T̢H̢҉̴E̢͝ ̡S͝E҉̡C̡̢O̵N̡̕͠D̵͡ ̕͠T̀͢R͞IAL

[strangerpeople]

T͝HE͘ S̴̸E҉̶̀C͜Ơ̷̢N͏D̡͟ T҉̧R͘I͟A̧͟͠L̢

Heyyyyyyyyy, Strangers! How's Valentine's Day going? Unfortunately we have to start the trial soon if you want to get any dinner dates in before midnight!

I know some of you have a very special day near today, too! So let’s get a move on, shall we? You know the drill! Though you know… since we saw one of those clues, you can bring your pets in today.

[And so it is. Just like last week, the elevator shoots everyone down to the trial room. Lala's podium, now, is Xed out in red. And like last week, five of the podiums' dot matrix name plates suddenly flash with a red border.]

THE BRITTLE	THE CIRCUIT	THE ENEMY	THE NOODLES
				THE UNKNOWN

[And clashing with the borders whether red or not, on each Stranger’s podium is a little piece of candy: A gray heart, printed with a message in nearly black capitals. These candies are similar to the pills in that they taste like nothing at all rather than sand; while a pill is meant to serve as a full meal, one candy is about as filling as a single apple.

The messages are as follows.]

KING: BEST FRIEND	ARTHUR: LOOKING GOOD	OSOMATSU: ONE OF A KIND	ESTELLE: BRIGHT SPARK	MCBURN: NEVER MEANDER	JONATHAN: DOUBLE THE FUN
AMBROSINE: QUEEN OF MY HEART	CALEB: HOT	KARMA: YOU’RE A DOLL	VITA: TRUE BLUE BEAUTY	KURAMA: FOXY	ERIC: SEW NICE

I'd call what you had to look at "inhumane", but Lala Hagoromo wasn't human, was she?

Now, now, Hiyori. I’m not human, either.

Doesn't change how sad it is that she lost her chance to be happy... Oh, why don't you give them a good look at what you have there, Link?

[Link holds up the heart labeled "OUT OF / THIS WORLD". The hosts are visible behind the glass of their sterile observation room this time by the way.]

We made too many because we hoped all of you would finally join in on the fun by today... So, if you retire, culprit, you can eat this one!

[...Well, maybe the evidence will cause the Hosts to eat their words. BOOM. Burn........or...well, it doesn't matter. The clock is ticking.


The trial for the murder of Lala Hagoromo, The Chance, has begun.]

Comments

[mermaidkin]

. . .

[That's a... vivid... mental... image...]

Hand, singular? Don't leave Link out of the fun, please!

he has no idea how this sounds and I cannot stress enough that it isn't meant that way

[backuphero]

Fine. Hands, plural, whatever, he had a hand in her hair and one occupied with her husband. Just answer me.

Please.

Are the pills a way to let IT in that won't take a year, if we just agree that's fine?

[mermaidkin]

Ahh, ghh, it'd be even worse if we got into thresholds with you, wouldn't it—

[But he lights on something else much better and laughs.]

Take one look at Prince Eric and Queen Ambrosine who have been living on the things! Tell me honestly, do you think they're more tempted than you? That should answer the question~

[backuphero]

[Either he wasn't clear or Hiyori's deliberately talking past him, and Jonathan isn't sure which is worse.]

I'm not asking about temptation, I'm asking about - about a fundamental change, something unconscious or... or I don't know, something that has to be turned on somehow.

[mermaidkin]

How many times do I have to say it? The pills are protein and sugar and dye and things like that! There's literally nothing psychoactive in them or even inhumanely procured!

[backuphero]

So it's - I'm letting my head run away with me. It's just efficient, and you... like that better now.

[mermaidkin]

[WINNING SMILE AND NOD!!!!!!!!!!!]