15strangers | THE FIRST TRIAL

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!!

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... I won't vote. I'm not--I'm not doing this. I'm not watching someone I care about die right in front of me, again...!

[ He's shaking. He feels sick. ]

C... You need to vote.

[ His voice sounds desperate... ]

Please... just in case anyone really does try to vote for Nagisa. You... have a chance to help save someone who's innocent, C. Your vote for me could be the difference between him living and him dying for my crime!

Edited 2018-07-28 21:40 (UTC)

I won't let you be another cold pile of meat that I can never put back together!

[ His tone and his breathing are erratic, now. This entire trial has really hit a... button, for C. ]

No... no, please. Please, please don't make me be responsible for your death just like Vincent's. Please. I'll... I'll never forgive myself.

[ His brow tenses... ]

... C.

[ There's a lot of hesitation. ]

I... made my choice. I deserve whatever happens as punishment for my crime. But, I'm okay with it being me over any of you.

[ He stiffens when Akira says that. What right does he have to take that choice from him? Vincent made the same choice, and he had no right to take it from him, either. The same choice he himself made.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Count to ten. He tries to calm himself. He... it's hard to look at Akira head-on. Just seeing him, the writhing mass of eyes and mess--he wants to be sick. But... but he deserves to at least... look at him. ]

It... dying's not that bad. Really.

[ He swallows, but his mouth feels dry and throat feels filled with something thick and sandy. ]

I... if that's what you want. I can't... stop you.

[ His voice is gentle, appreciative... ]

Thank you, C... [ there's a hint of strain in his voice ] In spite of everything, I really am glad to have met you.

[ A deep breath... ]

And I do still believe in you now, just as much as I did from the start.

[ There's a... pause. ]

In... the mall, dying wasn't the end. We... were able to communicate with those who'd passed on to the other side. If that's... the case here...

[ Looking down. ]

I promise to never stop doing everything I can to help you guys. For what my word could possibly be worth, at this point... you all have it.

[ He just... lets out a weak laugh. ]

You idiot... working even after death. Gods get holidays, you know...

[ But that... makes him smile sadly. ]

I know it isn't the end. It never was for me. I don't believe for a second it is. You had better work really hard if you're going to commit. You're not the type to just be hands-off like me, anyway.

[ His expression cracks just a bit... ]

A God...? Me, of all people?

[ There's a pause as he closes his eyes and focuses on his breathing as much as he can. ]

You're all more than worth overtime, to me... I'm not sure of a lot of things right now, but I know that every part of me won't stop until I-... get us all out of here... I already failed everyone in that mall once... So, I thought... the least I could do...

[ Sorry for the rambling, C... ]

...

[ He exhales. ]

A friend of mine said that if you die, you birth a universe. That our existences don't end, that you continue and everything you've ever created is given life alongside you.

... I'm fairly sure that's true. I can't remember mine, but I know it happened. If anyone could use his powers for good, it would be you. You're... more proactive than me. I never wanted to be a protagonist, so I wasn't.

You would... create something useful.

[ His expression softens considerably at that, even as it's unknowingly (to him) unseen. He barely manages a smile with the next words. ]

... I'll hope you're right.

[ Mmmm no... ]

I'll... believe in that, C. [ heh ] It wouldn't be the strangest thing I've ever believed in.

THE FIRST TRIAL

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cw: edging a bit close to suicide talk here too?? it's a matter of intepretation

DEFINITELY SUICIDE CW

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