Live from... Conversation Space???

[leftbehindagain]

[About halfway through the week, the network flares to life. Much like with Thorne's broadcast the other week, this one includes some unusual scenery: A poured concrete floor and cinder block walls are lit by a single bare light bulb hanging overhead. Shackles dangle from brackets on every side, and the chair in the center of the room is clearly an electric chair. A tall glass sits on top of a stool made of what looks like pure gold - but the liquid inside it is almost definitely blood.

Unlike Thorne's broadcast, though, this one's live. Naoki's not at all sure this is going to go through, but he sees no reason not to try.]

I have to say, this is a really unfortunate combination of folks in terms of decorating.

Comments

[senpaidol]

Huh. Naoki-kun? Did you record this?

Also wow I am really grateful I was in the tasteful section of Arcana.

[leftbehindagain]

--That actually went through?

[senpaidol]

Loud and clear. You're live?

[leftbehindagain]

Sure am. I figured it couldn't hurt to try, but I wasn't expecting it to work.

[senpaidol]

Well, that's how things usually work out here...

I guess this means that room is a separate network, not no network...right?

[rustyhonesty]

... what the hell is that?

[leftbehindagain]

What happens when you ask Death, Hanged Man, Justice and Devil to collaborate on a private room, I think.

[rustyhonesty]

That's disturbing... and reminds me of some kind of a torture chamber.

[leftbehindagain]

I'm not sure if these four would ever be a pleasant combination, considering.

[It does feel like Devil had undue influence on it, but if Naoki had to pick just one thing for them it'd be the blood. Shackles would go with Hanged Man's self-sacrifice angle. The chair... he's less certain about.]

[fridgeninja]

Impressive. You've leveled up.

[leftbehindagain]

[Because he's still livestreaming, everyone gets to hear Naoki crack up, briefly. Then he cuts that part of the feed.]

I guess that's one way to look at it.

[fridgeninja]

It's a pretty spectacular power.

[leftbehindagain]

It could be really useful, if they start splitting the group again. Or the next time someone stumbles into a pocket space.

I'm not sure how long it'll work and my attention's going to need to be off this soon in any case, but... it's good to know this is possible, at least.

A NEW CHALLENGER HAS ARRIVED

[callmemeibe]

[Over the feed, a small clearing of the throat comes from behind Naoki. A pale, gaunt-looking man in black is sitting primly in the electric chair. He is in the process of removing the cup of blood from the table to set it on the concrete floor, and placing two clean, empty glasses on the stool in its stead.]

MALBOLGE was rather insistent on the aesthetics. Please, sit.

[He creates a simple metal chair with a small movement of his fingers, only a few feet from the electric chair he occupies.]

We have much to discuss.

WELP

[leftbehindagain]

Talk to you later, everyone. My attention's needed here.

[senpaidol]

This is a test of the emergency psychic bridge system. This is only a test.

[Also, she'll use Investigator Mind Reading (or really, Sensory Eavesdropping - she just asked for permission ahead of time) to get a mental snapshot of what Naoki's seeing. Just to check. She refuses to listen in on the actual conversation...or do anything that takes more than a split second. Death is still not someone you want to be rude to.]

[leftbehindagain]

[What she gets is what Naoki would be deliberately broadcasting if he could answer - If it were not a test, you would receive instructions on where to go and what to do - as well as a slightly better look at that pale guy as he swaps out the goblet of blood for something more palatable.

If Naoki hadn't already told her he was waiting on Death, the funeral-custom crossing of the kimono would probably give it away.]

[failgoyle]

[Cue the inevitable screaming everywhere.

At least he's filtered it from Rose this time. He managed that much.]

[leftbehindagain]

Oh, shut up, Jules-san. You don't even have to be here.

[failgoyle]

But but but...

don't die!

[leftbehindagain]

I really don't think that's likely.

[prolificarse]

The aesthetic does have a certain malevolent charm, doesn't it?

[There's something a little strained beneath Dorian's customary airy sarcasm; it's harder to hide his feelings in the rawness of telepathic conversation.]

[leftbehindagain]

Something like that.

[prolificarse]

Nothing quite like being shown just where we stand.

Are you all right?

[leftbehindagain]

As with most things, where we stand likely depends on who you ask. I doubt our hosts are of one mind on much of anything any more than all of us are.

[private, double protected]

Admittedly, I'd be more freaked out if I didn't know who I was here to talk to.