As it turns out, the shadowy figures are wearing blue glow bracelets around their wrists. They hold each other's hands up, swaying to the rhythm of a song. Among the crowd, however, Damian, Dick and Steph will notice a few familiar faces. Papika for Damian; blood drips from an injury on her chest, staining her white tunic red. She holds hands with the two individuals Dick will recognize; Illumi and Beck. Both of them wear white tunics as well, with matching 3D glasses. Finally, Steph will recognize Ion and Tiger in the crowd. They, too, wear a white tunic and 3D glasses. Each of these individuals wears blue glow bracelets around their wrists, holding hands and swaying side to side.
On the stage, even Hannibal and Akechi are wearing glow bracelets. The glow cuts through the fog, providing the slightest hint of illumination even while the lights on the ceiling flicker ominously. The fog is thick and cloying, smelling strongly of weed. It will, thankfully, numb their pain. But at the same time, it will also lower their inhibitions. It feels like they could say anything. Speak their mind. Vomit word after word after word, where they would previously keep those feelings to themselves. For Dick's convenience, he will even find a tablet with text to voice capabilities on the podium. Though, unfortunately, it's chained to it so he can't take it with him.
Maou films the trio. A live feed appears on the TV behind Hannibal and Akechi. Once the group is at their podiums, Hannibal lifts the microphone to his mouth.]
"Welcome back to another segment of—"
[The crowd shouts, in perfect unison:]
"Reasons! You! Deserve! To! Die!"
"Our contestants suffered a significant loss in Round 2. However, the competition is far from over. Should they make it through this round, they can more than make up for their previous defeat! Akechi-san, what is their reward should they make it through this round?"
"If our contestants make it through Round 3, they will earn the right to visit their friends from the mansion and island! Are the viewers at home excited? I sure am."
"It would be wise not to get too excited, however. After all, they first must make it through my favorite segment. Its theme: Why am I so pathetic?"
[On the TV screen, the the words WHY AM I SO PATHETIC? appear over the live feed.]
"Now, the rules are simple. They say this is a safe space. That you are surrounded by the friends who love you... Your classmates who would never, ever reject you. So, why don't you speak from your heart? Tell them how you really feel. Do you feel safe? Do you feel happy? Do you believe you are worthy of praise...? Or do you believe you are pathetic, worth even less than the dirt below our shoes? Go ahead. There are no wrong answers. In this segment, we are all winners... Well, unless you refuse to speak from the heart, that is."
[The camera zooms in on them, and Hannibal and Akechi will step down from the stage to shove their microphones at the trio in the order of Damian, Dick and Stephanie. They will not move on until each of them has overshared on live television, it seems.]
no subject
As it turns out, the shadowy figures are wearing blue glow bracelets around their wrists. They hold each other's hands up, swaying to the rhythm of a song. Among the crowd, however, Damian, Dick and Steph will notice a few familiar faces. Papika for Damian; blood drips from an injury on her chest, staining her white tunic red. She holds hands with the two individuals Dick will recognize; Illumi and Beck. Both of them wear white tunics as well, with matching 3D glasses. Finally, Steph will recognize Ion and Tiger in the crowd. They, too, wear a white tunic and 3D glasses. Each of these individuals wears blue glow bracelets around their wrists, holding hands and swaying side to side.
On the stage, even Hannibal and Akechi are wearing glow bracelets. The glow cuts through the fog, providing the slightest hint of illumination even while the lights on the ceiling flicker ominously. The fog is thick and cloying, smelling strongly of weed. It will, thankfully, numb their pain. But at the same time, it will also lower their inhibitions. It feels like they could say anything. Speak their mind. Vomit word after word after word, where they would previously keep those feelings to themselves. For Dick's convenience, he will even find a tablet with text to voice capabilities on the podium. Though, unfortunately, it's chained to it so he can't take it with him.
Maou films the trio. A live feed appears on the TV behind Hannibal and Akechi. Once the group is at their podiums, Hannibal lifts the microphone to his mouth.]
"Welcome back to another segment of—"
[The crowd shouts, in perfect unison:]
"Reasons! You! Deserve! To! Die!"
"Our contestants suffered a significant loss in Round 2. However, the competition is far from over. Should they make it through this round, they can more than make up for their previous defeat! Akechi-san, what is their reward should they make it through this round?"
"If our contestants make it through Round 3, they will earn the right to visit their friends from the mansion and island! Are the viewers at home excited? I sure am."
"It would be wise not to get too excited, however. After all, they first must make it through my favorite segment. Its theme: Why am I so pathetic?"
[On the TV screen, the the words WHY AM I SO PATHETIC? appear over the live feed.]
"Now, the rules are simple. They say this is a safe space. That you are surrounded by the friends who love you... Your classmates who would never, ever reject you. So, why don't you speak from your heart? Tell them how you really feel. Do you feel safe? Do you feel happy? Do you believe you are worthy of praise...? Or do you believe you are pathetic, worth even less than the dirt below our shoes? Go ahead. There are no wrong answers. In this segment, we are all winners... Well, unless you refuse to speak from the heart, that is."
[The camera zooms in on them, and Hannibal and Akechi will step down from the stage to shove their microphones at the trio in the order of Damian, Dick and Stephanie. They will not move on until each of them has overshared on live television, it seems.]