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

[unwittingking]

[He's crying, and he shouldn't be doing that, because they'll know, and he needed to do this, if he didn't do this he was going to die, and they wouldn't get their father-he'd never see them again for all he knew, and he just wanted them to be safe, that's all he wanted here-...

But...he went to far, didn't he?

From Caleb's jacket, he's bursting into tears and sobs. His body is shaking and he's not speaking clearly, just crying and sobbing. Tears are running down his cheeks-as silver as the ones Karma found-and he's feeling God awful and he just wants it to end.

The only thing anyone can understand is:]

I didn't...I didn't mean...for it to be like this...

[He just wants his family back...]

[katzenpfote]

[Caleb pulls him out of the jacket gently and holds him against his chest, smoothing his fur down. He doesn't say anything, just keeps him close.]

[unwittingking]

I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...

[He's accepting it, but Caleb's going to feel tears down his chest. He's scared...he never wanted this...]

[katzenpfote]

Shh... shh. I have you. I am not going to let them hurt you if I can help it. I need to get you to your family.

[unwittingking]

And...what about you? What about the Nein?

[What about your family?]

[relieable]

It's not fair. I know it isn't! But...

You can't have been willing to let one of us take the fall for that, right? That's also not fair!

[unwittingking]

I DIDN'T WANT TO!

[He's shouting, and he shouldn't shout, but the other option is screaming, and that's worse.]

But...but what was I supposed to do?! They'd go after anyone if I didn't get away with it! They would...they...

[His voice is soft, and it wouldn't be surprising if only Caleb hears it.]

They're just pups...

[relieable]

[he doesn't understand! he's furious now. he was going to say this to Arthur earlier, but now Osomatsu can't keep his mouth shut]

You think you're special? Like you're the only one who's lost something? Look around you! We're all in the same boat.

[he's shouting, too, now]

The only difference is that you seem to be the only one that thinks it's okay to get away with killing two people!

[unwittingking]

I'm not special! And I don't think that!

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THEY MADE A THREAT TO TURN YOU KIDS INTO MIDLESS KILLING MONSTERS?!?

[He shouldn't be shouting, but he can't help it. He didn't want this-he never wanted this-why would he think he'd want this?! He just wants this to end...]

[carryabigstick]

King...

[She heard part of his story, about his family. That's why she can say with certainty.]

I understand. And I'm on your side. No matter what you did-- it's all because of this game. That's why we need to stop this. Stop attacking each other and... start fighting the right people!

[poorlovefool]

[Eric was right. He's right, and he's furious, but what else is there to do at this point.]

I... I meant what I said. Now that we know, let's just think about what we can do.

[carryabigstick]

Yeah!! Now's the time to put our heads together and work as a team.

[incendiarize]

Estelle - if powers are totally identical for people with the same title, you should be a weapon, like me and Osomatsu and Ambrosine. I dunno if you wanna partner up with someone or not, but....you should be able to transform, if you focus.

[unwittingking]

You...you can't…

I don't...I don't want anyone else dying because of me.

[Don't do this to him. He's got enough blood on his paws. They don't need to add their own.]

[carryabigstick]

King... we both have important people to get home to.

[They talked about this.]

I'm not planning on dying here... but I have no intention of letting you die here either. We have to get home to our families. You have to return that bandana right? And I have to give Joshua his harmonica back.

[She found it, after all.]

I found it because of you.

[unwittingking]

I-

[A paw goes to the bandana around his neck, but just quick as it's jumped there does it work to untie the thing.]

Someone else needs to...I can't...you shouldn't have to...

[Don't die for him, please don't die for him...]

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...Honestly, he was kind of irritated that this happened.

But even though he's turned away from King, he sure did bring out his demonic sword. He's ready to riotfight.

He can't say he didn't anticipate not being ready to. ]

[poorlovefool]

[Eric brought his crossbow, as well as the warhammer that he took back from Vita's house after she died, because she said he could have it back. It seemed right somehow. He also has Jonathan's whip, but... let's be real, apart from the one crack he did for emphasis, he would probably just hurt himself if he tried to use this.]

Does anyone want... this...?

[otherworldlyking]

The whip?

[ He's not someone who utilizes the weapon by any means. Though, also, he had two hands. He knew the Hosts weren't going to play fair based upon his previous sparring (though he's enjoyed them all the same and can't wait for a real fight, it was just a fact), so. ]

[comesaround]

[ After his outburst, he's just... looking a bit wry and a touch conflicted. ]

Nobody ever does. These stupid games drive people to make stupid decisions... but... that's alright. I don't intend to let them take you away from us. I've made up my mind.

[ He exhales a breath and closes his eyes. ]

Just don't run away from things anymore. Accept it, even if it's painful.

[unwittingking]

[His breathing steadies a bit, but only slightly. He feels terrible-downright God-awful-but he needs to say this much.]

I'm...I'm sorry…I said I would be there for you, and...

[He can't even finish. He feels pathetic.]

[comesaround]

...You did. You helped me out from a really bad spot mentally, and I owe you one...

[ A pause and while something in his chest just hurts talking about this, he continues, even as a laugh escaped him. ]

That's why, for you? I'll fight and live through this. Not just survive. Live.

[incendiarize]

Vita told her killer not to break or let her death be in vain....but she also thought, at the time, that her husband would live. And she also told me not to let them win.

So.... I say Joel killed Vita and Jonathan. And I'm not about to let King - or anyone else - die in Joel's place! All of this is bullshit, we all know that, so to hell with it all!

No one else dies! We fight, we finish this, we wreck the Echthroi and feed it to a crocodile! The dead are alright, so we get them back, all of us leave here, we save our worlds! And we do this together!

We're stronger than IT is, we can do this!

[katzenpfote]

Arthur. Who the fuck is Joel?

[unwittingking]

ME! I'm Joel! I...I was Joel.

I...have a lot to explain, if I get out of this.