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]

No. Only those of us you've known.

[He sighs. Alastor mentioning them all being friends seems to have finally broken something in him, and he runs a hand through his hair]

The game I was in was exactly like this one. Down to the same deaths. We reached this point and... something happened. Something... I could not accept. I do not know if it was regret that fueled me or maybe just ill luck. But one moment I was in this trial room and the next I was waking up in my bed on the first day.

I... could not let that event happen again. I refused and so I played my part and waited. For this week. To Make sure it played out differently

And now it has. For that... I thank you.

cw amputation

[yesorwoof]

This happened...?

[Makima raises her stump.]

[pegasinister]

Yes.

[yesorwoof]

[She stares incredulously at it, then shrugs.]

Well, Kira, I guess you have.

[onychomance]

It's fate.

[voidseeing]

And what event was that, exactly?

[pegasinister]

...

I will not say. Please, I ask that you trust me on this.

[yesorwoof]

Is it what Aoi confessed just now? About his first loop?

[pegasinister]

No. I... didn't know about that.

[he looks pretty shook actually. And it's completely disarmed his own confession]

[yesorwoof]

He really doesn't tell anyone everything.

["I trust me more than anyone else."]

Then what? Is there any way we can help you now?

[voidseeing]

[He doesn't look pleased, but he's not going to press further for now.]

[somuchshipping]

[Since he's allowed to now...]

...Does this mean... I killed Zack in that... uh, SHIFTy thing? Is that why my name was being written?

[Hermes scratches at his front leg. MAKIMA, DO YOU SEE THIS? HERMES IS TRYING SO HARD RIGHT NOW.]

[pegasinister]

Oh, no that was me having a bit of petty revenge on you. I knew they would figure out it wasn't you. The culprit was never meant to escape this case, no matter who they are.

Same as the other cases- I would hope you all wouldn't assume I would be so haphazard with my fabriacations if I was actually trying to kill you.

[autonomousthought]

Then...it was only two and a half months...for you?

How does... How does...

[...she has no idea what to call Aoi. He called her daughter. She'll address Aoi directly instead,then.]

How do...you fit in, then?

[jinglebros]

In what? There's so many puzzle pieces.

If you mean why I pretended to be the Fabricator, I had little clue about the overarching consequences of anything. I just wanted to make sure Moriarty wasn't caught.

I was a fool, but then I found out Hubert was the fabricator, and I wanted to protect him, too.

[godspiousjasper]

[ While he is infinitely thankful Hubert wasn't involved in that man's demise or anything? This sure was a lot to take in, but he'll settle for putting things together the best he can with what was just told to him. ]

So this is more like a second chance? To make things right that you couldn't prevent the first time..

[ A small exhale. He's fine. This is fine. ]

I... I'm not what hand I had in playing that made things turn out differently... but you're welcome, all the same.

[pegasinister]

All of you have- I would not have been willing to do what I did if you had not all shown me kindness last time.

When the food was taken. I... well, I had done little to make friends. But still I was shown some mercy when my health would have killed me. Now I can return the favor.

[He starts unbuttoning his jacket, then his shirt. His torso is covered in massive molted bruises and what, thanks to his shallow breathing, may be a broken rib or two]

Zack did this to me. As I strangled the life out of him. That man... was inhumanly strong.

[godspiousjasper]

Hubert... I... [ His jaw is tense but now it's not from anger. ] I wouldn't change a thing. I will always show you kindness in moments when you need it.

[ Roland's breath caught in his chest seeing those bruises. So it truly had been him who killed Zack... at least one of the times. ]

Well. He was shown to have lifted a slot machine on his own, so that doesn't surprise me. [ While he might not have been super close to Hubert? He liked him and so this stings a little. ] It's a miracle that you were not killed by such hits, Hubert.

[exequte]

[Akane finally is strong enough to push herself back up, and just looks up at those wounds, and then up at Hubert, with tears beginning once again to run down her cheeks.

She doesn't know what she can say.]