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

[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.

[katzenpfote]

... And here I only metaphorically died.

[poorlovefool]

Come again?? [to both of you, what the fuck.]

[katzenpfote]

Eh... let's just say I have some spots missing and ended up reinventing myself.

[poorlovefool]

Oh... [well. that is something for later he thinks]

[byanyother_name]

It's a long story that involves my previous game. But I am literally dead. Effectively a solid ghost, a soul in the shape I had in life.

[poorlovefool]

...But that means... what does that mean? The hosts are the only ones who can actually kill you?

[because he sure as fuck doesn't know how to kill a ghost, what the hell]

Not. That I think we should vote for you anyway. But if you did this, I'd feel better about that if we at least knew the truth behind it.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama gives a quiet, dry chuckle.]

No. I tested that our first week here. I'm vulnerable to conventional weapons in this place.

Not that I'm easy to kill, regardless.

[poorlovefool]

...Anyway, the picture in the furnace was probably Nanaki's. He tried to get the motive, didn't he?

[byanyother_name]

I don't know. But it's very possible. It's also possible it was staged to look like he did. He was narcoleptic, if he passed out at some point, he'd be defenseless.

[backuphero]

I -

What?

But that game ended, if you're here now you have to be - how!?

[byanyother_name]

...we were given a choice. Return to life, or become Reapers and eventually Composers to defend our worlds from the Noise.

I could not leave my world, my loved ones, open to destruction.

[mermaidkin]

Now you know how I felt when you told me what had happened to your wife!

Think of him like a vampire or something. He'll say he's already dead, but you stake him and he'll suddenly do a whole lot less walking and talking. Well, not even stake. Entirely conventional weapons apply, as he himself said. We could easily punish him for breaking rules, execute him, anything. But the rest of you could absolutely try as well. When we discussed the status of the suspects upon being executed... I was focusing on dead in the sense relevant to the game.

Got all that?

[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.

[byanyother_name]

[Well, this sure is a look of someone who 100% knows All Of These Feelings.]

[katzenpfote]

[He just nods very slightly in return.]

[backuphero]

[He can't break down. Not with Vita still here. He absolutely can not break down.

It's really, really hard to keep that from happening anyway. Jonathan shuts his eyes, and nods.]

We... should talk, later. Tomorrow.

[katzenpfote]

I think that would be smart. Charlotte told me a little bit about your world that may help you understand what I say a bit better.