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

[mementodagger]

[The fear drains out of Yurick quickly at that pressure, finally allowing him to tear his eyes away just as Naoya dies. He stumbles at first, but quickly steadies himself and hurries after Nagisa.]

Y-- you can't be on that list again... please....

[theserpentsmiles]

[To the elevator. The swifter they can get away from here and....to somewhere calming (maybe the library? The onsen would've been his first choice, but that's ruined as a place of comfort....), the better.]

It's alright. I've...gotten out of worse positions. [He knows that probably isn't a comfort, not now.] I don't know if I can keep myself from being a suspect again, but I'll do everything I can to clear my name quickly every time. I promise.

[mementodagger]

[They both have roommates still, but Yurick doesn't much feel like being around most of the others. He needs to be sure Nagisa is alright even in the morning.]

Akira and Naoya's room... it's... it's empty now... c-- can we....

[Nagisa got rid of the panic, but the exhausted grief of another close call is still there.]

cw: impending puke? do I need to warn for that? LOOK I'VE SPENT THE LAST DECADE ON TUMBLR, OKAY -

[backuphero]

[It takes a lot to speak through the fog he's in. Hell, Jonathan's only just realized he shuffled onto the elevator with Yurick and Nagisa, not Angela and somebody else. He'd expected that, but this is fine too, maybe. Hopefully. He's not sure of much right now except that he's now seen two people cooked alive, both of whom he thought of as friends.

He's got a very valid reason to have his left hand pressed so tightly against his mouth, but he can't leave this unsaid, either.]

I... I always wanted brothers. Not because of - but if you meant that, I -

[Okay no, nice as it would've been to finish that sentence, he's just putting his hand back where it was now. Firmly. And he's unfortunately not going to be joining them in whatever quiet corner they're headed to, because the instant the elevator stops he's fleeing it for the nearest bathroom.

Good thing the Toilet Coffins™ are mostly soundproof, because as awful as throwing up is? He can't take the thought of anyone hearing him sob, not even now.]

[theserpentsmiles]

[Nagisa is probably calmer than he should be, all things considered. When he sees it's Jonathan on the elevator with them, he spares a hand for him, too. A comforting hand on his back, that's all.]

Take your time. We can talk later. [Since Jonathan can't quite finish a sentence right now. And... Nagisa knows how it goes. People needing time. He turns his focus back to Yurick, then, and nods.]

Yeah. I'll be right here, alright? [They should...probably wait until anything from Akira and Naoya's room is taken, but....he'll stay with his brother as long as he needs.]

[mementodagger]

[Yurick nods slightly, his throat clenching in sympathy for Jonathan. He's starting to care too much, he can't keep his distance as well. Both Jonathan and Nagisa would fit in too well with the others of his team, and that makes it so difficult to hold himself apart and stop caring. Seeing them both on the chopping block again made him want to scream.

And then seeing Naoya's death so soon after Rosenkreuz's... he realizes the executions will echo the murders, likely another of the Commander's sick games. He's no stranger to death, but seizures like that... oh stars, he feels lightheaded. A soft whimper actually escapes his lips.]

Need to lie down....

[He's become so weak, hasn't he? It's pathetic.]

[theserpentsmiles]

[He keeps one hand holding Yurick's, steady and gentle. Guiding him to the room. They can take their time getting there. The trial is over, even if their tribulations are nowhere close. That was...maybe not as upsetting as the first one, but no easier.

In the end it's probably a good thing Nagisa can shrug off witnessing yet another violent death. Yurick needs the support.]

Rest, alright? [They'll be at the door soon.] I won't leave, no matter what.

[mementodagger]

[Yurick doesn't trust his voice after that. They make their way to the room in silence, and once the door opens the mage stumbles to the lower bunk and collapses into it. He curls into a ball and covers his face, shivering.]

Mum... sh-- she did that, too... the shaking fit, from her fever....

[He's caught between the memory and the calming effect of Nagisa's pressure point technique, and his body doesn't know how to react.]

[theserpentsmiles]

[Nagisa stays right there, resting his arms on the mattress. He's within easy reach, and keeps one hand in Yurick's. A physical reminder that he's still right here.]

I'm sorry... You've had to be strong on your own for too long.

[He doesn't see this as weakness - and even if it was, it's not a bad thing. Sensei wanted to be weak.]

[mementodagger]

[It takes a while, but eventually Yurick quiets down while clinging to Nagisa's hand. He feels so drained, so pathetic, but here's one of the people who hasn't judged him once. There's no real tears but his lashes are damp over a half-lidded eye.]

It hasn't bothered me like this in a long time, even though I often see it in my nightmares. I'm sorry.

[He sighs and closes his eye.]

You don't have to stay with me. I just need to rest.

[theserpentsmiles]

It's always worse, seeing it in reality. We might be the other way around if.... [If they'd been run through, instead of electrocuted. If they'd reminded him of Kayano.]

I'll stay.