#dros

Viva las Vegas, huh? I guess it makes sense. You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever questioned Ellis being a gambler when the setting was goddamn Vegas. Was that the initial prompt for the character venus sent accirax? We’re on chapter 6 and I’m still fascinated by this format lmao.

“It would’ve been really cool if I’d woken up in a flash, struck with an amazing idea of how to get out of here. I’d be overjoyed if the smart part of my brain, difficult to access as it may be, was working overtime as I rested and cracked the code of this Resort. I could go down to breakfast and greet the four people left with a smile and a plan. Mark would be ecstatic. Vanessa would be super grateful. Davis could cast his worries aside, and Aidan might even crack a smile. That’d be a pretty great morning.”

Ah, fantasies. Well, at least Mark has a plan, right? Still excited to see what’s up with that.

“But, no. Instead, it was a dreamless night. I’ll just have to live with that.”

We’re really poetic, huh? Fitting start to the grand finale!

“Mark: …Three people died yesterday. Three people who could’ve survived.”

I… was worried he’d take that badly. Hold your head up high, my guy, at least the others are probably going to survive thanks to you!

“Monoquin exits the Buffet. I take a look at the updated BDA rule, just to see what the exact phrasing is; apparently, prospective killers pay attention to those kinds of minute rules details now. It says, “A Body Discovery Announcement will play when two or more spotless students see the body.””

Two or more? Still kind of a lot when there’s only six people running around. You kill one, that’s five, and you’re a blackened… so half the spotless would have to see the body. Yikes.

“Ellis: That’s still… really bad odds. Kill one person, two people set off the BDA… that’s one versus one.”

Well, good to see that my mental link with Ellis is as strong as ever, lol xD

“Aidan: I guess it’s true that, if we lived here forever, they probably couldn’t do a seventh killing game. That’d be some kind of good, at least.”

Kinda depressing, but I guess it works.

“Despite the fact that Monoquin said there won’t be any more motives, I peep my head into the Show Room to see what’s up. Looks like it was cleared out. Everything checks.”

Sick. Makes you wonder why the hell it was called the ‘show room’. Is it because it ‘shows’ motives? I don’t know why I’ve never questioned that name up until now lmao.

“Mark holds out their hand, a USB drive in their palm. I take it curiously. Mark: There’s a video on here. I need you to watch it and then meet me in the Grotto.”

Alright! We’re really moving like it’s the final chapter, it’s very exciting!

“Mark: There’s a computer in my room. That’s probably the best place, and you already have access to it.”

Convenient. I guess he probably requested that at some point?

“Mark: It’s an explanation of where I was yesterday.”

:O

“Ellis: Mark, were you… vlogging??? Mark: … Mark stifles a laugh. Then, they laugh some more. Mark: Sorry, I– pff. Sorry.  I cross my arms and smile. Ellis: Aw, come on. You finally remembered your past as the Ultimate Vlogger! That’s nothing to laugh about.”

Thank you Ellis Ortiz for being the greatest ever.

“Mark: Thanks for… everything. Ellis: …You’re welcome?”

That is… ominous! Please don’t die Mark. For me? For Ellis?

“Why couldn’t we just watch it together…?”

That’s kinda what I’m wondering too. I hope Mark isn’t planning to, like, kill themselves, or otherwise do something Ellis wouldn’t approve of. I’m very nervous now.

“The video opens on a shot of an empty chair in the Conference Room. Mark walks into frame and sits down in the chair, looking away. They’re wearing their formal outfit.”

Fancy.

“Mark: Hey, Ellis. I want to do this one more time. They sigh before facing the camera with a smile. Mark: Hi! My name is Marcos Miranda, but please feel free to call me Mark. I use they/he pronouns. It’s nice to finally be able to introduce myself to you.”

uuuaaAAAAHH!!! Name reveal!!! And payoff to the ‘multiple introductions’ bit we had going on!!! I’m losing my mind and the chapter’s barely started. Also kinda convenient their real name is something that actually works with ‘Mark’ lmao. Unless Vanessa knew his name already when she gave him the nickname because she’s the mastermind, a possibility I’m getting more worried about the longer I think about it. I can’t freak out about Ness now, though, I’m already freaking out enough about Mark! Marcos! Whatever!

“Mark: You might already be able to guess where this is headed, though… So, I guess I should start by saying that I’m sorry.”

Don’t die don’t die don’t die don’t die don’t die-

“Mark: I wish I could come up with a different way, but I couldn’t. I didn’t… I don’t want to do this to you. I know how much it hurts. If it were just the two of us, I’d stay here forever instead. That’d stop another killing game from coming in and replacing it, at least, and I’d get to spend my time with you. But it’s not just us, is it…?”

Don’t die don’t die don’t die don’t die-

“Mark: I… shouldn’t have made it this far to begin with. And, this killing game… I never really intended on making it out alive. If I could’ve, I would’ve, and maybe someday I’d be able to put it all behind me. The way it is, though… These killing games are my past, present and future. If I can save all of you, it’s worth it. That’s what I’ve been hoping for the whole time.”

Head in hands. It’s Marcover. You were supposed to be safe, my guy! You’re supposed to be fine if you make it past CH5 and aren’t the mm! I am in a lot of pain.

“Mark: I want you to be happy, Ellis. To get out of this cycle of torture and death and grief and to find a place in the world where you can be happy. You deserve to have a future. You deserve everything I could give you. So, I’m making this video to tell you. I need you to know that you are worth it. You do deserve this. So, please… don’t blame yourself for any of this. I want to do this. And I don’t want anyone else to blame themselves, either. It’s not just you. I want everyone to escape this place.”

I’m devastated. Why are they this nice.

“CRASH! Mark stands up from his seat and looks around, frantic. Mark: I… don’t know what that was. I’ll be back.”

Oh great. And the murder interrupted this suicide note of a video. Jeff how could you.

“Mark: That’s three more people who won’t get out of here, even though they should’ve. Maybe, if I hadn’t retaken this video a hundred times, they’d still be alive… I really need to wrap this up.”

Yikes :(

“Mark: These killing games don’t end. Not unless you make them. That’s why… I have to do this. I can’t let these deaths keep happening. And, I don’t want to win again. I don’t want to forget you.  He takes a deep breath. Mark: So, I guess this is goodbye. I’m sorry again. I know I don’t have any right to say this after what I’m about to do, but… end this thing for me, okay?  They stare at the camera for a long moment. Mark: …Bye, Ellis.”

Pain and suffering and misery. Venus why would you do this to us. Accirax why would you pick this character to max out FTEs on. Evil. Evil people creating this fangan /silly I love this I’m just really sad now.

“Note Obtained: Mark’s Video.”

…Yay.

“Laying on the stone floor of the Grotto, blood trailing from the wound in their stomach… is… Ellis: Mark…!”

Ouch.

“I check for a twitch, a breath, a pulse, anything. … … …It’s faint. But it’s there. It’s… it’s beating? Holy shit, that means Mark is still alive!”

Wait what the fuck?!?! Is Ellis the clutchest person alive?!?! Come on, let this be a trick of some kind. Remember the Bonus Scene, Mark, you’re supposed to think of what the others want, too!

“I can’t ask the staff, can I? It’s… it’s probably not part of a murder, per se, as defined by the rules. So, i-if it wouldn’t interfere with a Class Trial, the Resort wouldn’t want one of their participants to just drop dead like that! Especially one who’s definitely a fan favorite, after winning last time.”

Oh they’re a fan favorite alright. At least, one of this fan’s favorites. We’re losing it so much that Ellis is stuttering in their inner monologue lmao.

“Except… if it was self-inflicted, then… where’s the murder weapon? I look around. The only bloody things here are Mark and the ground.”

Did he just… how the fuck did this happen?!?! Did they have stitches they pulled?!?!

“Was this an actual murder, then? What was up with the suicide video in that case?! Also, who the hell would have done it?”

AAAAAAAH-

“So, that’s it. I’m going to watch Mark die out right in front of me, and not be able to do anything about it. The cards are stacked. Ellis: … …But that doesn’t mean I can’t go for a gamble.”

Ellis Mark is dying stop aura farming in your own inner monologue. I’m joking your aura farming is actually very engaging I just need to cope with the Horror with humor real quick ha ha ha… ha.

“After a moment, some staff members enter the Grotto, probably from some sort of back entrance.”

That’s… weird. What do you mean back entrance? Is it something we should be taking note of?

“Ellis: More like a suggestion. You see, I happen to know that this murder– even if your ally was at the forefront of it– totally plays into Mark’s hands. They were planning for it to happen. And I have proof!”

Uhm, I don’t know what we’re doing, but I hope it works?

“Ellis: So, here’s what I’m thinking: Mark has been working tirelessly to end your stupid killing game. And, evidently, he decided that the best way to do it was to find himself dead in this very Grotto. I take a deep breath. Ellis: Therefore, if you want the killing game to continue, you’d better do something to reverse the effects of this murder. Because, mark my words– I glare at the staff. Ellis: If Mark dies, I will figure out exactly what they were planning and burn your whole operation to the ground.“

Hell of a bluff. I just hope it works.

“I know what you’re thinking. “Aren’t you throwing away a golden opportunity to end the killing game?””

I’m actually not thinking about that at all, Ellis. Even if this is part of Mark’s plan, you have absolutely no clue how to enact it, so your threats to the Staff are pretty empty. But because you have no instruction, it’s also possible something went wrong with Mark’s plan, at which point it’d be better to just save them so they can try again. Or hopefully you can convince them to try something else. Or maybe his plan is for you to do exactly this. Letting Mark die here feels like a really unnecessary risk.

“Unfortunately for all the haters, I’ve made my stance quite clear. Whether by being the last man standing, being a winning killer, or coming up with a plan that sacrifices part of the team to succeed, winning the killing game isn’t a win unless you can do it without throwing anyone’s life away. If we’re ever going to break this cycle of violence, we have to take a stand at some point. This is mine. I’m not letting anyone throw away their future.”

Hell yeah, tell them Ellis!

“Staff: …Right away.”

Oh hell yeah. Master gambler pulls off a master bluff. Or maybe she genuinely believed what she was saying, which would honestly be more impressive in terms of ballsiness alone.

“The problem with this kind of gamble is that I won’t know how it turns out until later. I don’t want to consider the possibility, but… even if the staff complied with my wishes, there’s still a chance that Mark was already too far gone. What if that was my last chance to see him, and I wasted it yelling at the staff…?”

Don’t worry, Lucky Student privilege. We win these.

“Despite my bravado, I also feel a little guilty for going against what Mark wanted. They did come up with what was, presumably, the best plan for how to get the most people out alive. I ruined that. But, no. Even if Mark is mad at me, it’s better mad than dead! If we live here together forever, Mark will realize that I was right, and forgive me eventually.”

Tell ‘em Ellis! I love him so much.

“Ellis: pls meet in lower common room asap Vanessa: Ok! Davis: Sure thing Aidan: ^”

Hell yeah, let’s talk about this.

“Aidan: Mark wasn’t on the message thread. Why?”

Lmao. I guess he would notice that, huh?

“Ellis: That’s because, um… Well… Do you want the bad news or the good news first? Vanessa: Um… good news…? Ellis: Alright. Uh, does anybody have any good news to share?”

Jesus fucking christ Ellis why are you this funny even in the face of the Horrors.

“Ellis: If you swim under the bridge outside, there’s a secret space called the Grotto. Mark showed it to me, like, two weeks ago. Anyways, I got a… really concerning message from them right before we were supposed to meet there. And when I showed up in the Grotto… he had a massive wound in his stomach.”

Well, everyone knows about the Grotto now! Yay! :,D

“Ellis: I… I think Mark had a plan to end the killing game by doing this, somehow. So I… told them that, and said that Mark dying was probably counter to their goals. Davis: And they actually complied? That confirms that whatever Mark was doing would’ve been a problem for them, right? Ellis: …I know. Although, I’m not sure how it would’ve worked.”

Way too many variables unaccounted for here, yeah.

“Ellis: We could make welcome back cards? Like they do for kids who’re sick enough that they miss months of class. Honestly, I don’t know if my hands are steady enough to write anything at the moment. Aidan: …Waiting’s probably the only thing we can do right now.”

Aidan really said ‘fuck your cards’. Why are these people still so funny.

“Aidan: Though, I mean… no offense to Davis’ medical skills, obviously, but you’d think someone on the staff would be an actual medical professional, right?  Ellis: Why? It’s not like they want us to live… Aidan: But staff members would get sick or injured too. With how big this place is, I’d have to imagine someone on hand would be equipped for medical emergencies, even if it’s not intended to benefit the players.”

Thanks for being smart and rational Aidan, really needing stuff like that rn.

“Monoquin: Greetings, contestants. I ask you all to gather in the Foyer at your earliest convenience.”

Ooh boy.

“Monoquin: Investigation has begun. A Class Trial will begin shortly. The Monoquin File has been sent to your e-Handbooks now.”

Motherfucker.

“Ellis: So, Mark… Mark is… Monoquin: Contestants are encouraged to read the Monoquin File for case-relevant information.”

Please don’t be dead and the file be something else?

““The victim is Marcos Miranda. They died due to blood loss at 9 AM in the Grotto.””

Motherfucker. I won’t fully believe it until I see a body, but this is bad.

“Truth Bullet Obtained: Monoquin File #6”

Yay…

“Aidan: …Monoquin. How are we… How are we even meant to do this Trial? There’s no body. There’s no BDA. You can’t really expect us to just go in there and start pointing fingers over nothing. Monoquin: There is still evidence to be found. Additionally, one of you did see the body and may provide an account. Should you have any questions, you may ask me, and should I determine them to be fair, I may answer.”

Well that’s… bad. There’s a part of me still hoping, but…

“Ellis: Yeah… According to Mark, we were the only ones. He only knew about it due to the previous killing game. Mark said it was okay if I said stuff about them. He, very pointedly, said that the point of all of this was to end the killing game. Sharing what I know is probably the best idea.”

Having other people at the Grotto almost feels weird. And Ellis’ inner monologue is right, sharing info is pretty important rn.

“Aidan: I’m… here if you need anything…? Or something…?”

I can see you’re trying very hard, Aidan. Thanks Aidan.

“Ellis: I… Aidan, what am I supposed to do? I don’t know exactly to what level, but I know Mark orchestrated some of this themself to end the killing game. If this is our one shot, I have to help. I just… I…”

TITLE DROP!!!!!!!!! I’m way too excited over that considering everything, but I’ve been wondering about it forever sue me xD

“I can’t hold back the tears anymore.”

Yikes. Poor Ellis :(

“In the end, this was Mark’s choice. It’s the worst gift I’ve ever received, but a gift nonetheless. I can’t give up now. If I did, and these killing games don't end, then there’ll just be another one right after. I could win, enter a second time, befriend an Ultimate ???, and give up in front of them, too. Mark may be gone, but… I’ve inherited his will. Lucky me. Now, it’s time to do what I do best: turn that will into a win.”

Let’s go. Let’s lock tf in.

“Truth Bullet Obtained: Last Sighting of Mark”

We really are going into a trial immediately, huh? I guess it makes sense, there’s not much else to do, but geez this is going to be a long Trial, huh? There’s five damn parts to this chapter lol.

“Aidan: I’ll see you when we head to the Trial. Ellis: Right. Please, still be there…”

Wow, okay, so we’re doing horrible, got it.

“He gestures to a pile of dry towels waiting by the entrance. Davis: Those were there when we got here. I assume Mark probably ordered them, or something…?  Ellis: For us, I guess. Davis: Yeah… Ellis: W-well… I guess that’s more evidence that whatever was going on here, Mark did plan for it.”

Well, that’s something, I guess.

“It seems like Vanessa is still looking at that e-Handbook. What gives? It’s not like the File was that long…”

Vanessa stop catching mm allegations challenge level impossible. What are you looking at? Is something going wrong and you have to check in with the Staff or something?

“Vanessa: You can take a look, if you want. It’s Mark’s.”

Never mind oops.

“Vanessa: …The e-Handbook has a lot of notes on Mark’s day to day life here. From what I can tell, none of it is really that… important? But, it’s there, so I guess it counts as evidence.  Ellis: Mark was using the e-Handbook like a journal?”

I remember that, yeah. From a Bonus Scene, I take it, as Ellis doesn’t seem to remember it.

“Truth Bullet Obtained: State of Mark’s Body Truth Bullet Obtained: Mark’s e-Handbook Dun, dun, dun, dun!”

… Are we deadass? We have like five Truth Bullets. We’ve been investigating for five minutes, tops. The hell?

“Ellis: …I-I still wanted to check the Conference Room, and watch the video again, and… What do you mean time is already up?”

Okay, I’m not insane, this investigation was too short. I guess knowing this is the final chapter, it makes sense Monoquin and maybe the mm are panicking, but still.

“One day. It’s been one day since Harper, Noah, and Jeff died. Less than that, even. Less than 24 hours. Even if Mark really had to do this for the sake of the world or whatever… Why now? Couldn’t we have had a minute to breathe? To mourn? “Goodbye” hadn’t even left my lips. I guess the problem was that, in the end, Mark didn’t trust Aidan, Davis, or Vanessa not to do anything in that one day. Same with the mastermind, or the traitor, or Monoquin, whoever those people may really be. I wonder if the others felt the same way. Not that they were going to commit some terrible sacrifice in the same way, but that they don’t trust anyone to not pull something. Since when did I get in contention for the most trusting person here? I’d say it was Mark’s influence, but then, we’re back to square one.”

Mark really said ‘fuck all y’all the ending starts NOW’ huh? Still crazy they did that.

“Mark forgave me. I have to forgive them too. It’s the best way I can make peace with this situation. The most motivation I can have to wage this war against the mastermind. I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do to… Unmask the mastermind? Force a rules violation, somehow? On which rule?”

Glad we’re not super mad at the guy, at least. But yeah, more instruction would’ve been appreciated.

“If the outside world is an uncaring concrete jungle, what world are we meant to fight for now…? The one we live in. The one that allows us to live. If life is something worth having, and if goodness is something to strive for, then I have to prove it. If I’d proven it earlier… well, maybe a certain someone would have changed their mind. I don’t know if the dead are listening, but… I’ll scream it loud enough so they can hear. I bet you’re real jealous of what we’ve got right now.”

I wonder who Ellis is talking to at the end there. The audience? ‘Mark’ feels weird. The blackeneds? Interesting to think about.

What a fucking roller coaster, and we’re barely getting started with this chapter. I’m still kinda processing that Mark may really be dead. It kinda feels like we’re gonna see him alive and well when the trial starts, but I kinda doubt it. Let’s not waste any more time.

Part 2

[Class Trial: Start!]

Let’s lock tf in.

[Rules read out] Everything seems the same as usual so far…

“Ellis: Ha. My podium is still warm.”

Yikes.

“Aidan: Ellis, you said you got a concerning message from him. What did they say? [Evidence Select]”

Accidentally saw this was “Mark’s video”, but it was pretty easy anyways.

“Aidan: Back to the actual topic, though… That means Mark… intended to die, right? So, it’s possible no one else was involved. At least, until Ellis got there. Ellis: That’s what I would’ve thought, except the rules paint a different story. A Class Trial is only held if a murder occurs, and suicide doesn’t count as a “murder.” Aidan: Suicide doesn’t count as a murder for the purpose of clearing a motive or blackening a contestant. That means it does count as a murder for anything else.”

Well, the only regulation about what starts a trial also mentions murder directly, but there may be some grey area on suicides.

“Aidan: The best approach is probably thinking about it like any other murder. Start with the case facts, figure out why later. [Mixed Matches]”

Makes sense, thanks Aidan.

Victim -> C. Mark, whose full name is apparently Marcos Miranda. Cause of death -> B. Bleeding out, according to the File. [Reasonable given the stomach wound and pool of blood.] Murder Weapon -> E. Unknown. Location -> D. The Grotto. Hypothetically, only Mark and I should know of its existence. Time -> A. I found Mark’s body at around 9 AM. It took a little while for Monoquin to bring us to the Trial Grounds, though.

Have we ever had one of these that goes up to E? Kinda cool.

[Answer: C - B - E - D - A] I wonder if I’ve ever gotten one of these wrong. They’re usually pretty easy.

“Aidan: You’d think the murder weapon would be easier to identify. If Mark really did… do all of this, I don’t know why or how they’d get rid of it. It should still be in the area.”

Yeah, this is still very strange.

“Ellis: I know I’m probably pretty suspicious– Aidan: You’re not.”

Damn. Confident on that. I guess it makes sense; killing someone in a place only you know about is pretty silly as a murder plan, even beyond the obvious emotional argument that Ellis probably wouldn’t kill Mark.

“Aidan: You have no motive; it would be a weird move for you to ask the staff to heal Mark if you stabbed them; it would be an even weirder move on the staff’s part if they actually healed them after you stabbed them; and you’re not a good enough actor to pull any of this afternoon off. There’s no way you’re the one who killed them, so we can just all move on.”

That too, yeah, but you’re still technically taking Ellis’ word for it that she actually asked the Staff to heal Mark, instead of hiding their body in some other place herself.

“Davis: Or why Mark would still be alive when Ellis got there in the first place. If the mastermind were really trying to kill Mark for some reason, wouldn’t they ensure Mark died?”

That’s also a concern. There’s a lot that doesn’t make sense here.

“Vanessa: Run where? Wouldn’t it be a rules violation or something for the mastermind to use the staff exit during the killing game? Ellis: I dunno, they’re the mastermind! Do the rules really apply? Vanessa: …Probably??”

The double question mark of ‘we really have no fucking idea what’s going on anymore’, huh? And there’s still four parts of Trial. We’re so cooked.

“Aidan: The point is, it doesn’t make a ton of sense if the mastermind did it, either. So, for now, we should probably assume it was just Mark. Davis: But then we still have the same problem. [Nonstop Debate]”

Where is the weapon? And other questions I’m dying to know the answer to.

“Vanessa: We’re pretty sure Mark did it. That means there’s no way they could’ve hidden the knife right after they used it…”

Maybe the stack of towels here? Surely they’d have found the knife, though. Maybe Mark asked a Staff member? Not technically related to a murder, after all.

Maybe take:

“Aidan: He thought this would end the killing game. The video said as much.”

And shoot:

“Aidan: Not to mention there’s no reason why they’d hide it.”

Question mark? I kinda agree with Vanessa that I don’t see how the murder method would relate to ending the killing game, but still.

[Answer: Regulation 10 + Kennedy’s Escape Theory → “murder method couldn’t relate to ending the killing game”]

Oh wow, I kinda figured we’d wait a bit more to bring up Kennedy’s escape theory. Also, kind of a jump to “the Headmaster may not involved in a murder”, no? How does accirax figure out some of these? I’m impressed :O

[Nonstop Debate] Alright we ball.

“Vanessa: Can Monoquin even hold a knife…?”

Uhh… Monoquin’s Hands here?

[Answer: Monoquin’s Hands → “don’t have any clue about the actual weapon”]

Uh… I guess they’d have to be sharp to open locks. Still feels like a bit of a jump lol :v

“Davis: That… might work, if you could actually manage it. So, could Mark just grab Monoquin’s arm and use his hand to stab themself…? Aidan: No, that wouldn’t work. If you grabbed Monoquin first, they could try to spin it as violence against the Headmaster, and then it’d be your fault. It’d be too likely to fail. Vanessa: But then, how would Mark actually pull that off? [Evidence Select]”

Accidentally saw this was VIP Files, but how the hell were we supposed to get that? It’s not going great gang, and the Trial’s barely started T_T

“Ellis: It would be just like how Jeff unlocked the VIP Area. All Mark would have to do is summon Monoquin to them, stand close by, and ask Monoquin to stick out his hand.”

Okay, I see how one connects that to VIP Files, but geez, this final Trial’s rough.

“Vanessa: Then, um… I don’t think Monoquin can be the blackened, but a rule was broken, so… now what? Ellis: …We ball?”

Pfft. Ellis truly is my spirit animal.

“Vanessa: …The part about it being a murder weapon? Monoquin: Your assertion that a rule was violated is incorrect. [Nonstop Debate]”

Ooh, is Monoquin hopping on the Nonstop, Shit going crazy. I’m guessing Monoquin’s angle is that he was an instrument in a suicide, and the rule only forbids murder?

“Monoquin: Mx. Miranda did use my hand in order to commit suicide. Vanessa: You’re just saying that?! Monoquin: However, suicide does not count as murder within this killing game.”

Called that shit. Wonder what the justification for the Trial would be, then.

I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do here, which probably isn’t surprising considering I’m not exactly on my A-game today. Though checking over the e-Handbook did make me notice that not only is Mark’s real name there (and was his birthday always there? Don’t remember), he’s also listed as the “Ultimate Amnesiac.” Neat, though I wonder what their original talent was, I kinda doubt they were always amnesiac (or maybe they were? Who knows).

Maybe shoot:

“Davis: You killed a contestant, as the Headmaster.”

With Monoquin File #6, with the idea that since Mark’s blood loss killed him, Monoquin is absolutely the killer? Idk man.

[Answer: Regulation #9 + Regulation #10 → “suicide does not count as murder”] That… doesn’t really disagree with anything. Regulation #9 says it doesn’t count as murder for some purposes, and reg #10 says the Headmaster doesn’t murder. I guess the idea is that Reg #9 doesn’t say suicide isn’t murder at all, but rather, that there’s specific things it doesn’t count as murder for?

“Ellis: It’s like Aidan said earlier. In the rules, it says that suicide only doesn’t count as murder for the purposes of satisfying a motive or blackening a player.“

Fair. But I guess the argument is that the “killer” of this “murder” would still be Mark, not Monoquin.

“Aidan: You broke the rules. Your move, but I don’t think it’s going to work out well for you to keep breaking them. Monoquin: …”

Never mind, counts I guess. We ball indeed!

“Ellis: I guess this is what a screenless blue screen looks like.”

Damn. Monoquin getting obliterated over here.

“Vanessa: But, what? Mark used Monoquin’s hand to stab themself in the Grotto. That’s, like, the whole mystery, right? [Evidence Select]”

I really gotta stop accidentally seeing what the Evidence Select is, especially since I may have guessed this was Monoquin File Lies. At least let me get ahead of it: the cause of death and victim seem right, the time of death doesn’t look unbelievable, but Mark didn’t die in the Grotto, but rather in whatever room they put him in to try and cure him.

“Ellis: I guess if the cause of death wasn’t actually bleeding out, it’s possible we could have something wrong. That could be what’s tripping him up.”

I guess “medical mismanagement” might count as a different cause of death? Or something else happened behind the scenes?

“Davis: If Monoquin’s hands are the murder weapon, I don’t really see how anything other than bleeding out could be the cause of death. Similarly, I don’t think the listed location would be anything other than the Grotto. Even if the staff brought them off-site to try to save them, I doubt they could really give us a location that isn’t within the Resort. Plus, then you would probably have to question the timing.”

Okay never mind. I personally think we’re moving away from the location too fast, but who am I to interrupt the plot :v

[Lie Detector] Alright, let’s see if I can get this right, at least.

… Huh. “They died” is separated. Copium? Or… But why wouldn’t it be separated?

Alright we ball:

The victim is Marcos Miranda -> Mark’s Profile + Mark’s e-Handbook [possibly either or, or also the state of Mark’s body].

They died -> Monoquin File Lies [we ball we ball we ball- otherwise this is probably the regulation about a class trial following a murder, reg #3, under the idea that there wouldn’t have been a trial without a death at least]

due to blood loss -> State of Mark’s Body + State of the Grotto [alternatively Monoquin File Lies if Mark is dead]

at 9 AM -> Last Sighting of Mark.

in the Grotto -> State of the Grotto

[Answer] Okay, more or less. It was State of Mark’s Body instead of Mark’s Profile in the first one, and the last two also included Mark’s Video. Most importantly, the lie is that Mark died!!! Are we back chat? Is it possible???

“Ellis: That means… The only part of the File that could be wrong is Mark being dead!!! Davis: Mark’s… not dead…? Vanessa: Yippee!”

Holy shit we’re going crazy. Also Vanessa thanks for your whimsy sorry I’ve been suspecting you of being the mm aim just running out of options here.

“Aidan: Hold on. Are we 100% sure…? Not that I don’t want it to be true, but… I don’t want to start believing it if we’re just going to figure out we’re wrong later. I don’t… want you to go through that, Ellis. Ellis: What else would be wrong, Aidan? Aidan: I just… want to make sure.  Vanessa: Then, why don’t we go through it? Just to make sure that everything is 100% right. Aidan: …Yeah. Okay. [Closing Argument]”

Part 2 out of 5 btw.

1- The Grotto. [Mark learnt of the Grotto several chapters before anything else]

2- Mark’s Video. [Mark recorded the video before going to the Grotto. Could be swapped with 1- if Grotto refers to Mark going there as opposed to finding out about it]

3- Monoquin’s Hands. [Mark stabs himself with Monoquin’s Hands]

4- Last Sighting of Mark. [Ellis sees Mark in the Grotto]

5- Monoquin File #6. [The Monoquin File is made and given]

6- Monoquin File Lie. [Mark’s not dead. I have no idea if this is supposed to go before or after the File itself].

[Answer: Last Sighting - Video - Grotto - Hands - Lie - File] Okay, I guess the video refers to Ellis watching the video, and Last Sighting referred to the sighting before that. I’m gonna call it close enough seeing as Last Sighting does also mention Ellis seeing Mark bleeding so it’s ambiguous :p

“Ellis: He couldn’t directly ask this entity to kill him, so he had to get creative. Using the same technique that Jeff used to open the VIP room, Mark asked this being to extend their arm, and they did. Their sharp hand stabbed into Mark’s stomach, causing Mark to collapse to the ground.”

It’s funny to hear Ellis talking about Monoquin with the identity obfuscation usually reserved for blackeneds lmao.

“The doors to the Class Trial Grounds open and a few staff members come in. They walk up to Monoquin, pick up his frozen body, then take it out of the room with them.”

Oh shit, everything’s really breaking, huh? I wonder why Monoquin even initiated the Trial then.

“Davis: If Mark didn’t die, does that mean that the rule wasn’t technically broken? Because–“

Yeah that. Also: {I don't know what I was going to say here, I think I got distracted by the next lines???}

“Vanessa: Hello, everybody! Davis: Vanessa…? Vanessa: Contestants of the Sixth Killing Game, congratulations on making it this far! You’ve managed to do the impossible: force the killing game to its end. So, as a result, let’s make it a finale worthy of this amazing cast”

What the fuck??? Vanessa you being the MM was a joke!!! What the fuck???

“Vanessa: In order to progress to the next stage, you’ll have to answer one very simple question. You all know that there’s always been a mastermind among your ranks. The question is: who? Lock in your votes when you’re satisfied, and good luck! Ellis: Vanessa, what are you doing? Vanessa: It told me to say it, okay?!  She shows us her e-Handbook, which has words on its screen like a teleprompter.”

Okay, so, not immediate mm reveal there. Still, at this point, who the hell? The only thing I can think about is something I said earlier, that it’s mighty convenient News chose a name for Marcos which matched their actual name. But, is that it? The hell is happening right now?

“Ellis: Okay, but how are we supposed to do that? I mean, I guess it turned out okay the last time I had to make a random choice, but… that was only between two people! Plus, we had way more evidence! Aidan: From your perspective, aren’t there only three people…? That’s not that different. Ellis: But… it is!!!”

I mean. The mm could be dead. Kennedy didn’t think the game would end with the mm’s death, after all.

“Vanessa: Though, it’s not like we’re completely in the dark either, right? We’ve talked about this before. [Evidence Select]”

Kennedy’s Mastermind Theory is bad, let’s be real here.

“Vanessa: I just meant that it’s something we should at least talk about… Plus, isn’t it kinda weird that they’re both still here…? Aidan: I’m pretty convinced Vanessa’s the mastermind. I don’t know why it’d be Ellis or Davis, and I know it’s not me. Vanessa: Aw, come on! That’s not fair! Of course you’re gonna believe, like, your boyfriend and your best friend over me…”

Wow, we turned fast! But yeah, I’m getting more convinced of the Vanessa!mm angle the longer this goes on.

[Third Party Analysis] Let’s ball.

Concession: “Vanessa: I get that you guys are super close to each other, and I’m not, but that doesn’t mean I have to be the mastermind…” “Aidan: Sure, Kennedy thought I was the mastermind.” [Btw: “Kennedy thought a lot of things, like that killing Vivi was a good idea. I don’t agree with that.” is just fantastic. Beef so generational it’s downright posthumous].

Defense: “Vanessa: You’ve all seen how I’ve been trying to end the killing game too, right…?” “Aidan: I’ve always been trying to stop the killing game, even if I went about it wrong sometimes.”

Attack: “Vanessa: And, um… at least someone suspected Aidan.” “Aidan: She’s the one who’s acted the weirdest the whole time, and has just… been on a different emotional wavelength.”

Proposal: “Vanessa: Is it so crazy to believe that maybe Kennedy was right all along?” “Aidan: Besides, if anyone here was going to use their talent towards the killing game, wouldn't it be Vanessa? I’m sure you could do something with “Ultimate Announcer.””

Inquire! Not too sure, unsurprisingly. Maybe “Killing Game Explanation” to agree with Aidan’s Proposal? I don’t know how else we would use that, and you could argue that presenting the killing game through a movie instead of a more standard explanation is a sort of Announcer-y move. Maybe the Tragedy Article to Vanessa’s Defense, saying that maybe she ripped the article herself and thus hasn’t really been “trying”? I don’t like that one too much though.

[Answer: Got the Distill part right.

Inquire! “Killing Game Explanation“ → “Aidan’s Proposal”] Finally! I got one! Yay :,D Though I’m still worried about Ness actually being the mm because I’ll be really sad :(

“Ellis: I gotta say, I agree with Aidan on this point. Monoquin specifically described the Resort as “an attraction.””

Not the exact reasoning I used, but I did also consider that.

“Vanessa: Like I said, I’ve been trying to end this thing! And I haven’t been going along with the killing game the whole time! What about, um… the article on the Tragedy?”

Oh hey, we did bring it up. Though now we can question why Vanessa got the paper at all. Ellis’ requests for information were never actually answered, right? I don’t remember if that was 48 hours before this point, though…

“Ellis: Vanessa showed me an article about the Tragedy right before the dinner party last night. I meant to tell you guys about it, but… well, you understand why it was quickly deprioritized.”

Never mind, the Staff was just taking its sweet time with Ellis’ request xD

“I toss the paper in Davis’ direction. Since I didn’t crumple it or anything, it floats for a few moments before awkwardly falling on the floor. Somehow, Davis manages to make even picking up this stranded paper dashing.”

Thanks for the levity, I think I’m entering a sort of denial phase of grieving Vanessa :,)

“Aidan: Has it been helpful? It’s nice to know about the outside world, but it hasn’t actually helped with anything while we’ve been here. Maybe you got it for the sole purpose of having something to point out.”

Yeah, it really has done fuck all for us.

“Vanessa: If I were the mastermind, why would I do that? Like, try to shoot someone but then be unable to and freak out? That’d be, like, a weird move, right…?  Ellis: Freaking out… could freak other people out. If Robert hadn’t already died and word of your panic had spread, it might’ve motivated someone who was panicked and on the fence to act out.”

… Huh. Oh oh, that makes a lot of sense. I… do you think Antonia was the traitor, then? Kicking off the killing game with a horrendous murder to kickstart the despair, even at the cost of her life? Would explain Ness hanging out with her a lot. Though maybe Ness was only doing that because she figured Antonia would kill fast, which would allow Vanessa to stray from the group due to “grief” and thus not have to deal with socializing with her victims? Hm…

“Ellis: Jeez, I wish there was something we knew for sure that the mastermind did. Like, that they couldn’t do from amongst the students, or with Monoquin’s help. Then we could ask you about, like, alibis and stuff.”

Well… Mark’s nickname is still a thing.

“Aidan: That’s another point against you, though. You left first when we were waiting, right? Maybe you were going to talk to Monoquin. Vanessa: Oh, come on! It was a stressful situation! We’d been sitting there for, like, an hour!”

Okay yeah that’s actually not that great of a point Aidan lol.

[Freestyle Feud] Part 2 out of 5 btw. I can’t actually process that this is happening, what the fuck?

Vanessa: I promise you guys, I’m not the mastermind. We’re running out of options, and you seem fit for the task.

Vanessa: What do I have to do to earn your trust? Bring up some evidence to prove your innocence, or your defense won’t last.

Vanessa: You haven’t even given me anything to defend myself against! Process of elimination is your damnation; unless you can point to someone else, you won’t put our doubts to rest (?)

Vanessa: Aren’t all arguments for me or someone else the same? Not for your talent, as far as I’m aware.

Oh I was supposed to bring up Ness giving Mark their name oops. Well I called that out frame one of learning his real name so I’ll give myself some credit lol.

“Vanessa: Oh, duh! If I’m the mastermind, who do you think my traitor is?”

Antonia? That’s really not that hard of a question, if I’m supposed to point at one person.

“Ellis: Huh?! Won’t that just make us suspect you even more??? Vanessa: But it means you can’t vote yet, right? So, this is something you have to figure out first! Davis: I have to say, this doesn’t really… make me suspect you less…? Ellis: Way to steal my line but say it way cooler and sexier…”

Bruh.

[Puzzling Pieces] Was wondering when we’d get one of these!

“Vanessa: I’m not! Like… would I have helped you guys catch Monoquin just now if I was the mastermind? Aidan: Did you really help that much…?”

My guy really said ‘you were kinda useless’ lmao. I love Aidan so much.

God, even this is super hard. Usually you can kinda tell what the answer is from sentence structure, but this one’s somehow both too open and not open enough. I feel like “traitor” would have to go there, but I don’t know how. And there’s a lot of options for every blank word otherwise…

“Suspecting Vanessa was what Monoquin did not want”? I don’t know what that would refer to.

“Vanessa’s role was what both did not know?” What are we saying?

“Vanessa’s traitor was what Monoquin did not need/know/want/say”? Fuck would that mean.

“Trusting Vanessa/Monoquin… Suspecting Vanessa/Monoquin… Vanessa’s game/traitor/promise…” followed by “was what Monoquin/Vanessa/we/you… was what promise…” and finally “did not say/know/promise/need/want…” etc. I genuinely have no idea. This is not my trial bruh T_T

[Answer: Vanessa’s role was what Monoquin did this game.] O…kay, I see the idea. Vanessa being the announcer of the rules and stuff before Monoquin makes sense. This relates to the traitor… how? Is the angle that Monoquin is the mastermind and Ness is only the traitor?

“Ellis: Hmm… Monoquin is a host, isn’t he? And he kinda– no, he really sucks. Personality-wise, for sure, but more importantly, technology-wise. If he’s a new piece of tech, a new addition to the show, then maybe Vanessa used to play the role of the host. And we know that Vanessa had a little vendetta against Monoquin’s emceeing skills, too.”

Oh yeah, I remember that lol. I’m sad and nostalgic now.

“Davis: So Monoquin is just some sort of prototype? We all pause. Davis: Yeah, I see it.”

My guy catching mad strays this trial ToT

“Aidan: It’d also make sense as to why Mark didn’t come up with the same plan in the Fourth Killing Game. I mean, it was plausible enough that they just hadn’t thought about it, but if Monoquin wasn’t there before, the opportunity wouldn’t be either.”

Makes sense! Still no idea who the traitor is, though…

“Vanessa: Well, you, uh… You still haven’t answered anything about… the traitor…? Ellis: Did you just… basically confirm you were the mastermind???”

That’s what I’m saying, Ness! But yeah, that’s kinda sounds like an admission oops.

[Progressive Deduction] Can I get one minigame right this trial please?

1- What was Vanessa’s role in the previous killing games? a) Building Monoquin b) Choosing the winner c) Hosting the events of the killing game d) Nothing

c), obvs.

2- What does that mean? a) Vanessa is entirely innocent b) Vanessa must be the mastermind c) Vanessa wasn’t a contestant in the previous killing games d) Vanessa is working against us

I guess c) is the most rigorous follow up. Everything else is more of a logical jump, even if they are reasonable things.

3- What does this raise a conflict with? a) Ending the killing game b) Mark’s actions c) The VIP Files d) Vanessa’s lack of friends

“Vanessa’s lack of friends” is crazy. c) was already highlighted in the standalone document I’m assuming by mistake, so I’m guessing that’s the right answer, but it’s also sorta the only one that makes sense. I guess the issue that it raises is that there would be no need to hide the second killing game, as Vanessa wasn’t the winner but the host of that one?

[Answer: c - c - c] The guessing student’s dream lmao. But hey, I got it right! Even if it was slightly fraudulent with the pre-highlighted answer- look, I’ll take any win I can get at this point.

“Ellis: Alright, well, here’s a thought: we still don’t know who the winner of the Second Killing Game is. If Vanessa was being Monoquin at the time, she couldn’t have been a contestant, too. Maybe the traitor is whoever that winner was.”

Yeah, that was my other thought. Not that it’s immediately obvious who that would be lmao.

“Vanessa: I wasn’t “being Monoquin”!”

I know sweetie, you were probably better.

…In case it isn’t obvious by my tone, I seem to still be processing that Vanessa’s actually a horrible person who’s done unspeakable crimes against humanity. It just doesn’t feel real. She was literally nice D:

“Aidan: Because you were doing something else, or because you were better at the role?”

Oh hey Aidan! It’s been a while since I’ve been more mentally linked up with you than with Ellis lol.

“Vanessa: Maybe, uh… the second game didn’t exist…? Aidan: Convincing. Ellis: It obviously did? If it didn’t exist, then the third game would just be the second game, and you would be terrible at numbers. Vanessa: Why would it be my fault!!!”

I love how unserious this whole thing feels. Everyone’s just making fun of the mastermind, what a bunch of meanies :(

“Davis: I feel like that’s kind of obvious at this point, but… doesn’t it seem a little obvious? I mean, at this point it’s clear she’s guilty of something, but she seems too…  Ellis: Too… what? Davis: Too… all over the place? [Nonstop Debate]”

Bitches make it to Trial 6 and suddenly feel comfortable shit-talking the mm because they know their survival is almost guaranteed, I see how it is xD

“Aidan: It really seems like [the mastermind] have to be here, though…”

I mean, wasn’t Kennedy’s Escape Theory all about how that’s not necessarily the case? I’m shooting this with that Note.

[Answer: The Mastermind → “they’d have to be here”] You know what I’ll take it. Both notes talk about how the mastermind isn’t strictly necessary, which is what I’m assuming the point is.

“Ellis: Alright, then we should all agree he was telling the truth about the prior killing game. Mark didn’t think that they or the second place finisher were the mastermind. That means that there’s a precedent for the mastermind not being amongst the people who make it to the end. Davis: But, what happened to the mastermind in that case? Were they in the Fourth Killing Game with Mark to begin with? [Hangman’s Gambit]”

Locking in “Antonia’s poison”- Just kidding xD

Hangman’s is hard without letters. “They survived” fits, with the idea that the mm could have faked their death or something (not that I recall any of this game’s deaths being particularly fakeable if that’s the argument). “They weren’t” doesn’t fit even with the apostrophe, and that would have kinda been my guess. I don’t really know.

[Answer: Fake Executed] I thought about “fake execution” but that didn’t fit lol. I’m giving myself partial credit, which is kinda the best I can hope for in Hangman’s usually anyways lol.

“Aidan: You think the same thing happened this game? Davis: That would make the mastermind Antonia, Grace, Kennedy, Taylor, or Jeff, wouldn’t it?”

I mean, Antonia was friends with Vanessa… And I can’t lie, I did see she has a weirdly strong presence in post-game art. But… there no way. My favorites die in CH1, I can’t be hoping Antonia made it. Also I don’t remember her execution being easily fakeable. I don’t remember Kennedy’s well enough to rule them out… but she’s kinda ruled out because she’s the one who came up with the idea to end the killing game in the first place, no?

… If Antonia’s actually alive I’m popping off, I don’t even care about the circumstances. Just so we’re aware.

“Vanessa: … Aidan: Seems like we’re on the right track.”

Yeah… someone’s quiet, huh?

“Ellis: Well, I don’t think it’d be Jeff. The motivation doesn’t line up at all, and their death was… too close for comfort to be a fake.”

Alright, one down.

[Question completion] Come on these are easy, I need one non-fraudulent win.

“Where did the VIP Files come from?” It’s an interesting question. I mean, it kinda rules out Jeff maybe, but we knew that. I… is the point that the VIP Room was next to the Casino? Are we really Antoni-back?

[Answer: Where did the VIP Files come from?] Don’t call it a comeback B) Mostly because these are always beatable through sentence structure alone and thus aren’t really representative of me actually being back in my A-game B)

“Ellis: The VIP Files might’ve been written by the mastermind, right? Does it sound like any of their… writing… styles…? Aidan: I’m not convinced it was written by the mastermind.”

It seems not even Ellis is sure of what the point he’s trying to make is lol. Relatable.

“Aidan: Why would the Resort ever want the VIP Files? [Puzzling Pieces]”

That’s… actually a really fair question. What is the point of them? Just as record-keeping? Seems odd.

“Vanessa: You think that someone from outside the killing game would be able to learn all that?”

…Yes. This is televised. Had we not established that? Am I losing it? Possible.

“Someone outside the Resort figured out the information”? Kinda what was being said anyways. I’m going with it anyways, fuck it we ball.

[Answer: Someone outside the Resort figured out the information] Now you can call it a comeback B) Though tbf there weren’t that many words that could have gone before “out” but shhh… Call it a comeback anyways B)

“Ellis: Really, shouldn’t we just be believing whatever the opposite of what Vanessa says, anyway? Aidan: Or we could ignore her altogether. If you say that out loud, she’ll start playing mind games. Vanessa: Wait, don’t ignore me! I’m raising valid points!”

She’s trying so far I kinda feel bad for her, even despite all the human rights violations :(

[Nonstop Debate] Next step, can I actually get one of these right?

My first instinct was to shoot:

“Aidan: We don’t know who’s watching this thing. Maybe it’d be plenty easy to get in.

… with Balcony View. However, this caught my eye:

“Vanessa: I think someone would have to be pretty talented to pull that off…”

Wasn’t one of the previous winners a Mountain Climber? So I’m shooting VIP Files here.

[Answer: Cass’ Profile → “pretty talented”] Okay, never mind! Wrong Ultimate! I guess I got a little hung up on the Balcony and forgot the info gathering part lol. Well, at least it was the right thing to shoot, I gotta take what I can get at this point. Also, hell yeah, first victim haunting the narrative, one of my favorite tropes in these killing games >:)

“Davis: Cass was researching the Resort to try to figure out more about its operations. The mastermind probably didn’t like that. If that’s all true, I think we’re all on the same page. [Select the Person]”

It has to be Antonia. I have the biggest fucking smile in my face right now. Please tell me she’s coming back for the finale…?

[Answer: Antonia Cisneros] Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in months. Outside the poison anyways.

“Ellis: Antonia… you have to be the mastermind.”

Present tense? :D

“Vanessa: Whaaaaaaat? Oh nooo, that's reeeeally bad…! Davis: …Um? Aidan: I don’t even know what she’s doing anymore. I’m pretty confident in our answer. Unless you guys aren’t?”

Nice try on the reverse psychology, Ness, you’re doing great sweetie.

[Vote - Antonia Cisneros] Never been more excited to have a character be revealed as the mm. Venus if you bring back Antonia for the finale I take back every time I’ve called you evil this entire reaction series.

“Antonia: Hello, contestants. It’s wonderful to see your darling faces again~”

And the crowd goes wild!!! She’s back!!! The way I had to hop out of my chair and walk off some of the giddy energy overtaking me. My baby! My sweetheart! My favorite war criminal!!! She’s here!!!

To be transparent, I did see Antonia featuring in the post-DROS artwork and tags of the Halloween post as possible indication she was the mm/traitor, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up in case she was just doing a particularly impressive bit of narrative haunting and not actually coming back. And I haven’t forgotten the implication that Antonia has killed a lot more than just Cass from all the way in the CH1 Bonus Scenes, so it stands to reason she’d be talking about being the mm or even just the second game winner. Anyways, I’m still super happy to have her back! Let’s waste no more time, there’s new Antonia Cisneros content to consume, and I never thought I’d see the day that would happen!!! :D

Part 3

“Of course it would be so complicated, yet so simple at the same time. Doesn’t it make sense that the mastermind would be the only one ruthless enough to strike the first blow? Doesn’t it make sense that the mastermind would be the one to order a custom weapon so strong, two other killers took it for their own? Doesn’t it make sense that the mastermind of the killing games in the literal goddamn Casino would be the Ultimate Dealer? Antonia is the mastermind, and it all makes too much sense.”

It makes so much sense that I don’t think anyone I know in the prediction game got this right, precisely because of how “obvious” it felt. I wonder what the rules are for the score regarding her now… Well, that’s a mystery for the end of the post!

“Antonia: You knew all along one of the contestants was the mastermind. Are you truly surprised that responsibility is mine?”

I’ve missed you so much… Please talk more my favorites usually don’t make it to this chapter.

“Antonia: Once you're done speaking, we can move on to more pressing topics. I hold information that’s of interest to you. For example, I know Marcos’ current status.”

Oh yeah, she disliked nicknames! I remember that! :D I remember a not-really-surprising-but-still-probably-too-much amount about her :D

“Antonia: Marcos is currently recovering under Resort care and should be fine. Of course, that means that no rules were violated, given that Monoquin wouldn’t qualify as being involved in “murder” if there was no death. Aidan: And? You didn’t get executed. That’s enough of a rules violation on its own.”

Ooh, get her ass.

“Antonia: No one involved in the killing game’s production considers my survival problematic. I was removed from the player base and didn’t impact the game further. Besides, this is fairly standard protocol.”

Never mind, get his ass! I don’t consider your survival problematic either honey :D

I am… way too happy about all this. I… don’t really care, though. I’m just really glad She’s back :D

“Antonia: Of course. Aside from the second game– which I won– I’ve been falsely executed in every other killing game.”

Queen shit.

“Vanessa: That’s… just how the killing games have gone. It’s not Toni’s fault… Ellis: How?! She’s the mastermind! Vanessa: But, that doesn’t mean…! Antonia: Vanessa, it’s alright. Focus on the task at hand, please.”

What kinda fuck shit’s going on here? What kinda relationship do they have that Ness is willing to go to bat for shit like that? They’re not, like, actually sisters, right? That’d be kinda weird.

“Davis: …Are you two actually sisters? Antonia: Naturally.”

Never mind xD

“Antonia: I knew it would be difficult for Vanessa to pretend to be strangers, so we simply claimed each other were “similar” to our respective sisters to explain our closeness. It’s more than mere similarity, though.”

That’s crazy. No trust that Ness can play it cool, so we just appealed to Danganronpa syndrome of people getting attached way too quickly, and no one’s the wiser! It’s fucking genius!

“Antonia: Three remaining “survivors.” Four, if you include Vanessa, and five, if you include Marcos, who’s been exempted from the remainder of the killing game…  Ellis: Exempted? Antonia: Let me explain. Marcos did outsmart the killing game, even if the end result wasn’t quite what he expected. Between that and the fact that we healed them, it would be unfitting to return them to the killing game upon regaining consciousness. Thus, Marcos has simply “escaped.””

Damn. Mark’s just gone? What a legend.

“Antonia: That’s what we’re getting to, isn’t it? Putting it simply, I’m going to offer you all an opportunity. You have just one chance to win in unison, or none will win at all. If it’s a game of chance, then that’s definitely my arena. Then again, “the house always wins.” I can’t help but feel like that’s particularly true this time, given who I’m up against.”

Just one chance, you say. One Shot, perhaps? Let’s fucking go.

“Antonia: Answer three questions, one for each of you. If you get them all correct, you’ll win.  Davis: And, those questions are…? Antonia: You can answer them in any order. The questions are as follows: who is “Mark”? What are the killing games? And, finally, what is the world outside of the Resort?”

Ooh, interesting questions. I’m gonna guess we’re going back to trial format soon. Maybe after an investigation period? We still have two and a half parts to answer all of this, and I actually am very curious about the answers lol.

“Vanessa: It shouldn’t be too hard, right? If you guys can just figure out the answers, you’ll all get to leave, and the killing game will be over! Ellis: Somehow, I can’t help but imagine you’re really rooting for the home team. Vanessa: …I really do want you guys to get out of here…”

Hm… Unwilling traitor, then? What’s going on here? There’s some fuckshit at play here. I wonder how this whole thing’s gonna play out.

“Aidan: Makes enough sense. I think one of them is pretty clearly less all-encompassing than the others. [Nonstop Debate]”

Well, fuck a final investigation, we’re going straight back to Trial format lol. And I’m guessing we’re gonna talk about Mark, which makes sense as a starting point.

Speaking of:

“Davis: Then, I guess our best bet is to try to come up with a starting point of some kind.”

Maybe shoot this with Mark’s Profile? Feels like it makes sense to start there. Or maybe Mark’s Profile + VIP Files or something like that?

[Answer: Mark’s Profile → “a starting point”] Holy shit I actually got a Nonstop right. Antonia’s back and suddenly I’m locking in. This is crazy chat.

“Ellis: We finally learned their full name, but we still don’t know their Ultimate talent. We could start there.”

Do… they not see Ultimate Amnesiac? Or I guess they mean before the amnesia, which makes more sense lol.

“Vanessa: But, it’d be super hard for you guys to completely fill out their profile on your own! Like, how are you supposed to know their birthday is February 7? Antonia: …Vanessa. Vanessa: Oh, right! Haha, must’ve let it slip on accident!”

Okay so maybe they don’t actually see that, because I definitely remember their birthday being there lol. Also Vanessa is clearly on their side and Antonia’s very much stacking the deck if she wanted them to land a 1 in 366 answer for Mark’s birthday alone. Interesting…

“Ellis: Aquarius, huh? If I remember correctly, that’s pretty compatible with a Leo… Aidan: Stay on track, Ortiz.”

Bruh.

“Davis: Mark’s talent probably refers to something in their past, right? It’s a talent they’d have coming into the killing game. We don’t know that much about that, though… [Evidence Select]”

I mean… I have no idea, but if we’re supposed to land on Amnesiac, “Mark’s amnesia”?

[Answer: Mark’s Killing Game] I guess that works too.

“Antonia: Not that Lucky Students have the greatest track record for survival… Ellis: The… huh? Antonia: You already knew that, didn’t you? From the Files you all managed to read. Herbalist, Mountain Climber, Couponer. Dealer and Marcos’ talent as well, clearly. Ellis: Well, yeah, but… uh, surely I’m only the second Lucky Student you’ve had, then? Vanessa: Um… there’s a Lucky Student every killing game…”

Ooh… You know, Ellis’ original plan of coasting on luck alone had already been pretty much completely taken down, but it’s cool to get one last stab at it now with the reveal that it wouldn’t have even worked at all.

“If my “luck” can’t actually protect me or anyone else… is there a possibility that we’re going to make it this far, and still die?”

Oh yeah, also good for suspense :)

“Ellis: …Well then, your choices were totally bad and out of order! Clearly I’m the luckiest of the Lucky Students, because I’m the one who has the good fortune to survive. With three other people. Vanessa: Wait, am I included now?”

Or Ellis means Aidan, Davis and Mark lmao.

[Nonstop Debate] Let’s see!

“Davis: We don’t know anything that happened before the killing game…”

Not sure how this helps, but theoretically you can shoot this with Tragedy Article. It’s something we know preceded the games, assumedly.

[Answer: Tragedy Article → “don’t know anything that happened before”] I apparently did in fact lock in the moment Antonia came back. Crazy of me.

[Nonstop Debate] Let’s hope I stay locked in then!

“Antonia: Which major Mark may have had, should Mark have attended college, is irrelevant to the Resort’s question.”

I… respectfully disagree, but it’s interesting that their talent isn’t related to a major. But I feel like that may be unanswerable, so I probably shouldn't exist lmao.

“Davis: Is there… really nothing else that could be a lead…?”

I mean. We can always shoot that with “Mark’s Amnesia”, assuming I’m really meant to arrive at Ultimate Amnesiac. Not confident in this one though.

[Answer: Mark’s Amnesia → “You’d think you’d have to remember”] That… okay fair. I guess the statement felt so trivially wrong I didn’t think to argue against it lmao.

“Davis: Does that mean we think Mark was the one survivor the article mentioned, then…? Aidan: It’d give a reason why the end was ripped off, at least. That’s something.”

Ah, okay, I see that. Interesting…

“Aidan: It does make some sense, though. The article seems like it can’t actually confirm a lot of what happened in the attack, right? You’d think they’d have been able to ask the one witness, but if that witness forgot everything, then…”

And that’s where Amnesiac comes in! Awesome.

“Vanessa: …The student was Mark. Antonia: Vanessa! Vanessa: What? They, like, basically figured it out, right? I’m not even really helping that much…! Antonia: …”

Damn, Antonia’s about to crash out. Has she ever used an exclamation point before? We’re going crazy, it’s what’s happening.

“Ellis: I… don’t know. There was an entire killing game between the one Mark won and this one. Maybe they were just so out of it the whole time that the Resort decided to delay his re-entry? Vanessa: But, winners aren’t typically re-entered… All: … Aidan: Maybe something happened that made Mark forget again. Davis: After they won? I guess it’s possible, but… how many times can Mark forget everything about themself…? [Hangman’s Gambit]”

Yeah, the timeline’s a bit funky if Mark’s Lucky Student’s suicide is the amnesia trigger. But, if not that, then what? And what the hell do I write for this Hangman’s? I mean, I’d like to write “two times”, but that doesn’t fit. Fuck it, let’s write “Ultimate Amnesiac”, since that’s been my answer to the last several minigames lmao.

[Answer: Ultimate Amnesiac] Bruh. I wasn’t really expecting that to work xD I really do perform better with Antonia on the screen…

“Davis: Do we know that Mark forgot things regularly, though? I mean, besides the major points where they forgot their identity. After arriving in the killing game, it’s not like Mark ever forgot who we were or anything.”

Oh, the notes! Yeah, he probably does have bad amnesia usually!

[Evidence Select] Like I said, the notes in his e-Handbook!

[Answer: That] Yay!

“Davis: So then, Mark really is the Ultimate Amnesiac? That’s the last answer we need for this question, right?”

RIP to the theory of them being the Ultimate Gamer or something lol. I guess he was just always cracked at games, talent notwithstanding :p

“Ellis: We filled out the entire profile. What more do we need? Antonia: One last thing you don’t have an explanation for. [Puzzling Pieces]”

Alright Toni, let’s see what you want us to cook.

“Vanessa: I thought we agreed that filling out Mark’s profile was okay! Antonia: The contestants agreed that that would be sufficient.  Antonia: On behalf of the Resort, I would argue that deciphering why a previous winner would make a repeat appearance is a reasonable request.”

The conflict between these two is fun. But yeah, this is an interesting one. And holy shit that’s a lot of blank words.

“Mark was part of the Sixth Killing Game because they agreed to”? Don’t really think I can make anything a lot more complex than that. I guess he might have agreed to it in an attempt to end the games? Maybe I’m wrong, though.

[Answer: Mark was part of the Sixth Killing Game because they agreed to] Never mind. It really is that simple.

“Aidan: I’d believe Mark would rather go into another killing game than make someone random do it instead. Maybe they even went into the game with the intention of ending it, and that’s why they were so fixated on accomplishing something.”

I was betting on the latter, but I guess the former also makes plenty of sense.

“Antonia: Then, you’ve succeeded in the first question. Marcos, dubbed the Ultimate Amnesiac, became noteworthy as the lone survivor of the attack on UNBC. From what analysts pieced together, it seems Marcos escaped the campus in the direction of Lake Mead, although not without struggle against members of Ultimate Despair along the way. After winning the Fourth Killing Game, they resided in one of our luxury suites for the duration of the Fifth before volunteering for the Sixth.”

Hell yeah, go Mark! And go Ellis, Davis and Aidan for figuring all that out! And luxury suites… so I guess the other winners might be around, too! Guess it makes sense for them to be labeled VIPs, then.

“Vanessa: I mean… I don’t know if he really would’ve done any better watching another killing game happen from the sidelines… Ellis: Man, if only there was a way to prevent there being another killing game in the first place. Vanessa: …”

Vanessa the Ultimate L Taker this chapter, it’s crazy xD

[Evidence Select] Killing game now. I guess… can I just submit the entire e-Handbook? lol. I guess they want me to pick Killing Game Explanation.

[Answer: Killing Game Explanation]

“Davis: If it’s an attraction, that means people are probably watching it, right?  Vanessa: Right!”

Okay so this hadn’t been 100% confirmed, got it. It’s a little hard to keep track of what people know and what they don’t when I’m following several fangans with similar premises but different amount of info for the characters :p The DRDT cast knows they’re in a TV show, P:EG hasn’t mentioned anything like that, gods know what the hell was going on in Tetro… it’s a lot xD

“Davis: Maybe the Tragedy isn’t as widespread as we thought?  Aidan: Or the world’s recovered more than we might’ve expected.”

Guys I don’t think people would be watching if it weren’t peak Tragedy time lmao. You’d be rescued otherwise. I guess I’m probably supposed to use something like Balcony View to make that point…

“Aidan: If it’s really the Tragedy out there, how many people would take the time to tune into a killing game?”

Wait is it not the Tragedy? I’ve sorta assumed it was just because that’s the only way I saw of this actually working, but I can only think to shoot this with Balcony View.

[Answer: Balcony View → “who that audience is”] Okay, so. Probably still Tragedy time. At least I got the bullet right lmao.

“Davis: Would there really be people who would want to watch it, though? I can’t imagine genuinely enjoying this kind of thing… [Evidence Select]”

What, Tragedy Article? To bring up how insane Tragedy people are?

[Answer: Staff Members] That was my second option, bringing up how there being people willing to staff the killing game would mean there’s people who are okay with letting it happen.

“Davis: Actually, that makes me wonder… who is running this place? Antonia is the “mastermind,” but does she really run the whole Resort?  Ellis: Even if she tapped out early, somebody had to be running things behind the scenes before the First Class Trial. No shot Monoquin was up to that task. Vanessa: Monoquin can’t do anything. If it was just Toni and Monoquin running the place, the whole thing would’ve shut down by now.”

Plot twist! The real mm behind the scenes was Junko all along! Again! xD

“Davis: The point is, someone else might be responsible for keeping these killing games going, beyond just you. [Evidence Select]”

Staff members again? Maybe Tragedy Article now to bring up Ultimate Despair?

Fun fact, while going through the e-Handbook to see if anything jumped out at me, I remembered that thing I brought up about Rule #7. “The blackened may only kill a maximum of two people during any single killing game.” The wording is made specifically to allow people to kill more than two others over the course of several killing games, which I thought might have been there for Mark, but apparently was there for Antonia lol.

[Answer: VIP Files] Oh, the previous participants? I hadn’t considered that. What a twist! :O Or, wait, are the VIPs actually not the previous participants? Now that I think about it, we never quite got that explicitly confirmed.

“Aidan: We still haven’t really figured out why these games were held in the first place.  Ellis: Yeah, they seem– full offense– really pointless and bad to me. [Puzzling Pieces]”

Wow, asking big questions already! Let’s see where we’re going with this.

Considering all the talk of Antonia’s talent as a Dealer linking back to the purpose of the game, I’m assuming the answer is “People in the Casino bet on the killing games for money,” though maybe replace “people” with “VIPs”.

[Answer: People in the Resort bet on the killing games for money.] Okay, “Resort” instead of “Casino”, I guess it makes sense. We’re calling it good enough!

“Aidan: I know I’m the one who said the thing about money in the first place, but… it’s the Tragedy out there or whatever. Is money still… a thing?”

Hm… are we thinking people bet their lives or something? Would be funny if the Ultimate Lucky Students actually get into the games through betting on them.

[Nonstop Debate] *humming Nonstop music*

“Vanessa: The Resort offers high quality lodging and safety from– Antonia: Would you stop pretending to advertise the Resort? Antonia: Do so sincerely or focus your attention on narrating the game. Vanessa: Right. Right…”

Dude, Toni’s getting pissed. It’s kinda interesting to see Ness getting on her nerves.

I feel like I want to use the Customer Service Desk to make some kind of point about the resources, but I have no idea what the point would be. Maybe…

“Davis: The Resort could be wealthy and just… purchase everything they need.”

Shoot CSD here? Because purchasing all that is kinda impossible. Not confident on this, though.

[Answer: Antonia’s Profile → “through some kind of back channel”] … What? Is Antonia just single-handedly funding the Resort? I don’t know what we’re trying to say here actually.

“Ellis: That “back channel” could be right in front of us. The Ultimate Dealer’s abilities don’t have to be strictly limited to cards, y’know. Davis: Then, the thing they’re betting on is resources, more or less?”

Huh, she really is. Holy talent, goddamn.

“Ellis: I think so? The killing games are a marketing scheme that people bet on. Because of the area’s immense resources, some of which come from Antonia’s history as a dealer of all varieties, money still has value, despite the Tragedy going on.”

That’s crazy. Marketing, huh? So it’s for profit. Harper rolling in ver grave right now.

“Antonia: That is correct. I must say, you’re all doing quite the impressive job deducing all of this. With a little bit of help, that is. Vanessa: Haha… uh…”

The beef is still crazy :O

“Antonia: In any case, as I’m sure you’d expect, you all have quite a few fans who might like to see you. Mechanical whirring echoes through the Class Trial grounds. I search for the source and spot the panels of the ceiling, retracting, opening up the sky above us. Just beyond the ceiling of the Class Trial Grounds is a covered stadium filled with onlookers, watching us and the screen with our faces on it intently. A few signs stick out from the crowds. “I’LL BET ON ELLIS” “LET’S GO AIDAN!!!” “#MARKSWEEP” “MARRY ME DAVIS!” The increase in the surrounding noise is nearly overwhelming. Hundreds of pairs of eyes look down at us from above.”

Holy audience. I find the #Marksweep sign very funny considering the guy’s not even here.

“I’ve never felt so… small, before. I’m not one to run from a crowd, but this is different. People here have hopes for my future, but I can hardly call them my fans. Those who are rooting for me to win still want me to win a killing game. Meanwhile, the combined forces of those who want Aidan, Mark, and Davis to survive would prefer if I were dead. These signs feel like tombstones. We’re more than six feet under. Davis: There’s… so many people… Ellis: Every private moment… every time we stumbled… they saw it all. Aidan: …It doesn’t matter. Nothing’s changed. We still have to answer one more question. That’s it. Vanessa: …Hey, everybody…! Um… welcome back. I’m… glad to see you all… This is the shakiest I’ve heard Vanessa’s voice in a long time– probably since I found her holding the gun in that Villa.”

Damn, this is hitting them pretty hard. I mean, obviously, but geez. Aidan’s trying to be nonchalant about it, I’m impressed he’s succeeding so well. Even Ness is nervous, and who could blame her? After all the death and suffering, we’ve finally reached the most horrific thing in this entire story: the Danganronpa fandom (/j).

“Antonia: There’s one question left. What is the rest of the world like?  Davis: …Right. The questions. We need to answer them… Vanessa: Just one more, okay? Then this whole thing’s over and done with…”

Ness do you need help? I feel like we should try to get you out of here too damn.

[Nonstop Debate] Reaching the final question here. Interesting, considering there’s two more parts after this. It worries me that I have no idea what those two parts might actually hold.

“Antonia: Contestants forfeit their memories of the outside world for the sake of preserving the spirit of the original killing games. Antonia: After all, ours are modeled after Junko Enoshima’s~”

Wow, just out and saying it, huh? We really can’t escape her.

“Davis: Without the killing game, B/I don’t know if I’d have met you… Crowd: Awww!”

Damn, we doing crowd reactions now, What in the sitcom is this?

What are we supposed to realize here? Everything here feels more or less like stuff we knew already, barring the Junko killing game comment as that’s something the contestants probably don’t have memory of, seeing as it happened so late in the Tragedy.

I could see the point in shooting Antonia’s statement about the spirit of the og killing games with something like the Tragedy article or “any memories of the Tragedy”, with the point being that the og participants of THH knew nothing about the Tragedy, as opposed to our cast having some knowledge of it. That feels weak, though. Maybe just:

“Davis: What if that same destruction spread through the US?”

With Balcony View? I don’t really know how dire things looked from the Balcony, but it doesn’t sound awful in the e-Handbook note.

“Vanessa: At least the Resort’s given you a nice place to stay…?”

I mean I feel like I wanna disagree with this on principle with something like Killing Game Explanation, but I don’t think that gets us anywhere.

Eh… I’ve given enough options, let’s see if any of them are right.

[Answer: “a nice place to stay” → “same destruction spread through the US”] Oh! I guess that’s a fair argument. The Resort existing at all means things aren’t 100% awful, I guess.

“Davis: There can’t really be a government or any sort of regulatory institution though, right? I can’t imagine that this Resort would be allowed to operate like this if there was…  Ellis: Unless the government is in on it, too.”

Watch it, Ellis, I felt Kennedy’s ghost growing stronger for a moment there xD

[Nonstop Debate] Let’s go!

“Antonia: That there’s no one else with any semblance of society?”

Uh… maybe CSD here? Like, you gotta have something going on to get all the stuff people can ask for, especially on a 48 hour time frame.

[Answer: Customer Service Desk → “no one else with any semblance of society”] Yay I got one! :D

“Aidan: You mean there are a lot of places like this, where people make their own mini-societies? I guess it’s not too far-fetched, if the Resort already exists. What would you even call them, though…? [Hangman’s Gambit]”

Accidentally saw the answer to this one is “Strongholds”. That’s pretty interesting, though. And realistic, people would probably form strong local communities in the face of such a catastrophe, I feel.

“Davis: Is that really it? If the killing game is an “attraction,” it seems like people do more than just tolerate it. It would make the most sense if it’s something that brings people to this stronghold over others. Aidan: If you’re basing your entire infrastructure on betting, having more people to bet and keep things running is probably good. The Resort would want basically as many people as possible.”

This operation really is quite insane, especially taking in the context that it has to happen after Makoto Naegi hits Ultimate Hope status. I know it’s not by any means a fix all for society, but geez, not even a single US Future Foundation equivalent trying to stop these killing games? Or are they trying and failing? Crazy.

“Davis: It’s at least a lead, right? Though, I don’t really know why people would want to go to the stronghold that advertises killing people. It seems like that would be a factor that would send people away. Antonia: That’s a question you’ll have to answer, isn’t it? [Puzzling Pieces]”

Alright, lock in.

Maybe… “The bettors believe if they win big they’ll become happy”? A little silly sounding, but I’ll roll with it.

[Answer: The bettors believe if they win big they’ll become VIPs.] Oh! That actually makes a lot more sense lmao. I got decently close, though!

“I… couldn’t have been a bettor, could I…?”

Ooh, Ellis is asking the same question I did, once more… Crazy stuff to think about.

“Antonia: Have you come to your final answer? Davis: I think so.”

Bro what happens in parts 4 and 5???

“Confetti blasts from nearby jets as the crowd goes wild. Antonia turns to the crowd with a smile. Antonia: Here at the Resort, there’s always a chance to find a better life, if luck favors you– just like it did our winners today! Everyone, give them a big hand!”

Woohoo!!! … Why did this turn into an advertisement!!! Now I’m imagining all the previous winners seeing Antonia come out of the shadows to advertise while everyone else is getting executed, and I can’t imagine that’s a pleasant experience.

“The three of us, alongside Vanessa, follow Antonia out of the Class Trial Grounds.[Class Trial End]”

Ooh boy. I’m… very worried for what the next parts might hold, I feel like we’re not quite out of the woods yet. What a chapter this has been so far! So many reveals one after the other… holy damn. Let’s keep going!

Part 4

“Antonia: Through these doors are a hallway. There will be fans from the stadium who are trying to greet you. Don’t interact with them too much. Other than that, just follow me.”

That’s… uncomfortable, geez.

“As we walk, I notice hundreds of people sporting pink, heart-shaped sunglasses. They look far better on me.”

There’s damn DROS merch out here, it’s getting dire. This does an incredible job of selling how uncomfortable it all is, damn.

“Ellis: Oh yeah? And what “normally” happens after somebody wins? Vanessa: Well, there’s the initial reception, and then the interview, and then the coronation…”

Goddamn exit interviews. And fuck you mean “coronation”? This is way more like a show than any other fangan I’ve seen and it’s awful (in a good way).

“Antonia: There will be no such thing. You’re all members of the VIPs now, with all the perks that come with it.”

The winners are VIPs! I feel like I’ve bounced back and forth on that a little lol.

“Aidan: There’s no way we volunteered for this because of that or anything. Antonia: No, you didn’t.”

You know, I was worried about that, but it’s good to hear there’s no V3 pregame stuff going on here lmao.

“Antonia: It varies depending on the person. In your case, though, we simply picked you off of the Tragedy’s streets. There really isn’t much thought that goes into selecting a Lucky Student.  Ellis: …”

We’re really hammering home the point, huh? Good xD

“Vanessa: I didn’t [care about people not dying]. But I don’t think I really understood what it was like until I was there with all of you. Now… I don’t really want the killing games to exist anymore.”

Woohoo! Development! Come on, Ness, we still need to do the “end the killing games for good” part of the climax! Which I’m hoping happens but you never know!

“Antonia: No. There aren’t any cameras here. There’s no need to worry.”

That… feels like it might be important. Anyone up to just jump Antonia right here? No? Fair.

“Aidan: Would running actually accomplish anything…? I’m not opposed to it, I just… don’t see how it actually helps anything. Ellis: It… it would at least be something they weren’t expecting! Unless they do.”

I think they’re probably expecting it unfortunately :/

“Antonia: Thank you for joining us, Vanessa. Though, I’m sure we’re all used to seeing you in the interviewer’s chair rather than the interviewee’s. The crowd laughs.”

I’m still not used to the whole ‘filmed in front of a live studio audience’ bit lmao.

“Vanessa: If you’re just watching it… Even if you’re there in person, it doesn’t feel the same. You don’t really think of the contestants as real people. But, when you’re there, as one of the participants… You start to realize, you know? You understand what they’re all going through… Antonia: I see… The ghost of a frown twinges Antonia’s lips. She glances between Vanessa and the rest of the crowd.”

I’m very scared of Antonia btw. Girl called up a poison so strong it got used in two different murders after hers, and she still had the most gruesome murder probably. I’m worried for Vanessa, don’t die girl :(

“Antonia: …Well, our crowd already knows who you are, so I won’t bother you with the specifics of the interview. I’m sure you could use some rest. Congratulations on joining the winners’ pantheon, Vanessa.”

You know, I wouldn’t have minded if Toni asked a few more questions lmao.

“Antonia: Congratulations to you as well, Aidan. You’ve certainly earned your fair share of fans over the course of the game. Aidan: I have? Antonia: Of course! People love your sharp wit and your rough charm~ The crowd cheers loudly. Aidan: Good for them. I don’t care. The crowd laughs. Aidan scowls.”

I am fans, btw. Aidan’s one of my favorites. Really funny seeing how he reacts to being a fan favorite though, actual worst case scenario for him I’m sure.

“Aidan: It feels like the Resort should stop inventing life or death situations for their crowd’s amusement. Antonia: … Though she masks it well, it’s not hard to tell that Antonia is annoyed.”

You know, I wonder if Vanessa’s more used to people shittalking the killing games to her face. Surely, most of these interviews have to go somewhat like this.

“Antonia: Then, let me ask a bit of a lighter question. Let’s talk about you and Davis. Did you find love in this game? Aidan’s cheeks immediately redden. Aidan: Why do you care…? The crowd gives a loud, “aww!” Aidan winces like he wishes he could punch someone.”

The audience has to be going crazy over the non-doomed yaoi, surely. First time there’s multiple winners, and two of them are yaoiful? Some of them have to feel like they’re eating good.

“Antonia: Why don’t we talk to both of our lovebirds at once~? Davis Love, please join us on stage!”

Oh wow, this is about to be a clusterfuck :D

“Davis’ face is pale. Aidan glances over at him, then back to Antonia.”

My guy is. Not doing good! Understandable.

“Antonia: I’m sure you’re eager for some alone time, but the fans are dying to hear about your experiences! I’m sure you had to be afraid of losing each other as the killing game progressed. Davis: …I was… Aidan: Isn’t that kind of question obvious? What’s even the point of asking it?”

Antonia and Aidan are two seconds away from getting into a fistfight this is awesome.

“Antonia: Isn’t it important to question the way things are? After all, that’s what you did to change the Fifth Trial’s verdict. Aidan: I spoke up because you were wrong, not because I cared about what some crowd of people would think! Antonia: There’s that rebel spirit we all know and love~”

God, she’s such a piece of shit, I love her so much. You have no idea how many details I want on that second killing game, I need to see a girlboss winning and covered in blood.

“Antonia: Is there anything you’d like to tell the crowd about your relationship? Aidan: Yeah. Leave us the hell alone.”

Thanks Aidan, you’re awesome.

“Antonia: Well Davis, I’m sure you’re quite aware that you have many supporters out there. You’re the fan favorite, after all. He laughs nervously again. Davis: Yeah, uh… I figured…! The crowd laughs along with him.”

The poor fucking guy is living his worst nightmare out here ToT

“Antonia: Now, we’ve already heard a bit on your relationship with Aidan, but I think what a lot of our fans are curious about is your relationship with Jeffery. Were you aware of the feelings that he held for you? Were they at all reciprocated? Davis: I, um… I didn’t realize the extent of it. Because it’s pretty common with me, I knew that there was a possibility he was attracted to me, but I hadn’t realized it had gone that far. Antonia: I see. And, how did you feel about them? Davis: Well… at first, I obviously didn’t like him very much. Then, as I got to know them better, I started caring about them and trusting them. I don’t think it was at all romantic for me. I just… enjoyed his company as a friend. Antonia: I see. It must have been quite surprising when you found out what he did, then. Davis: It was and it wasn’t. Once they said it, I realized how much sense it made. I had hoped that anything related to my talent could stay out of the killing game, though…”

Oof. I guess we needed to talk about this at some point, yeah? Still, kind of a nightmare situation, that one. My guy Davis at the center of the trauma storm goddamn.

“Antonia: One last question. I’m sure everyone would like to know: do you have love advice for any hopefuls in the crowd? Davis: … He freezes up. Davis: Just… keep looking for… the right… person…?”

Bro save him. He needs to get out of there geez.

“Antonia: Last but not least, we have this game’s Lucky Student, Ellis Ortiz!”

Welp, time to face the music!

“What’s the most impactful thing I can say to the audience while I have this platform…?”

Good, good, we’re trying to go in, I like it.

“Play it cool at the start. I think that’s the best way to find my footing before I leap. I emerge on the stage, waving to the audience with a smug smile. When I sit on the chair, I fall back, putting my arms behind my head.”

Alright, alright, I like the strat. This is the one shot, the one opportunity, let’s do it.

“Ellis: Since the very beginning, I knew that as long as I trusted in my luck, I could coast my way to the finale. I hadn’t realized that I was gonna do it with anybody else, but, hey, I’m a go with the flow kinda guy.”

Wow… I wonder what his angle is here. Excited to see what they’ve got cooking.

“Antonia: Are you excited, then, to return to the high life that you’re accustomed to? I’m sure there’s plenty of nightlife to keep you satisfied~ Gross. Ellis: Naturally. Whatever the other winners did, I’m going to be way cooler than them.”

This is fantastic. I’m excited here, let’s see.

“Ellis: Actually, how did past winners feel, once they got here? I’m sure they wouldn’t handle it as well as me. I mean, you can already peep the quality of my interview versus the others’...! I roll my eyes with a smirk, and use my thumb to point backstage. Some of the crowd laughs, some of the crowd boos.”

Alright, alright, we’re cooking!

“Ellis: They didn’t get onstage and describe in visceral detail the scent of blood? They didn’t think to mention the heartbroken eyes of the people who examined their loved ones’ fractured bones after their corpses fell to the floor? You want to pretend it’s all fun and games, but your ratings on that front are absolutely tanking. I look out at the audience, aware that my time on screen may already be running short. Ellis: I may have been picked off the street, but in a way, that means I’m just like you. And let me tell you, there is nothing here to aspire to. Anything you think you want, you will not find it here. Your life might be bad now, but let me tell you, a mountain of broken bodies on top of a stack of margaritas is not worth the entrance fee. The crowd is silent.”

Tell em Ellis! Cook monarch! Hit em! :D

“Antonia: Are you finished?”

I still love her, though :)

“I stare at the people in the front row. Ellis: This is how a winner feels. You want in? Antonia: Is there anything else you’d like to say to the crowd? Ellis: Yeah. I’m disappointed in you.”

Oh hell yeah. Ellis crashout, you love to see it. We’re close to a breakthrough, I can feel it!

“Antonia: I swear, you all wanted to make that as hard on me as possible…  Ellis: No shit?”

Pfft-

“Antonia: I admire your protestations, but I’m really not the one you’re up against. Consider me a messenger for Mr. and Mrs. Crown themselves. Aidan: Mr. and Mrs. Crown? Antonia: The Casino owners. I worked for them before the Tragedy even started.  Ellis: Damn, way to lick your boss’ boots. Antonia: The professionals among us would call that seniority, but I doubt you’d understand that…”

Alright, so we got master-masterminds, holy damn. Also Antonia is incredible as always, I’ve missed her so deeply :)

“Antonia: Any questions? Ellis: Yeah. Why are you like this? Antonia: If you’re more specific, I might be able to answer you. Ellis: Aidan, Davis, and I, we all hate you. How can you not hate yourself? Antonia: …Some of us are comfortable with doing what we have to do. I suppose it’s not terribly surprising to me that you don’t understand. After all, life granted you an easy out.”

Ooh, Antonia implied trauma dump? Crazy stuff. I guess she has effectively lived through the Tragedy, can’t be too nice.

“Antonia: Vanessa? Are you coming? Vanessa: Yeah… I’m coming.”

Get Ness outta there bro ToT

“Ellis: What we should do next. Davis: For now, probably go talk with Mark, right? It seems like they should be a part of this…  Ellis: Alright, cool. That’s what I think, too. I just didn’t want to be the “let’s always talk to Mark” guy.”

Pfft- Funny. Still, I miss Mark, let’s go talk to them! :D

“Mark: I told you to leave me alone…  Ellis: No the fuck you didn’t!”

Yay!!!! And we’re still hilarious!!! Oh hi Mark! :D

“Mark: Ellis… Aidan: Hey, that might not be good for your very recent stab wound…? Ellis: Wait, yeah.”

‘Oh yeah, you’re brutally injured!’ Lmao.

“Mark: I thought I was the only one left again…  Ellis: Don’t worry. We made it.”

Oof. Did no one tell him? Poor guy.

“Ellis: Vanessa was included as a winner, even though she was the traitor… Mark: …She used to be the host, right? I think I remember that now…”

Your memory is very inconvenient, Mark. I love you anyways, Mark.

“Mark: It’s… complicated. It’s not just her fault, or Antonia’s, either. There’s a lot that goes into the killing games, and the Resort as a whole.”

Man, what a clusterfuck.

“Ellis: Do you have any idea how long it usually takes them to start a new game after the last one ended? Mark: …About a month, I think…? Maybe a little more.  Davis: That’s… pretty fast. Mark: Part of it depends on how long the game lasted. They can start recruiting for the next game during the previous one, if it goes on for long enough.”

A month is absurd. Speedrunning crimes against humanity, these people, damn.

“Mark: Well, my best idea last time was to join the next one and try to do something about it, but that didn’t work out all too well. Though, I guess you guys did end up surviving, so that’s… something. Ellis: What did I say about not hurting yourself anymore? Mark: …I won’t do it again. I promise.”

Ooh boy, there’s trauma in this conversation!

“Ellis: …Are you mad at me for ruining your plan? Mark: No, I’m not mad. I was just… worried. I wanted to make sure you’d all be okay. Ellis: We didn’t end the killing games, though. I put my palms on my forehead. Ellis: I tried so hard. I pulled every trick I could think of. None of them seemed to do anything, though. Mark: I know how you feel. I don’t really know what we’re supposed to do, either.”

Man, it’s… getting a little dire out here, huh?

“Mark: …Are you mad at me? I understand, if you are. Ellis: … It’s hard to say. Given that Mark is alive, the main thing that I feel is immense relief. If they’d died, it’d be a different story. He would have taken his own life. I could be mad that he’d made that objective call without thinking about how we would feel. That they did, in theory, put our lives on the line for the sake of their plan without telling us what was going on. But on the other hand… I doubt I would’ve been able to find it in me to have hated Mark if he was really never coming back. It doesn’t make sense to be mad at Mark because they’re alive though, right? Ellis: …No. I’m just… tired.”

Holy self reflection! Ellis has usually been good at it when she tries, nice to see her keeping it up :)

“Who cares about a crown when I could have Mark’s hands playing with my hair?”

Well, that’s romantic. I love these two so much :D

“Mark and I discuss what kind of food we want to order before I leave the room. It’s a surprisingly normal conversation, given the circumstances.”

It’s nice imagining them talking about food when the entire world is on fire, yeah. Dystopias are interesting like that.

“Ellis: Will you really? Be fine, I mean. Davis: With the food, sure. Ellis: But, otherwise? Davis: …I don’t feel safe here. I don’t know if I ever will.”

It really isn’t going great, yeah.

“Davis: Not… in that way. There’s just… a lot of people who know about us. They probably want things from us. They want things from me. You saw what happened with Jeff…  Ellis: Yeah, but… regardless of what’s actually going on, the people in the audience seemed to believe you were with Aidan, right? So, maybe they’ll lay off.”

You’re saying that with a lot of confidence. I’d be more worried about crazy people going after Aidan out of jealousy, if anything.

“Davis: After, do you think we can avoid talking to them again? Or encountering them in any way, shape, or form…? Ellis: I… really don’t know. The fact that we haven’t seen any of the other previous winners– well, besides Mark and Antonia, anyways– might be a good sign, though.”

Hopefully! Hopefully this wasn’t straight up televised, either…

“Ellis: Sadly, my brain is not big enough to contain so many thoughts at once. I have to complain out loud, much to Antonia’s chagrin.”

At least Ellis is still funny :)

“Aidan: Not just because we lived. The two of us… we didn’t really lose anyone we were that close to, right? I mean, you’re alive. Davis is alive. That’s really all I could ask for. Ellis: You might wanna set your bar a little higher. He could have asked for everyone’s survival, but it’s not like I would’ve done that at the beginning, either.”

Yeah, huh. That’s quite interesting, how that needed up working out.

“Ellis: To be fair, though, a lot of people wound up taking out the person they were closest to. It’s not really “lucky” that we avoided that fate.”

I mean, you’re thinking of Kennedy with Vivi and Taylor with Paris, not much else. Noah and Harper just happened to die together. Still counts, I guess.

“Aidan: Sure. Ending the killing games while we’re stuck within a hellish, high-glamor hotel run by Antonia. Glad to see how much things have changed. Ellis: Hey, things have changed! Now we’re stuck in smaller rooms with less stuff to do!”

Progress! Ha ha… ha…

“Ellis: There was still the threat of a Class Trial. Although, as a plus, we aren’t being publicly broadcasted in here… I hope. I look around for cameras and monitors. I don’t see any.”

Yay for privacy! Hopefully!

“Aidan: I wish I could do something that would actually help. Not like I know what that would be, or how to do it. Ellis: Weren’t you, like, hugging him after the interview? Aidan: I don’t know how much it actually helped, though. Ellis: I’d guess at least a little. Aidan: Maybe. It’d be nice to do more than a little for once, though. Ellis: We already did something big today just by surviving together. We can do something else awesome later.”

It’s kinda crazy seeing how much Aidan cares now. What good character development does to a mf.

“Ellis: I bet I know who we were supposed to expect, though… I stand up and open the door. It’s Vanessa– go figure.”

I still like Ness, I hope she gets a happy ending too honestly. Even with all the crimes against humanity and all.

“Vanessa: If there’s anything you wanted to ask me, I’ll answer.”

I like how we’re just checking up on everyone now, it’s nice :)

“Davis: …Do you hate the killing games?  She frowns. Vanessa: …I do now. Ellis: How much of what happened in the Villas was real? Vanessa: All of it. Like I told you, I didn’t plan on winning the Trial or anything. I knew the execution wouldn’t have been real. I just… wanted to stop everyone’s loved ones from dying. And I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore…”

Oof. Apparently that motive was so brutal it even started hitting the game runners, huh? Crazy.

“Aidan: Are you going to host the next killing game? Vanessa: … Vanessa’s eyes move to the ground. Vanessa: I don’t want to. But, if I don’t, they’re just gonna get someone else to do it…  Ellis: Wouldn’t you defecting… I don’t know, have some kind of effect on Antonia? Vanessa: It’s not like they couldn’t replace her, too.”

Yikes. Talk about an unwinnable game. The house always wins, even against the house’s own Dealer, huh?

“Aidan: She’s probably just covering for the fact that Antonia wouldn’t do anything, even if she stopped. Vanessa: That’s not true. Toni’s not… I know you guys won’t believe me, but she’s not evil. She really does care.”

Kind of insane thing to say. Fuck running the killing game, she was brutal even as a participant, what.

“Davis: It’s kind of hard to believe that when we’ve seen the body she dismembered…”

Yeah that.

“Vanessa: …She’d stop it if she could. I know she would. Aidan: If she hasn’t ever tried, does that really mean much…?”

Yeah, it’s… not great. Antonia seems pretty remorseless, but I could see that being purely a defense mechanism against the trauma of being forced to run all this. Not that that really helps her case much.

“Vanessa: I, um… I wanted to apologize to you most of all. For putting you in here. Ellis: “Putting you in here?” Vanessa: The Lucky Students are just random people we pick out. Antonia usually asked me to do that part. So… I’m the only reason you ever had to deal with the killing game. Ellis: … I’m staring face to face with the entity that traumatized me for life. She looks really, really sad, like those pictures of sad dogs you see online.”

Ouchie, heart hurtie.

“Ellis: If you’re Antonia’s little sister, then I want you to leave. If you’re Vanessa Bravo, survivor of the Sixth Killing Game, maybe you can stick around. Vanessa: …I can stick around for a little bit, at least.”

Ooh, big changes coming up. I’m very interested in how this whole thing is going to resolve. It seems like we’re aiming for a Vanessa redemption, but Antonia still feels a little out of reach. We’ll see, though!

Onto the finale, now! Exciting times. I don’t know if I’m fully prepared for it, but… things have to end eventually. Let’s give it up for the climax!

Part 5 - ENDING

Hype!!!

“???: …shouldn’t have without consulting us first. Antonia: With all due respect, the game was already headed towards its close. I chose what I deemed to be the fairest ending, for both the contestants and the bettors.”

Ooh… the return of the mysterious triple question mark people! Probably one of the Monarchs, exciting. And Antonia acting on her own, huh? Curious…

“Antonia: I understand the need to receive your approval, Mr. Crown, but the audience– Mr. Crown: I know that the audience gets rowdy, but we can handle them. What’s harder to handle is your overstepping. Do you have any idea how much more money has to be paid out for five winners instead of one?”

I mean. Presumably just 5x. I can’t imagine that’s too bad of a burden, considering all the shit you people buy, right?

“???: Eh, does it really matter? You’ll make it all back next killing game anyways. None of ‘em’ll actually hold onto the extra earnings. It’s all going back to the betting pool at the end of the day. ???: More money to bet with opens the possibility for correctly bidding individuals to earn an astronomical payback though, right? If there’s more money out there than there’s supposed to be, that could be a problem. Although, we could just raise prices across the board… ???: Is it so bad if they just have a little more money? It’s not like we’re close to running out or anything. So, if we just let them… ???: I, for one, am thrilled to have five winners! The old format was getting a little stale, wasn’t it? Sure, it costs a bit more, but think of all the new possibilities it opens! Damn, it sounds like there’s a whole committee in there! Are these the people behind all of the killing games?”

Alright, so we got even more people going around, shit’s getting crazier by the second.

“Makani Kahale, the first winner, Jack Paradis, the third, and Emma Xu, the fifth. At the center of the table are a well dressed man and woman, presumably Mr. and Mrs. Crown.”

Damn… the VIPs :O

“Mr. Crown: And that is exactly why you should have consulted with me first. Antonia: …I apologize. I’ll… endeavor to do so, in the future.”

It’s a little weird hearing Antonia be apologetic about stuff after all this. Really helps put this Mr Crown character into perspective.

“Note Obtained: VIP Meeting”

!!! Wait are we gonna have a last minute trial or something??? The hell are we getting notes for?

“Too late. Antonia’s already leaving the room. She subtly gestures for me to follow her as she takes a turn down the right hallway.”

Oof. Spooky situations out here.

“Antonia: …You’re not very stealthy, you know. My flip flops flip and flop down the hallway.”

Yep, still as funny as ever xD

“Antonia: I doubt any of them noticed you. I’m quite perceptive, though. I can’t complain too much. After all, there’s no way I’ll ever be as sneaky as the Ultimate Agent was.”

Yeah, I guess. First Victim callbacks always have such a weird feeling to them, don’t they? Almost nostalgic. Always gets me.

“Ellis: You’ve been in a killing game six times, and you haven’t tried to end them. Ever. Antonia: I don’t think it would be very wise of me to compromise my position in such a manner. After all, Vanessa and I are provided for. We’re safe. There isn’t anything to change. Ellis: So you haven’t learned a single thing throughout months of work? You didn’t change your perception of reality at all when the world got flipped on its head? Antonia: You act as though the destabilization of the world would be a reason for me to lean into uncertainty. In reality, it only lessens my options. If this is the only safe option, it’s the option I’ll take. Ellis: Yup. Sticking to your guns. No wisdom at all. Antonia: Are you hoping to accomplish anything by mocking me? Ellis: Mocking you. It’s working, it seems. Antonia: If you want to mock the person responsible for saving your life, go ahead. Still, I wouldn’t recommend trying your luck on anyone higher up in the rankings.”

Oh hell yeah, fight! I love how confident Antonia is that she’s in the right, it almost convinces you she isn’t completely horrible. I mean, dismemberment + dozens of deaths via killing game, and I’m out here rooting for a one chapter redemption arc speedrun. Probably because of the Bias, but still.

“Ellis: Fine. Thank you for saving my life. Now, will you stop insulting me for trying to save yours?“

Ooh, I love this angle. Come on, Ellis, tell her how her life sucks so she should strive to change it!

“Ellis: Even if you really don’t care about the people who are dying– which, believe me, can change in an instant; caring kinda slaps you in the face when it walks into the room– you don’t really want to be stuck here, right?”

Ellis is such a perfect protagonist for this damn game, I’m still amazed at how well she works when she was designed separately from the rest of the cast lmao.

“Antonia: Vanessa has always been happy here. That’s always been enough for me. Ellis: So you’re only staying here ‘cause of Vanessa? Antonia: In some ways. If it were only myself I was worried about, I might still arrive at the same answer. Ellis: You know, Vanessa is only staying here ‘cause of you. Antonia: …Is that so? Ellis: Vanessa cares about you more than anything. She came to us tonight arguing how, even though you were working for the bad guys, you could totally change.”

Damn. It’s crazy how different this sister duo is from Junko and Mukuro, huh? I wonder if that was in any way intentional…

“Antonia: This place has existed long before you arrived, Ellis. I wouldn’t be surprised if it lasted long after. Ellis: I know that. I was just starting to hope that you wouldn’t have to roam these halls anymore. Antonia: …Good night, Ellis. Ellis: ‘Night, Ms. Cisneros.”

Ooh… go Ellis, get under her skin you monarch! One part redemption arc speedrun let’s go!!!

“They really did assimilate into this fucked up society, huh? If I’d somehow won at the beginning, that could’ve been me. Now that I, Aidan, Davis, Vanessa, and Mark have won, that’s who we’re supposed to be. I can’t imagine any of us enjoying it, though.”

I mean, they’re all blackened winners, so I guess it makes sense. Still, it really is a little fucked.

“Aidan hates this entire killing game on principle, as he should. If he were in that meeting, he might’ve gotten some joy from shooting down everyone’s ideas. Doing so would cause their group some trouble, sure, but Aidan is smart enough that he’d inevitably point out some legitimate weak points, too. He might help the killing game do better, so he'd have to be quiet eventually. That’d be no fun.”

That’s a very funny assessment, and very accurate. Of course Aidan would be good enough at shittalking to accidentally help them lol.

“Still, though, as long as Antonia is there, Vanessa might revert back to her old ways. Under the pressure of her former allies and the perks of victory, she might crack. In that case, I’m not sure if we could count on her.”

It’s interesting we’re spending so much time on these hypotheticals, I wonder if they’re gonna be relevant beyond showing good character reads from Ellis.

“So then, what am I supposed to do?”

Oh, wait, Ellis is actively planning something. Shit, time to lock in my guy! This is your One Shot(TM)!

“Would the best anti-killing game speech I can muster do anything other than cause people to leave my fanclub? Not that I care about having more supporters than the others, but having people start stanning Mark or Davis instead of me wouldn’t really accomplish anything other than getting Ellis-related merch discontinued.”

Hope speeches hurt merch prospects, you heard it here first folks ToT (?)

“I may not have any real powers of luck that I can rely on in troubling times like these. However, that just means that the Ellis Ortiz is someone who can survive to the end of their own merit, their own determination to survive, their own willingness to change. Ellis Ortiz, with all their bumps and bruises, is a person who can exist. A person who exists is someone who can impact reality. I just need to convince the others that they exist, too.”

Oh we’re popping off. Goated internal monologue yet again, it just never misses.

“Mark: Yeah. Seems like I’m more or less recovered to the point I can walk around and whatnot.”

Yay for recovery! :D

“Mark: I’m going to have a check in with the doctor before the coronation, though.”

Yay for responsible recovery! :D

“Vanessa: I thought it might be nice if I brought you guys breakfast. Sooo… I’m here!”

Thank you Ness. I love you Ness.

“Mark: Basically, you go up on a stage. You wear a crown for a bit, you get your picture taken. They congratulate you on joining the winners’ panel. Then, there’s a party with some of the richer people where they ask you a bunch of personal questions that you kind of just have to smile and nod through.”

Bruh. Sounds horrible.

“Mark: The party dies down, and you get to go back to your room. Then, you just kind of… exist. Get whatever you want, do whatever you want. Watch the killing games, sometimes… Ellis: And that’s it? Mark: Yeah. That’s it. All: … Ellis: Wow. Just like the royal family. Aidan stifles a laugh.”

Who the hell could possibly resist? xp

“Vanessa: Yeah, but… what else can we really do? It’s basically impossible to convince the VIPs to do anything. We can’t really change their minds. Ellis: What if we convinced them all to be in the seventh killing game? Then they could go die.”

Brilliant! I see no issues with this plan!

“Aidan: There has to be something we can do. A thing we can sabotage, or a person we can convince, or… something. [Evidence Select]”

This might be the last minigame in DROS… let’s go VIP Meeting!!!

[Answer: I mean we got that note for a reason, come on]

“Ellis: Um… Oh, what if we just straight up told them that this was the last killing game? I heard the VIPs talking last night, and they were mad at Antonia for announcing that the killing game ended when it did. They said it was because once they tell the crowd something, they can’t take it back. So, if we tell the crowd that there won’t be any killing games anymore, they won’t be able to take it back!”

This is the funniest possible plan I can imagine. Zero notes, this is perfect.

“Mark: I’m not sure if they’d believe anything any of us said at all. It’s not as though they think we speak for the VIPs. If we said something, the VIPs could just say we didn’t know what we were talking about and get rid of us.”

Unfortunately, logic and reason often conflict with whimsy and joy (_ _///)

“Ellis: Maybe you’re right. That specific plan doesn’t work. But if we just keep gloomily shooting down every idea, then time will be up, and we’ll lose the golden opportunity we’ve been given to talk to the crowd as winners. If you don’t think that there’s anything we can do, you’re admitting that there’s no way to beat these people. But that’s not true! We’ve already beaten them in some small ways, like keeping Mark alive, or having multiple winners. I take a deep breath. Ellis: You guys are bright, sharp, caring, and amazing people. I trust in all of you to come up with a plan if you give it your all. So you can’t give up, and I won’t either. We have to imagine that our goal is possible. We have to have hope that we can actually change things around here…”

HOPE SPEECH!!!!! You knew it was coming, you knew it was gonna be awesome, and it delivered!!! Yay for hope!!!

“Vanessa: Well… what if Toni said it?”

We’re even getting Antonia involved??? What kinda shit could we possibly be cooking???

“Vanessa: Maybe we could… do… something…? That makes it less of an economy-killing, all-at-once announcement…? Aidan: What would that even be…? [Hangman’s Gambit]”

Oh shit, we really are doing halfway trial, huh?

Well… shit, I have no idea what this would even be, though. “Make a new”? Like, “make a new game”? But why wouldn’t “game” be there? “Kill a VIP”? Unrelated, very extreme, bad idea. “Mock a VIP”, since Antonia mentioned that they wouldn’t take that well? Hm… I’m gonna go with “Mock a VIP” as my answer, though I don’t quite know if it works in context.

[Answer: Make a Bet] Oh… that makes sense! Ooh, thrilling!

“Ellis: We could make it a bet. If we win, then the killing games end. That would make them think that they have the power until we take it away from them.”

Always bet on Ellis… genuinely really excited to see what they pull here.

“Ellis: …Do you think they would like it if we participated again? Or would that be bad for business? Vanessa: They’d probably like it. Mark and Antonia were both pretty popular this time around as repeat winners. If, like, half the cast were repeat winners…”

All Stars season… that’s a way to get a crowd excited!

“Aidan: At worst, if it got down to us again, we could live it out inside the Resort this time. If the game never ended, that’d be another way to stop it.”

Don’t love the backup plan, but I’m glad everyone’s on board. Let’s do it.

“Vanessa: Toni will be the one coronating us. All we have to do is challenge her when we’re in front of everyone and on camera. I know she’ll accept.”

The moves are crazy.

“Mark: …Ellis. You’re the lucky one here. Is it okay if you’re the one making the bet? Ellis: I… don’t know how lucky I actually am. I glance at Vanessa out of the corner of my eye. Davis: Just because the Resort didn’t put much thought into what a Lucky Student is… That doesn’t mean you aren’t, right? You’ve had your whole life before the killing game to prove it. Ellis: If you guys all want me to do it… then, yeah, I’ll do it.”

Always bet on Ellis!!! We hit these bets.

“As opposed to the suit I wore a few days ago, this time, the costuming team picks out a short dress for me to wear. It’s got long, white sleeves that are cut out at the shoulder and a collar that wraps around my neck. With thoughts of the bet on the horizon, I choose some sandals that hopefully wouldn’t be too terrible to run in.”

I’m interested in what this bet would even look like. I wonder if we can get a Dealer vs Lucky Student situation going, only for Antonia to throw at Vanessa’s request. I’m kinda spitballing in excitement lol.

“If I say all of those things to Vanessa, to Antonia, to Aidan and Davis and Mark, and then do nothing, I’ll be just as pathetic as the day I first awoke in the Resort. It’s time to show not just who I am, but who I want to be– someone who takes a stand against uncaring organizations like these.”

Let’s. Fucking. Go!!!!

“The crowd is smaller than the ones we saw after the ending of the killing game. Their energy is different, too. Rather than an excited crowd of superfans, it’s more businesslike. They’re surveying us, seeing what we’re made of. Oh, how badly I want to flip them off.”

Interesting. That’s… probably not helpful, you’d prefer a more energetic crowd, since they’d be more likely to agree to the bet. I mean, the bet’s gonna happen anyways, ‘cuz storytelling, but still :p

“Ellis: Yeah. Antonia, you and I are known for frequenting casinos, right? Antonia: Of course. I grin as confidently I can muster. Ellis: Then, what do you say we have ourselves a bet? Antonia: A bet? Whatever for? Ellis: Why, to herald the end of the killing games, my dear. The air turns tense as all the onlookers stare at me. Antonia: And what would the purpose of that be, darling~?”

I almost forgot how much sexual tension there always was whenever these two spoke. Just kidding, I always remembered it quite well, because I always remembered Antonia pretty well xD

…Not the time? Sorry, de-stressing.

“Antonia: A rather cocky proposal, isn’t it? Though, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, given that it’s coming from you~ Ellis: Oh yeah, I’ve got plenty of co– Aidan: Is it a deal or not?”

Ellis. I guess I’m not the only one de-stressing with humor xD

“Antonia: …I don’t see why not. The fate of the killing games versus the fates of our beloved winners. I’m sure the very thought of it is already getting our audience’s hearts pumping~ The dissatisfaction is clear on our nearby crowd’s faces, but as Antonia gives them her most charming smile, it’s clear they understand the implication of her words. The viewers at home have accepted the deal as valid.”

Hell yeah. All in baby!

“Antonia: In fact, I’m sure they’d love to see what happens in real time. Perhaps the Class Trial Grounds are a more appropriate setting?”

Wow, official! Lovely.

“Antonia: I suppose, once everyone’s settled in, we should determine exactly what we’re betting on, no?  Ellis: Makes sense to me. Antonia: Perhaps something simple would be best. Like, perhaps… a card flip?”

That’s crazy. I was sorta expecting something a little more involved for the climax, but this works too!

“Antonia: Given the severity of your request, I’m sure you understand if the Resort feels that even odds are unfair to us. Vanessa: And you’re just saying that now…? Mark: What odds are you looking at? Do they even need to ask? Antonia: One in 52, naturally. All Ellis will have to do is guess which card lies on top of the deck. Oh, and this is a standard deck, to ease any suspicions.”

That’s crazy. One in 52 is horrifying. But still… we gotta trust in Ellis, surely.

“Antonia: Sequential guesses would drastically affect the odds. One feels fair enough to me. That way, if you win, no one can say that the odds were stacked in your favor.”

Bro one in 52 followed by one in 51 is not that good, be fr. Come on, Toni, cheat, help them out. You know Ness wants that.

“Antonia: Have a choice in mind? This might as well be text flashing before an execution. What is Antonia going for here? It certainly seems like she’s going along with our plans, what with how she smiled at the VIPs and suggested that we move to the Arena, where the rest of the crowd could watch.”

Oh shit she actually is helping let’s go!!! Maybe she’ll put a card of significance on top of the deck? I don’t really know what that’d be, though.

“But on the other hand, what if it’s all a ruse?”

Or she may not, but I choose delusion.

“Ellis: Well, I’d obviously choose you, but that’ll have to wait until after the bet is over~ She laughs. Antonia: Very flattering. Pick a card. She’s still shuffling. Interesting.”

Well, Ellis will be Ellis until the end, awesome. Despite everything, it’s still them, huh? And Antonia seems like she wants to stack the deck no matter what, let’s hope it pays off.

“Maybe I should pick the ace of spades, like the single spade on Antonia’s usual dress. To communicate that I want to work together, I could give her that hint. Would that be too good to be true? Would that be too much of a picture perfect finale? It’s hard to say. I could pick a card for myself, the king of clubs. Or, should it be the two of hearts? In my past, I was certainly the king at any club I visited. But, in this killing game, I’ve been wearing these heart-shaped sunglasses, two hearts atop my head. I’ve grown close to others, connecting their hearts to mine. Two hearts, together: mine and Mark’s, Aidan and Davis’, Antonia’s and Vanessa’s. That’s right, huh? This choice doesn’t come down to me or Antonia on our own. It’s everything. Everything the killing games have been, and everything they will fail to be. Antonia and I are only sticking the landing on this plan we all came up with together. Therefore, I think there’s only one choice… Ellis: The six of hearts.”

They’re calling it the most epic card flip of all time. Holy tension. Come on Toni, stack the deck for us. You know Ellis hits these!!!

“I hold my breath, and draw.”

Heart of the cards baby!!! And probably Antonia stacking the deck but that’s besides the point!!!

“The six of hearts. The crowd goes wild.”

We’re popping the fuck off!!!

“Mark: …The killing games are over. That’s… that’s the deal we made. Antonia: Of course. Would I really be one to go back on a deal?”

Oh hell yeah. Peak.

“Antonia: I suppose that’s something that will have to be determined later. As for now– Chains spring out from behind Antonia’s podium, locking around her neck and pulling her away. Vanessa: Toni?! Vanessa rushes to the execution area. We all follow. GAME OVER! Antonia has been found guilty. Time for punishment!”

Nah nah nah get outta here. Antonia’s not dying, this shit’s not happening, not in the last fucking paragraphs of the story.

“Antonia stands in front of us, behind our execution podiums, each with a gun resting on it. Cameras are pointed on all of us, and the crowd watches with bated breath.”

Okay wait wait, it’s cast decision. Come on, you know Toni lives these. She probably just helped you all, and while no one can say that without invalidating the bet, they have to suspect. Come on, please, Toni has to survive. I can’t have her dying again.

“Mark: The point of all of this is that people don’t need to die for our entertainment. They don’t have to die at all. If we have the ability to prevent them from dying, isn’t that worth it?”

That’s right, good, good, I like these arguments Mark. Just stressful that it takes One Shot(TM) to ruin it.

…We’re really getting a lot of value out of that title now, huh? Peak.

“Davis: Besides, after all of this, shouldn’t you care…? Antonia is someone you’ve seen a lot of and gotten to know. Wouldn’t it… upset you, if she died after all of this time? For no reason other than to satisfy some arbitrary ending condition? Aidan: I’m sure you all have lives, or jobs, or families, or whatever. Is this really the best way to spend your free time? Tuning in to people breaking down until they can’t take it anymore and killing each other? Wouldn’t it be better to watch… I don’t know, sports? Cooking shows? Some sort of competition or entertainment that’s actually sustainable…?”

That’s everyone, ‘cuz Ness is not shooting. I love it, I love the determination, I love the moral backbone, peak peak peak.

“Vanessa: …This is the real ending of the killing game. It’s the beginning of a new era for the Resort, where things will be better. They’ll be just as “fun,” but more humane. But, we wouldn’t be able to make all of these changes without you. So, if you’re all supportive out there… Let me hear you, Las Vegas!”

Ultimate Announcer let’s go!!!! We win these!!!

“The chains on Antonia suddenly unlock, releasing her. Mark, Davis, Aidan, and Vanessa… they did it. They took their chances, stood up, and fought for what they believed in. When I faltered, they had my back. That’s what we’re meant to do.”

It’s just so unbelievably peak…

“Antonia: If you’re all so eager…  Antonia joins our side, voice a bit scratchy from the near-execution. Antonia: Then, let us hear your cheers for the victors of our sixth and final killing game~! I can hardly hear myself over the applause.”

Woohoo!!!

[One Month Later] Ooh time skip! Nice!

“Vanessa: So? What do you guys think? Ellis: I like the substantial cuts to the amount of murder. Not so sure about the logo’s color. Antonia: What a helpful way of phrasing your one complaint… Davis: On the whole, I think it sounds good. Are you guys going to be ready to start running it soon? Vanessa: Hopefully! With everything approved, all it’ll take is recruiting a cast, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people who will be thrilled to be a part of the new games. They should be fun, and then everyone who always looked up to the people on the TVs can be the people on the TVs.”

And now they’re running the non-killing games! How… the hell did this happen, I have no clue, but it’s so feel-good as an ending that I don’t really care xD

“Mark: And this time, they’ll actually know they’re going into a TV show before they go on it. Also a major improvement. Aidan: I wish we could do something to cool it on the betting. People would probably riot if we took that away too, though, so I guess it stays for now.”

Yeah, the first part’s probably also important lol. And I like that they’re trying to cut back on the Casino aspect too, would feel kinda weird for them to be okay with people ruining their lives over these games by betting still lmao.

“I’ve spent most of my time this past month (when I’m feeling strong enough to go out and do something) trying to interact with the people of this stronghold and survey their opinions. It’s interesting talking to them from the perspective of, in their eyes, a celebrity: even when I had a lot of money before, I didn’t necessarily hold people’s attention. Opinions differ between those who are still more unsure about disrupting the economy like this and those who admit they were never comfortable with the idea of profiting off of death in the first place.”

Cool world building! You can tell it’s post-Makoto-Naegi because some people weren’t okay with the murder :v

“Mark has steadily regained some of their college memories and is leading efforts within the Resort to increase its sustainability and its output. It’s slow going, but once they start making progress, it’s sure to help a lot of people.”

Yay Mark!

“Aidan: Other strongholds are starting to hear about the end of the killing games, too. Some of them seem to think it means that we have less bargaining power or something, but we’re making sure that, other than removing the killing games, nothing’s changing too much. Smaller steps. Aidan has found a role helping Antonia out with the operation of the stronghold, pointing out any potential flaws in upcoming plans or telling off other greedy stronghold runners. It’s not a traditional job by any means, but that’s probably part of what Aidan likes about it.”

Yay Aidan! Man, who knew a killing game could help one find their calling in life lmao.

“Antonia: There’s only so much he can get caught up doing. Considering I already organized plenty of regular trade and management systems, our stronghold is close to being able to function on its own. All we have to do is adjust it for any relevant changes and field any unexpected results.”

‘Of course he’s not overworking himself, I’m so good he can’t even find shit to do’. I love you Antonia. I’m so glad you survived you have no idea. As promised, every time I’ve called venus evil is officially retracted. This, too, is character development lol.

“Davis has been focusing on returning education to the stronghold. At the outset of the Tragedy, it’s something that fell off of people’s radars, but with enough safe space to operate, Davis is working to reinstate it. He believes that if the post-Tragedy future is going to be determined by the youth of today, we shouldn’t neglect them because there are seemingly more pressing matters.”

Yay Davis!…? Not what I expected him to do, to be fair, but it’s a very respectable goal. I wonder if his FTEs would have included anything about this…

“Ellis: Well. I wonder who your lucky students will be~”

Pfft-

“Aidan: Yeah… I hope that the school we create will be a place where they feel safe to just… grow up. Be kids. All that stupid stuff.”

Awww :)

“After we’re done with our various jobs for the day, we head home. Tonight, we have a stocked fridge, and I get to cooking. Weirdly enough, I’ve turned into the accidental caretaker of our little four person apartment. After enough times yelling at Aidan to do his laundry and shoving Mark into bed to sleep, it kind of fell upon me. It’s nice, though. I never would’ve thought I’d enjoy doing work for other people. I didn’t stick around long enough with my own family to see that play through. Luckily enough, I’ve been given a second chance.”

Wow, I would not have expected that! But it makes enough sense, Ellis has always been pretty nice behind all that bravado she used to hide under.

“With a bit more time to relax, Mark has been recovering well. Although they’ll probably never escape the title of the Ultimate Amnesiac, they’ve been recovering some of their memories across all periods of their life.”

Hell yeah! Go Mark!

“Although Aidan and Davis are no longer handcuffed together, they certainly still act like it sometimes. They started officially dating quickly after the killing game ended, and moved into the same room not long after that. Their new jobs do take them apart from each other sometimes, what with Aidan working in management and Davis establishing a new school system, but they still try to see each other as much as possible.”

Everyone, yaoi has won B)

“Antonia and Vanessa have really thrown themselves into their work. Some of it might be penance for their previous employment, but I think most of it is genuine excitement for being able to pursue their passions on their own terms. Antonia’s cool, calculated head and Vanessa’s bubbly people skills synthesize perfectly to gather the people and resources required to run a large-scale project. I’m sure that their new game show project will be a huge success.”

Yay! Even the criminals against humanity get a happy ending! :D That sounds sarcastic when I say it, but I mean it, I love these two.

“Someday, I think the good they’ve caused will outweigh the bad. That day hasn’t come yet, but continuing to knock them down when they’re trying to build up something good won’t get us anywhere.”

Yeah, that’s a good attitude to have. They did horrible things, but punishing them further will help no one. The Milgram inno sweep mindset, I’m familiar. Since, you know, I agree with it.

“I went through hell and lived to tell the tale. Does that make me some kind of angel? Nah, probably just a sinner trying to build his wings from scratch.”

Hell yeah. Go Ellis!

“Since I still have you here, I gotta tell you an answer from a long time ago: no, I didn’t deserve it.”

Oh yeah! I… vaguely remember that. I love a good bookend!

“Since I still have you here, I gotta tell you an answer from a long time ago: no, I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve any of what came to me. Sure, maybe I deserved it more than some people out there, but nobody deserves this. Needless suffering won’t actually make any changes in the world. You don’t have to stab yourself in the chest to be a bleeding heart. You don’t need to cope before you care. I’m taking it easy in my life, and taking it easy on myself. Wherever you are, I hope you can do the same. You don’t need a lucky break to make a breakthrough.”

Holy peak. Peak monologue. Peak ending. Peak story. Peak fangan. Just… round of applause, it’s so good!!! Danganronpa One Shot is so awesome!!!

-

What a fucking chapter, man. Just peak all around. DROS has been an amazing journey, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely! The characters were all awesome, specific shoutout to my favorites of Ellis, Aidan, Antonia, Mark… etc! The cases were fun, the ending was satisfying, just a very good fangan all around! I’ll be patiently awaiting the next entry in the av-multifangan account, which supposedly isn’t even that far away now!

And of course, my reaction series can only end in one way. The climax of the prediction game!

When we left off in CH5, we had: me and sewersleuth with 31, Jonas with 30, and accirax with 23. But before we get to the survivor point assignment, we’re gonna need a recount. With CH6 done, we can look at the special rules added for the events of the game. As per the official rules:

-Antonia can count as either CH1 killer or MM, depending on what is better for the board. Vanessa is NOT a valid MM guess.

-Mark is a Survivor officially, but can count as victim because of their little stunt this chapter.

-Harper and Noah are CH5 victims. Impossible to get a perfect score lmao.

I had already counted Harper and Noah as CH5 victims, so that’s fine, but the Antonia score needs reevaluation. We all thought she’d die late, so it’s better to count her as mm for all our boards. That means that while sleuth and I originally got 4 chapter points by guessing her as a CH5 killer, but by counting her as mm, we only get one chapter points from her. That’s 3 points of our score! Similarly, accirax had her down as CH5 victim. So while she still takes the role points, she also goes down 3 chapter points! Finally, Jonas had her down as CH4 killer, which was 3 chapter points, and the new mm count is only 2 chapter points. So Jonas’ score goes down by one!

You might think that means we can just subtract the right points from people straight from the score I mentioned, but, uh, I may have made an oopsie? For some reason, even accounting for the Antonia thing, I actually counted three less points for Jonas, sleuth and myself than I should have? Don’t know how that happened, but then again, this count was done over several posts over the course of an entire year, so I’m not surprised I screwed up somewhere lol. On a proper recount, the score is: 20 for accirax, 31 for sewersleuth and myself, and 32 for Jonas!

With that, now we get to the big event. Survivor counting time!

We all had Ellis down as a survivor, because the rules of the game told us to lmao. Naturally, zero points here. Only guess we all agreed on, too!

We did get close to agreeing on Vanessa though, albeit for the worse. Accirax, Jonas and I all guessed she’d die first. That’s max points for us: 5 chapter points and 2 roles points for a total of 7, leaving me with 38, accirax with 27, and Jonas with 39. Sewersleuth, meanwhile, nails the prediction with Ness as a survivor guess, so they keep the 28!

But sleuth shouldn’t get too cocky, now, because they missed a prediction that accirax, Jonas and I all correctly agreed on. We all had Mark as a survivor, while sleuth went with CH3 killer for him. Not even the special rules can save this guess; it’s 3 chapter points and 2 chapter points for sleuth. 5 isn’t as bad as 7, but it still gets sleuth up to 36.

You know who can get cocky, though? Accirax, because she actually guessed both Aidan and Davis as survivors. Perfect score in both of them, and accirax pulls off the massive feat of guessing 4/6 survivors. Her final score is 27, and she’s already won! We’re just competing for silver now, damn. Is this the result of knowing venus’ writing style more than us? Or is she simply the GOAT???

As for the rest of us mortals: I had Aidan down as a CH4 killer, which is 2 chapter and 2 role points, and Davis as a CH3 victim, so 3 chapter and 2 role points. That’s 9 more points, for a final score of 47!

Jonas had Davis as a CH5 killer (which was almost right lmao, thanks Jeff), which is 1 chapter points and 2 role points. That’s better than either of my guesses for the yaoi duo, but Jonas also had Aidan as a CH1 killer. That’s another case of the maximum 7 points, which combined with the 3 points from Davis, brings Jonas up to 49!

Finally, sleuth had Aidan as a CH5 victim and Davis as a CH4 victims. That’s 2 role points for each, and 1 and 2 chapter points respectively! That’s a total of 7 for these two, and sleuth ends up with 43 points!

(Note: in an ask to av-multifangan, sleuth counted their score as 45, but that’s because they gave themselves 2 points for Grace’s role. However, sleuth guessed her as the mm, and she was a killer. According to accirax in a comment from back in my CH2 part 7 predictions, mm counts as a killer guess. That means they counted two more points than they should have, thus, 43 is the real count :p)

The final standings are:

Jonas in last place with 49! Solid effort, though, congrats on the sub-50!

I was in third place with 47! That’s quite alright if you ask me, I’m awful at these things. In fact, I was the last person to get a prediction with 0 chapter points. Jonas was the first with Grace as a CH2 death (though he got role points from that), then sleuth and accirax with Vivi and Kennedy as CH3 deaths, respectively, and those were actually perfect guesses. My only 0 chapter point guesses were Ellis and Mark, lmao.

Sewersleuth takes silver with 43! Our boards were extremely similar, with 7 out of 16 guesses being exactly the same, but ultimately, sleuth’s proved superior!

And finally, accirax absolutely runs away with the competition! More than 10 points away from everyone else, an entire 20 points from me and Jonas, she gets a decisive victory! Considering how long she spent as the last place early in the killing game due to an unfortunate Cass guess, that’s quite a surprise!

Here, have a graph showing how the competition went! (In case it's not easy to see, I'm purple and Jonas is blue, sorry if you're colorblind lmao)