CORAL

[dramatispersonae]

[Unlike with previous games from Lancelot, the room today is sparse … and cold, as if this is a place where some of the remaining winter hasn’t left (though surely that has nothing to do with the Snow Queen …)

Instead of wine, bread, and meat, there is dirty water, some berries (that are safe to eat), and some other plants that clearly have been picked off a plant.

There is nowhere to really sit except the cold, hard ground.]

Comments

ROUND ONE

[dramatispersonae]

In the past, I betrayed my oath to my king. I was not truly loyal to him, not as I was meant to be. Did you know … we were friends when we were young, though perhaps not as young as many of you? We came to be brothers. And still, I hurt him. I broke that vow.

So I must ask you, Aather. What are the sins … or crimes … of your team? Please list three.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[picking at some of the berries]

We're going minimalist today, aren't we. . .

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[siiiighs and glances around as he palms a berry and makes it disappear, only to pull it out of thin air once again]

It's only me today, huh?

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

Crimes. . . Coral crimes. . . crimes befitting of Coral. . .

[tossing the berry up in the air and catching it, transferring it to his other hand with one, smooth motion]

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Please list only three. No more, no less.

Re: SUBMIT

[blackjacked]

- Excessive enjoyment of fashion and trendy clothing
- Shooting water in people's faces when they come to visit
- Ranking new arrivals by how amusing their falls are when they stumble into the Ring

ROUND TWO

[dramatispersonae]

When Arthur learned of my betrayal, of what I had done—he did nothing. A strong king in every way, but in the face of betrayal from a loved one, he could only stand by and do nothing. His mercy led his realm to despair; many others thought him to be weak.

They weren’t right. But they were correct in another way: I was deserving of punishment. A crime is not a crime without the punishment that follows, some might say, but some crimes are worthy of punishment.

Today, list three suggested punishments for any crimes, worthy crimes, perhaps even your own crimes.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[listening to all of this with one brow raised]

What did you even do?

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

[and with a touch of annoyance]

It isn't my job to punish crimes. I'm a thief, not a judge.

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

And if I did something wrong, I'd rather not focus on how I should be punished for it and focus on making it right.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

Three punishments here. No more, no less. They can be anything.

Re: SUBMIT

[blackjacked]

Three good punishments for Coral's crimes would be:

- making us wear raggedy potato sacks instead of clothing
- dump water balloons filled with honey on top of our heads
- taking us to a Persona's realm briefly and returning us to the Ring-- on our heads-- so our landings are just as embarrassing as a new arrival's

ROUND THREE

[dramatispersonae]

Surely you have all witnessed the importance of being held accountable. Would Camelot have been so cold, so burdened, had Arthur punished me correctly? Would the Snow Queen have experienced such misery?

Now, hold your other Aatherites accountable in the same way. So many crimes have surely come to pass that it is time for them to face it.

Tell me one team you find guilty, and the reason for that guilt.

And … tell me one team you find to be innocent. This is according to your own understanding, of course.

DISCUSSION

[dramatispersonae]

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

. . . you're blaming yourself for Camelot's winter?

Re: DISCUSSION

[blackjacked]

The darkness was the reason Guinevere made that agreement with Snowy, right? They both wanted to protect their realms. That doesn't sound like it has anything to do with you.

SUBMIT

[dramatispersonae]

One innocent team, one guilty team and the reason why they are guilty.

Re: SUBMIT

[blackjacked]

Sapphire is an innocent team. And Coral is a guilty team because of the crimes I listed in the first round.

ROUND FOUR

[dramatispersonae]

Today, you have been accused twice, for being not guilty, and of being neither guilty nor innocent. However, you were protected from these crimes, and you do not have to do penance.

The choices for penances are here.

I have been found guilty for not listening to reason, and I will do the penances suggested by Jasper:

1. For the crime of running tiresome and intrusive games, to only run cheerful and pleasant games from now on.
2. For the crime of being obsessed with his own self-judgment, to tell the story of his supposed crime, and to hear and accept someone else's judgment of him.
3. For the crime of betraying his friend, to apologize sincerely and actually accept the judgment of his friend in this instance, since it seems to be harder for him than any self-flagellating punishment we could give him. And to apply the energies he's no longer using to mentally punish himself to something productive, to find his king and remedy the damage he's done.

BONUS

[dramatispersonae]

What are ways you have dealt with the guilt in your past, in your memories? What if you betrayed a friend and destroyed something very important? How would you recommend making up for it, if not through the means here in this game?

Also, would you like your crimes to be public knowledge?

Re: BONUS

[blackjacked]

[. . .]

What Jasper suggested is a good start. Apologizing sincerely, accepting their response to that, and trying harder to make things right again. Be productive. Be proactive. Fight for change, don't just accept that you've messed up. Like I said. . . feeling sorry for yourself isn't gonna work. Believe me, I've been down that road once already.

Heh, it's good to know the other teams had similar ideas.

Re: BONUS

[blackjacked]

-- and make sure your next game involves water balloons! And water guns! And maybe a swimming pool, too. It's spring, we should take advantage of that fact.

It'll give Aoko an excuse to wear a swimsuit, anyway.

Re: BONUS

[blackjacked]

[SEEMS SATISFIED]