15strangers | THE FIRST TRIAL

THE FIRST TRIAL

[Almost as soon as the investigation is over, a loud DING echoes through the mall.

The elevator doors in the food court, before completely inaccessible, have now opened for the Titled. It will not close until every last Titled has gotten in. Nor will everyone have to wait long for potential stragglers; a thought comes to everyone's mind, a realization that they need to get into the elevator. They need to go.

They need to find out who did this.

The elevator is a small freight elevator inside, and its just big enough to fit everyone in it. After a short ride, the elevator opens...

And they are on the roof. Despite it clearly not being that late in the day, the roof seems to be surrounded by an air of cool, perpetual sunset. Beyond that, good luck making out what's beyond the roof - there seems to be a city, but it's utterly unidentifiable. Not that anyone can jump off the roof to try and get closer - there is a translucent barrier surrounding the roof that is utterly impenetrable.

The main attraction of the roof, however, is not the fuzzy landscape beyond. It's the large, stepped circular platform which is a mere ten paces from the elevator. On this platform are 15 podiums, surrounding a large, empty, circular floor. Instantly every phone pings, giving everyone their platform assignment based on their bedroom number. And - upon arriving at their designated podium - they will find a dock for their phone to slide into. As soon as they do so the XAMINE app will pop up, revealing everyone's findings regarding the murder.

Not Wake, though. His podium is lower, and bare save for a white cloth.

Still, everyone - including Ren, who will find that whoever arranged this whole deal has given him a chair to sit in - will need their strength. Which is why each Stranger also has a bento box lunch, carefully prepared, waiting for them at their podium. Each meal is tailored to every Stranger's specific tastes and allergies, as best as a bent box meal can be. It even comes with a cup of their favorite drink.

So, take a few bites, take a few breaths, and get ready, Titled.

The trial for the murder of Wake Archus, The Feeling, has begun.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Uh, you're telling me that I'm throwing him around, obviously up to no good, and the first thing he reaches for is my foot. I guess you spend so much time flying around on your broomstick that you've forgotten what it's like to walk on the actual earth.

You didn't deny what I had to say about throwing him around at all, though.

[ She doesn't miss a beat. Listen, she doesn't ride a broom, she rides a roomba. ]

Let's see. There were bloody napkins in the trash, right? With blood drops on top of the drawer? Hm... Sounds to me like the most likely possibility is either slamming him down into the drawer or slamming him up into it. Which would mean he was on the ground for the latter, wouldn't it? With your foot being the closest thing to grab.

Not to mention...

[ He pulls up the Xamine app and looks at the sleeves of Wake's outfit. ]

Unless the cufflinks are really old, it's not exactly easy to just pull them off. You could have been holding him down, if you weren't throwing him.

Oh, and by the way-

Wouldn't that also be how you got the radio in there? If you were carrying all that other crap.

THE FIRST TRIAL

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