THE SECOND TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND TRIAL

[Soon after the finals clues are found, there is a beep on everyone's watch. Then, the Conductor's voice echoes through the jail once more.]

Attention. All passengers of the Eventide, please come to the building in the courtyard. If you are not a passenger, you must have a ticket to enter.

[A ticket? Oh boy. And everyone's suspicions are confirmed when they come to the courtyard and find people-many of them who had been fleeing the prison that very morning-queuing in line to enter the building. Not the Strangers-they are immediately escorted in.

They find themselves in a courtroom, with them sitting at podiums in the center. Above them in the ceiling is a retractable dome; all around on the walls are large screens, so people can watch the proceedings no matter their location. People are filing in, even as a recorded voice drones that the jail isn't responsible for lives lost during the trial-or the sentencing.

Hm.

Lilac is in the judge's seat, the pangolin in her hands. Nearby, the captured animals-sans the rabbit, for some reason, and the sheep-are inside another pen that has been set up. The force field seems to have been quickly erected. After announcing the court proceedings and registering her right to magistrate, as she did the previous week, she clears her throat.]

THE WATCHFUL	THE CAVIAN	THE BRITTLE	THE FORLORN
				THE ENGINEER

You all know what you must do. You have your evidence, and you must decided who is responsible. Remember-every vote counts. And...just pretend you're alone again, if it helps, I suppose.

[There's not much else to do. There is the option to ask for the concessions they are selling to everyone, though its mostly water and popcorn. Otherwise, you are once again on a time limit. This time, the audience is watching. Their eyes stare hungrily at every action.

The trial for the murder of Atsushi Nakajima, the Rushlight, has begun..]

Comments

[overworker]

[Seeing her name up there is a strange feeling. Nonetheless she has little choice.]

Um... if you have any questions, I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

[As for something to contribute--]

Regarding the state of Atsushi's head... I can speak a little bit about that from experience but I wasn't much help during the investigation itself. It's not the first time I've seen it come off actually.

[zackthekiller]

Wait, what?

[overworker]

When we met back up on the Eventide, his head came off once before. Although-- it was just the two of us then, so I'm not sure if he ever told anyone else.

[zackthekiller]

Wait, hold up. You're saying his head came off and he survived that?! How the fuck does that work?!

[overworker]

I think it's part of his ability. There was a wick on his neck when his head detached... sort of like a candle.

Honestly, it scared me a great deal until I realized he was okay.

[zackthekiller]

...

[Zack is just... Utterly confounded.]

You're telling me that guy was a living candle?!

[charmingheroine]

I think I speak for everyone by asking for a little more information about his head being... detachable. When did you witness this, and why?

[overworker]

It was... the first week, when we met up on the first day. I'd remembered him from the other train so we talked for a while.

There was a mark around his neck, so I'd asked him if he got hurt but-- when he pushed on it, his head suddenly detached.

It scared me, honestly. But he was fine back then... I think it must have been part of his power. He was... sort of like a human candle.

[biddentodance]

Then-- Should we put it back?

[Speaking of the head, it's here. Still cradled gently in Minato's arms.]

[unwittingking]

[…]

…is...is that his head?

[why

why couldn't therapist be brought here

why]

[biddentodance]

Yeah.... Found this halfway across the room from his body.

[zackthekiller]

Should we put wha-

[And now he sees the head.]

Why the fuck did you bring a severed head to a trial?!

[biddentodance]

[Because he didn't ask himself why??? Here he is, he didn't think to put the head down first so that's here too.]

....Couldn't.....just leave him.....

[charmingheroine]

Minato, he's not -

[But even if it won't fix anything, at least then he'd be whole.]

It's... if they let us have a proper funeral this time, yes.

[overworker]

Um... well... m-maybe? I don't know if it will do any good now though.

He was still alive the last time it was separated from his body so...

[otherworldlyking]

Why not?

[technicolourdifficulties]

[This is a serious situation, and he should be sensitive about it, and-- no, he can't hold the reference back, he'll never get a chance like this again.]

Put. The candle. Back.

[One unhealthy coping mechanism meets another, he guesses.]

[katzenpfote]

[He's just going to go over to Minato and attempt to gently pry the head from Minato's grasp.]

[charmingheroine]

So, then, the wax King found might have been... he didn't have blood anymore, did he?

[overworker]

There wasn't any blood when his head came off so I think that's a safe assumption to make. His insides were probably all that way then.

[disregartist]

[Lilac takes a deep breath at the discussion.]

[higanbana]

Do candles very much upset you, Ms. Conductor?

[She says it so cordially, but... she's probably just being passive-aggressive, knowing her...]

[disregartist]

No. Candles in and of themselves do not...

[That-might have come out a little harsh.]

I merely have my reasons regarding the Rushlight.

[unwittingking]

…if you didn't like it then why did you do that to him?!

[This is like being afraid of you imaginary friend! What is this insanity?!]

[higanbana]

[It comes out harsh, but Ris doesn't so much as blink. What are you going to do to her for asking questions, Lilac?]

Regarding Atsushi?

[Is she just referring to his title, or something else entirely...?]