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

[poorlovefool]

Well...true... in any case, this was no accident.

[carryabigstick]

......yeah. I have to agree that sounds the most logical.

[unwittingking]

Or someone eliminated the witness.

[Yeah, no, King's glaring at Vita for implying this. This is too far.]

[illusionarymelody]

Then please do explain how the evidence proves your theory.

[unwittingking]

How about the fact that the way Nanaki died is more like an accident than anything else? Akira got shot thru the heart. That kind of wound isn't really survivable, and it's obvious. If it was Kurama, I'm pretty sure he would've done a lot more damage to Nanaki if that were the case.

Instead, seems like the worst he went thru was the taser and stab wound.

[illusionarymelody]

It was night time, how could anyone be sure where the shot was until they got close? Denial is a very common first reaction to seeing someone with a fatal wound. Another common one is futile attempts at first aid or healing.

[unwittingking]

You are literally talking to the person that looked over that wound. No tried to administer first aid to Akira, and if anyone would've tried to, I think it would've been Kurama.

[Vita, on the other hand...]

[illusionarymelody]

And Kurama would also be the most likely to act in retaliation to someone killing Akira. I would have run as if my life depended on it into my house if I was actually outside, which I wasn't. Stop being so quick to turn this to accusations of me and find some proof that I am lying about not leaving my house if you want to accuse me.

[unwittingking]

And you wouldn't try to defend yourself if the person that just shot someone saw you and decided to try and eliminate the witness?

And I'll stop once you stop trying to blame the kid that would've done a lot more than what happened to Nanaki. On the off-chance it was him, I think he would've done a lot more than just tasing Nanaki.

[illusionarymelody]

I'd run like my life depended on it. If I'd have gone near that, I'm sure I'd be the dead person instead of Nanaki.

[unwittingking]

But you'd defend yourself if you had to, right?

[Yeah, he ain't letting this go until he gets a straight answer.]

[illusionarymelody]

When I tried to at the Base the result was my death. Nanaki and Akira both are larger than me. Akira overpowered me before and I'd either freeze or run. The only possible result if I was there would be that the victims would be Akira and I, not Nanaki and Akira.

Also, you may want to go look at the profiles if you're referring to Kurama as a "kid" Don't know about your world, but over 1000 isn't a kid by the definitions of my world and Jonathan's.

[touchsensors]

...the definition of an "adult" is different in some places-lun.

[Super useful and relevant information. Listen, she just wants to contribute something.]

[otherworldlyking]

Kurama, a 'kid'?

[ That was news to him. ]

Didn't seem like much of one either.

[poorlovefool]

You don't think he looks like a high schooler?

[yu yu hakusho characters are youngish teens it's wild]

[otherworldlyking]

...Nah.

[ He hasn't heard the term 'high schooler' before but he assumed it meant 'kid'. And when he pictured 'looks like a kid'...yeah. ]

[byanyother_name]

Physically, I'm 16, so that isn't incorrect. But the age on my profile is accurate and by the standards of my original home, I am an adult.

[illusionarymelody]

I know, it would be like trying to say Campanella is a kid! But actually McBurn, can you kindly tell King about how utterly boring it would be for you to try and fight me as I am now?

[otherworldlyking]

...It'd be a huge waste of my time.

[ He'll yawn. ]

There's no point in a fight if there's no real challenge or it goes too quickly.

[incendiarize]

She'd run. Minimal fighting, she's telling the truth that she couldn't overpower Akira. She wouldn't just let herself get killed, but her best defense would be to escape.

[Sorry Vita he knows things.]

As for the 'kid' discussion, one of my guildmates back in Etria is technically over a thousand, but still basically eighteen. So the number doesn't necessarily mean anything.

[illusionarymelody]

[Vita appreciates the save, but how do you know this?]

Wait, you know what happened?

[unwittingking]

[Just. Throws his paws up in the air.]

Okay, maybe she didn't do it! I still think Kurama didn't do anything here! I'm pretty sure he would've done a lot more that what happened!

[Sorry he's yelling. This is just a lot to take in.]

[unwittingking]

One, we're talking about Nanaki here, and though I didn't get to know him too well, the fact that he had a gun makes it seem like someone might've been able to take him down if they got up close and personal. And two, that last part is very easy to say when you're the one here and they're not.

And I'll admit that maybe I'm just judging that he looks pretty young, but whatever the case, it's not helping your case that you're pointing out a mistake like that instead of a logic error.

[The equivalent of pointing out a spelling mistake in an online argument, if you will.]

[illusionarymelody]

I'm pointing it out because you appear to have an unfair bias towards kids and a tendency to make inaccurate assumptions against adults. If you're incapable of looking at the proof without bias then maybe you should sit down and shut up and let those of us who can solve this and stop trying to place the blame on someone who wouldn't be here if they got involved in this.

[backuphero]

Meanin' no disrespect [oh, that's a lie, drawled in the sort of voice his grandfather put on to make his friends laugh] of course, but... who would attempt first aid for a direct shot to the heart? Try to make the person dying comfortable, sure, but there's no fixing that without magic none of us has right now.

[a pause, and the ghost of Quincey's put-on cowboy voice is gone.]

Sure are eager to pin this on my wife, aren't you. Sure was convenient you brought up an accomplice, somebody not on the list.