

[acherontiastyx]

...

Um. Ah. Erm. Hi, Noir.

[...............]

Yeah, same, but this is creepy as hell.

[trustwellness]

Hello, Guzma.

[She seems pretty placid about this whole thing, wall of corpses behind her aside.]

It'll be all right, assuming that all of you meant what you said upstairs.

[feistytrader]

[...Yeah, that's exactly what he expected to see when he- what the fuck?]

[matchbreaker]

[ Same tbh ]

[iaspis]

W... what's going on?

[JESUS, WE JUST SPARED THE PRIEST, DO WE NEED TO GO... GET HIM....]

[blackmass]

[hanyuu is way ahead of you]

[trustwellness]

[God, she is not doing a damn thing with her face. Just the most placid little smile.

She'll glance over at Kirei for a moment - just the briefest darting of her eyes, not even enough to be proper acknowledgement, before returning her attention to Jasper.]

That's a good question! It's a very good question, isn't it.

[sportadork]

[...]

Why?

[trustwellness]

Why not?

[That's not...helpful, none of this is helpful, her lack of expression that isn't just weird smiling isn't helpful, her face is literally not helpful - ]

You guys seemed so sincere upstairs. You should be able to handle an~y~thing...

[firstaid]

[Going to the foyer and seeing... everyone there. Her first instinct is to run up to Killia or Mikazuki, but it's clear that without coming closer...

...a miracle may not have happened.

She has a hand clasped over her mouth as she backs away, shaking her head and trying not to cry.]

[elepe]

[.............................

THIS IS NOT FINE, WHAT THE HELL.

Lusamine is. Trying not to scream here, jesus.]

Wh--what is going on here?

[oyashiromama]

[sup guys what's up i've got the prie- oh my fucking--]

Wh-what...is the meaning...?!

[trustwellness]

[In stark contrast to the sheer amount of "actual fucking nothing" that people get for their effort around here sometimes, several things happen simultaneously when Silver feeds the...thing he's holding to Gold.

The first and most noticeable is that Noir starts shrieking bloody murder.

She drops to the ground, clutching roughly at her chest, burying her fingertips in the fabric of her shirt; at the same time, the tendrils of shadow that had been pinning Gold to the wall withdraw, releasing his body but also lashing out wildly as they do so. Given that there's absolutely nothing aimed about the strikes, it's extremely unlikely to hit, but it's still something to watch out for, and you might want to catch Gold before he just kind of faceplants onto the floor.

And moments after that?

Gold opens his eyes.]

[feistytrader]

[...Drops Gold on the floor, starts feeding everyone gummies]

[sportadork]

-- Give everyone candy!

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda is going to go shove gummies in everyone's mouth, starting with Chiyuki.

And drop some on the ground as she goes if anyone wants to help ]

[uncouthhatcher]

[Wow. Huh. That's a lot of... faces he knows.

... A lot of faces he hasn't seen in a while. He's vaguely aware of something else, the screams maybe, but it's not clicking.]

You didn't think you could get rid of me, did you?

[WISECRAKER. BET YOU MISSED HIM.]

[neverheardofhim]

[He'd been in the midst of several important conversations when it happened. One moment he was talking to Watanuki, the next a blank, and then...]

[Hitting the ground almost made Varric wonder if he'd woken up just a few moments after his death. Felt like it too, seeing as how he took the brunt of it with his chest and face. Thankfully, his nose was already scarred and broken beyond repair, so a little more damage would only be adding character.]

[He pushed himself up, squinting at the area around him. This sure looked a hell of a lot like what he'd seen nearly a month ago.]

Andraste bless the wakey tails.

[tsugomori]

[ Faceplanting onto the floor, yes, that was a graceful way to awaken, for sure, but he'll take it. As he rises to his feet, he will survey the surroundings, blinking, before his lips turn upwards into a smile.

He'll just give a bit of a short wave, though. ]

[neverheardofhim]

[Once at least some of the hub-bub has settled, and after Varric makes a very important decision about Silver, something else comes to mind. Clearing his throat to grab the attention of anyone who might listen, Varric began to speak.]

I don't know what anyone's plans are, but if there's a chance that we're going to be able to pop between worlds, then I would like everyone to know that they are now comtes and comtesses of Kirkwall. I'll work on securing a manor or... 29. [A booming chuckle.]

Offer's on the table. You're welcome to take it whenever you want. I'll even let you borrow the key to the city when you get to town. Found out it operates the chain net in our harbor. Neat stuff.

[modernmedicine]

[Mercy manages not to faceplant as she wakes up, at least. She pulls herself into a seated position, looking at everyone with a huge smile.]

You all did so, so well. I'm so -

[So happy she's tearing up.]

[elepe]

It's wonderful to see you back, Angela.

[Lusamine waves to her from over current position--she's getting Christo sorted away, but chuckles.]

[introspects]

[ i hope you're okay with a redhead jumping on you and hugging you ]

[neverheardofhim]

[Aaand here's a dwarf, with a grin on his lips, waving to the good doctor.]

Told you it would be okay.