video | un: NOMERCY - backdated to July 25th

[the_obedient_servant]

CW FOR MASS MURDER OF UNARMED CIVILIANS, RELIGIOUS FANATICISM, THEMES OF NIHILISM AND UNREALITY, GASLIGHTING, "MERCY KILLING", THREATENED HARM TO CHILDREN, CHARA IN GENERAL, MOTHER MERCY IN GENERAL



[The video starts from a low point, broadcasting only Chara's feet. They have their omen doing the recording, after-all. Or did he decide to do it himself, because he thought the world needed to see this? Regardless, all that's currently seen is a collection of corpses on the ground.

There's two sets of shoes, nearly identical in size, though one is perhaps a bit bigger. One of the few living bodies (* 4 Left) slumps to the ground as the smaller of the pair sinks a knife into his chest. Trenchies. The kind that die permanently.

The video cuts then, to Chara sitting alone on the stump of what used to be a statue of Mother Mercy, better known to the inhabitants of the dream that came before as Mother Superior. Splattered on the walls in many different kinds of blood are the words NO MERCY.

They clear their throat, their face chalky and their eyes a dull lifeless black.]

Greetings. I am Chara. [Their voice perfectly polite, their smile perfectly pleasant.] I am here to show you something. No doubt, a lot of you are already familiar with my work. Oscar Pine, Ezra Bridger, the "Clockhouse" as I believe it was called, Professor Ozpin... Others were killed under my direction, of course, and I take responsibility for all of them. If you want revenge, I'm here to receive you. In the last day or so I have killed approximately forty eight of the inhabiting NPCs in this world. Trenchies, as I believe they're called.

[They fish out a bag sitting next to them, concealed by their clothing. They unfasten it and pour them out into the palm of their hand. Small silver crystals of light, and a fair few of them too, at least ten, maybe fifteen.]

Moon Drops. I think the Reckoning likes me. If you needed proof that the rulers of this world do not care for the people within it, let this be it. I will not be punished for my crimes. Everything I have done has been according to the Reckoning's wishes. Everything I have done has been, in some way, in the name of justice. The most broken motivation of all.

I am here to prove Mother Superior a fraud. I am here, to make it known that any attempts made to revere her by the local inhabitants will be met with death. I am here, to preach the opposite of her pretentious self-serving drivel.

There will be no mercy for this world, or those responsible for creating it. Not from her. Not from anyone else. I reject her forgiveness, because I will never allow myself to be forgiven by someone so weak and pitiful. Others have preached this - no mercy - without truly knowing the meaning. No mercy is the relentless pursuit of power. No mercy is the destruction of civilizations. No mercy is the complete and total annihilation of your enemy. No mercy is embracing the path you were always meant to walk, no matter how high the ocean of blood may grow.

You do not understand what it is to live without mercy. So I am going to show you.

And now. I am going to demonstrate the broken mercy of this false patron. Don't worry. I'm not under the impression that any of you believed in it to begin with. This is for the NPCs of Trench to see. [They smile, and the black inky substance of their eyes begins to drip down like tears, like their face is melting. And they reach into their bag and pull one of the moon drops out.

They hold it against their chest, letting it fill them with it's warmth, and the black in their eyes fades, leaving only a normal human child with a dull stone. Other things seem to fade along with it as the video (and reality) flickers. The harsh emptiness in their eyes is gone, replaced only with a wide-eyed fear and horror. Their mouth twitches into a shocked laugh.]

...You'll even use yourself, won't you? [They wipe the ink off their face with their sleeve.] We're so fucked up.

[There's another cut. And in the next video, Chara is not alone. Standing before them, looming over their tiny stature, is a pale woman in a dark veil. A mourning widow, looking down at this child, lost and pitiful. They look up at her, their eyes filled with anxiety, determination, and to some extent the loathing remains just as strong.

The woman places a land on the child's head. Standing here amid a hall dedicated to faith in her cause, faith in her kindness. Standing amid the corpses of those who died for no reason other than a bad choice in gods, she speaks, quietly, but loud enough for the omen to pick up, at least a little.]

...Forgiven.

[And in just a moment, she turns to the bodies. To a group that aren't quite dead yet, but rather tied up and bound in their injuries, kept alive by Chara's blood magic. They could be saved, if taken to the ministers. They might even want to be saved, unlike Chara.

But the woman approaches them, and kills them in an instant, kneeling down to mourn their loss. She weeps over their corpses, before disappearing in black smoke, leaving only the dead people and the ghost of a child that sits atop her statue of vanity like it's a broken throne.

It leaves Chara the last in this room alive, baffled, shocked. For all of a moment until their mouth twists into a vicious smile, and they begin to laugh, and laugh, and laugh. It's difficult to tell if they're back to the way they were. Or if any forgiveness or LOVE lost won't change the fact that this is who they are.

The video feed cuts for the last time.]

Comments

un: younghuman | voice | private

[terriblepurpose]

[The emotions that roll through a person are transitory waves, however fierce their swells or deep their troughs. Paul allows them to pass through, and over, and away, anger, guilt, sorrow, disgust and sick, soul-deep worry all fleeting things.

What's left in their absence is acceptance, if not calm. He brings his Omni back to life in his palms and sends a softly spoken question, one he half-expects not to be answered.]

Chara, what are you doing?

[the_obedient_servant]

[Their own response is a dry laugh, carefully devoid of any emotion or hurt. Paul is gone from them, that much is certain at this point. He will not return.

It's for the best. He can be saved. Even when they first met him, they always thought he was better suited to being a hero. The kind of hero they could have never become, despite their own prophesy granted purpose.]

Didn't I explain it clearly? A demonstration of mercy.

[TEXT] UN: [username not set]

[demonicbeauty]

[As it is, Ariadne hasn't been showing her face on the network. Not since her meltdown earlier in the month.

Just as well, because there's no way to disguise the horror splashed across her face. It would be enough to upset her seeing all of those bodies, all of that pain. Add to that the fact that one of them is Ezra, her friend...

And now the inescapable speculation that somehow, this stranger killed Dean...

Well, it's all Ariadne can do not to let loose with some destructive Screams.

Her hands shake as she tries to type out a message, her normally bad texting even worse now.]

dID that make you feel bett er?

DI d it get you home?

[the_obedient_servant]

Please don't text me while inebriated, I'm a minor!

[It's a joke for them and them alone.]

Also, not what this is about. I don't have a home to return to.

video; un: A.

[fabrications]

[ ... Well, then.

It's a bit odd to encounter a stranger, especially one with such a young appearance, that has a view of the world that makes so much sense to him - but it's interesting, too, and especially so when they act on it so openly. Akechi doesn't particularly care if they're right or wrong; it's their certainty that drives him to respond. ]

Do you feel as though you've made your point?

[ His tone is absent of accusation, judgement, or disgust. All that's present is curiosity. ]

[the_obedient_servant]

[The smile on Chara's chalky face is pleasant, polite, a bit too much. There's an eeriness to it after everything that's just been broadcasted, but they carry themselves in a polite lifeless friendliness, despite the open malice they have shown.]

I would say so. For now, at least. [They cock their head in curiosity. This person is a near stranger to them, and they've been paying close attention to people frequenting the network. They believe he's shown up once or twice where they were watching but besides that...] Credit where credit is due, Mother Superior did most of the work in proving my point.

[His reaction is certainly interesting for all it's mundanity in the face of something others find quite shocking.]

video; un: taka

[retsuden]

[ Welp. Sasuke has absolutely no room to point fingers here, but boy is that a mess. If he didn't know them, he would've been thoroughly unimpressed, but instead he's just... concerned?? Yeah, he's definitely concerned.

He's pretty sure this is some kind of karmic punishment for all the shit he pulled on Kakashi, but unlike his former sensei, he is very ill-equipped to handle it. He's not good at inspiring speeches or calming others. But he should try, right? Maybe. ]

Hn.

[ That is not enough!!! ]

You've been busy.

[ .......................... Maybe he should not try. ]

[the_obedient_servant]

[...Deeply funny choice of words, for so many reasons. They can't help but smile in genuine amusement at the parallel.

At least they're pretty sure Sasuke isn't about to start a boss fight that'll take them days of grueling agony and deaths and listening to his stupid fucking dialogue to complete. This makes him far better than any smiling skeletons around.]

I have. [An honest confession, at least.]

Haven't we all, this month?

Video | 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

[Oh... Johnny has a lot of feelings here.

There's a sudden regret that he might have started something bigger than the second "No Mercy" starts getting flung around here.

But his fists tighten and he sucks in the pain he's feeling for a moment and directs it right at Chara.]

You half pint son of a bitch.

Don't think for a second that I'm going to go easy on you because you're a kid.

You want "No Mercy," You want Cobra Kai?

You can have it, because you're going to get it.

[the_obedient_servant]

[Ah, here he is, the man who preached this from the start.

Chara's smile is chipper and friendly, but not the least bit respectful or intimidated. They cock their head.]

I see you show even less regard for your current students than you did for Sayo.

How do you think they're going to react when I kill you again, especially when they rely on you so much in their current state?

Is this really a fight you want to start?

video; un: joker

[stealhearted]

I'm pretty sure that's not justice.

[ Akira's actually sort of impressed that someone went and murdered like fifty people at a rate, apparently, of more than one per hour. That's pretty drastic, but also sort of awe-inspiring, in an absolutely horrifying kind of way?

He, actually, has no idea how you're supposed to react to any of this? ]

There's probably a lot of things it is, but I'm pretty sure justice isn't one of them.

[ It's. Chaotic? Kind of unhinged? ... murder? Murder's a good word for it. Akira spends a lot of time not talking, but he's not usually quite as speechless as he is right now in the face of someone murdering a bunch of people on video displayed to a bunch of other people.

Like, talk about bold. ]

[the_obedient_servant]

We're fully in agreement on that much.

[Hence their scathing derision at the Reckoning for rewarding them and not punishing them for the graveyards they filled in the last couple of days. Of course, they can't take credit for all of them, Paimon and Silva and Frisk all killed their fair share, and Reaper killed someone in that Clockhouse place.

But all under their orders. And yet. And yet the moon drops pile up in their hand, to indicate that it was all deemed deserved. What a joke.]

Justice is an illusion, and entirely up to individual perspective. If the Reckoning actually cared about keeping things fair, she would impale herself on her sword.

un: falcogrice, private (cw: child soldier history)

[grice]

why

[ it's so short a response after making the choice of watching and continuing to watch, then sitting on his bed and waiting for the wave of nerve-struck sickness to pass. it's not just about the dead— he can't get the look on chara's face after that out of his head. he can't.

he doesn't know them, but he still asks. he still types: ]

if you're reading this... please
you're no older than i am
i know what it's like to see indoctrination
to be a part of it
and i know what it's like not to say no because of being afraid of what could happen to the people you're trying to save if you do
but you're thinking it
the face you made
i don't think you want to believe that you're meant for this
no one has to be

[the_obedient_servant]

[They expected some degree of this. There's always the Papyrus types, the ones that still believe beyond a reasonable point with little to no evidence of anything remotely resembling redemption or anything good within them.

Because there's nothing good within them.]

This is exactly what I was made for.

Nobody is holding my strings. Not anymore.

This is all my choice now. And my choice is to proceed.

[Video] un: QueenCobra

[abornfighter]

[Well. Nothing like seeing a portion of the Cobra Kai philosophy taken to its uncomfortable extreme to give her reason to rethink that. It's something she'll think over later.]

What the everloving fuck, Chara?

[It's probably a good thing that she's kept her gift from The Reckoning on her person. The moon design was pretty, and it only seemed polite. What she doesn't realize is the way it's been helping to keep the corruption at bay.]

I got some Moon Drops from the Reckoning for preventing crimes, but I didn't kill anyone to do it.

[the_obedient_servant]

I did tell you what No Mercy means in my world. [There's nothing in their eyes, nothing but the dull apathy of corruption.

Everything in this world is so utterly meaningless, but their smile is friendly regardless, as if they hadn't intentionally hurt her sensei. As if they hadn't dragged her precious Cobra Kai through the mud for no reason at all beyond irritation at borrowed words.]

Not a fan?

Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

[Vira-Lorr was only back into her rightful body for about twenty-four hours when she saw this. In this moment, there were several things that she was very certain had just been confirmed. One was that the Reckoning, and likely most of the Pthumerians, did not consider the veneration of Mother Mercy as a 'true worship.' That was really no surprise, given how things had ended with her daughter in the last days. Hell, she wasn't even sure that most of the Trenchies would actually consider this a matter that needed reprisal. The cult of Mother Mercy was ... a complicated thing.

But, the other was that her friend was corrupted. It wasn't just Reckoning. She was certain of it. They were painfully, incredibly corrupted right now, and the access they had to so many moon drops said that those probably weren't enough. Vira-Lorr grimaced at the display, right down to the twisted act of mercy by Mother Mercy, along with her forgiveness of Chara.]

Ugh, Chara. I ... you... you're suffering blood corruption to the point where I think you're nearly lost. I don't expect you to see that, and even if you did? I don't know that you would care. The Reckoning's influence is not healthy for you.

[She scowled, getting up and slowly rising to her feet.]

If the moon drops aren't having a positive effect, I'm going to get water from the lake and check the lunar cycle. I will help you, even if it costs me my life again, should someone else not get to you first. But I won't raise a hand to you.

As for forgiveness? The only person who has business forgiving you is someone wronged. To that end, we were both corrupted. I've asked forgiveness of those I hurt already, and I will forgive you for what happened. I don't hold any of that against you. Mother Mercy has no business forgiving you, and no place in this. Leave that ... thing to rot in her eternal misery, punished by her daughter to walk as she is.

[the_obedient_servant]

[When Chara responds, there is no feeling behind their dull eyes, no smile on their face, just a thoughtful frown.

They should have expected this reaction. Vira really is a sentimental old fool... They sigh.]

The moon drops work. I have just found a way to swiftly enter corruption afterwards.

I understand that you want to help me, but trust me when I say there's nothing you can do now. I only told you the prologue of the story, after-all.

text; username: grollschwert

[hauntedsavior]

[anna has committed enough murder in the name of justice for the past month. she is working through the desire for vengeance. she has learned that she hates the taste of it in her mouth, slithering down her throat and settling in her stomach. and even if she hadn't, she would be so burned out from this month in the first place that she would have nothing but exhaustion hanging off every syllable. her chest aches. she does not turn away from the video feed, does not stop herself from looking.]

[she leaves behind the dramatic speeches. she has given enough of herself to that, to john. she doubts chara will appreciate the flowery words anyway. this is not her fight. this is not her problem to solve.]

Eat shit, kid.

[the_obedient_servant]

Is that it?

What? Did you lose your appetite for revenge already? I thought we were all guilty, Amaranth.

Or were you just mouthing off about concepts you barely had any comprehension of in some childish indulgent fantasy come true?

action

[stilljustyou]

( They've overheard everything Chara had to say. How could they not? They were right there. They had helped. However, Chara had left such a huge detail out of their plan. The demonstration to those here, the plan for Mother Mercy. It's enough for Frisk to step back, still gripping their own knife tightly. )

You didn't tell me everything.

( It feels similar to when they had seen Chara's memories before. Are they going to continue to be left in the dark? How much more do they have planned? )

[the_obedient_servant]

[They look back at them, an eyebrow quirked.]

Would you have followed along if you believed I was in danger?

[The excessively public nature of it notwithstanding, because what they did was already horrible, they can't imagine Frisk is getting cold feet at the news Chara elevated it a bit.

("A bit.")]

text | un: duty

[martyrofduty]

Is that a good summary of everything you believe in—justice without mercy for the crimes of playing with people's lives like they're a game?

[the_obedient_servant]

I also believe Mew Mew Kissy Cutie 2 was better than the original.

Justice isn't real. It's all just revenge, in some form or another. I believe in power, and I believe in destroying the enemy and leaving no trace.

You are one of The Necromancer's, correct?

[Audio][un: A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

Well. You've certainly been busy getting the Fallen Mother's attention, little one. [An amused even mildly approving tone.]

Bear in mind: there's a limit to suppressing one's sense of mercy. On a long enough timescale, it will consume you. But that prospect doesn't seem to bother you, does it?

[the_obedient_servant]

[The response is a small laugh. It's amused, in a distant hollow way, like everything about them.]

I'm afraid it's too late for that on my end. It's already consumed me.

What I am now is simply the result.

un: tabris

[peripheries]

Though you claim not to be human, you certainly showboat like one.

[the_obedient_servant]

I resent the implication that humans are the only species that showboats. You should have seen some of the fish I've known.

video ; un: echo

[individualized]

I know what living without mercy is.

[She shakes her head.]

It is never the only option.

[the_obedient_servant]

Of course not. [It was never the only option. There were always several paths available to the fallen human.

Except Chara never got to choose.]

But it's the one I choose. And it's the one others chose, unwittingly, with no understanding of what it means.

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul won't condemn Chara. He'd be the worst sort of hypocrite to do so. After all, hasn't he done the same before, killed and killed and killed just to prove a point or to get something that he desperately wanted? However, there's an expression that's closest to being called unimpressed upon his features as he stares at the mess on the screen.]

I have to wonder, since I decided to start behaving myself, if those also on the side of darkness have decided to try to become and take my place as the most hated Sleeper here in this city. Between you and that self-proclaimed god, you're certainly giving me a run for my money.

[the_obedient_servant]

If it makes you feel any more included, Reaper only helped burn Ozpin and Rosenberg's house down out of revenge for what she and her co-conspirator did to you.

[They shrug.]

I think if you were as hated as you say you are, you'd have no reason to want to behave yourself to begin with.

[frogfear]

[Willow isn't entirely sure what she expected of Chara after July, but this kind of wild escalation sure wasn't it.]

What's this supposed to prove exactly? Aside from, you know, you being completely insane.

[the_obedient_servant]

That Mother Superior is a fraud and that her offers of redemption and mercy are self-serving and meaningless.

[They look at her flatly. They hadn't seen her since Reaper shot her, but they knew that she'd declared her own revenge against them.]

More for the Trenchies than any of you. I know you all already knew that.

[They consider.]

What did your own little spree prove, while we're comparing notes?

video | un: sds

[fogsong]

[ Sharon feels a strange spark of pride as she watches the video progress though those feelings turn to frustration as she scrolls through some of the available responses. It doesn’t surprise her but it does disappoint her. ]

The Trenchies will understand less than the Sleepers but maybe you’ll open a few pairs of eyes in this place.

If not… [ she trails off. she knows they’ll understand the implication there. ]

[the_obedient_servant]

I'm not sure. The Trenchies are a little less... [They hum, contemplative, looking over all the responses they've received, varied in their way.] ...idealistic. We'll just have to see.

[Sharon's continued loyalty does come as a surprise and, to their surprise in the midst of their corruption, something of a relief. They smile slightly, even.]

text | un: shithog

[foulhussy]

what does it bring you?

[the_obedient_servant]

[That comes as a surprise. It's a deceptively simple question and yet their hand hovers over their omni for a moment.]

Power.

And revenge.

voice; un: endless

[manyone]

Quite the display. I won't say that I don't understand your purpose or pretend at moral superiority. It would be silly of me.

[ Beatrice knows very well what it is to kill to make a point. ]

I have to say I'm a little annoyed at you burning down that particular building.

[the_obedient_servant]

Appreciated. I could use the break.

[So Beatrice in her own way seems to care for Ange as well.]

I did prevent Ange Ushiromiya from becoming a beast and I avoided killing her. But yes, I understand why that would be irksome.

[...]

Sorry. I'll admit I didn't exactly think of her at the time.

Video; UN: EternalMoon

[lightthedarkness]

How sad that you felt you need to go this far in the first place. You must be deeply hurting.

[the_obedient_servant]

How merciful of you to extend your pity. Superior would be proud.

[They're not hurting, not in the way they understand pain. It's a deep poisonous apathy that floods through their veins. It blankets the loneliness and rage where they don't have to see it.]

Does it matter what I feel?

video; UN: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

Why are you doing this? All those people...

And why are you calling them NPCs? What does that even mean?

[the_obedient_servant]

It means they exist to die or suffer at the whims of those that can crush them.

It's as simple as that. Just an unfortunate truth that this world has tried to shield you from.

[Video][UN: JustLuke]

[faithfulson]

[ There is so much Luke wants to say, wants to ask, but... it's just too much. The people left barely alive, only to be mercilessly slaughtered, the confession that others were killed by this person's hand... it would be difficult enough coming from an adult, but... ]

[ He was a child. A child not much older than the ones he would visit at the orphanage. ]

[ And he tries to get out the questions he wants to ask, but ultimately, all he can manage is one: ]

Why?

[the_obedient_servant]

[They smile, pleasant and polite and completely and utterly empty. They recognize him, despite the fact they've never met, and their eyes reflect this recognition as much as possible considering the way they've been overtaken by the black tar of their corruption.]

I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific.

[There's a lot of things to object to here, after-all.]