☆TRACK V: I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE PT. 2

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone in the last part of the log.
What: Everyone has a terrible night.
When: December 7th, 2054
Where: Naomi's ocean side mansion, followed by a secret Pride laboratory.
Warnings: Violence, blood, and at least one murder. Vague gore. NPCs being unhinged in a threatening way, though it's possible to have your character avoid ended up in the ballroom if you don't want to see this mess.

☆I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE The bubble has burst. The chaos of the night’s violence has finally boiled over into something uncontrollable – blood has been spilt, screams have been heard. No matter where you are in the mansion, you know by now that something is acutely wrong. Multiple members of Pride have been hurt – possibly killed – and you may still have no idea why. Some will try to escape. Some will try to fight back. Yet, as any rebellion starts to descend, a piercing note - a melodic cry - will summon you towards the ballroom. It can be resisted, in part - but only as far as you find yourself frozen in place instead of moving forward, at least while this spell holds. It's drawing you to the source...if you follow it, maybe you can stop it. The compulsion is strong for members of both labels. The cry seems to echo long past its termination point, to be heard wherever you are. If followed, it will bring you to Naomi Rivers in the center of the ballroom, her expression creased with strain. Though you may desperately want to strike her, something intangible is holding you back. "No!" she shouts at any Virgo nearby. "It isn't done! You need to...you need to finish this!" She'll point desperately at the nearby Pride, rendered unable to flee. "Get them now!" You don't want to. "Do it!" The compulsion weighs heavily on you - for Virgo, to act, and for Pride to surrender themselves. All subtly has disappeared. This last effort is unconcealed and nearly hysterical. You feel yourself slipping beneath the soundwaves. Power rolls off of her, the energy thick in the air, like something you can taste and smell. You can't do this. "I command-" The fabric of space-time cracks like a peal of thunder. All at once, the spell shatters.

Comments

[wounds]

[He immediately wants to do whatever she requires of him... Which would be weird, but if she asks for something, he's not willing to say know.]

What are we doing?

[interstellarnpcs]

[She looks at him. His arm is broken. Whatever, that's fine. If he wants to hurt himself she doesn't care, that's good enough for now.]

I don't know if you fools noticed, but in a single evening Blanche has managed to put several of you on deaths door! If I had any sense I would let them all die!

[But.]

[wounds]

[It's less that he wants to hurt himself and more that the thought his body is replaceable is still there deep in his subconscious.]

That's impossible to miss.

But you're not letting them? [What's she getting out of this...?]

[interstellarnpcs]

[She abruptly punches the wall with a growl of frustration. The metal dents.]

This is his fault. He knows...he knows how much I hate starting over. I'm playing right into his hand - do you realize that?!

[He probably doesn't, Lesedi. She is just a little bit deranged.]

[wounds]

[Strength like that isn't normal for a person of her size. He's more intrigued than he is afraid.]

I don't. I didn't realize your rivalry was fueled by this.

[Attempted murder, apparently.]

[interstellarnpcs]

It's fueled by winning! [Her fingernails dig against the metal.]

I'm going to win and he can't stop me! Understand? No one can stop me!

[wounds]

[He pauses to digest the information.]

I don't know what the two of you are playing.

[interstellarnpcs]

[She withdraws a little, pausing, as if she's suddenly realized that she's gone too far. She hisses.]

It doesn't matter to you. You know your part already.

[wounds]

[She seems to have calmed down a little.]

Just do as you say and perform.

[That's all she wants out of them, as far as he can tell.]