THE MASTERMIND AU MEME

[milliondollarpipes]

THE MASTERMIND AU
AMBIDEX EDITION

With Round 3 now over, it's about time we had the mastermind meme!

To those who aren't familiar, this is essentially an AU where your character is the one responsible for Round 3's Mutual Killing Game, and all of the carnage that came with it, from the kidnapping to the motives to the trials to the executions! And now, they have chosen to reveal themselves before the remaining members of their class at the final trial!

As such, you are free to play around with this as much as you would like; did your character make a contract with Kyuubey, or did your character put everyone in the Killing Game for a different reason? What is your character's motivation for bringing despair? What do they intend to get out of this seemingly senseless killing? And what does the rest of the class have to do to stop the madness and go home?

There's probably going to be quite a bit of AUing from your character's original canon happening here to make them into the best harbingers of despair they can be, so feel free to go as nuts with it as you want to! And, of course, feel free to tag others with your character's reaction to their classmate's big reveal; it doesn't matter whether or not your character made it to endgame, have fun and mix up the survivor pool as much as you'd like!

Oh, and feel free to describe your character's sweet new Monobear-themed duds, too!!

Original meme text borrowed and modified from loveisanopendoor!

Comments

[preybeforemeals]

It's all right if you don't know how you feel right now.

[His eyes are still dead, but that kindness hasn't left his voice; it's patient, like that time they spoke after Kureha's trial, like all those times he reassured him that they would escape this place together, like those times he'd told him that he wouldn't die.]

I've hurt you; I understand if you don't want to feel anything, amore, I do. But you don't have to lie to me and tell me that you've been feeling nothing at all.

[greatestcool]

[No, no that's the last thing he wants to hear. He doesn't want to listen to that tone of voice and he doesn't want to listen to the words and he definitely doesn't want to feel anything--

But it's been two weeks and even though there have been people around - people who genuinely tried to help him - Ryuunosuke has wanted nothing more than to see Tsukiyama again. He's been so lonely. He's not sure what feeling hits him first, but pretty soon there's entirely too many feelings and he doesn't want to think about any of them.]

...I've missed you. So much.

[The words are soft and hesitant. He's not sure he should be saying anything at all. It would be easiest to let the others handle this. It would probably be for the best, honestly. But as usual, Ryuunosuke can't keep his goddamn mouth shut, so here we are.]

[preybeforemeals]

I've missed you, too; I'm sorry that I had to disappear like that.

[Is he really? It's a bit hard to tell, but at least the words are nice.]

It seems our story isn't over yet, though.

[greatestcool]

[This isn't right, Tsukiyama never looked like that before so there's no way...

Things would be so much easier if he could go back to how he was the first week here, but unfortunately that's no longer possible. Ryuunosuke withdraws a bit and clutches his upper arms, but even that's no comfort because he's wearing Tsukiyama's goddamn sweater. He's never been good at figuring out what his emotions are doing, but this is so far out of his league that it's kind of terrifying.]

...How do I know you aren't lying to me?

[The question is quiet and he continues looking anywhere but at his (former?) friend. There's no denying just how badly Tsukiyama's words have shaken him though, given how he's sort of vibrating in his seat.]

[preybeforemeals]

[Even if Ryuunosuke isn't looking at him anymore, Tsukiyama still isn't looking away.]

Do you still love me?

[The question is straightforward, with nothing to temper it.]

It's been a month since you told me, n'est-ce pas? Has that feeling faded, too?

[greatestcool]

[HAHAHAHA WOW

That gets Ryuunosuke to look up, mostly because he can't believe Tsukiyama just asked that, but he manages to keep his mouth shut. He knows exactly what his answer is, of course, but he really doesn't want to get into that. Not here, not now, not after everything.

All he can really do is stare at Tsukiyama with an expression of disbelief. There's still nothing in his eyes. The vibrating has only gotten worse.]

[preybeforemeals]

I couldn't talk to you about it one way or another back then; I wanted to see you reach your full potential in this place, I wanted to see you succeed or fail of your own merit, without distractions.

It seems I overestimated in that way; my mistake, I suppose.

[Vibrate all you like, Ryuunosuke, he's not troubled by it.]

Do you think I returned your feelings at all? Do you think I'm capable?

[greatestcool]

["My mistake" like it's just that simple to dismiss everything that happened? Ryuunosuke shakes his head slowly. He's not sure he can handle anything that was said right now. He drops his hands to his knees and leans forward a bit, though he's still staring intently at the table. His bangs are long enough to hide his eyes like this, but it's not like it really matters anyway. His eyes still look dead as hell.]

Of course you're capable of it.

[The words are out before he can think about them and he flinches. Does he believe that? Yes, but maybe that's just because Ryuunosuke is selfish as hell and even after all of this, he still wants Tsukiyama to love him.

How pathetic is that?]

I don't... I don't know.

[That's in response to the first question. He's a disjointed mess so it's probably pretty hard to tell what he's even talking about there.]

[preybeforemeals]

You don't know...?

[It's quiet, but it's prodding, a bit. Encouraging.]

You can talk to me, you know. After all, you may not have much of a chance later.

[greatestcool]

[He may not have much of a chance later...?]

No-- No, that's not--!

[The outburst is sudden and panicked and while Ryuunosuke is definitely looking at Tsukiyama again, the fear doesn't reach his eyes at all. It's very obvious in his expression and voice, however.]

They can't... They can't do that to you, not again...! I won't let them--

[preybeforemeals]

That's why you're here, n'est-ce pas? It's why all of you are here!

[Tsukiyama's own eyes are quick to shift again, the sclera suddenly bleeding black, the irises shining bright red; the expression held in them is vivid, more alive than it was moments before.]

Don't you want to get revenge on the inhuman monster that's tortured you for months? Isn't that what you've been after?

[greatestcool]

I don't care about that!

[The shift in Tsukiyama's eyes doesn't bother him at all, but in some ways he finds it really pretty, so he probably shouldn't talk, um.]

I don't... I don't care, I just... I just want to go home.

[Not to Fuyuki. Fuyuki hasn't been home in quite some time.]

[preybeforemeals]

[Oh, he knows.]

What about the others...? Is it the same as it always has been - you and I before them?

[greatestcool]

Of course it is! It's always been that way...

[WELL GUESS WHO JUST FUCKED US OUT OF A GOOD ENDING]

[preybeforemeals]

[Lesson learned on this meme: Ryuunosuke Uryuu cannot do anything right.]

They're going to kill me if they get their way, you know - it's hardly fair if I don't allow it to come down to a vote after all of you have come so far.

[greatestcool]

Who cares about being fair? You already have the upper hand, why don't you just kill them all and be done with it?

[JUST MURDER THEM, JUST KILL FUCKING EVERYONE HE DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT]

[preybeforemeals]

Because that's not how the game works.

[He's smiling again, a light laugh behind his words.]

What sort of experience is it, if there's no risk - if there's no challenge in what I do?

[greatestcool]

...So what do you want me to do? There's seven of them. I can't convince them all to spare you.

[He settles a bit because this is familiar. This is something he can do. He has a goal now and as long as he has that he can focus.]

[preybeforemeals]

Do you still feel guilty about being unable to sustain me on your own...?

[His tone is entirely too flippant in comparison to what he's saying.]

Do you still wish you could have done more? Maybe then that trial wouldn't have happened.

Because I can give you another chance; you can save my life, all on your own. And after that, I can make good on my promise...you'll never be alone again.

[greatestcool]

[Ryuunosuke reaches up to touch his shoulder. The bandages there are well-maintained. He's finally figured out how to take care of it so there aren't entirely too many bandages, but it's not something he ever wanted to have to learn how to do on his own. The only reason he bothers keeping up with it is because dying of an infection would be the dumbest possible way he could go out.

(Besides, it gives him a chance to see his blood and occasionally he'll feel something for a moment or two.)

Some part of him is fully aware that Tsukiyama is purposefully saying things to manipulate him, but he doesn't care anymore. This is probably going to go straight to hell and he's probably going to die along with the rest of them and he's sure Tsukiyama will thank him for his service and be flippant about the whole thing, but Ryuunosuke doesn't care about any of that. If there's even a chance that he could have this, why wouldn't he take it?

Either way he's going to die. He might as well go out taking everyone else down with him.]

Of course I do. I think about it every single damn day. Why didn't you just use me? I would have given you everything.

[preybeforemeals]

[And that, of all things, is actually what gets him to falter; he tosses his head a bit, as though he's not certain why the question is being asked, though his expression is carefully blank as he starts toying with that wineglass again.]

Why do you think...?

[greatestcool]

I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out, but I don't have any idea where to start.

[Several of those letters have addressed the exact same topic, actually.]

[preybeforemeals]

For the same reason I didn't want to discuss things with you, amore.

I wanted you to survive.

[greatestcool]

Why? So you could have me here at the end? So you could gloat about everything you've done or so I could make sure you'd win?

...I don't really care anymore, Tsukiyama. I'm going to die anyway.

[preybeforemeals]

Have you already forgotten, Uryuu-san?

[He rakes a hand back through his hair idly.]

You're mine.