townsville's going downsville tonight

[snapsnapsnap]

THE MASTERMIND AU
NICK V. CN EDITION

It's time for Nick vs. CN's mastermind meme!

To those who aren't familiar, this is essentially an AU where your character is the one responsible for Nick v CN'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; was your character just another pawn in the grand scheme of things, 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

[babyhater]

[Panda waves slightly at Steven.]

Was it too easy for you?

[babyhater]

I... I'm not a puppet! I... I'm sure He cares about me...

[apeopleperson]

Not my second in command, I already have one.

Yup!

Still, I'd been hoping I could show him a few things to motivate him. He would have been an excellent fit to oversee a few places I've become aware of. Once he did what I was training you all for.

Pity what he did to the wall.

Holy crap I love it

[misseinstein]

[Blank stare. Just...the blankest of stares. What the fuck is this shit.]

[misseinstein]

[God what kind of ego do you NEED for this shit, this could rival Sissi in narcissism]

I think you're counting your chickens before they hatch - this is far from over!

tell me part of the evidence they found was a box of chocolate pudding mix

[misseinstein]

You're kidding me!

[You have to be, right? It's Mister Pickles?! He...he was always so creative and enthusiastic about his inventions, it reminded her so much of Jeremy...]

[misseinstein]

[This is sick. This is REALLY sick. Is this dog being used? Is this dog actually the mastermind? Who gets their cheap thrills from subjecting people to a murdergame and then turning the last trial into a goddamn I Spy book?

- Oh, right, the uh, the rules. Might as well, you know, follow them. In case they're executed on site for not doing so.]

Oooooooh~
The bedroom is...the place to be?
Looking for clues one, two, and three,
Where oh where, where oh where,
Where oh where could they...be?

[...You tried, Aelita. You tried.]

[misseinstein]

T-That's not what I asked.

[She knows. She knows her friends chose to do what they did. But if he's the one responsible, and he put them here, then he's the one who limited their choices to that point. He's still at fault.]

Are you still my friend, Wirt...?

[misseinstein]

[She doesn't answer him right away. Instead, she looks right at Katara.]

Katara...please...don't lose hope...we'll get you out of here and help your brother somehow. I promise.

[She then sucks in a sharp breath through her teeth and looks right at Sokka, eyes bright and piercing.]

None of them. [Her words shake, but they have enough oomph in them to ring true.] The only death that could hurt me the most is the death of the friend I got to know and depend on in this dreadful place. And by the looks of things, all you're doing is drawing out the pain.

[misseinstein]

You think some title and a stupid prize can make up for the pain you put us through?! The pain you inflicted on all of our dead friends?! You...y-you...you can go and...and fuck yourself!!!

[...Language, Aelita.]

[misseinstein]

[XANA's mouth curls up into a smile, and she turns away.]

S̀ay ̛wh̀a̕t ̡y̵o͡ư ̷mus̨t. Y͢our r͟ea̛s͢oni̸ng͝ i͘s il͟l̢og͏i͢ca̕l.̸

[misseinstein]

P̵i͡ty.͢

[It's a perfect insult, as far as XANA's concerned. And as for your assertion, the top of Sokka's podium opens up, and out rises a bucket of water. XANA spreads her arms out, her smile a challenge.]


By͠ ̸a͟l͟l m̡ea͜ns, i͜f̷ ͘y͟ou҉ b̀elie̶v̷ȩ ̷t̛h͘at̸ wi͡l͏l̢ d̸e̛fea̧t ̸ḿè,̴ ͞I ̧welc̶om̧e ̨you tơ ͞èǹd͢ i͞t n͞ow.

[trustyboomerang]

[As the statue is addressed, there seems to be a torrent of tears coming out of the eyes. Sokka pats Katara's stone cheek gently.]

I can never tell anymore if you're trying to waterbend yourself out or are legit crying.

[He replaces the cloak rather lovingly, covering his sister's face.]

Feels nice, doesn't it. At least to me it does... It's funny how people can trust others so blindly sometimes. A few gently words, long letters about solving the mysteries of this place, how you have to hang onto hope... You were pretty easy to lure into a false sense of security. I made some awful jokes, you thought I was easygoing. "Solved" the murders the way I did made me seem tenacious and smart... I just went from there..... Monobear, we need a new game.

[Monobear starts bouncing up and down.]

Upupupu~! Let's play "What Evidence is Real, and What Was Planted!"

[trustyboomerang]

[This seems way too easy... So Sokka takes the bucket and puts it down next to him.]

Thanks, Aelita. I'll save it for later.

[ Not calling you XANA anymore.]

[trustyboomerang]

Seems like he's trying to keep you out of the way while your brother's get the job done properly. It's what happens to people perceived as weak.

[trustyboomerang]

.... As fair as you'll let it be.

[He doesn't sound bitter. Not at all... He takes a deep breath.]

I don't think you're the real Ladybug... no. You're something a lot worse. Like some parasite parading around in her body....

[trustyboomerang]

... Don't remind me.

[Quick, Sokka, think think think.]

You picked Zoey and Aelita for their technology and smarts. Steven because you seem to like crushing hope, Tarrlok apparently for his politician status... and I feel like you picked me just because you really hate me.

[At least that's his theories so far.] Ren, I agree, is pretty easy to break, but you didn't count on us making friends with him.

[apeopleperson]

Is that really why you think I chose Steven or you?

...Hn. I can't deny that I despise you, and Steven is simply ridiculous as a human being, almost as much so as the Avatar. And I am enjoying watching him.

Then again, he's not entirely human, is he? Nor are his family and friends. Didn't Steven ever tell you about who they were? About what he is?

Surely you don't think I'm that sadistic to simply watch a boy like him crumble just because I can.

[Except she is, but...semantics, right?]

[trustyboomerang]

I know about the Crystal Gems, and him being half-gem. He told me all that... And you are, too! You're cruel, insane, and willing to kill anyone in your way.

[Stop getting worked up. Anger won't help you here.]

You have a list with my name on it and one with my sister. But Katara's not here. Meaning she's either in another house like this, or you picked me over her. Makes me glad you picked me, honestly. If she was here, I'd just have broken down the doors of this place to save her.

[Which... is there even anyone out there who wants to save him?]

[apeopleperson]

So Steven hasn't told you everything about his mother's species. He certainly doesn't lack information about what they tried to do to his home planet. Did you know his mother was a general?

[There's definitely a flicker of a smile. She's getting to you, she can tell.]

You're right about one thing, though.

Your sister was in another class.

[luckyspots]

[For a moment, an expression of emotional anguish that tells all and holds nothing back takes form on Marinette's face. But as he implied, this was the end of things- now more than ever she couldn't let herself appear weak. Her expression hardens and she plants her feet firmly for this confrontation. The wind swirling around her may move a few strands of hair... but she's not budging.]

Why?

[It's more angry perhaps than she should be letting herself get. Get too emotional and this will just get worse. But... she needs answers. She-- no all of them-- deserve that much.]

[trustyboomerang]

What? Are you trying to become a gem? I don't think it'd suit you. There's no gem called madness.

[..... Don't break don't break don't break. Keep calm and breathe. Keep calm and BREATHE.]

... 'Was' means... she's dead. Knowing you she didn't die quickly. [He grips the podium hard enough to make anyone wince with how much tension was being used before his hands just.... relax. Sokka looks down before turning his gaze back up at Azula.] I'm not going to get revenge against you. Katara wouldn't want that. No... I'm going to kill you because I want to.

[trustyboomerang]

Because why not!

[The Monobear beside Sokka is the one to talk as Sokka takes a seat. A fleeting emotion crosses the boys face that could be seen as sadness and grief before it's replaced with a smirk. The bear bounces up and down before going on.]

Time to play a game~! How many cats did we skin to get you all this far?

[Sokka closes his eyes as Monobear puts it paws over its mouth with a giggle.]

You better answer fast. This guy here likes the screams people let out as they fall to their deaths.

[apeopleperson]

Are you really just being obtuse now? Steven's mother - all of her surviving friends - they were fighters. Warriors, diplomats, spies. Perfect for the purposes I need them for.

[At the second response, Azula stands, a maddening gleam in her eye.]

You're right. What I did to her? I didn't make it quick. And I'm sure right now you want so badly to wipe the smile off of my face. Your body language is so obvious you might as well be telegraphing it from Sozin's Comet.

However, I think you'll find there are a few people who might...take issue with that.

Upupupu, this is going to be awesome~!

[She looks left, then right, at the masked figures sitting still as stone around her, then motioned to them.]

They will do whatever I ask them to. They respond only to my commands. And they will have no compunction about stopping you from even getting on this platform.

[Motioning up.]

Stand.

[On cue, in unison, the figures uncross their legs and stand. They are all of various heights and shape. All of them masked. All of them simply staring. At what? Sokka? The wall? Who knows?]

Say what you will about my reading selections, but they've served me very well with my wand.

[The fairy looks ready to just explode.]

[luckyspots]

You mustn't get mad--

[The Kwami seems to be warning Sokka of something but Marinette quiets it, pinching the back of it's neck between two fingers and dragging it to her eye level.]

Now that's not fair at all. Sit back and stay quiet.

[Now that that seems to be taken care of-- she returns to what Sokka said like it never happened.]

You think I'm just some impostor parading around in her skin? Sorry, Sokka... I'm still me. But you're not entirely wrong. Something did change. You could say I was exposed to the truth.