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

3/3 // cw amputation

[yesorwoof]

[Except instead, very obviously, her napkins from the tea room, originally intended for breath checks, have been wadded around what is the site of the amputation of her right hand.]

I've been a little afraid to take this apart.

[She holds her arm straight up, and the color quickly begins rushing dizzily into her pale face. Holding it straight down is the exact opposite of what you're supposed to do. As she massages it, she adds,]

Yes, Kira did this. No, I don't approve of his actions. Yes, I was at his side all night. No, he neither shot nor strangled Zack Prince.

[exequte]

.... maybe....

Maybe after this if we can find where it is we can see if there's some way to reattach it? The bio room seems like a fairly advanced medical facility....

[yesorwoof]

[God bless you Akane for somehow taking this in stride.]

I had thought Zack's ability might be a good bet, but now that this much time has passed without the original, a replacement might be more likely at this point.

[exequte]

[Listen, blind panic doesn't seem productive at this point. Blind hope at least may be productive.]

But....

I mean.....

We could try, right?

[onychomance]

[Kira has been chewing his nails while she undresses. He's been waiting for this moment.]

[yesorwoof]

Pitter patter?

Or more like badump, badump, badump?

[Was it worth it?]

[onychomance]

[Makima wasn't supposed to live to tell the tale. He's been on the razor's edge, waiting to see when she would do anything. The eye of the storm is quiet in a way Kira has never heard. He's so nervous he could puke. Was it worth it?]

I've never felt this way before....

[Kira is making the best of it, I guess.]

[godspiousjasper]

[ Since he'd been the one to find Zack's body and all? He had no idea what had gone on with her and Kira, so his eyes went wide upon seeing her legitimately missing a HAND. ]

Miss Makima!! If you would have said something sooner... maybe one of us could have grabbed you some bandages to wrap that injury of yours with!

[ He is very much concerned about you, madam! ]

cw amputation

[yesorwoof]

[She does a sad, mysterious shaft headtilt.]

This happened pretty early in our fight. Over the hours, I got used to staunching the blood like this. I didn't want to change things... Or call our alibi into question.

It's like Kira said last week. My arm went into shock soon enough.

[godspiousjasper]

[ Roland shook his head and knelt down to rip some of the excess material off of the makeshift carrier he'd made for Durandal. It wouldn't affect how it held up, thankfully.

He then walked over with minimal wincing, over to where Makima was and then knelt down in front of her firmly. ]

That isn't the point.

[ He held up the large strip of cloth he'd ripped off. ]

While I do understand why you did it... please. At least allow me to take those napkins off and wrap it up properly for you.

[yesorwoof]

[She sighs and offers him the stump.]

...Thank you.

We're trained thoroughly in Public Safety... for amputations. But it's still a lot to—manage.

[godspiousjasper]

You're welcome.

[ Which he absolutely means, tone genuine down to the last syllable.

He's careful in the way he begins to peel off those napkins, not wanting to cause any more damage. Of course he'd like to have cleaned things up but this is more of a temporary solution until trial is over and she can be properly bandaged up. So his touch is very gentle but of someone who's had to maybe deal with wounds of such a grievous nature. ]

I can only imagine. You had to try and handle Kira at the same time as your own injury here which is nothing short of an impressive feat on it's own.

[ Once the napkins are removed, he began to wrap up her stump with just enough pressure to be firm but not painful. Even managing to tie it off with a solid knot. ]

You're quite the remarkable woman, Miss Makima.

I'm so sorry that this is short but I had a detail to note so I'm gonna at least try

[yesorwoof]

[They are cloth napkins, at least, so they don't stick as much as paper. She wanted something that would absorb a scent. She smiles sadly.]

It's true, but I really should have seen this coming. And now Zero has told us that Kira's method would never have worked. If we knew that earlier, we could have averted this.