unknownseas | FIRST TRIAL

[ After a while, once all the appropriate clues have been found, Mayor Fontaine calls out again over the speakers. ]

Alright, citizens, pack it in quick and head to the back of the Hall of the Founders. You have business to take care of.

[ When they do reach the Bathysphere station, Eleanor is manning the controls, gaze quiet and even over the crowd. The hatch at the front of the strange elevator is open, and everyone is gestured inside. A series of small submerisbles are lined up, waiting to be ridden. ]

Just hop into the bathyspheres one or two at a time, and the system will get you where you need to go.

[ It's a long, cramped ride from here, but Fontaine's word is true. At least you can tune into the radio in the pod?

The bathyspheres take you down until even the few lights of Rapture are out of sight, down until lights of a different kind are visible - the reds and blues of bioluminescent sea creatures, a little too out of your way to make out what they are, blending to a strange sort of not-quite-purple as the bathysphere reaches its final destination: a glass dome built into the sea floor, about the size of an average house.

As one by one the bathyspheres arrive carrying the new citizenry of New Rapture, less natural lights than those of the creatures around you begin to click on in the dome. In the center, most of the space is taken up by a circle of podiums, each with an image of one of you engraved into it.

A projector of some kind kicks on, which combined with the lighting allows for the familiar silhouette of Mayor Fontaine at his chair to appear on the side of the dome, watching over you. ]

Time to do your best to figure out who killed the Diamond in the Rough. And do yourselves a favor: keep it interesting. I'm here if you have any burning inquiries.

[ And here it is.

Welcome to your first trial. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jonathan didn't want to believe

He can't believe

But... he doesn't want anyone to hurt him. This was just a child.

Without thinking, he runs to him and protects him. From Fontaine, from everyone else, he's not sure who at this point.]

Fontaine, listen to me! If you have an ounce of mercy inside you, take me instead! I know it truly does not matter what sort of blood you get, so take me and let the child live!

[that feel when ur friend is mad extra and u can't contain him!!!!

Guess what Jon, you're getting a quick backhand thwap to the head.]

[He glares at Dandy, almost uncharacteristically so.]

Do not try to talk me out of this! I will not stand idly by and allow a child to get murdered if I can do anything about it!

And if that means the rest of us are gonna die?

There'll be a shitload more of dead kids where that come from! Stop it, or I'm knockin' you out.

I refuse to let everyone else die! I am simply giving Fontaine an offer. My life in exchange for his. It is a simple transaction!

Edited 2022-06-25 21:14 (UTC)

He's not gonna listen to you! Or any of us!

I have to try! A child is going to get murdered if I don't try!

(no subject)

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cw abuse allusions

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Jonathan Harker!

[ Oh, great. The Undertaker sighs and chases after him. ]

What do you think you're doing?! He just told us he'd kill us all if we spare the murderer!

There has to be some way to save him! Fontaine wants a life, doesn't he? I am going to give it to him.

[ He sighs. He is ready to collar this gentleman and pull him away. ]

He wants us to play his deadly little game. Like it or not, he has the power to punish us all if we don't follow his silly little rules.

You want to risk something like that, now?

I have to at least try. If I can guarantee that I am the only other death that occurs today, I will happily take it.

. . .

[ A calculated risk, clearly. But at the same time Jonathan's dooming himself in the long run.

He can't let that happen. He can't let someone like him face a fate like that...

He leans in, speaking in a low, direct voice in the hopes Fontaine doesn't overhear. ]

And if you did? And if the rest of us managed to escape with our lives somehow? If we found a way to our homes, and not just where we were standing before all this? How would your dear Mina feel if you never returned to her?

I... had come to terms with the idea that I am to never be with my Mina again...

[He supposed the motive was a blessing and a curse; in the very least he could get one last good look at Mina's face.]

I'm... sure Mina would understand if you were to tell her that I died protecting a child. The letter I gave to Eleanor already informed Mina that I will likely be dead before we could reunite.

You're wasting your breath.

[ His one and only warning; he's a man of few words, and though some parts of this has been a spectacle...he has no interest in anything being prolonged, more than anything. ]

There is no mercy to be found here.

[ Yeah, ok. Absolutely none of this is good, but the instant Jonathan tries pleading, Jonathan's just getting a Very Aggressive Glare in his direction, her pupils narrowing into slits. ]

Enough.

Edited 2022-06-25 21:16 (UTC)

Save the big moral speech for someone who cares, Friend. I'm not bending the rules on the first one of these things just because you feel sorry for the kid.

[He felt so alone right now. So ungodly alone. In his mind, there was no one here but himself, Fontaine, and Hodaka.

No one was going to come save them. There would be no mercy. He is only alive to extend his torment.]

Do not call me your friend...

[His voice is quiet, and full of sorrow.]

I'm in politics. Everyone and no one's my friend.

Then I'd expect you to play it better.

He plays the role of a coward far better.

Among other things.

[ ooooooooh, she's not happy with Frankie, either, as she glares up at whatever direction Fontaine's voice is coming from. ]

You're well within your rights, but that doesn't make you any less of a coward for not explicitly stating that clause ahead of time.

You heard Cryptobro, it's just how these things go. My hands were tied.

[hey do you think frank fontaine would be into nfts--]

Neither were 'shima's! She friggin' set it up that way herself!!

[ frank fontaine would invent nfts ]

I guess that was true for hers, huh?

Edited 2022-06-25 21:51 (UTC)