THE FOURTH TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FOURTH TRIAL
(~SK. 24-25)




[There's no announcement informing the Strangers to come into the theater. There is only the sound of the doors opening, beckoning those left to come inside. It's best not to tarry-really, do you want to know what happens if they refuse to go to the trial?

When they enter the theater, it's...different. Sort of. Maybe it's because the area where the podiums are covered in donuts (and yes, Roland will see the little white animals pop over and pinch a few off the top). Maybe it's the fact that more spaces are draped in black. Maybe it's the fact that Zack's podium is also missing from where it sat, leaving nothing but donuts-in fact, that's where the primary pile of donuts are. Digging through that pile will only yield donuts, and nothing more.

(Some of the animals try to approach Akane. They disintegrate before they get two steps. Apparently they're better off eating the donuts.)

But-most of all-it's the fact that Zero is not on the screens that pop out through the theater. There's nothing but static. And while the curtains are closed, you know you are being watched regardless.




Uh. So. Maybe it's not worth waiting for Zero on this.


The trial for the murder of Zack Prince, the One, has begun.]

Comments

[pegasinister]

I have also confirmed with Zero that the double causes of death are intentional. Which with the massive amount of blood that he apparently walked away from... suggests he somehow died twice.

[superstylishsquid]

We did find that Gold Orb...

[pegasinister]

Regardless, I do not understand the point of listing both- it is not like we can execute the culprit twice.

[jinglebros]

...

There's two culprits.

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes looks defeated.]

Great, three people feeding the tree...

[pegasinister]

...

It would give us our last x-pass at least?

[jinglebros]

That's one way to look at it.

[ Sharp look, though. ]

[somuchshipping]

[HOW IS HERMES NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO YOU BUT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TALK TO HIM!? NO FAIR!]

[pegasinister]

[Ha ha]

[superstylishsquid]

Hubert... [Sigh.] Hermes, do I have permission to tell him?

[pegasinister]

... tell me what, Alastor?

[superstylishsquid]

...I think Hermes is sick. Computers...viruses tend to cause them to act a bit off.

Can't be sure, though. He doesn't remember anywhere he could've picked it up, but we can't exactly trust our memories from before we got here.

[godspiousjasper]

...Two culprits, hmm?

[ A small exhale, and a glance over at Alastor briefly before looking back at Aoi. ]

We don't know that for sure, Aoi. Unless you have more information to support that.

[jinglebros]

It seems a lot more likely than any of the alternatives that have been thrown around so far.

[godspiousjasper]

Until we know more about all of this? We can't go assuming there's a second person until evidence properly supports that.

[jinglebros]

Okay.

[superstylishsquid]

[He meets Roland's gaze, then tilts his head. He gives a very slight, slow nod.]

[godspiousjasper]

[ He's doing his best to go about things properly. After all, he'd given his word to do so. ]

[exequte]

Why say that?

It's at least equally likely, based on the evidence we have right now, that it was only one person who was extremely determined to make sure they got the job done.

[jinglebros]

Because they're very insistent on two causes of death. Punishable twice. One person can only be punished once, unless they plan on reviving the person right after they're executed.

[exequte]

If a single person killed two separate people there would be two causes of death but only a single culprit. The fact that Zack, apparently, died twice is certainly unusual, but in itself it doesn't mean that there's more than one person involved.

There's so few of us left already. There's no reason to make suspicions run even higher with that kind of theory, without more evidence that points towards that.

[yesorwoof]

Zero left this Gold Orb lying around, and if we're speaking freely, he may know that the Gimme has been giving us a little something extra too.

Why wouldn't he revive a culprit to kill them twice?

I'd also like to ask if you really think two culprits were independent. If the attackers collaborated, that creates scenarios throwing many of our alibis into question.

[exequte]

I... I think.... that if there were two killers... then nobody has an alibi anymore. I don't think anybody was with more than one person last night, those who were with anyone.

But I also don't think it's necessarily that productive to fix on that, at least not yet. If we find more proof, maybe then we should consider it, but for now....

[onychomance]

Well I certainly didn't give it to him.

[yesorwoof]

Kira kept it on his person at all times. Furthermore, I was observing him continuously last night. It's impossible.