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

[apeopleperson]

Well, its too bad you can't take it up with her now, hm?

[All things considered? Its probably not too far off the mark that she would do that.

She steeples her hands together]

I'd certainly like to see you try to figure it out. I've given you all of the evidence you could possibly need. Surely you and your...friends, if you want to call them that...might solve it. Eventually.

[trustyboomerang]

At least I've got friends.

[Mocking tone aside, he hates you even more now than he had back then.]

Even with all that evidence, I'd like to think that a two-headed rat viper like you has an ace up her sleeve. If you're trying to get at Aang, why not just grab him instead of me? Or are you afraid you'll wind up like your dad?

[apeopleperson]

Oh, I'm sure. Including the ones you sent to their deaths, no doubt.

[...except Vlad, but whatever.]

Even if I wasn't intending anything to happen to him, I made sure that taking away my bending would be...difficult for the Avatar to accomplish, anyhow.

[A stream of angry ranting from von Strangle, at this.]

I'm not going to end up like my father anytime soon. Not in that way.

[trustyboomerang]

I know it's my fault so many of them are dead, but it's your fault, too, for making them do it.

[He takes complete responsibility for all the people he caused to be executed. It was all he could do to keep as many people alive as possible. Sokka was sure they understood that.

Oh no...]

.... fairy magic. What, you're using it to make yourself into the next Avatar? I know you can't kill people with fairy magic! Da Rules book made that really clear.

[apeopleperson]

I didn't make them do anything. They did it on their own, even knowing they could refrain from it at any time. And you executed them, its simple as that.

[However.]

That is a fun idea, actually! Maybe I'll do that after this trial is over. But I'm not a fool - I know you can't kill anyone with that wand, no matter how powerful it is.

[Her smirk becomes just a little sharper.]

Not directly, at least.

[trustyboomerang]

I know that.

[He'd snap at her further, but she was the one in charge here. She could easily get bored of this and end it with a snap of her fingers. Better be more careful than before.]

You have the wand you can do anything with, but you trapped people in this murder house. Made them kill each other. The Azula I used to know was way more creative. With that much power you could have taken over the entire world and become greater than your dad. So why didn't you?

[Time to goad her just a little.]

Unless you can't figure out how to wish for it.

[apeopleperson]

Oh Sokka, you little, little man.

Why would I want this world now? Zuzu can have it, as far as I'm concerned, for however long he finds himself ruling. In fact, I plan on making sure of that.

Besides.

I've claimed everything else.

[Evidence list, BTW!]

[trustyboomerang]

[Rude. He's taller than you-... okay, he knows that's now what she meant. It's still irritating. He has to think over the evidence...]

I know you wanted me to be the "first" for something. And those books you read? You really need a better taste in them. Why not read something light hearted for once?

[ANYWAYS!] And Tarrlok isn't a Viceroy. He's a politician. Unless you wanted to make him your second in command.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.]

[trustyboomerang]

[A snake. That's what she is. A snake. You just need to cut its head off somehow.]

Like they'd listen to you. Even with Steven under your thumb, they'd fight you. If you killed Steven, this house would go down.

[Great. There's a literal wall of people. Staring. Creepy. Very creepy.]

... So how did you convince Jorgen to take you as his godchild? Threaten him? Make yourself seem like some pathetic little girl who needed someone to make her life easier and happier? Couldn't have been your charm.

[apeopleperson]

I was so miserable that he just couldn't help it. I seemed to be just the kind of child who would need his personal intervention. Monobear helped, of course.

[Looking very pleased with herself, while Jorgen just...is red. Super red.]

You know as well as I do, if Steven dies you would all fall apart. And I'm certain Steven will see reason when I'm done with him. Others have before. Others much stronger than you ever will be.

After all.

Where do you think the survivors of the previous class went?

[trustyboomerang]

So he fell for your act. Gotta say, if you weren't so evil, you'd be a popular actress.

[He looks over at Jorgen.] Why were you dumb enough to make a godchild out of a girl who can electrocute people?

[At that question he stiffens and looks at the people in front of him. No... how... wait.]

So you're trying to follow in the footsteps of Long Feng. [Wasn't there a bit about 20 individuals who were influential?] You're training people for assassination... or worse.

[apeopleperson]

We only had baseline information on this universe! We don't exactly go off into other universes outside of ours on a normal basis!

The weak always mistake vision for evil. But enough of that.

[That smile on Azula's brightens up. Now he's starting to get it.]

I can't say I'm not relieved you survived to this point. Now, I can give you an excellent demonstration of what I plan to do. At least, for our world. Long Feng's methods were as short-sighted as he was.

[Then, sharply to her left:]

Number 5. Front and center.

[At this, one of the cloaked figures - about Azula's height - jerks up, and leaves their place in line. They quietly stride over to Azula, who looks just as pleased as punch.]

Number 5 was a particularly difficult nuisance in the previous class, but they've been outstanding in their loyalty to me since I managed to...convince them my side was right. Isn't that right?

[There is a small nod from the cloaked figure.]

Since I've discarded those annoying hallucinations and falsehoods about the world from my mind, I figured it would work wonders if I did the same for others. You'd be surprised the literature on the subject! What you found was just a little bit of what I read.