THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

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.]

Comments

VOTE

[lifecoach]

[The Life Coach has been listening for the most part except to offer clarification. Suddenly, her phone beeps, so she jumps up again for attention. ...Maybe a few times, like she's used to that from being short.]

Time's up, everyone! Now, go ahead and like, cast your official vote... who killed Wake, the Feeling?

[totalbullshit]

> DIO

[ God, she hates this. ]

[notgentle]

["CD-ROM" is a data format that can hold up to seven hundred megabytes. The human eye can only transmit data to the brain at a rate of one megabyte per second. Getting across the hour of audio in his head would take ten minutes of eye contact, time he doesn't have. There's no point in trying to meet her gaze. Instead he tugs at his sleeves.] Another thing you're right about. [Dio removes his coat.]

I won't need this where I'm going.

[He throws the coat across the circle, trying to get the soft impact straight across her chest so it's naturally caught with both arms, like in the movies.]

[theirmagic]

[ Yeah, uh, sorry.

> DIO. She selects it without ANY hesitation. ]

[pinnately]

> Dio

[ Everything was still awful, but maybe she had helped just a little. ]

[notgentle]

[Man, she's so full of tears, it's hard to figure out where to look at her. There's actually something he needs to say, though - to everyone, really - and Torri is the one who makes him think about it.]

I gotta... apologize... for something I let you think. Okay, obviously it was also bad to kill Wake and all the rest of you and it would be nice if things didn't have to be that way. That said.

I didn't feed Wake sleeping pills. I mean, I didn't actually want him to suffer too much, so I hit him over the head a bunch of times with the wire strippers until he blacked out. That was it, though, there was no need to knock him out twice. You have to believe me about that even if you think I'm an asshole, there was no "lost half of his strength" bullshit. I guess the life coach left out her vitamins or something...

[thegreenhornet]

>DIO

[Well so long. Britt isn't particularly distraught, more like disappointed]

[notgentle]

[He's chewing the last chunk of beef on his yakiniku skewer. Thoughtfully.]

I think this is medium rare or something. It's not half bad.

[incrediblystressedout]

> DIO

I'm sorry.

[notgentle]

That's nice, Joey. You're kind of above average, I guess. Obviously the whole part where someone tried to frame me was bullshit, but it might happen for real at some point. And you would notice instead of diving on the raw meat like everyone else. So, props for that.

[eyesofdespair]

>Dio

[katsufemmefatale]

> DIO

[Yuuri glares at the ringmaster, nearly shaking from anger.]

You killed a good, innocent man. You took him away from Feiiji-san. And for what, greed? You're the worst kind of person, Dio.

[notgentle]

[laughter and no moral concern whatsoever]

You really think I went to all this effort over probably fake money? No, no, no, no, no. I just have to get out of here before some actual greedy fuck got the chance.

[steelmagnolias]

[ Ren lets out an exasperated sigh, gives Dio one last disapproving glance, and puts in his vote. ]

-DIO

[beguiledcard]

[ He is just. Exhausted. By this point. ]

>DIO

[foolishjustice]

[Just going to rest his hand firmly on Akira's shoulder. He's here for you.]

[scienceofmagic]

> Dio

[foolishjustice]

[Zero hesitation, zero regret.]

>DIO

Is this why you have such a negative opinion of justice, Dio? [No honorific.] Remorseless criminals do often regard police and detectives with disgust.

VLR spoilers

[notgentle]

It's difficult to feel remorse for what's regarded as a crime by the corrupted government.

[comesaround]

> Dio.

[ A sigh. He doesn't mind voting for the guy since he actually irritated him a bit. ]

Hope it was worth it.

[byanyother_name]

> DIO

[Kurama's expression is grim and unhappy but there's no hesitation as he makes the selection. He looks across to meet Dio's eyes and there is a lot there but no surprise. But then, Dio already knew Kurama can be cynical.]

This show is over, I'm afraid. I'm sorry it came to this. Goodbye, Dio.

[notgentle]

[Well, it looks like all 13 of the others managed to put in their votes. Dio stretches, hand popping on his elbow.]

Who do I least want to not piss off... ah, I got it, it'll be better if I say it like this:

> AKECHI

Well, you all seem to be pretty hopeful that everything is going to calm down after this. And that would be great. But dollars to donuts says that the Life Coach's boss knew about my mission. What are the chances they'd bring in someone in my line of work with so much to lose? Not good. Not good at all.

So you think they set the board for their game with one wolf and fourteen sheep? No way, Jose. I think I'll see some more of you in hell.

[beguiledcard]

[ DIO................... ]

[foolishjustice]

[You know how much he wants to flip you off right now? Lots. The answer is lots. But he's managed to avoid swearing so far, so he'll refrain from rude gestures too. Instead he's just going to pretend he didn't even notice.]

Kurama no this is not the time for puns

[byanyother_name]

[Dio, plz.]

No. Things are not going to calm down. And I don't doubt for a moment that you are not the only wolf, Dio.

But I fully intend to outfox them all.