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

[katzenpfote]

[He pushes aside his own panic and dashes to Eric's side, Frumpkin following quickly. He kneels down.]

Breathe in and out. You're here, not then. Breathe with me, Eric. One... two... three. One... two... three...

[poorlovefool]

[It's more like he's heaving than breathing, but he's a little distracted. Still mumbling between breaths though, as a few tears slip out.]

The... the lake... I put his body... in... the lake... it's not my fault... it's his fault... he's the bad one... aah... ahhhh...

[katzenpfote]

[He glances at Frumpkin and nods, and the cat leans against Eric.]

Eric. Can you hear me? I know it's difficult to pull yourself out, but you need to right now.

[poorlovefool]

C-Chris... I'm sorry... I...

[The lake is so cold but the kitty is so warm. Eventually, his breathing slows down and he starts to come to his senses.]

...

[and then he sees the Kyuubey eating the Kyuubey, and that's about it for him. He's just going still now.]

[katzenpfote]

[That. Sure is a thing.]

[Frumpkin puts his paws up on Eric's chest, kneading at it. Caleb still kneels near him.]

[poorlovefool]

[...well, that does make it hard to stare off into the space the animals ran off toward. He'll eventually look down at Frumpkin and carefully pet its back, still heaving a shuddering sigh.]