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

[exequte]

[Akane is already too blinded by tears to really see as far as the stage in anything other than watery patches of shifting color, but the sounds....

She bites her lip, arms wrapping around her torso.]

Zero, you....

Surely you don't have to torture him.

[voidseeing]

... it isn't Zero doing that. It's the ship.

[exequte]

... but...!

Why? Why did any of this... happen?

[voidseeing]

I don't know. We're still missing too many pieces of the puzzle right now.

[autonomousthought]

I think...that's what they're giving us a chance...to find out.

[yesorwoof]

[Makima picks up her overcoat. She staggers over to Akane and drapes her in it.]

It's okay. You don't have to watch something this painful, Akane-chan. I can help.

Aoi-kun. [Makima turns. Time to flex her muscles in charades.] Blink your left eye for Zero, your right eye for Zero's collaborator, both eyes for another enemy, and keep your eyes open for an ally. Perhaps someone you love.

[exequte]

[She turns into Makima's arms, or arm, pressing her face against the other woman's neck and shoulder, and continues to cry.]

Everything here is so awful, all the time. Everything is... it's all....

[yesorwoof]

[Makima has been left a quite generous length of her right arm, but moving it is still a gamble. Wrapping her left arm around the other woman it is.]

It's hell. It literally is hell. But there's a little of the devil hunter in all of us. We can do it.

[superstylishsquid]

...I did serve one, for a while. But considering he went and got himself killed, I guess I'll have to pick up his slack.

[yesorwoof]

Well. I'm trying to make a speech here a bit on the spot.

[Makima's eyes are distant - like that night she evolved.]

But you know, there are many devils who fight devils. They're still very fearsome devils who don't deny their devilish nature. Like the Hero of Hell.

[superstylishsquid]

Where I'm from, there's only been...one pure blooded devil known to have fought for humans.

The Legendary Dark Knight, my master's father. I never met him, but the records humans made of him acknowledge he was a devil. Just one I...never thought I could walk in the footsteps of, since he defeated Mundus where I was just a nuisance to him.

[jinglebros]

[ His eyes stay wide open. ]

[yesorwoof]

You can't be serious.

[He's looking in the direction of Makima and Akane. Isn't he?]

Fine. Close your eyes once I have said their name.

Hubert-kun?

[jinglebros]

[ He is. And his eyes stay open. ]

[yesorwoof]

[Makima is too, now. He begged for this.]

Alastor-kun.

[jinglebros]

[ Still open. ]

[yesorwoof]

Your niece.

[jinglebros]

[ He closes his eyes.

And then, he's gone. ]

[strangerpeople]

[Indeed.

Aoi Kurashiki, the Striker, is dead.]

[pegasinister]

[Hubert approaches, not too close- he doesnt want to hurt the others more by getting punished too- but close as he dares, staring up at the corpse.

He's not sure how many of his feelings were real, and how many were recursive from the loops. Trust built on trust that never happened and also happened over and over again. No start, no end. How much was Aoi manipulating him into the perfect accomplice, all while he thought it was the other way around?

Still, even knowing this, he finds he loves him regardless.]

[superstylishsquid]

[For the second time this trial, he'll feel Alastor's hand on his shoulder.]

[yesorwoof]

...

[Though still keeping the bandaged stump at arm's length, with her one arm she hugs Akane to her chest outright now.]

[exequte]

[She just clings a little harder]