T͜H̶́͏E̵ ҉̡F̛ÍRS̸T͏̴ ̶̀T̢R̵͠͞I̢AL̵͜

[strangerpeople]

T͢͝H̶͝E̵͞ ͜F͞͏IRS̛͜͡T̢͞ ̸͝T̵̶̢R͠IA҉̵͜Ļ̷

[As soon as the investigation has wrapped up, the voices of the Hosts suddenly echo through the City.]

Hi, Strangers! You remember what happens if you don't show up at the trial, right? Maybe we'll have every single one of those things done to you this time!! Don't worry, it's right up the elevator.

You all could have avoided this, you know! But now we have to follow procedure. Only registered residents will be allowed inside - please leave all animal or other companions in a safe location.

[When the Strangers go to the elevator, they are suddenly plunged down once they get in. The doors open, and they are in a massive metal room, where fifteen cold, metal pedestals wait them. Each podium has the individual's name and room number splashed in a dot matrix green on a small monitor on the front, as if they were contestants on a game show. Two of the pedestals-9 and 14-have instead a red X in their computerized name slot, as opposed to a name.

In the corner of the room is a large area cordoned off from the Strangers by what looks like glass upon first look, but is, in fact, a force field. There is little doubt what that area is for, unless one is truly naïve.

Once everyone has finally gotten into place, five of the podiums' dot matrix name plates suddenly flash with a red border.]

THE BAD LUCK	THE BRITTLE	THE EMBARRASSING	THE NAGGING
				THE UNKNOWN

For some of you, this is the first time dealing with a double body discovery announcement... How does it feel? You don't want to... be emotionally numb or anything, do you?

They look so unhappy, Hiyori. It didn't have to be this way...

Hey, Link. Whose arms do you think they're going to rip off if they vote to convict one of the kiddos left in this game?

They'll probably try for ours, but that won't happen. But probably whoever argues for one of them the hardest...

[At this, the ever-present ticking suddenly grows louder. On one of the walls, a dot matrix clock comes to life, counting down the time everyone has until the Trial has been scheduled to end. You have your evidence-only you know what to do with it.

Well? The clock is ticking.

The trial for the murders of Akira Kurusu, The Nagging, and Kazuaki Nanaki, The Embarrassing, has begun.]

Comments

[comesaround]

Actually, metal counts as an amplifier to electricity, so if the taser was used at the same time as he got that injury in his gut from possibly a knife, wouldn't that explain why there's no other visible marks where the taser could have been used?

[unwittingking]

Great, so the knife was used like a reverse lightning rod. 'Cause it's not like things can be simple, can they...

Either way, you're one of the people that have more...experience, with this kind of thing. You think that might be what happened to Nanaki?

[He's not sure how to mention finding an electrocuted person any other way than an experience.]

[comesaround]

[ It's more that he did a lot of studying when it came to the ways to assassinate someone, and not that he specifically found someone electrocuted. ]

Nope. If it were simple, these trials would be much shorter and easier to figure out.

[ He lets off a soft hum in thought. ]

It seems to be the only plausible way so far in my mind.. If Nanaki died right away because of that shock, the blood trail to his house and to where he is could just be a result of someone carrying him over there.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, and we can't have things easy or short, can we?

[Sarcasm Mode: ON]

Alright, does anyone know how strong the suspects are? I think I could believe McBurn carrying him, but I don't know about the other two.

[Not that he thinks McBurn did it, just that he's a strong person.]

[comesaround]

Of course not.

[ He can totally get that sarcasm without a doubt, even using a bit of his own. ]

I know from experience that Kurama is strong but I highly doubt he'd be able to carry Nanaki. McBurn definitely seems plausible when you put it that way, though.

[unwittingking]

[He appreciates this one.]

So, if this isn't the same as The Eventide and they didn't kill each other, we've got one option for who could've carried him...

[Then King gets another thought, and it...it's not a nice thought...]

Or...maybe a second…

[poorlovefool]

What's with that look? You think it's someone who wasn't on the suspect list?

[unwittingking]

It's...

[He feels really bad about this. That person is his friend, he should be able to trust them, but...

He needs to cover all areas. No exceptions.]

Does anyone know how strong Jonathan is?

[illusionarymelody]

I do, but obviously many people here don't want to trust the word of his spouse.

But I can again state that he was with me when the murder was happening. If you'd like I could get into details about exactly what we were doing if you don't believe me.

[And she's glaring at King for even daring to accuse Jonathan.]

[unwittingking]

You do realize that just saying that you did something with threats to talk about it and actually having proof that you were occupied with something else are two entirely different things, right?

[He's an adult, he can take this topic, even if he's slightly uncomfortable with it.]

[illusionarymelody]

I'm saying that you have no damned reason to be accusing someone who isn't even on the suspect list without proof! Do you really want to see an innocent die that badly?

[And she's going to address the hosts.]

Link, I have a question for you. Is it possible that someone was involved who isn't a suspect? Even as an accomplice?

[unwittingking]

I'm not accusing him, I'm accusing you of making him your accomplice.

[And he'll wait for Link to answer the question, even if he still doesn't like the guy.]

[backuphero]

You and half the Austin Texas Junior League.

[Bringing home a lady with an accent that's almost German has some... baggage attached, in 1944, but that's beside the point. Jonathan may have been dazed for most of this so far, but implying his wife would 1. kill and 2. make him participate in a murder is enough to make his voice almost ring, almost like the crack of the whip he isn't carrying now.]

She wouldn't have gotten within arm's reach of him, and I don't kill people.

[unwittingking]

I'm not saying you do.

[He's not going to ask about the Austin Texas thing. Not important right now.]

I'm asking if you're strong enough to carry a body.

[backuphero]

I could fling Charlotte up twice her own height without breaking a sweat, carrying somebody would be easy.

However, I did no such thing. Sir.

[unwittingking]

Got it.

[He's not sure if he believes it, but we'll wait and see what happens.]

[champion_link]

We can't give you that answer. You need to figure that out for yourselves. However if an accomplice merely helped and did not kill, they would not be on the suspect list.