T̢H͜E̵͟ ͏́͡TH͘͢I͠͞R͜͡͝D̷̶ ̛͞T̴R͏̨Į̷A̵̧L̡̨̀

[strangerpeople]

T̢H͜E̵͟ ͏́͡TH͘͢I͠͞R͜͡͝D̷̶ ̛͞T̴R͏̨Į̷A̵̧L̡̨̀

Attention, Strangers. It's time for the trial now.

Please bring whatever you see fit and not anything against the rules.

[And so it is, that the Strangers must come once more to the elevators, to the room where the force field sits and their podiums wait. Three more people are now Xed out, as if they never existed.

Once everyone is in place, five podiums light up red.]

THE BRITTLE	THE DISCORD	THE ENEMY	THE FORLORN
				THE JOVIAN

Once again, two bodies have been discovered. It sure is tragic. Please remember to vote accordingly.

[There is no hesitation, no pause, before the clock begins, and the ticking echoes through the chamber. The evidence is there for the remaining Strangers to see, and organize. Voting must happen to ensure justice. What else is there to say, then?

The trial for the murders of Vita Clotilde-Morris, the Bad Luck, and Jonathan Morris, the Double, has begun.]

Comments

[incendiarize]

....so your height doesn't clear you, considering Vita got hit on the head.

[unwittingking]

…yeah. I guess it doesn't.

[He's just...looking at the floor now. He doesn't want to keep talking about this...]

[incendiarize]

....King?

[Something has felt a little bit....off. He can't quite put his finger on it.]

[unwittingking]

Yeah?

[He's looking up, but he's having trouble looking Arthur in the eyes.]

[incendiarize]

[Arthur bites his lip, unsure what he wants to ask. He doesn't like this.]

Are...you okay?

[He can hear it in his own tone, that's not what he's really asking. But he doesn't want to say it.]

[unwittingking]

[He's silent for a minute, before he says,]

A married couple died, one of them had to find the other, died trying to kill the killer, then the first one got set on fire after she died.

I don't think anyone here is okay.

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb steps over to King and puts a hand on his shoulder.]

[unwittingking]

[He leans into Caleb's hand a bit, almost like he needs to for support.

He's...he's not feeling very well...]

[katzenpfote]

[He leans down, muttering so only King can hear.]

Small cat. Coat pocket.

[unwittingking]

…are you sure?

[He's never done that before, and right now he's just...feeling awful.]

[katzenpfote]

[He glances at Frumpkin, who runs over to Arthur and sits near the dog.]

Ja. I'm sure. I promised you that you would see your pups again.

[unwittingking]

[He doesn't like how that's worded...but he's shifting into a black cat before he can think too much about it.]

Which pocket?

[katzenpfote]

[He opens up one of the inside pockets, tilting his head.]

[incendiarize]

...Okay.

[It's not okay. But Arthur will take this over the words he isn't letting himself think.]

...You're married too, right? And you have kids. It....must have been even harder - why'd you want to share my visions...? Jonathan was....was thinking about their future children....

[If he just lets himself be sad then maybe....]

[unwittingking]

[He's still not looking Arthur in the eyes as he speaks.]

Bailey. That's her name. And Olive, Ace, and Rook. Two girls and a boy.

I just...thought it was for the best. I thought...I just needed to...

[His voice is wavering, like he's ready to break if Arthur isn't careful.]

[incendiarize]

[Arthur's tone is quiet, entirely leaving behind the trial. He's just having a conversation now...right? He's giving up on the trial, and just talking to King.

Talking to a friend.]

.....back in the mansion, after he had me show him Jun's death.... Thanatos asked how I could keep doing this every week. He.... He was a dad, too. [Arthur had promised to find a way to save the man's world, and to never tell his daughter what lengths he'd gone to.]

I don't remember what I told him.....but I think I know my answer now.

[unwittingking]

[He's hearing it, and he's trying to keep breathing, because he can't break down, this isn't the time, but a man who was a father died there, and if he remembers right that was one of the killers, and it makes him think, and want to think, and he's...he's...

And a small, silvery tear rolls down his cheek.]

[necroyalty]

[ ...Ambrosine sees this, and says nothing.

But she sure as shit passes a knowing, concerned look to everyone. ]

[unwittingking]

[He couldn't do this any more.]

[relieable]

[just... staring at that tear]

King.........

[unwittingking]

[He just wanted them to be safe.]

[incendiarize]

[Silvery.....oh no.

He can't not think it now. And with Karma's outburst...]

I know there's no such thing as justice, in these places. And I know what Vita asked. But....I also can't stop thinking about Thanatos. Asking me not to tell his daughter......that he'd killed Jun, trying to save his world.

King... Joel killed them, didn't he?

[unwittingking]

I...I...

[And he breaks.]

[katzenpfote]

... Joel? What do you mean, 'killed them'?

[katzenpfote]

Arthur?

[It could be mistaken as a questioning tone... but there's something of a warning in it, too.]