Choices

[realitymods]

[With the 13th floor open, the residents of the plane can see into the room once more. Where there were bodies and blood are now clean, polished wood floors like the rest of the onsen. Candles light a path to an altar where more candles glow. A book is laid out with everyone’s picture - a realistic sketch, not a photo - and name. Below that, there are pieces of vellum and an ink pen set out perfectly. A large candle at the top has a massive flame with a note at the base that says, “Burn the vote.”

Outside of this path, however, lining the walls are angels. Each one is armed with a flaming sword and if someone has died on the Plane, they may be in that very line-up. They are breathing, living, but unmoving.]

[Once the residents have voted, they may see Nicolai and Meredith waiting outside the room for them – never before then. Only when they're through.]

[OOC: All comments to this post will initially be screened. Post one comment with your character's vote (this can be done as an IC RP, like the choices). If your character wants to speak to Nicolai/Meredith on the way out, leave a second comment with your character approaching them, and we'll respond to that.]

Comments

CAN HAS SOMEONE?

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[When he's done voting, Asch steps out of the room and shuts the door, looking somewhat troubled.

That is, until he realizes there's someone else there.]

CAN HAS MEREDITH

[realitymods]

[Meredith smiles pleasantly at Asch]

Thank you for voting.

YAY

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

Meredith.

[Asch is not happy. Just as before, he's pretty easy to read even though he's trying not to let it show.]

Is it over? What happens to the person who did it?

[realitymods]

That depends.

[As before, Meredith is terrible for being helpful.]

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[Or unhelpful, as the case may be.]

Depends on what, exactly? And what happened to the people on the island?

[realitymods]

The fighters? They fought, died, and were resurrected.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[flatly] Resurrected. What are their consequences for dying? [One of the people participating is from Auldrant, after all.]

[realitymods]

It's an imprecise process. Blood changes colour, and there may be some changes in their biology. One man developed an allergy to bees.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

What about their world?

[realitymods]

[with amusement] Why would we do anything to Auldrant? Colonel Curtiss didn't much need to be coerced to fight.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

You've already imprisoned us here for weeks as monsters choked out places to stay and thinned our numbers.

When can we return?

[realitymods]

You can return immediately. It was in the note.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

[uggghhhrrgghgfggjhgfdxfkjfdf]

You still haven't told me what will happen to the person responsible.

[realitymods]

[This is how Meredith has fun.]

Kovay tells me I ruin surprises. He tried to give me a surprise birthday party, but I knew about it from Kyrja. I'm trying not to ruin surprises anymore.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

Tch.

[Everyone has fun at Asch's expense. He should be used to it by now.]

From what I've heard, this is the second time something like this has happened-- that people were forced to turn on each other. Was it all orchestrated, or are you just that bad at caring for things?

[realitymods]

A few people on Exile have an odd sense of what's entertaining.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

You should be more concerned about protecting the Machine from outside influence than what people think of each other.

[Meredith must have the patience of a saint.]

[realitymods]

[Oh, she does. Some of her coworkers back home...]

You're probably right.

[promisedsomeone.livejournal.com]

Probably. [He scoffs.] I'm going now. [He starts down the stairs.]

[oliverplus]

[once he's done voting, Oliver almost walks right past the waiting person. his expression is somber and his gaze lost somewhere in his thoughts, but he realises he's not alone just in time to stop and turn. for a moment, he just looks at the host, a lump in his throat. then, softly, he manages to ask:]

Why?

[realitymods]

[Meredith's smile is unaffected]

We thought it was the best building for voters' privacy.

[oliverplus]

[sighs, not the least bit surprised to get an answer like that]

Why do all this in the first place? Why make any of us choose?

[realitymods]

That will be discussed when the voters are done.

[oliverplus]

[skeptically] You mean you'll actually tell us?

[realitymods]

[She pauses, then inclines her head] No one made you come here. You had a choice.

[oliverplus]

[stares at her, clenching a fist. he's too tired of all of this to reign in his growing anger] You trapped us on the Plane!

[realitymods]

[coolly] Someone trapped you on the Plane. We gave you choice back.

[oliverplus]

So what, all those choices were to help us?

[realitymods]

Maybe. You can believe what you want to.

[oliverplus]

But-!

[stops himself, struggling to calm down] Did you... [takes a deep breath, trying to keep his tone even] Did you give the choice that started it?

[realitymods]

[easily] No.

[oliverplus]

[surprised] Who did?

[realitymods]

I'm not supposed to tell you.

[oliverplus]

[sighs, scowling] 'Course not.

Is there anything you can tell me?

[realitymods]

I don't want to tell you anything.

[oliverplus]

[a flash of hurt crosses his features, quickly replaced with anger] So that's it, then? We're trapped, we choose...then what? What happens to the person who started it? Or do you just "not want" to tell me that either?

[realitymods]

Yes, I don't. We don't care about you as a person, Oliver. It's not something difficult to work out.

[oliverplus]

[darkly] No. That I do know.

[turns to leave, but hesitates] You're clearly not concerned that one of us could really get control here either.

[walks past her, fists clenched in frustration]

Either one, please!

[bit_impossible]

[somehow, he isn't surprised to see people waiting for him once he's done voting. perhaps, he has even hoped for it]

Well, that was fun. No really. [his tone, however, is only filled with sarcasm] Loved what you've done with the place as well, by the way. The angels are a nice touch. Think I even saw a familiar face or two amongst them.

You get Nicolai!

[realitymods]

[Nicolai just tips his hat in greeting and smiles.] We believe in recycling. A body should never be discarded when it has other purposes. Though, I admit I don't understand the need for wings.

[bit_impossible]

[he doesn't return the smile] This is your idea of recycling? Whatever happened to bottles, cans, and cardboard? They should be put to rest, not used as wall decorations!

[realitymods]

I think they'd be hurt if you called them decorations. They're people. They agreed to be here of their own free will to help guard the voting process.