3 WAY PRISONER'S DILEMMA: Taisho Roman Revolution

[idolpro]

[ The room you wake up in is barren. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all metal, and the only furnishings are a large television-sized touchscreen monitor and a massive pane of glass cutting through the room, separating Kuzuebiko from the rest of the unit. You can beat against the glass as much as you like, but it won't break. Both the touchscreen monitor and the elevator doors are on the same side of the room as everyone but the hostage.

Once Mukuro finishes his intro spiel, the monitor display switches to a catalogue of pictures of flowers, each with their name, associated meaning, and a checkbox underneath them: ]

Amaryllis (Red&White) - Talkative
Baby's Breath - Purity of Heart
Calla Lily (White) - Maidenly Desire
Camellia (Red) - Perish with grace
Camellia (White) - Waiting
Cherry Blossom - Transience of all things
Foxglove - Insincerity
Hydrangea (Blue) - Heartlessness
Iris - Faithfulness
Lantana - Change of Heart
Marigold - Despair
Morning Glory - Willful promise
Mountain Laurel (Red) - Ambition
Oleander - Caution
Poppy (Red) - Fun-loving
Poppy (White) - Rejoice
Poppy (Yellow) - Success
Tulip (Red) - Fame/Charity/Trust
Yarrow (White) - Conflict

Comments

[syncintohell]

[ His hands curl, his nails digging into his palms at the lack of response from the first unit— nothing more to go on. He cannot bring himself to voice his thoughts there unprompted, but instead announces— ]

We will place our trust in unit 3.

[rollplayinghouse]

Of course.

And it seems like we were right that Unit 1 has made their decision regardless of what we do.

[syncintohell]

Yes. [ Looks to the side, inhaling sharply, like he's preparing for something unpleasant. ]

I do not trust what we've been given, but I do not know if that is justified. Especially in the damage that will be done should we be wrong in our assessment.

[rollplayinghouse]

...Ultimately, it's you who would be taking on the risk. I'm fine with whatever you think is best.

[syncintohell]

[ Sets his jaw. ]

Of course. It's only right that I should control our movements, and shoulder the consequences as I demanded the last time.

[rollplayinghouse]

...I don't know what happened last time. But I don't think we should force you into either taking a risk you don't trust or risking another team to save yourself. You're the one behind the glass, so it's your decision this time.

1/

[syncintohell]

[ His head jerks, stiffly— it would be a nod except for the broken mechanical nature to the movement

He starts working through it aloud. ]

They have indicated they intend to take the consequences no matter what— should they be sincere, they are prepared if we pull the trigger and betray them. Should they be insincere, it is merely a set-up that will end up with us being betrayed. Either way, they will show us no ill will should we choose betray. So the consequences from that angle are immaterial.

It only comes down to this: will it be a heavier cost for them to be harmed for our sake, or one of us to be harmed for theirs.

2/

[syncintohell]

[ And continues: ]

Blindly sentencing another is the most foul position I can imagine being put in. There is no jury here, simply prisoners each with their own eyes blinded and a hand placed upon a lever— one for freedom and one for condemnation. Which is which has not been made clear. But still: one must be pulled!

3/

[syncintohell]

We've been given no indication of the consequences either, only that one will be permanent.

4/

[syncintohell]

[ and keeps going: ]

Ah! If only we were given some indication of who they were— human nature is so base. If there is a mere number placed upon a death toll, it has far less impact than if there are faces to which we may offer affection and sympathy. Empathy— can I allow myself to blind here? How pathetic that I am even hesitating this much. If I am dirtied so far as to harm others, then never will I be able to proudly lift my head again!

5/

[syncintohell]

Very well.

I do not trust them.

But to select betray would be to cast myself into hell!

6/6

[syncintohell]

[ swallows, his voice wavering slightly but face set firm in his decision ]

We cannot do that to others, regardless of the cost. The selection cannot be anything but trust, even if I do not feel any.

[rollplayinghouse]

[her face is impassive through all this. you do you bro]

...Then, that's what we'll do.

[sonof]

It's good if you've braced yourself, but so long as you're prepared to accept some irrevocable change, just don't become a person I can't stand.

[syncintohell]

[ flinches, like he's been struck ]

As much as it is within my power to do so, I will not.

[furrytailprince]

[ Just going to shoot a confused glare at that. He's not thrilled with Kuzu's rationality either, despite agreeing with the conclusion. But he will not dictate another's fate. ]

[furrytailprince]

Obviously.

[syncintohell]

[ A sharp, silent nod. He has already agreed, that is all he has to say there. ]

[furrytailprince]

I defer to you on Unit 1. It is you at risk. I will make no choice you would not consent with.

[nostory]

[Nods. Kuzuebiko's opinion is the one that matters most on that. No objections from over here, obviously.]

[syncintohell]

[ At least the third unit was decided upon easily, but for the first he seems very reluctant to voice anything decisive despite the usual force of his personality. He is visibly very tense. ]

[nostory]

[well. hm. when the main discussion has reached a pause, Iorime speaks up.]

...Kuzuebiko.

[syncintohell]

[ The main discussion which was Kuzuebiko talking to himself for six comments eventually ceases. He looks up. ]

Iorime. What is it you are asking after me for?

[nostory]

[...]

It's nothing. [What can he say in a situation like this? Probably not anything that wouldn't trample over Kuzuebiko's pride. Iorime doesn't like seeing the boy like this, but that's just his own selfishness. He'll have to accept that he is powerless right now and swallow any attempts to be comforting.] You're being very brave.

[syncintohell]

Brave? Non. It is simply my own pride, that another will not be hurt for the mere sake of our own survival. As a human I have choices, not mere survival instinct driving me onwards— I refuse to be as craven as a beast.

[ He verbally rebuffs him, but he's not tensing further, or withdrawing into a fugue state again. At least Iorime's words are still reaching him, even if he does not accept them easily as comfort. ]