THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL
(~SK. 3-4)


[When the investigation wraps up, there is a low, rumbling <D O N G, which vibrates throughout the ship. This is followed by the sound of creaking doors opening on the D Deck-the locked doors at the end of the hall.

Zero's voice speaks through the ship once this happens.]

The Investigation has ended. It is time for the Trial. Please proceed into the theater.

I suggest you be quick about it.

[And when you do...you will find a completely empty theater. There is a higher level, but this is currently blocked off by ropes, as is the stage itself. Anyone who attempts to jump the ropes will find themselves knocked on their butts; it seems there's no choice but to go to the podiums, located in the orchestra area of the theater. Notably, the podiums for bunks 6 and 7 are empty, draped with black crinoline and adorned with a photo of the deceased. And in the center of the podiums is...a birthday cake with some confetti surrounding it, along with some drinks. No indication whose birthday it is, but that's pretty much all you'll see in this otherwise very bare, quiet place.



CW: animal death

Unless, of course, you're the Eye. If you're the Eye, you will see every seat filled, if not by a root or vine, then by a...thing with glowing red eyes. One of these...things tries to move towards Anya-and immediately, after suddenly glowing red, thunks over sideways, it's head popping off with an almost comical P O P. The majority of the other...things stare at it before resuming their...whatever they're doing, while one of the things sitting next to it looks over, then towards the stage, then slowly hops off the seat and out the door.

Oh, and he doesn't even get his own podium. Aoi and Makima, good luck to you-Roland's been squeezed in between you, forced to take podium 3. You get to also see what he sees.

Once everyone's in place, A large wide screen....screen schlllorps from the stage, and Zero's face pops in once it turns on.]


Welcome to the Trial. Please, enjoy the refreshments. You will be here until you have either convicted the correct culprit-or, the culprit successfully gets away with it. If you have not familiarized yourself with the guidelines, I suggest you do so now.

All evidence is also available for review on your watches, if need be. Take your time, but...do not delay. Justice must be served.

[Well? No reason to delay. Power is dead. Very dead. And now it is time to figure out who would kill her with explogurt for a cheeseburger-if that's even what happened.


The trial of Power, The Drop, has begun.]

Comments

[lovedthemost]

[Yeah, I saw the description in evidence and Moriarty explained it also, but I'm having trouble picturing it, mostly with the rectangle shape]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

For most people, exploding an entire human is...a horrifying act. Even if they had prepared themselves for such a thing, panic wouldn't be entirely out of the question once they'd seen what they'd done.

In that state, if the head fell near them, they may have picked it up without realizing, then on realizing their mistake, ran about trying to find a place to store it out of the way.

[lovedthemost]

[unless, of course, the exact shape isn't pertinent to the case]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Someone who didn't alert the rest of us, in that case.

[Hmmmm...]

[godspiousjasper]

You make a good point.

[ A pause. Then his brows narrow. ]

Unless it was to misdirect us into thinking it's a specific person by doing such a thing.

[voidseeing]

Considering that the ends of the shrapnel I found in the leg were sharp, I'd say it's pretty likely.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

More of a familiar - a shade of someone who left their mark on human history, able to be summoned as a Heroic Servant.

[yesorwoof]

No, it wasn't necessarily a sigil she drew on a surface. The blood would usually be more responsive to her will.

[She draws in the air, a little like the Disney Channel logo.]

Like this. However I could understand how a shape on the surface would form in the scenario that the blood was totally unresponsive.

If there's someone else who would have made sigils, that makes far more sense.

[threwabone]

I...guess that's possible?

But-I don't know. I feel like the others might have a point about it on purpose or something.

[unpossibilities]

Could be. Wouldn't shock me. Crime scenes - 'specially this one - can easily be messed with if there's no way to secure the perimeter, and there really wasn't, considering.

[unpossibilities]

Coulda been panic.

Coulda been malice.

In the killing game I was in before - the mastermind was amongst all of us. So I ain't puttin' it outta the question.

[yesorwoof]

Power-chan is my cheeseburger...?

[IT BETTER NOT BE THAT.]

[lovedthemost]

Are we aware of anyone here that uses sigils?

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes starts basically jogging in place, excited with curiosity.]

You were here before!? TellMeAllAboutIt!

[onychomance]

Doubtful that it was in a panic. It was placed on a middle shelf, and the sword was behind it as well. It appeared neatly done, certainly not a toss at all.

So, this theory holds more water than that one, I suppose.

[yesorwoof]

[KAITO IS ADMITTING THE THING!!! CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT!!!]

It's become clear that Zero is dealing with all of us as individuals. It's far from impossible that someone had an individual agreement of some sort.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

I was merely speaking in hypotheticals, after all.

[He's not that bothered about being wrong, tbh.]

[lovedthemost]

So we should be looking for an injury that was either sliced or pierced by something sharp?

[godspiousjasper]

Unfortunately, yes. I could see it being done as an attempt to ensure they can frame someone else and get away with this.

[yesorwoof]

We know that the incinerator was approached, so I believe that if this particular state of mind were in play, the head would go into the incinerator. It's strange, whatever was burnt must have been even worse for the culprit than the head...

[unpossibilities]

...maybe later. Now isn't the time.

[it's kind of hard to talk about with someone so transparently excited about something traumatic that happened to you, anyway...]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Or potential blackmail from our 'host' to do so.

[Because, well, Zero's shown he's not above doing some nasty stuff.]

[threwabone]

Let's hope not...

[That thought makes her nauseous...]

[lovedthemost]

Whatever it was, it must've been damning.

[he huffs] It's frustrating we do not have access to a laboratory; that might provide a clue for what was burnt. But I suppose we shall have to do without.

[unpossibilities]

...ugh.

It ain't any easier the second time.

[siiiiiiiigh now it's time to suspect other people]