001 | video

[izanagis]

[Yu is all business as soon as the feed starts, his expression and tone very measured.]

It seems I'm not the only one who was contacted for "sentencing," so I'd like to pool our information. I was contacted by someone named "Jerry" and told to go to City Hall. How many others received a similar order? I know it wasn't everyone, but maybe we can get an accurate count. Were you asked to meet with the same person, or someone different?

If anyone else feels comfortable sharing what their "sentence" was, that could also be useful. Mine was to investigate people I'm close to for evidence of crimes. 

[His tone is carefully neutral, but he doesn't seem thrilled about that. Loyalty... he still doesn't see any way to consider it a crime. Now he's being asked to atone for something like that?

... Anyway. What else does he need to add? He thinks about it for a moment, frowning softly, and then adds:]

Last thing. Does anyone who was summoned remember what happened inside the building?

Comments

[izanagis]

[For his part, unfortunately, Yu doesn't recognize him at all. Ragna doesn't mention it, but if he did, it wouldn't be surprising so much as a little strange; Ken said he knew him as well, after all.

For now, he's focusing on what Ragna does say.]

Delays? So this was supposed to happen earlier? That's strange.

[rebellions]

[ You know what? That works for him just fine. It would be way more troublesome if he were to recognize him, so Ragna is more than happy to leave it this way. ]

Apparently so? The jerk wouldn't tell me the reason, but he said "~the time is long past~" to start those.

[ He mimics Jerry's serious attitude sarcastically, adding air quotes and everything. ]

[izanagis]

[A little smile hits his face at Ragna's attitude.]

That's a good imitation.

[... He's kidding.]

To be fair, I kind of agree. Being held for this long without anything advancing seems stranger than the sentencing, in a way.

[rebellions]

No shit. I was beginning to think I'd die of old age before they finally get to it.

[ Not that he has any chance of living long enough to die of old age, but details. He's just being an ass about it. ]

... Doesn't really explain everything that's happened in the meantime, though.

[ The desert? The maze? How does any of it fit into the whole "sentencing" thing anyway? ]

[izanagis]

Looks like your patience has really paid off.

[Slightly sarcastic, but not in a mean-spirited way.]

No, it doesn't. My first thought was that the maze might have been a trial, but in that case, I would expect everyone to have been sentenced.

[rebellions]

Wouldn't say it was worth it.

[ If that's what this whole business is supposed to be like, then he'd much rather be returned to his rightful place, thank you very much. ]

I would've thought so, too. That was way more of a trial than the whole "be nice to people" shit.

[ That's... not exactly what how his sentencing went down, he's just being sarcastic again. ]

[izanagis]

I can't say I disagree.

[This whole business leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]

Hm. I guess "be nice to people" is a punishment, for some types of people.

[Because that's what this feels like -- a punishment. As if they're being asked to repent for their crimes, no matter what those crimes may be.]

[rebellions]

[ "Punishment" sounds about right. But at the same time, it also feels rather shallow and Ragna questions the idea of "justice" that the Council holds. "Do the opposite of what we accuse you of" may work if one broke a desk and needs to repair it, but when it comes to serious crimes (like, dunno, destroying a whole ass world), just telling them to "do better" is a child's way of thinking at best, and idiocy at worst. ]

Like kidnapping people and dropping them off in some weirdo Wonderland that occasionally goes full horror movie isn't enough of a punishment.

[izanagis]

[Ragna makes an excellent point, and Yu breathes out a sigh. The maze...that did feel like a horror movie, in a way.]

You would think. [The smile that hits his face briefly is wry, maybe a little sarcastic.] I suppose it's possible that the world is a test, and the sentencing reveals how we did in the test. ...Or something like that.

[rebellions]

And what's the reward for passing? Getting put back where they picked us up from? Wow, how big of them.

[ He's not necessarily dismissing the idea of it all being the test, but he does find it ridiculous that they'd arrange all that only to dump them back where they came from. If that's all there is to it, then why even bother in the first place? ]

[izanagis]

A "step" toward that, at least.

["A step" out of how many? They don't have any more information than that. After a pause:]

Did he give you any indication of what happens if you don't do it?

[rebellions]

Not really.

[ But he's not exactly eager to go out of his way to do as he was told, so... ]

Guess we'll have to wait and find out, huh?

[izanagis]

You're planning to skip out, too?

["Too." They can be delinquents together!]

[rebellions]

I'm not big on following orders, least of all when they're coming from some weirdo cult I don't even remember all that well.

[ What's the worst they can do? Kill him? That'd be kind of hilarious, actually. ]

[izanagis]

Understandable. I'll look forward to facing the consequences along with you.

[Fight the power, etc etc]

My name's Yu Narukami, by the way. Nice to meet you.

[rebellions]

They can take their consequences and shove them up their asses.

[ He's not planning on taking any possible punishment lying down. ]

... Ragna the Bloodedge.

[izanagis]

[A soft laugh. Whatever happens, he admires Ragna's spirit.]

I can't say my feelings are much different. [These guys suck.]

[rebellions]

Guess I'll see you in the time-out corner, then.

[ Or whatever form the "punishment" for not following the Council's orders may take. ]

[izanagis]

It's a date. See you there.

[This will definitely be Fine.]