THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL

[Minutes after Detective Beauford Bottson rumbled off, an alarm suddenly starts to go off, complete with flashing red lights. This is followed by the very unwelcome sound of you-know-who.

Oh, what fresh hell is this.]

ATTENTION PRISO--GUESTS! GO TO THE ELEVATORS IMMEDIATELY! IT'S TOTALLY AN EMERGENCY! AHAHAHA!!

[And indeed, the elevators are open and ready for fast travel. Only this time, the elevator immediately takes the Strangers downwards, and into a large room of controls with a force field in the center of it. Beneath everyone is a semi-translucent floor, revealing a massive, futuristic engine beneath them. Despite how giant it is, it's unnervingly quietly, only letting out a hum that can just be heard.

The controls are beyond the force field in the center, so there's no way to get to them without naturally passing through it first. And as everyone enters into the force field - complete with a slurping sound as they pass through it, they will realize two things.

The first is that any weapons on them are somehow gone.

The second is that they can't get out of the force field once they've entered it. Instead, they will have to stand in a circle, with Bottson in the middle, transmitting the evidence found to the wristwatches.]

bASed on tHe inFormATion I have hEre IS...the suspects who stole my HnduyFDUFB mu-uu-U-rdered!



tHeRE yoU Go!


[Finally, above everyone and beyond the force field is Marie, flying around on a floating platform. She looks smug as ever as she leans over, chuckling.]

WELL, SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HIGH AND MIGHTY RESOLVE, RIGHT?? SO GO ON, JUST TRY AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHO KILLED THAT WOMAN! AND REMEMBER...IF YOU VOTE WRONG, YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF KILLING SOMEONE INNOCENT, WON'T YOU?

AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Comments

[beguiledcard]

[ The smile he gives is clearly one of self-loathing, frankly. ]

No... You can say it: I fucked up.

[crouching_sin]

[He grins and shrugs.]

Actually, I don't think you did. You were a bit messy, but... no. I don't think you fucked up.

[beguiledcard]

[ Some muscles in his face twitch a little and he looks away.

THEN AFTER THE WHOLE THING WITH YURICK....... he's going to move closer and gently tug Naoya's sleeve, just briefly. He's going to whisper low enough for only Naoya to hear him, if Akira can help it. ]

... Does it... hurt for long?

[crouching_sin]

[He sobers a little, putting an arm around Akira's shoulders.]

[He's not going to lie to Akira. He keeps his voice equally low.]

It... depends how it happens. It always feels longer than it is. Just know that it'll be over soon.

[He considers things for a moment, and then draws Akira into a tight hug.]

Don't be afraid. Go out with your head held as high as you can.

[beguiledcard]

[ His breath quietly catches as he's pulled into a hug, but he doesn't stop it. In fact, he lifts both hands, firmly clutching onto the fabric covering Naoya's back. A wry laugh escapes him, and he presses his forehead against the older man's shoulder. ]

Right... [ a few nods, and he immediately tries to keep the evidence that he's crying... hidden ] Head held high... Like a true Phantom Thief, right?

[crouching_sin]

[He rubs the other's back gently, trying to calm him. Being hysterical isn't going to help this.]

Something like that. Being upset... is just going to amuse her. And if you can find a way to haunt her, do it. You're stronger than anyone else here. I... heh.

[He lets out a long breath.]

You're very much like Abel. Someone... who has quickly become important to me. Someone who thinks of others before himself, and would sacrifice everything he had to protect them.

... Don't let death keep you from what you need to do.

[beguiledcard]

[ He's hesitant to pull away. Even after he does, he stares hard at Naoya. ]

I'm not- [ as strong as he used to be - but thinking like that won't help him ] ... Thank you, Naoya.

[ Akira swallows past that insistent, painful lump, and then nods. ]

You're important to me, too. You're the first one I considered a friend, and... someone I'll be pissed off at, if you wind up following me for whatever reason, got it?

[ Stay alive... ]

But, I- promise I won't; I won't stop, even in death. I'll find a way to haunt the shit out of her, and... to... watch over all of you...

[ Come on, voice... stay steady... ]

[crouching_sin]

[He laughs a little bit, keeping a hand on Akira's shoulder.]

I believe in you. Somehow. ... Heh. It's strange. Believing in someone again...

[Carefully, he ruffles Akira's hair before smoothing it down again.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He manages to smile at hearing that. ]

That... means a lot, Naoya.

[ And the smile becomes a little less forced at the hair ruffling. One hand reaches up, helping straighten it out again. ]

I trust you to give her hell, in case I'm not able to. [ expression shifting to something he'd give a teammate in battle ] Don't let her win.

[crouching_sin]

Of course. That's just my nature. And if someone has to win, it's not going to be her. She's too much of an idiot brat to know how to play properly.

[There's... a dangerous edge to his smirk, more than usual.]