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

[comesaround]

That's what concerns me, because if there is no gun involved, there's only one way she could have been shot.

[ No he's not even really looking up at anyone right now. The words seem awful even as he speaks them. ]

[illusionarymelody]

The culprit could still have the gun in their possession. Obtaining a gun is easy and I'm sure many here have some weapon on them for self-defense. The only thing that is clear is that the culprit had no reason to dispose of the gun.

[comesaround]

Yeah. I'm hoping someone still has the gun on them and it's not what I'm thinking it might be.

[ Exhaling a bit and finally looking up, though very briefly his expression seemed a bit weary. ]

Though as you said, there's no reason to dispose of the gun.

[illusionarymelody]

Yes, that part is clear. Though one other possibility is that they left the gun in their home rather than bring it here. Yet again we have a case where the culprit had plenty of time to clean up and conceal evidence as needed so I think trying to figure out why one weapon was found, but not the other may help us figure out what is going on here.

[comesaround]

I agree. The sooner we can put all the pieces together, the better.

[unwittingking]

…should I ask?

[Even though he's afraid of what the answer may be...]

[comesaround]

I don't want to say until we get a little further in. I... would rather not make any assumptions so quickly.

[ Something in his expression and how he's not directly looking at anyone should be something of a giveaway, but he won't say anything outright yet. ]

[unwittingking]

…fair enough.

[He wants this over with as soon as possible, but...he knows well enough what assuming can do here.]

[incendiarize]

[Arthur's eyes widen. He knows exactly what Karma means, suddenly. And he hates it.]

I got a gun from the sock box recently. I didn't give it to anyone - but that means someone could have a gun that wouldn't be missing from storage, and they might not have tried to dispose of it, right?

[comesaround]

[ Oh good he's not the only one who hates this. ]

That's... what I'm hoping. That they could still have it on them, not having bothered to get rid of it.

[incendiarize]

Besides, if....if it's what you're thinking, then there's almost have to be a gun! As a decoy!

[comesaround]

Exactly. Just... the lack of one doesn't sit right with me.

[ Oh god. Did Arthur really know what he was implying here? ]

[incendiarize]

The stomach wound's older than the throat, and she was still alive for both, so...there'd be no reason to slit her throat, if it's what you're thinking.

[He has so many arguments against it and he just hopes it's not like Eric all over again.]

[comesaround]

Unless it was two different people, Arthur. One who shot her and another who performed a mercy kill on her or something.

[ Ugh. Not looking at anyone. This is atrocious and he hates his mind going to all sorts of places here. ]

[incendiarize]

In that case the culprit's the person with the knife anyway!

[comesaround]

Exactly. That's what I was thinking.

[katzenpfote]

Right. The rules were clarified to say the culprit is the one who delivered the killing blow.

[poorlovefool]

Now hold on here... if you guys are saying there's a gun-person power so they'd have to have a gun as a decoy, that doesn't make any sense. We don't know each other's powers. Why the fuck would there be a decoy?

If you know something, then ... don't cover it up!

[otherworldlyking]

[ And he'll just chime in to add: ]

No one will want to bother listening to the both of you if you are too busy hiding something.

[comesaround]

I'm just trying not to say anything or accuse anyone outright so quickly in case it isn't them. You want me to just out someone without having the proper evidence first?

[ Whoops okay so he might have come off as a bit snappy, there. Not trying to, but hey. What can you do? ]

[otherworldlyking]

Outing someone and accusing someone can be two separate things.

It could be more relevant if there's two people involved.

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama is just going to lay a gentle, calming hand on Karma's arm here. We don't have any grass but maybe find your chill anyway?]

[poorlovefool]

So lemme get this straight - this gun was just lying around where anyone could get it?