THE SECOND TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND TRIAL
(~SK. 10-11)


[Once the investigation wraps up, Zero's voice emanates once more throughout the Gigantic. The doors to the theater on both the C Deck and D Deck open as he speaks. And yes, when people come in through the C Deck Doors, they will find they can access the lower level from the stairs.

Yay?]

It is time. Come to the theater.

I wouldn't worry about bringing blankets.

[And indeed, when the Strangers come into the theater, they will find that the room is considerably warmer compared to the rest of the ship. There are also changes to the podiums-John, Anya and Kaito's places are all draped in black.

The screens schlllorrrp back in, with Zero's face appearing after a moment of static.]

Of course I am here for any questions. But I believe you know how this goes, so I suggest you begin. Justice delayed is...justice denied.

[The trial for Kaito Momota, The High King, has begun.]

Comments

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He flusters again - but as Alastor says that, it fades away into confusion.]

...I - pardon me, but are you certain?

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah. For a devil like me, how good blood tastes depends a lot on the spiritual energy of the person it belongs to. And yours tastes better than anything but the blood of a Witch, Warlock, or Sage.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[...He quiets, for once.]

...

...

...And?

If you are going to accuse me of killing Kaito, then you need to commit to it, and also eliminate all other possibilities.

After all, I am not the only one with spiritual energy here.

[superstylishsquid]

I can compare others. And if anyone else has similar blood, I'll gladly drop my accusation.

To be honest, I really don't want it to be you.

[pegasinister]

[He pulls a blade from his back]

We can all bleed together, if that's what it takes.

[Hubert plz]

[superstylishsquid]

....You look a bit too eager for that. And I say this as the guy who's getting to taste fresh blood from living humans for the first time in millennia.

[pegasinister]

Am I not allowed a little drama too?

[Yeah he's having Fun]

[superstylishsquid]

Can you at least...not make this any more intimidating for the others than it has to be? We don't need people balking because they're afraid they're going to be bled out, too.

[pegasinister]

[Huff]

Very well. I can not promise much for my general... aura. But I will not cackle ominously or the like.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Then do so, before you accuse.

[He sighs.]

To borrow a phrase from a profoundly infuriating man....'Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.'

[He shudders, in revulsion.]

ugh.

[superstylishsquid]

A certain rival of yours, huh?

[He takes a deep breath.]

The lack of fresh injuries on anyone else doesn't look good, but even if it's a long shot...yeah. Maybe it was a mouth injury, or a nosebleed, or...something that wouldn't be visible.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

You did not listen to me, Alastor.

[That piercing gaze he has is now ONLY on Alastor, almost seeming like a spider in it's web - a cold, reptilian stare.]

You have only a single piece of evidence, one you have not cross checked. I will not speak until you do.

[superstylishsquid]

[Fine.]

[yesorwoof]

I agree with Moriarty-kun. Even if it is his blood, these wounds reopen regularly - there may be some convoluted means that was used to extract the blood from him at an earlier time and plant it now. I can't quite tell why the culprit would have bled. Did he demand Momota-kun duel him to the death with a sword, is that why there are two?

[Makima turns from Alastor to Moriarty, her hair swishing over her shoulder.]

Though... Moriarty-kun has a flair for the dramatic, the self-sacrificing, and drawing out information from others, as a culprit aware of the presence of a double agent might want to do. The "dead man's hand" had the desirable paired cards. Perhaps the winner of the fight is nevertheless a dead man.

I just thought that was interesting. I'll get back to my analysis soon.