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

[firstaid]

...that would be correct. There was... nothing from them. Just the communication with you via that board.

[trustwellness]

See?

[The smile edges a little warmer; if anything, that just makes it more unsettling.]

It can all work out, though. As long as you all meant what you said.

Isn't that what you've been after this whole time? You wanted to offer hope to the hopeless; why are you unwilling to sacrifice in the interest of achieving your wish?

[acherontiastyx]

Because one, I'm actually really fucking selfish and I want to see my own damn friends again.

Two, I don't really trust you not to make them into like. Murder puppets or something. Nothing personal. If it was a bunch of people I didn't give a shit about I'd be fine with it. But those are my fucking friends there.

[feistytrader]

[What Guzma said.]

I'd much rather find another way with the people I trust than throw my life away to you.

[trustwellness]

You really aren't understanding what I'm asking, are you?

[firstaid]

Because we want to live with them. I... I've considered giving up my life before to save my world. However, now I know dying will not make them happy. They... will be saddened at our sacrifice. No one would win.

[trustwellness]

Just remember that this choice is you or them.

[And her expression is back to being very, very cold.]

One group of people is going to die today. I'm just asking you to pick which you would prefer.

[firstaid]

[A... choice....]

Why can't it be both? Why can't we all live? What is it that you wish to achieve? Is it despair? Do you wish to see despair?

[trustwellness]

You already know the answer to that. Don't you?

[firstaid]

...I suppose I shouldn't have asked. You... find joy in despair.

[trustwellness]

It's my purpose.

[firstaid]

Why... why is it your purpose? Is that something you know?

[trustwellness]

That's irrelevant to the choice.

[firstaid]

Even so, I still wish to know.

[trustwellness]

[...????]

Why?

[firstaid]

Because, I want to. I want to know why you do this. I want to know why this brings you joy. I can't say I'll understand, however, at least I will feel I'll know why you did this. There must be a reason, like there was one for Kirei.

[trustwellness]

Knowing won't do you any good.

[firstaid]

How do you know that?

[trustwellness]

Knowing without understanding is pointless.

[acherontiastyx]

Okay. Look. Put the souls back and nobody gets hurt. We. We have this video game back home. It's called Mario Maker. You can put together the meanest levels you can think of.

[trustwellness]

And what are you going to do if I don't?

Are you going to beat me down, Guzma?

[acherontiastyx]

I-I'm just saying. You might. Really like Mario Maker. Um. 'Cause. You can unleash all the evils of the world on unsuspecting players.

[sportadork]

... So, they [gestures at. corpses.] are not dead yet?

[trustwellness]

Oh, they are very dead, given that there aren't any souls in those bodies.

[matchbreaker]

Because, on those terms, it was never my wish.