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

[wholovesorangesoda]

[Oh, boy, mastermind reveal! It's the big moment! Who would have thought. It's rather unfortunate none of the orphans who have survived have an idea of who the mastermind could be. None of them have no clue...

...but Monobear seems to be rather...nonchalant about that. After a short speech about how futile everyone was, not being able to pinpoint the mastermind, he decides showing it all was better than just saying words.

In the back of the courtroom, a large TV screen appeared. Looks like it's time for the show of Kenan & Kel! And that's what starts! Filmed live, apparently, there comes two teenagers! And one is wearing what seems to be a black and white suit. He...he looks kind of silly with that. At least the hat is nice. Yeah, it's Kel]

"Welcome to the show of Kenan and Kel! As you all already know, my name is Kenan!" [There's a lot of applause. The public loves Kenan, he bows and all. Kel stops forward]

"And for those who don't know, my name is Keeeeeel!" [More applause! Who would have thought Kel was so popular, eh?. The teenagers seems rather happy to be here]

"Wow! We have prepared a special show for tonight. This should be the conclusion to our-"

"Eh, Kenan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not entirely sure about all this. Don't you think there's something strange going on?" [Kel gestures around. Kenan does stop for a moment, thoughtful]

"I don't know, Kel, but there's not much to do about that. Let's keep going and see where it all leads. Just follow the script!"

"Oh"

[Kenan once again talks to the audience] "Tonight it'll be the reveal! And for that Kel will go and play his role!" [Cheers and applause. Kenan gives Kel sunglasses, half of it tinted red and with a deformed plastic addition to the lens. Kel puts them on, grinning]

"There we go! Now you're ready to make a good impression"

"And what will you do, Kenan?"

"I'll provide support from a safe distance, of course!" [Kenan points in the opposite direction of the entrance to the courtoom. Kenan and the audience laughs while Kel pouts] "Relax, man! I got your back" [Kenan does seem honest about that. Whether he's conscious of what's going on or not, he is going to support Kel the best he can] "So come on, Mastermind!" [And there he walks away. Kel is left alone in the stage]

"K-Kenan! I don't think they'll be happy to see me! Kenan?! What if Ren tries to eat my shirt again? I don't think I can deal with that again! K-Kenaaaan!

[He turns to the audience in mock exasperation, like usual]

Aaaaaw, here we go!

[Kel exits stage to the left, and the doors of the courtoom opens. Here is Kel in person, orphans! And with the same suit and tacky sunglasses you just saw him in the TV]

Heeeey, guys! How's it going?

XANA!Aelita Mastermind is go!

[misseinstein]

[When the remaining orphans enter the trial room, the doors close with a mechanical slam - wait, mechanical? If they look back, the perfectly normal doors have been replaced with yellowish metal ones, and there's a strange whining sound in the background, like the nigh-imperceptible buzz of a television left on with a black screen.

Suddenly, a symbol in the center of the floor lights up in red, and the dot in the center opens, allowing a platform to rise up out of the ground. Someone is on the platform, back to the orphans, much more interested in the red digital screens that hover in the air around them, each being operated fluidly and filled with ever-changing lines of code. When the platform comes to a stop, the figure stops, pressing their hand to the center screen. Text pops up:

NAME: X A N A
CODE: D E S P A I R

And the figure turns to face the remaining orphans. They look...remarkably similar to Aelita, save for the earring, pointed ears and markings under the eyes, and the strange outfit, black with white highlights. Instead of pupils, the symbol on the floor flickers and shakes in her eyes, and the smile that grows on her face is half snarling, all cruel, but very pleased indeed.]


H͠e҉ĺlo͏,͏ or̨p̡h͞a̴ns.҉ ̷Ẁelcome ͞t̡o̕ you͝r̨ fi҉n̕àl ̷trįa̵l͠.́ ͠I ̴a҉m҉ ́X͝A͞NA.͢

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[saveusfromthequeen]

[The evidence was there, undeniable. Oh, the students had tried to deny it. It didn't make sense. Jade hated Monobear more than any of them, so much so that she'd tried to take him down with her when she died. And she had died, they'd all seen it. But as the bear melts into shadows, the figure that floats forward is unmistakable. Bluer than the students remember, and wearing a black and white dress not entirely appropriate for her age...but it's Jade.

She claps, slowly and sarcastically, as she hovers into view, a look of sadistic enjoyment in her solid red eyes that might remind of a cat playing with its food. Her expression splits into a wide, fanged grin and she speaks in a warped, demonic sounding voice.]

Congratulations, orphans. You've made it far, to have earned an audience with your Queen. Are you proud of yourselves, having escaped Our game? Does it fill you with hope to see your enemy before you at long last? Or do you despair upon the true face of your captivity?

[Still, is this really all there is to it? There had been hints, here and there, of a voice that doesn't sound like this. Someone calmer, more calculating. Well, there's only one way to find out, orphans...]

[babyhater]

[When the students arrive at the third floor, it seems to have transformed into a quaint looking cave, almost uncharacteristic compared to the horrors Monobear put them through. The only real clues were the journal entries scattered about the area. They are mostly about someone gushing about someone called "the greatest brother" adopting them, with the last entry detailing how excited the writer was that "the greatest brother" is finally letting them lead a "game".

Perhaps then it shouldn't be surprising when the students see a bear sitting on an ornate throne when they enter the trial room. What might be surprising though is that it was someone thought to be dead. Someone that nearly everyone defended when his "murderer" said that he killed him because he thought the bear was evil.

Panda.

He wasn't wearing a different outfit, but the look on his face was devoid of emotion.]

Welcome to your final trial, everyone.

[beautifulmistakeofnature]

[This is disappointing. He had hoped, really, he wouldn't have to go through the discomfort of confronting anyone alive. Truth be told, Wirt didn't want anyone dead. He just needed them that way.

When the survivors enter the courtroom, they'll find it has taken on a more natural look to it. 'Lush' might not be the term to describe the forest they've just entered; so many of the trees seem to be barren; not dead, perhaps, but warped and seemingly old. There are leaves, but they're brittle and sparse looking things except for the highest ones that make up the canopy, a ceiling which light barely pierces and filters through. It is a dim forest, almost constantly stuck near dusk, and it is cold. And grim.

And the survivors could swear that, somewhere inside it, they can hear a voice singing they haven't heard before.

It takes a bit to get through all the foliage, and resting in the roots of some of the trees are older Monobear bots, rusted and curled into the trees, the roots and branches clinging to the bear bots which are stuck in silence. Eventually, the survivors make their way to a clearing. It's a small area, but obviously set aside for this meeting, providing enough room for the pile of logs in the middle of it - more observant survivors might note that there's a log for each of those who had died in the previous weeks - as well as a small lantern, glowing brilliantly, on top of the logs.

And then there's Wirt.

His clothes aren't very different, although they might look like the color has been drained a bit. The small branches jutting from his hair, almost like weak little horns, however, are far more different. He stares at the ground for a moment before looking at the survivors, and his gaze doesn't have any of the nervous energy, or concern or compassion they boy had shown before.

Not empty. But tired beyond belief. And, deeper than that, spiteful.]

Well.

[His voice, when he speaks, actually manages to have a little authority in it. Not the usual nervous, unsure patter Wirt usually has. No. He's very certain of whatever he believes or comes next, though it's clear he doesn't enjoy what he thinks he knows.]

I kind of hoped it wouldn't come to this. There's way less unpleasant ways to do this.

[Final Trial Start.]

[beautifulmistakeofnature]

[This can't be real.

Of all the people here, Wirt had expected Panda to be one of the last of them to actually be behind this. It was true that his knowledge OF these kinds of things were off putting at first, but he seemed so nervous and afraid that Wirt just. Believed him. What else could he do.

But here they were. And Wirt just slowly shakes his head in disbelief, trying to find something to say.]

I trusted you.

[pectoralmutt]

[Come on in, orphans. The trial room slams shut to reveal a strange, almost 1950s-looking replica of the Oval Office with the usual podiums. Perfectly normal, perfectly patriotic. The center of the office opens, a desk slowly rises from the darkness. Note this desk has a button labeled The Button. It's...it's Monobear?

Monobear laughs. And laughs. Laughs so hard his face splits in two. His body splits in two. It's...Ren?! That's right. Ren. Why do you think he has a placard that says President Hoek? He wears a monocrhome Commander Hoek outfit. A big stitched scar goes down the middle of his face, leaving one half of his face black and one half of his face bleach white.

He's strapped in to the chair, his hand ever hovering over The Button. This is it. This is his final audition for his new Best friend. Ever since Stimpy was gone, no one was worthy...but that will change.]

You worms...I gotta hand it to you, you're like a nose goblin that's hard to pick.

But this is it. This is your last square dance. So let's get to it!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]

[Start]

[mightyneed]

[There should be some ceremony to these things, shouldn't there? Some kind of grand aura, full of smoke and mirrors and grand entrances and ambience. A grand finale in order to sort out and explain every single depressing moment of their nearly-two month stay in the home for orphaned bastards.

Walking into an empty courtroom only to see...what looks like a tiny bug-man eating a buffalo chicken burrito is none of these things. He's pretty engaged with that burrito, but when he shoots one pink eye open to see that the students have entered the room, he puts it down for a moment and speaks with a full mouth.]

Eh? What are you people doing here? I wasn't expecting you for another hour! Go back and wait so I can give you a more fitting introduction to my amazingness.

[ DOES THIS EVEN COUNT AS A TRIAL IT'S KIND OF A JOKE REALLY ]
[ START ]

[bearrito]

[When the orphans come in, they'll find a clash between the other sinister designs of the orphanage. Rather than a courtroom, there is a gym, with a basketball hoop looming ominously over where each student stands. The deceased have a pink basketball crammed into the hoop.

There were clues left behind, journal entries about adoptees of this house. They failed to mention who exactly adopted some members of the house.

There were brothers, all coming under the care of a so-called 'Greatest Brother'. The floor hisses as it finally opens. It's a bear, a brown bear running an elliptical machine. He's putting a lot of effort into it. He wears black and white gym sweats and a headband. For someone leading a murder game, he looks uncharacteristically happy.]

Well alright!

Look at all these people here...good hustle, guys! Guess uh, I should introduce myself. Hi, my name is Grizz and I'm your Game Mastermind!

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]

[Start.]

[misseinstein]

[When entering the courtroom, Aelita was stunned. Such a shift in everything...were they outside? No, they couldn't be - and even if they were, the trees were too densely packed for them to get away. All they could do is go forward to where the final trial would take place.

But she hadn't expected the clues they found to lead to this.]

W...Wirt? What's happened to you?!

[babyhater]

[Panda raises and eyebrow, seemingly uncaring about Wirt's turmoil.]

So? Don't you know anything about sitiuations like this, Wirt? You can't trust anyone.

[luckyspots]

[Nothing adds up, certainly not the latest evidence. Going into that room... none of them can say they know exactly what's waiting beyond the final door. Oh but they can can do this together, right? So step right up-- that cold black door framed in metal beckons them, ushering them into a circular room, lit only by the light streaming in from that circular window. It's all dark walls supported by steel all the way up to it's pointed ceiling. The door slams shut behind them and shut it remains.

Their entrance stirs a flock of white butterflies into the air. Steel podiums have been set in a circle for the trial, elaborate and beautiful yet with a jagged design.

The "city" they might be able to see from that window, should they choose to look, is in ruins. Mayhem has erupted upon it-- there are people encased in stone, broken houses, strange layers of ice, an unnatural dark sky full of rumbling clouds... one could only call the sight a true disaster.

As the students timidly settle into their labeled places, the butterflies settle, some sitting upon the podiums, others returning to the stone floor.

It seems at first as though they might be alone, however once the Orphans have taken their place, only a few awkward moments of silence settle in before soft footsteps can be heard, as a figure steps out of the shadows of the room in a despair-inducing suit of black and... white? The pattern no doubt familiar to all as that of the hero form of the girl who had just protected them and died in the trial following.]

Welcome... to your final trial. I'm so glad you could all make it. But sadly... I don't think you have what it takes to make a true miracle happen here. So I'm afraid this might be short. Still... Please do your best.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[Start]

[pectoralmutt]

[This is weird.

Weirdly familiar. It's weird to think that Kel's situation is almost reflective of his. Kel was just an innocent kid kinda like Stimpy, with a best friend...clearly manipulated into this. But nah, he wants to feel mad too.

Mad is good. But he's gonna be smart about his mad this time.]

I'm not going to eat your shirt, idiot.

So it was you this whole time. The painting, the bologna...

Azula | Avatar The Last Airbender

[apeopleperson]

[Underground. They'd been underground the entire time. Once they emerged from the futuristic bunker - one that, according to the notes they found, was inspired by Zoey's world's technology but not exactly like it - the smell of sulfur hit them like a ton of bricks. They pathway was lined by magma and water oozing on the left and right side, respectively, the heat rising and drenching everyone with sweat.

There was a sign at end of the hallway, carved into the very rock, its characters close to indecipherable to everyone. Save one person. Maybe two. For them, the sign was all too easy to read.

BOILING ROCK.

Up a dark set of stairs. And, into a giant, circular, metal room, unlike any that had or should have existed in that world. Upon the survivors entering the darkened room, it lights up. Blue fire shoots up through a small vent which encircles the obsidian podiums - all decorated with the banners of the Fire Nation - and the doors to potential freedom clang shut. There are no windows. No light save the fire.

No escape.

She sits in a throne on a sufficiently-raised platform above the center of the podiums, dressed in the regal finery of a Fire Lord. The colors, however, are black and white along with red; her knot is perfectly put into coif with a Monobear comb, her bangs perfectly even on both sides. Flanking her is Monobear, a suspended cage with a very angry von Strangle, and a group of cloaked figures, strange masks on their faces, sitting cross-legged with perfect even numbers to each side of Monobear and the cage.

But the Mastermind is in the center.

Azula wouldn't want it any other way.]

Excellent.

Now, the fun part begins.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

OH MY GOD

[trustyboomerang]

[SOKKA LOOKS FREAKED THE FUCK OUT. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.... Anyone but her! He had a feeling, a deep down sick feeling, that this might be who they were dealing with. Why did his feeling have to be right? It doesn't stop the fear from being there... It just makes it a lot worse. Azula was dangerous, and whatever she has planned will not end well.

Why does he have the vague impression that everyone else will get off easy with an execution and he won't?]

Azula... I thought you were crazy before, but this?! This is insane! Why are you even doing this?!

[And what does this mean for his future?

AND WHY BOILING ROCK?! Was she still hung up on that loss? Seriously?]

HELLO~

[apeopleperson]

On the contrary, Sokka, I've never had so much clarity in my life.

[She casually crosses her legs, more than obviously amused by Sokka's horror at the revelation. Indeed, she looks practically giddy. At least, as giddy as Azula can look without looking too mad while she smirks.]

You seem upset about that! I can only imagine why.

[trustyboomerang]

[This is going to be a very different trial. The courtroom is made up of four very different sections. Above each area are plaques that only a few might be able to read.

Above the arid, rocky section it reads Earth Kingdom, with the area being dry and lifeless. The survivors standing there will feel the occasional tremble, as if there was an earthquake building up under their feet. The fire section has a plaque with the words Fire Nation, hot plumes of water and steam shooting up, magma heating up the grate underneath it. At least the survivors in that section stand on cool plates. That way they won't catch on fire just yet. The most terrifying section was one labeled Air Nation. The survivors in this section simply stand on almost flimsy-looking wooden beams, where one wrong move would send them careening down into darkness. They'll feel air moving around them, at times moving quicker than others, chilling them before the wind turns gentle and warm again.

Each section is closed off by glass. Seems the mastermind is trying to keep the survivors from physically interacting till they found it to be time to do so. The last section, with a throne covered in different furs, is covered in ice and snow. Monobear stood beside it in a thick coat and hat. The other side was graced with someone who is obviously female, her face covered by her hood. Above them all is a plaque that simply reads "Water Tribe."

On the throne sits a young man who looked way too comfortable in this harsh terrain. He looks at the survivors with an almost predatory look. The mastermind stands and throws his arms out, as if welcoming his victims to their last trial.]

Welcome to my home. Yes, yes, you're all probably way too terrified to be impressed with this all. As some of you notice that the sections you're in are what I feel are appropriate for you. After all, I've been watching you all this time.

[Sokka moves his hands to his hips.]

If you haven't guess my name yet, you're idiots. I spelled it out for you several times. It's not Hakoda like you think it is. Then again, you guys were willing to kill each other for some of the stupidest motives I could come up with. I mean, come on! You really think I'd waste resources gathering your loved ones up for an execution like that? Please. Give me some credit.

[The mastermind waves his hands in the air again as the lights become momentarily blindingly bright. Podiums rise and the sound of a gavel striking wood can be heard.]

Let's get this over with. I've got a war to start.

[MASTERMIND TRIAL]
[START]

[trustyboomerang]

[Upset is an understatement as his knuckles turn white from gripping the podium so hard. Surviving this long to wind up here... He wouldn't be surprised at all if she somehow had a hand in him making it this far. Azula was the type to want to personally see her enemies fall before her.

It was time for a deep breath. Gotta handle this carefully.]

My sister shouldn't have shown you mercy. I wouldn't have.... So now I just gotta figure out why you're doing this, right?

[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.

[wholovesorangesoda]

Oh! I did do the bologna part. It was a joke about hot dogs! [Laughter sounds from speakers in the corners of the courtroom] Or something like that...I forgot. But what's that about the painting?

[Something buzzes in the sunglasses. Looks like it allows communication too. That was me, Kel!]

The painting was Kenan.

[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?

[wholovesorangesoda]

[Jade. Why you doing that. Jade, stop. Jaaaaaaade]

Jade! You're alive!

[At least someone is kind of happy to see Jade]

[trustyboomerang]

[.... Sokka isn't sure he likes the future all that much anymore. Or at least computers. Nope. Doesn't like computers anymore. Can he go back home now?]

..... so is anyone else as terrified as I am right now? Because I am very terrified.

[Maybe if this girl didn't look like she was about to eat them...]

Xana. That's... an unusual name. It suits you?

[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.

[saveusfromthequeen]

You will address me by my proper title, mortal.

[The Queen holds up her hands and shadows stretch from the walls, rising up into a ring of ninjas that surrounds the survivors.]

I am the Queen of the Shadowkhan, and you shall bow before me.