VIDEO-ish (cw: torture and murder)

[bloomingdespite]

[Before the ICP flickers on, every passenger hears a resounding, deep voice thunder through every car in the train, carrying with it a deathly—if odd—proclamation:]

PENALTY GAME: HELL REVERSE!

[Moments later, every ICP turns on to reveal a figure shrouded in shadows, holding the unconscious body of Xue Yang with one hand as the Eye of Wdjat blazes on both of their foreheads. It's clear they're in the gaming car, but if anybody tries to enter from either end, they'll find the doors are impossibly locked.]

Passengers of the Voidtrecker Express, I hold in my hands an unrepentant murderer who slaughtered one of your very own: the victim being A-Qing, and the criminal being Xue Yang. While she has returned, this crime cannot go unpunished, and I have taken it upon myself to try and burn out the stain on his soul—or, at the very least, provide adequate agony for all of his victims, both on the train and off.

If you need to see proof of my justice...

Avert your eyes if you do not wish to see memories of the brutal death of a young woman in her prime.

[The screen flickers once again, this time showing A-Qing's murder, although it doesn't have any audio. ((OOC: Additional CW for graphic depictions of murder.))

When it returns to the interior of the Games Car, the shadowy figure is gone, but their voice and Xue Yang remain.]

I leave it to the council to dispense their own punishment, as meager as it may be.

Remember, passengers:

I am watching.

[The ICP clicks off, and the train is deadly quiet.]

Comments

[goingthroughaphase]

S-Somewhat. I'd first noticed the heart by A-Qing's name after it had happened, but that was really about it. I didn't really do much after talking with you.

[ Maybe she should have followed up with it, but...the thought of someone dying had rattled her more than she would have liked to admit. ]

[runs_on_batteries]

It's alright. It was what the council was working on too.

Spread the word if you can that we're recommending everyone buddy up for a while.

[goingthroughaphase]

Got it.

[ A pause. ]

...Mr. Stark? What...What's going to happen if you do find him?

[ She knows that something needs to be done. They couldn't just let this kind of thing go without repercussions. But...she somehow felt guilty for admitting Wester's name. Even if it isn't much to go on, she'd felt...bad about it. ]

[runs_on_batteries]

My vote? Throw him down the garbage disposal.

[His lip curled in the hint that was a joke.]

What the council decides? I'm not sure. We're certainly going to put him in custody and decide as a group what to do with him. We won't stand for this though, so the punishment will be severe.

[goingthroughaphase]

Right.

[ She understands, she really does. It's just...complicated. ]

What about the other guy? The one who had...been responsible for the first murder?

[runs_on_batteries]

He will still need to face justice but we'll decide if he's already endured the correct sentence. Right now, we don't even know if this is the real murderer only that someone who can create illusions has said he is. We'll have to find A-Qing and determine how true this even was.

But try not to worry. We'll strike the right balance.

[goingthroughaphase]

[ She's silent for a moment, before nodding. ]

Okay.

Is there anything else I can do to help?

[runs_on_batteries]

Grab a blanket and come to the dining room. I have an idea to help distract the kids for the evening.

[goingthroughaphase]

[ She blinks, a bit surprised by the seemingly strange request. But she nods anyway. ]

Okay. I'll be there soon.