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

[bornoflove]

[Her hands grip the podium at this.]

The shade possessed you, didn't it?

[Deep breaths, Homura. Deep breaths.]

It took advantage of you. Your pain. And you graduated because of it.

But you didn't graduate with everyone else, did you?

[How dare he--no. How dare she. It. Whatever that thing is.]

[milliondollarpipes]

They're all dead. I killed them, and I'm still...

[He doesn't even seem like he's paying attention to her anymore, staring down with glassy eyes at the shadows criss-crossing his hand. The shade around him darkens briefly, nearly obscuring him from vision. When it lightens again, the emotion is gone from Harvey's face; he looks blankly at the fingers curling against his palm for a second longer, then turns away.]

He was there when it was all over. Jaeris. He wanted to get what he came for and go. After what he did. It was my fault, but it never would've happened if not for him.

[bornoflove]

No.

[The shadows chill her; its clear they have done something to Harvey. Twisted him into something he doesn't recognize anymore.

She can understand that. Yet at the same time, she can't condone what's happened to him.]

That can't be it. Why continue the game? What's compelling you? Why continue this terrible cycle?

You didn't have to, did you?

tw: suicide mention

[milliondollarpipes]

I was just gonna shoot him. There was enough left for both of us. But they said hey - why should he get off so easy? Why shouldn't he die like they did?

And then there were more, all the bastards who sent him to do that in the first place, and I - I was so mad.

[He doesn't look angry now. He doesn't look like he's feeling anything at all.]

Once they were all dead, I thought it'd be over. I was gonna stop. But I can't. [Harvey lets out a huff that might be an attempt at a laugh.] There's nothing else left. I can't think about much else, I can't sleep, I can't think -

[bornoflove]

...Let him go.

[Feeling nothing at all...she knew that look. And the fact he can't stop. No matter what form she took, she knew she'd be all right.

This? This wasn't right at all.]

I know you can hear me, shade. Let him go!

[milliondollarpipes]

[Harvey tilts his head at her, brow furrowed.]

Why?

[bornoflove]

[She stares back.]

Hasn't Mr. Finevoice suffered enough?

[milliondollarpipes]

Who gives a shit? I'm the reason you've been through two games now, kid.

Besides. You know better than anyone how these final votes go.

[bornoflove]

I do!

[She nearly screams that part out.]

I've been through two games, now. I've seen what the Masterminds are capable of. But I've also seen what those Masterminds suffered. Learned what they went through.

["What you did was a mercy."

She grits her teeth as she looks down.]

I know what I'm going to vote for, Mr. Finevoice. I can't let what you've done go unpunished. But I also know, you're possessed by something that's warped what you really are. Ever since Jaeris put you in that game, your actions have been dictated by that thing. So, if I'm going to vote...

[She looks back up.]

I'm not going to do so unless I'm sure you're going to die as yourself! We all owe you that much, no matter who you are in this game, understand? You deserve that much!

[milliondollarpipes]

[Harvey turns away. He straightens his cufflinks and his tie, adjusts his hat, and runs a quick hand across his eyes. Then he returns to his chair and sits, the picture of cold reserve except for his grip on the armrests. He doesn't meet Homura's eyes, addressing himself quietly to the ground.]

If you're ready to vote, then vote.

[bornoflove]

Didn't you hear what I said?

I want to stop the shade, first!

[milliondollarpipes]

How?

[He still doesn't look up at her.]

Even if it was worth it, what can you do?

[bornoflove]

[Indeed. What could she do, the insignificant fool she was? With all of her power, yet here, she's still the stupid little idiot she always had been. Always shouldering the burden, even though she always knew it was pointless. And each passing day, she would drift away from those she cared for.]

...

[But that's her, isn't it? Just doing what it took. Just striving, somehow. Even as the devil, somehow, Madoka still smiled at her.]

...Give it to me. I'll bear the shade.

[milliondollarpipes]

Like hell you will.

[Unstoppable force, meet immoveable object.]

[bornoflove]

And why not?

[In other words, its a Thursday.]

[milliondollarpipes]

Why the hell would I do that? You don't deserve this. For all I know, it wouldn't even take. There has to be a reason it was me...

[He runs a hand over his face, shaking his head.]

What makes you think I can do that anyway?

[bornoflove]

Mr. Finevoice...what is there is no reason? Its obviously been manipulating you to a considerable degree. What if it just wants you to think you're worse than you really are?

Do you really think I'm that much better than you? Think about who you're talking to.

[milliondollarpipes]

I ain't seen you runnin' any murdergames lately. You ain't the devil, you're a kid who got thrown into a shitty situation and made a whole lotta bad decisions.

Don't you think if I could just take it and move it around that I would've gotten rid of it myself by now?

[bornoflove]

Would you have?

[With his words of deserving, and not deserving...]

[milliondollarpipes]

[The cigarette is starting to burn the edges of his fingers. Harvey drops it and crushes it beneath his shoe, grinding it to ash. The shadows are growing dark around the room. He can feel them. When he speaks again, it's laced with cold anger.]

Who do you think is in charge here? Why can't you just listen to me?