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

AY YO MERMAID MAN - MAYBE MODS?

[backuphero]

I'm not sure that's the same thing, though. The motive was "anything you desire", wasn't it? If you wanted someone you didn't want dead revived, if you got away with this, you could get that.

Right, Hiyori?

[mermaidkin]

"Whatever you desire!" That was the entire briefing! I've said it before and I'll say it again~

I can certainly tell you that to get "whatever you desire", you wouldn't have to do something special to the corpse you generated for us in exchange! You wouldn't have to smear your scapegoating victim in any particular way either!

However... the direct murder victim serving as this sacrifice would certainly have to be completely dead at some point, and wouldn't come back before the false execution was over. Likewise, if you created a new sacrifice for such a purpose - the trial being over would be the very earliest such a thing would happen, and even then, it would depend on the nature of the agreement made.

The nature of the agreement that we'd make, if any, with someone if what you most desire was to reverse a beloved stranger's death...? I'll see what I can do to get that declassified ASAP.

[backuphero]

The nature of it isn't the important part.

If someone watched someone they love die, and then killed to avenge them, knowing that they'd both be alive after the trial if they got away with that revenge... we have one choice, don't we, if it was Kurama?

We have to vote for one of the dead.

[poorlovefool]

I think so too, if he's the one who did it.

[mermaidkin]

You should definitely each act on your own opinion. You have a wide variety of options that I'm determined to make sure you fully understand. There are pros and cons to every one. "Justice", "peace", "success"... Think carefully. Don't let anyone try to make it simple.

[poorlovefool]

No more of you telling me how to have opinions, alright?

[don't mermansplain hiyori!!!! he's still stinging from his slowpoke.gif mind hack reveal]

[backuphero]

[He's going to remember this, Sparkle Guy!! And nods, and smiles at him, just for a moment. ]

[mermaidkin]

Hmmmmm... do you think Milton King would get behind that? Voting for a child? Not letting a killer, revenge or not, receive justice?

But I want to emphasize that the nature could be of at least some significance. For example, taking a trip somewhere immediately after the trial wasn't the type of agreement I was encouraged to have you make.

[byanyother_name]

['The type of the agreement I was encouraged to have you make'.]

...would our killer have had to make their agreement with you for their wish beforehand?

[mermaidkin]

No. Rest assured, any of you three living suspects - in the event you are a perpetrator and didn't make any kind of agreement with us, you are fully eligible for whatever you desire!

However... Maybe to put it in a simpler way. Whatever you desire most. I think the idea that it's completely unlimited is confusing some of you a little. How to put this.

If you wanted to "blow up the planet Mars, and also bring your best friend back to life, and also turn into a vampire", that couldn't happen. Upon scrutiny, this is clearly multiple wishes.

[byanyother_name]

...so it would not be whatever wish you choose to make, but whatever your genuine deepest desire is?

[mermaidkin]

There's not necessarily a lack of choice. We're not going to put our big desire-scanner on your head. [wait so do they have one. note this isn't bolded though lol]

It's because of this potential for confusion that someone considering committing the murder might or might not find an agreement desirable to make. To be completely certain that things would play out the way they wanted.

[backuphero]

But reviving the dead - that's easier, isn't it? Because it doesn't... because you could still keep them here, if they only got the one thing.

[mermaidkin]

[Hiyori REALLY CONVENIENTLY IGNORED THIS...]

[backuphero]

[Jonathan will remember that.]

[incendiarize]

I agree. Killing someone isn't a decision we can take back. But letting someone get away with it, knowing we can pass judgement later...

[If they have to. If they have to. If they have to.]

[backuphero]

Exactly. If it comes down to it... is killing to avenge someone the same as killing in cold blood? I used to think they were different, but... then again, I've never died.

[byanyother_name]

I don't recommend it. It's very unpleasant even the second time.

[backuphero]

That's why - I don't - God damn it, if I can help it Vita ain't finding that out for herself and you ain't going for round three with the Reaper. Not today.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama genuinely does like Jonathan. Between that and the words... He sighs and offers the man a sad smile.]

There is no round three for me. If I am executed today, that is most likely the end of my existence. I'm already dead, Jonathan.

[touchsensors]

Lun. It's still just killing either way-lun.

[backuphero]

So if we have a way not to, shouldn't we take it?

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb stares at the pedestal he's on, and then looks up at Jonathan.]

I can tell you from experience that it, in fact, is. Depending on your motivations for 'in cold blood' are, of course... but...

[backuphero]

[Hearing that in a voice so like his own... Jonathan hates this.]

Someone... someone with hands like yours shouldn't have to know that.

[He's done his best at being strong even as it seems there's a loud number among them eager to burn his witch. He's tried to be her knight, such as he can. But he didn't sleep last night, and he's been exhausted by all this from the start... it's hearing Caleb's words, so like his might have been if he'd made one choice differently, that finally makes his voice shake.]

[katzenpfote]

... My hands have done many things. Some I am proud of, and some I am not. Some I was proud of at the time and am not now.

... I do not have any moral problem carrying this out if I must.