AUDIENCE: ALEX

[retellers]

Comments

[retellers]

[ they take the package, looking down at it and then at alex. ]

I... I am. I'm sorry, that was very unprofessional of me.

[chanteuser]

There is nothing unprofessional at being shaken by someone being killed in front of you. Or whatever that was today-- the Removal.

Don't apologise for that.

[retellers]

[ they nod their head. ]

It shouldn't have happened...

[chanteuser]

... The murders? Or the way the "removal" happened?

[retellers]

Ah... both, actually.

[chanteuser]

...

Did you all know what removal meant before today?

[retellers]

[ they shake their head, then pause. ]

We have a better idea about it though. But, um, the one today could have gone... a lot differently.

[chanteuser]

[ ... that's sort of a relief to hear, really. given their reactions, she'd thought the group might not have known fully what it meant, but... it's not like that's enough to be sure. ]

... How so? I mean... was it always meant to be an execution, or mean death in some way?

[retellers]

I think it would have been something like a death, but...

[ they hum softly, thinking. ]

We've said before that the Realm reacts to people. A lot of what we do influence it. And... we all thought that whatever happened today, was going to be something really bad. S-so...

[chanteuser]

[ ... ]

So if Virid hadn't killed Pikachu like that [ francy the FUCK am i typing i hate rp ] then it might not have been so...

[ she

makes a slicing drop motion with her hand. ]

Brutal?

[retellers]

It wasn't just that.

[ they gesture at both of them. ]

Us, as a group. When we were all talking about what removal meant for whoever was voted for, we all thought it was going to be something really bad. People even said it would most likely be like a public execution.

[ and then it was a public execution. ]

[chanteuser]

[ her eyes go wide at that. ]

You mean we can change it? [ ... ] It... might be more difficult now that we've seen one, but could we? If we all tried to?

[retellers]

It's hard to say. Like the whole team thing. Most people don't really like that we have them, but that's not enough to change it to teams no longer exiting. So... I don't think it works if we're all very actively trying to shape it. If it was that simple, then it would be too easy for someone to take control over the Realm, right?

[chanteuser]

But we were enough to shape what removal meant, you just said so. Surely it's possible to shape it again, if we figure out how. If it's a subconscious thing, raising the suggestion might be enough to start influencing things...?

[ ... ]

The teams thing isn't going to shape anything other than who gets to make a wish at the end, right?

[retellers]

If we figure out how, maybe. I just don't think if we're actively trying to do it that it'll work, since even the Realm needs safety measures. Since then what's stopping us from wishing hard enough to try to take complete control of it, right?

So it's a... we can try and see what works and doesn't work situation, I think.

[ a pause ]

I... think so. I'm, um, not going to lie. What happened with Virid most likely changed things a lot.

[chanteuser]

It's better than doing nothing though. Even if it only changes things a little, that could make the difference when we need it.

[ if it's a small hope, then she's got to cling to it. ]

...

Not for the better, I'm guessing. So the whole concept of a wish could be out the window entirely, and replaced with something worse?

[retellers]

No, the wish is still there... since it requires us fixing everything first. As long as we can do that, the Realm should be able to give it to us.

[chanteuser]

Just everything surrounding and leading up to it might be... uh. Less forgiving?

[retellers]

[ there is a slow nod. ]

[chanteuser]

Great.

[retellers]

B-but, maybe we can figure out a way to change this! We just have to keep trying!

[ the most pathetic of cheer up attempts, coming from someone who has fainted twice. ]

[chanteuser]

[ good bnuuy. best cheerleader. ]

A maybe is better than a "no, never", at least.

[retellers]

I guess...

[ they sigh. and will start to unwrap the package. ]

You probably have other questions.

[chanteuser]

I'm not even sure where to start. Or if I want to, right now.

[retellers]

[ they nod. ]

No, that's fair. It's... been a very long weekend.