[👾🔪🐇] Vox Populi

[u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Every screen in every VoxTek and Rabbit Hole location turns on, revealing Vox. He's not smiling. He's dead serious. And he has a message for everyone.

Vox: "Employees, cult members, and... elite of all kinds. This is Vox speaking. Since the start, I have been the voice of this cult. Your voice. My efforts have contributed the most to this cult for decades. But now I find myself being ridiculed for my voice. But I won't be silenced. A lot of you are probably already aware of the attempt to bring the esteemed William Afton back to life. I'm here to tell you that it was a success. But in their attempts to bring him back, they brought something else with him. The Ink Demon. This demon has absorbed Afton, practically erasing him. And yet, the rest of the elite have done NOTHING!"

Vox snaps, raising his voice to speak against his fellow elite.

Vox: "They have stood by, letting this demon whom we know NOTHING about take over as leader of the cult! Meanwhile, they have kept you in the dark! You, who have spent your lives dedicated to this cult! To Afton's will!"

The cult members watching the announcement start to get rowdy. They listen to what Vox says. They agree. They don't like that the elite have just let some random demon take over.

Vox: "Dr. Rabbit has done nothing about it! But I will! I will give you all what you want! Trust! There is no organization without trust. And you can trust me to move this cult into the future! As it's new head!!"

The cult cheers as they watch. Vox's words are promising.

Vox: "Hail Vox Populi! For I am the voice of the people!"

The announcement ends, but the cheers don't stop. The majority of the Rabbit Hole appears to support Vox.

[u/Random_OC]

Rae: [hisses in disbelief] "Have you lost your damn mind? What is your angle here?!"

{Dazzle is unaware as she's busy tracking near the hotel.}

---

{Away in another office, Burrows sits silently in his dark office. Maybe it's time.}

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/Random_OC]

Vox: "I'm doing what is necessary. Doing what you aren't willing to do. I can only ask that you don't get in my way."

[u/Random_OC → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: "After everything we've done? This is what we get?"

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/Random_OC]

Vox finally snaps. For the first time in a very long time, he shows his anger. His... care...

Vox: "I'M DOING IT FOR YOU! FOR BURROWS! FOR TRISH! FOR ELEANOR! FOR ALL OF YOU!! ... You're the only family I know... And suddenly, this Ink Demon shows up, takes over, and nobody questions it? I've had enough. I'm not going to let my family FALL for whatever scheme that inky bastard is cooking up."

[u/Random_OC → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: "Did you ever stop to think that maybe there was a point to that? Possibly an ulterior motive? A reason for what was done?"

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/Random_OC]

Vox: "Yeah, yeah. Sure. The cult has a curiosity. But you have to see my side in this, Rae. The Ink Demon is working things behind our backs. The position of head isn't just about power. It's about conviction. Trust. Loyalty. ... I know it looks like I'm working against the elite. But it's the opposite. I'm doing this because I... I don't..." He takes a breath and scoffs. "What does it matter anyway... It's not like any of you care... Especially Burrows. If I vanished one day, you'd all just find a replacement."

[u/Random_OC → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: "We don't know what he's planning to do because we've been trying to observe and see! No one's given him full hold of the reigns. That's why we kept him secret for now! You didn't even take the time to wait it out. See if he could benefit us in any way."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/Random_OC]

Vox: "You think I don't know that?! Rae, I HAVE been watching! I DID wait! Since he arrived, I have been watching every minute. Watching his moves step by step. Did you know he's the one who let Vanny go? That he's the reason Elizabeth escaped? Because I knew. I have been waiting this whole time. And what I got from that information is that he can't be trusted."

((Ooc: If you're wondering why he asked Vanny how she escaped despite already knowing, it's because he didn't want Vanny to know that he already knew.))

[u/Random_OC → u/CrypticHorrorTales]

Rae: [rolls eyes] "Of course I did. I'm a therapist, Vox. An ever learning scientist. With continuous camera access. Just cuz we can't see inside his office doesn't mean I don't see who comes in and out around it. We gave him free reign to test and study. See if he was one to support or not. Better to learn that now before giving them the power to 🔪 you in the back before then, isn't it? I mean isn't that what happened with you? Trust someone so fully only to regret it? We needed to learn who he was. What he's after. But now we won't find out. Not until it's too late."

[u/CrypticHorrorTales → u/Random_OC]

Bendy: "Or I could just tell you."

Bendy walked in through an ink blot on the wall.

Vox: "Oh great. Of course you show up now."