THE SECOND TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND TRIAL

[Soon after the failed attempt to contact the dead, the tell-tale alarm suddenly rings out, rattling everyone's teeth alongside Marie's voice.]

ATTENTION! EMERGENCY ALERT! PLEASE GO TO THE ELEVATORS IMMEDIATELY!! HMHMHMMM! I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF SAYING THAT...!

[And so, once again, the elevators bring everyone back down to the trial room, where the table has been...altered, slightly, color-wise, to reflect those who are no longer among you. And once more, upon entering the force field, weapons disappear - and powers fail to work.

Bottson hops up onto the center of the table, transmitting the evidence found.]

heRe yOU Are eVerYBOdy! THe sUsPECt lISt!



YoU cAN Do THiS!


[Above everyone once more is Marie, floating around in her hover platform.]

WELL, WELL! FANCY MEETING YOU ALL HERE AGAIN! I GUESS YOU ALL FAILED TO KEEP THAT GUY ALIVE, HUH?? AHAHAHA!!

WELL, LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN GET WHO DID IT THIS TIME, HMM??

Comments

[backuphero]

I - you remember I got Marie talking about whoever's - the thing with the pregnant lady? Nagisa, I bit the inside of my cheek, I... I swear to God, that's the only reason I have a cut in my mouth, it's from Wednesday!

[He's trying to stay calm but nobody's really been singled out as a suspect yet and if this is what it's come down to, well....]

[vividsins]

...Jonathan. To be entirely honest. I feel like if you'd killed, it wouldn't be like this.








You're far too impulsive.

[losergod]

He's definitely too impulsive.

[crouching_sin]

He absolutely is, given last week.

[Sorry, bro.]

[backuphero]

[WHY DOES HE KEEP CRYING IN FRONT OF YOU, HUH

It's not like that time, this is... at least he's still standing, even as he squeezes his eyes shut, swiping frantically at them. Enough blinking and that seems to have worked, though his voice is unsteady.]

I... I can't fault you for saying so...

Never used to be afraid of dying for no reason, what's wrong with me?

[crouching_sin]

Hey, hey. No need for tears. You're not at fault here.

... Well, being impulsive is your fault, but you're extremely unlikely to be at fault for murder.

[backuphero]

We're at a deadlock, though. If somebody doesn't take the fall, then...

[crouching_sin]

Then... I don't know, actually.

1/2

[fashionfever]

Though... it would be even more impulsive to kick the bad guy holding the TV in the face...

2/2

[fashionfever]

But you wouldn't do that, Jonathan! [beaming] There'd be another way to handle things, just like there would have been another way for Akira to handle things! You could always just ask us for help.

[losergod]

... And here we are, in a complete circle. At this point, we've decided it could be anyone, except Baku.

[vividsins]

I still don't think it's Jonathan.

[losergod]

I don't either. Mister Naoya and Mister Tealeaf are the likeliest suspects.

[vividsins]

Jonathan's impulsive enough he'd have confessed the moment someone innocent was cornered, I feel...

[theserpentsmiles]

I realize my word as someone else on the suspect list may not mean much, but Tealeaf-san was in our room, sleeping, this morning. I left first when I heard the scream.

[backuphero]

And if it came down to it you know I would, right?

[fashionfever]

[She glances at Baku.]

It makes me sound like a dumb fish, but yeah. I believe in you. I'm proud of that.

[backuphero]

More like a classy mermaid. Thanks....

[He didn't miss that glance, but didn't understand it either.]

[theserpentsmiles]

I believe you.

[backuphero]

Thanks, Nagisa.

[He's a little less panicked, hearing that among all of the "too impulsive".]

[leftthelighton]

Mister Jonathan, if I were to pick a killer right here and now, it would not be you. From what I know of you, I do not believe you capable of murder.

[backuphero]

Well, that's two of us... sorry. Bad joke, at a time like this.