The Tribunal

Intimidations and Accommodations

Sors stepped back into the room, her grey hair now French braided messily. She was grateful that Memori was so good at the introductions because she hated them; the same speech time after time, the same inane questions, and the same vapid confusion on every face. Somehow Memori always managed to remain completely unruffled and composed in a way that most humans found both comforting and unsettling.
Though as she took in the scene before her she noticed something was amiss. A pool of now cold coffee had seeped across the immaculate tiles to the edge of Memori's well-polished shoes, the shattered remains of the ceramic mug sat like icebergs in the puddle. Something was different, but his face gave away nothing.
"You keep saying that our every need will be seen to," Allen stood, "but the only thing I need is to get out of here."
"I'm afraid that is the one thing I cannot do," Memori informed the angry man. "You will remain here until told otherwise. Until then we ask only that you participate in the activities that Sors will guide you through," he gestured to the grey haired young woman behind him.
She waved to the group with a wide grin.
Susanna sat up straighter in her chair, face pinched, "What do you mean we can't leave? You can't force us to stay, it's illegal," annoyance and a hint of fear was clear in her shrill voice.
Sors sauntered over to Memori - this was her favorite part - pulled her knife off her belt and used it to clean beneath her fingernails, "You seem to be under the impression that we will simply let you out if you threaten us with the law or get in our faces and yell. You see my partner," she jabbed a thumb in his direction, "he's the easy going one, he likes to ask politely, and he doesn't like to scare anyone. But I, on the other hand, have no problem scaring you," she pressed a button under Memori's desk.
Sors grinned manically at the Patrons as the mural that hung behind her and Memori faded and revealed a shadowy room behind it. The light flickered on and Sors bit back laughter at the varying reactions; the curvy blonde woman let of a small shriek and put a hand over her heart, the suited man furrowed his brow, paled, and for the first time said nothing, the young man in the band shirt opened and closed his mouth gaping like a fish, the elderly woman with glasses frowned, and the young woman who joined them last stiffened, her mouth tightening into a straight line.
The room that had come into view was filled with various devices used for inflicting pain. Some were medieval in origin; a rack and a brazen bull - which was her idea - and some were more modern such as an electric chair. In actuality they were all just props, none of them were functional. However they looked real, down to the rusty stains that spattered the instruments and the floor.
Memori cleared his throat to gain their attention, "If you didn't catch my coworker's crude clue I'll speak plainly, your lives are at risk here if you do not follow our directions."
"And if we do?" Susanna squawked, patting her styled blonde hair.
Sors giggled lightly, "Well, we really can't guarantee anything one way or the other. However I can guarantee what will happen if you don't.
"Now if you, you, and you," she pointed to Hilda, Susanna, and Dennis in turn, "will follow me for the grand tour. You two," she gestured at the two remaining Patrons, "can go with my blue haired friend."
The three filed out behind the lanky, grey haired girl. Faces pale and pinched with anxiety they exchanged uncertain looks, but didn't dare to speak.

.

..

Memori turned to the two remaining Patrons, "If you would follow me," he said, sweeping his arm towards the hallway. He started down it with the two Patrons behind him, though he found it difficult to keep his steps measured and steady with her eyes on his back.
The silence did not last long, "Can you hurry up and just let me do these 'activities'?" Allen drew out the word, "I really do need to get out of here, I have clients waiting."
Memori smirked at that, 'Clients' is that what he called them? Memori was certain the young woman that met with Allen every Friday would have been offended to hear that. As would the woman he met every other Wednesday.
"As soon as I get out of here I am calling the cops," Allen added, his voice grating on Memori's nerves in a way few others had managed to since he'd become a Vitari.
"If you would stop talking for a minute and listen they said the woman would be assigning our activities, Memori is just giving us a tour," and her voice was like a balm; soothing the nerves that he hadn't even realized were frayed. It was different this time - soft and pixie-like - but the cadence was the same as it always was.
Not responding to either comment, Memori led them through the Animavero pointing out rooms of interest as he went, making sure they knew where the Games Room was located as that was where most of the activities would take place. Allen of course commented on the emptiness of the massive Games Room though Memori didn't deign to answer him.
They finally reached the residential quarters, all of the rooms had been tidied back to square one after the departure of the last Patrons.
Memori opened the first door on the left, swinging it wide to reveal crimson walls, golden trim, and black upholstery. "Mr. Burman, this is where you will be staying, I hope that it is to your liking. If you require anything there is a button by the door that will alert the staff that you need assistance. You have an hour to settle in before you will be collected for dinner."
Allen stepped into the room giving it a once over, "Yeah, I guess it will do."
"I will see you in an hour," Memori said before shutting the door between himself and the frustrating Patron.
Internally he breathed a sigh of relief before continuing down the hallway. He could feel her eyes on him, her gaze burning into his back, making the hair on the back of his neck stand straight. He could feel a pull in his abdomen; uncomfortably taut.
They reached the door at the end of the hall and he turned to face her. "This is where you will be staying, Miss. Asphodel Henley."
"Del, please call me Del. No one has called me by my full name since I was a little girl, I don't know what my mother was thinking," she protested.
As soon as her name and life had flooded his mind Memori had understood that someone far beyond Tempus' little experiment and the Tribunals was still unhappy with him. He just didn't know if they were unhappy with his actions that landed him in the role of Vitari, or if they were unhappy that he was still lingering in the Tribunal.
However he simply gave her a bland smile and agreed, "Del it is then."
He opened the door, on the other side was a room that resembled cool, spring dew, all lavender, white, and forget-me-not blue. "I hope that it is to your liking. If you find yourself in need of anything at all please press the button by the door and I will come to assist you."
She stepped inside, taking in her surroundings, "It's lovely, thank you Memori."
The sound of his name on her lips startled him, but by the time she turned to face him he had schooled his features. He bowed his head sharply in acknowledgement of her words. "I will be back in an hour to collect you for dinner," he told her before exiting the room and shutting the door with a snap.
He leaned against the wall rubbing his hand over his face before pinching the bridge of his nose. Seeing that soul again was always such a bittersweet torture just as it was intended to be.
"Wow Mori, looks like you're not a robot after all!" Sors' voice snapped him out of his introspection, "I've been working with you for seventeen years and this is the first time you haven't looked like one of your mannequins."
"I have to go prepare the dining room," he said straightening up and shoving the battered and bittered part that was left of his own soul away. "You should get the schedule ready, with so many Patrons this will probably take longer than usual."
She waved her hand airily, "Yeah, yeah, it's all set, dinner is the first activity anyway."
Memori fought the urge to roll his eyes and brushed past his partner on the way to the kitchen.
"Hey, can you have your creepy little mannequin puppets add something special to the meal?" she called after him.
He waved his hand at her, mimicking her move from moments before, "I'll do what I can."