the mastermind meme

[monomods]

 

You asked for it, we're finally giving it to you! Say hello to the mastermind meme!

What does this mean exactly? It means your character is the one responsible for everything! They've been controlling Monobear from the shadows (or maybe they have an assistant to help them, possibly even one of your classmates!), they've been putting forth the motives, running the trials, all of it! And now they've finally chosen to reveal themselves and their true motives.

What are their motives? Why do they want to spread despair? Are they somehow connected to the late Junko Enoshima? And most importantly what is their snazzy Monobear-themed look like? You decide!

Threading reactions is highly encouraged and feel free to AU things up to mix up our current survivor pool as much as you'd like.

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

The elevator doors open to reveal the courtroom. There are very few decorations - banners with Monobear's face on them in a shade of red that looks far too much like blood, if blood here actually appeared red - but the stands are all the same, arranged in a circle with one missing. The missing one has been replaced by a throne set a little ways away from the circle. Seated in that throne is a man who's supposed to be dead for murdering one of their fellow classmates.

Frank Archer's hands are folded in his lap, elbows propped neatly on the armrests of the throne. He's sitting up straight, one leg crossed over the other and he's smirking.

"I'm so glad you all could make it. Admittedly, there were a few of you I believed would live to see this final confrontation - and quite a few I thought would have been picked off long ago - but I suppose that doesn't matter now, does it?"

His demeanor is much different than it was the last time he was seen. He's no longer laughing hysterically or completely manic, instead he's back to the usual self-assured smirk. Archer's outfit has changed, he's no longer wearing the Amestrian military uniform but rather a mockery of it. The uniform is half-white, half-black with Monobear pins replacing the buttons on the front and the emblem at his throat. He doesn't move from his throne, but he does lean on his left hand, still smirking.

"There are so few of you now. Rest assured, when this trial is over, none of you will be left standing!"

[voidedrogue]

[ Roxy takes one look at Archer and deadpans. ]

Fucking really, Colonel Frank?

[sadisticwarfare]

You're one of the ones I was hoping wouldn't make it this far, actually.

[That's said in a very cheerful tone.]

[holocast]

Lysandre has had an idea that something might be wrong with Archer from the start; however, he hadn't thought that it would be quite this extreme. Archer is self-serving, surely, and it likely comes to exactly no one's surprise that the man is legitimately insane in some way; however, there's a difference between sociopathy and flat-out evil - while one may predispose a person toward the other, it's not a guarantee.

In a way, it's not surprising. That doesn't mean it isn't disappointing.

"And what are you hoping to get out of this?" He folds his arms across his chest, trying to keep the gesture casual; his expression is almost carefully impassive, but his eyes burn with unmistakable intensity. "You wouldn't bother with a trial unless you wanted something, surely - what are you aiming to achieve?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"I believe it's about time you all found out who's behind all this. Besides, I was bored."

That's really what it comes down to, he was bored. Being "dead" wasn't nearly as entertaining as he thought it would be. Yes, it gave him more time to devote to Monobear, but quite frankly, it was boring.

[holocast]

"...Am I to assume that all of this - " And he gestures a bit, the movement vague but all-encompassing. "The courtroom, the island, this entire game of yours - was that simply to satisfy your need for entertainment as well?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"Would you prefer it if I had some sort of idealistic reason? Perhaps I brought you all here to save your worlds from your awful decisions?" Archer laughs. It isn't the same manic laughter from the trial but something much darker. "I'm afraid not. No, everything has been done for my amusement." And because he can. If you expected him to handle having power like this well, then obviously you were wrong.

[holocast]

"I think I prefer the idea that it isn't idealistic - nothing you could possibly say could justify this, from a moral standpoint. Nothing."

(Well. Sort of.)

"So no, mon cher - I quite prefer that you acknowledge how repulsive you are. It will make you that much easier to destroy."

[sadisticwarfare]

Archer's smirk doesn't fade though he does shift a bit on the throne, crossing his legs the opposite way and leaning forward, folding his hands on his knee. "How do you plan on destroying me, hmm? You seem to be forgetting that I have complete control here."

[holocast]

"That may be, but you're still a man - you aren't immortal by a long shot."

He pauses once that's out there, however, his thought processes grinding to a sudden and abrupt halt.

"...At least, I don't believe you are - are you, mon cher?"

[sadisticwarfare]

Lysandre, why would you ask something like that?

"Do you really expect me to tell you that I'm mortal and you can kill me?" Archer's expression shifts to something decidedly less amused. Why this, Lysandre?

"Regardless of whether or not I can be killed, you won't be capable of doing anything to me. As I said, I have complete control here; attacking me will result in your death. Do you really wish to test that?"

[holocast]

Because his uncle is - okay, look, never mind.

"Well, I personally don't see why we shouldn't. You've given us no reason not to, after all - you've revealed yourself, you've stated that we're all just pawns, and you've implied that we're all going to die anyway. So why shouldn't anyone attack you?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"Because the game's not over yet." Archer's smirk widens. "I intend to let one of you leave here and return home, but only if they prove sufficiently amusing."

[holocast]

"...I see." Archer, what in the name of all things sacred. "So you intend to have us kill one another here, or...?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"Certainly not here, that would leave quite the mess wouldn't it?" He has no interest in cleaning up the courtroom, thank you very much. "You'll all return to your lives on the island and when only two of you remain, I'll select which one will return home."

A brief pause. "I hope you win, Lysandre." That's completely genuine.

[holocast]

That's more than enough to throw him, actually, and for a long moment he simply stares. "...Do you?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"Of course." Archer smiles then - actually smiles as opposed to the smirking he's been doing. The expression is more than a bit unsettling, but it is genuine. "There are a few others I like, but no one else trusted me like you did. I entered this game expecting to be hated, but you... You certainly are an interesting one."

[holocast]

If nothing else, Lysandre stands by his initial assessments, and all the assessments he's made afterwards in Archer's direction - namely, that the man is creepy as hell. But this...well. It's interesting.

Morbid, and terrible, but interesting. He tips his head back a bit, a light smirk crossing his features.

"Then why leave it up to chance, if that's the outcome you want? After all, as you've said, you have all the control."

[sadisticwarfare]

"Of course I do. But that wouldn't be very fair to the others, now would it? Besides, it's amusing to watch you try to unite everyone. Though I suppose it is equally amusing to watch you throw them all aside in order to save yourself..."

Hmm. Decisions, decisions...

[holocast]

Well, this is probably incredibly low, but -

"...Mon cher, how much do you want to risk being left with your two choices at the end being Roxy and Jimmy?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"Well in that case I'd have them both executed for being insufferable pains." He waves a hand airily. Clearly this has already occurred to him. "But they won't be the last two standing. I'm certain of that."

[holocast]

"Assuming any of us could kill them in the first place - although that brings up another point. What do you plan on doing if none of us kill after we leave here?"

[sadisticwarfare]

"That's easy. You'll be brought down here and tasked with voting for someone to die. Of course you won't be able to vote for yourself to ensure that you all don't attempt a stalemate there."

[holocast]

Hmmm.

"There are still ways to cause a stalemate even if we can't vote for ourselves, you realize."

[yourpiecenow]

So, what? Do we fight now? Can I go get my rocket launcher?