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

[beguiledcard]

... If that's true, wouldn't that mean it's--...

[ one of them...?????

But....... ]

[byanyother_name]

...I'm afraid it's something I've suspected from the start. I discussed it with Dio himself, in fact. Tampering with the scene is an escalation, but I've assumed from the beginning that...

At least one of us is probably working for our captors.

[thegreenhornet]

I dunno, it could have been someone else. I know we're not the only ones in this mall. There's something beyond the barrier down in the Yokutwhatever.

[May as well fess up about that since Wake is dead and therefore unable to be all 'I told you so']

[theirmagic]

Wait, what? This is the first I'm hearing about this. Do you want to explain, Mister Reid?

[thegreenhornet]

I was...investigating... [Yeah, that'll do] ...the barrier. I hit it a few times with a shovel, a hammer and other stuff, and out of it came some sort of monster. It was pissed because I kept hitting the barrier.

[...]

It was smart enough to understand when I talked, so I guess it's also smart enough to go around planting stuff.

[theirmagic]

... Of course. Surely it did it, then, right? And not anyone here?

[ ... Right? ]

I can't see anyone here that would work with our captors, after all!

[thegreenhornet]

I think that, yeah. Someone would have to be a real ass to work with the person who kidnapped everyone here!

[And nobody here seems to be that big of an asshole]

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula gasps. ... There's no way that can be true. ]

... I don't believe that. Why would anyone want to do that?! We were all kidnapped!

[eyesofdespair]

Maybe they were offered something that would make it worth it.

[beguiledcard]

[ ... This feeling is worse than the one that hit him after the murder.

His jawline is clenched as his hands curl into fists briefly against his podium. But he very quickly regains some composure, his voice calm as he considers this... ]

If that's the case, do you think they could have been threatened into it?

[notgentle]

How the hell would that change what you would do about it? If I had a nice mother with cancer like some people, that wouldn't change your vote now, right?

The infiltrators. [he'll throw that out there in case kurama doesn't so that their great sense of showmanship infects the crowd.] That's what we were calling them hypothetically. With no sign of security cameras, and the life coach pretty limited too, it would make the most sense if there had been one of us.

I thought of that person as just feeding information or something, though... even if they seriously interfered with this case on purpose, it doesn't look like they were literally trying to help me at all costs.

[theirmagic]

... Is their job just to distract then?

[notgentle]

For how long? This investigation and trial doesn't even take a whole day.

[theirmagic]

... I don't know. Maybe they failed.

[beguiledcard]

[ He holds a blink. ]

The person who committed the crime itself should be punished over someone who didn't.

[ His voice is quiet, calmer than he actually feels. As for the rest of the things Dio said... he's falling quiet as he thinks on it, brow furrowed as he stares down at the podium. It's a lot to think on... and he has no actual argument against the words. Someone else may very well have time to chime in. ]

[thegreenhornet]

Being threatened into it wouldn't change anything. A criminal henchman deserves as much punishment as their boss.

[beguiledcard]

I never said it would be an excuse...

[ He shakes his head. ]

Considering all the possibilities for their reasons could bring us closer to figuring out who it could be.

[theirmagic]

While I certainly agree, it's possible they could be doing it because they have no choice. Maybe our captors threatened to kill the rest of us.

If they have fairies that large in their employ, what would stop them?

Implied spoilers

[foolishjustice]

[Akechi doesn't seem to have anything to add to this discussion. Instead he's just standing there, looking pensive, and a little worried.]

[beguiledcard]

But, if they're trying to have nearly all of us killed in the first place... how could that be a valid reason?

[ His expression dims. ]

It could be... something else. [ He shakes his head. ] Maybe the lives of the people they love, back home?

[ He's glancing over at Goro, and his brow tenses a little when he sees the look on his face. ]

... You okay?

[theirmagic]

[ ... They're gonna have A Talk after all this. She's worried about you, Goro. It shows in her glance. ]

[byanyother_name]

It's entirely possible. I certainly don't put any method of coercion past our captors at this point. Threats, bribes, blackmail...

But we can't dismiss the chance that they are willing. I'm sorry, Kurusu-san. [And he really is.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He holds a blink. Augh...

He looks up and nods. ]

I'm not dismissing the other possibilities.

[ A quiet sound escapes his throat and his expression flickers into something... pained? Regretful? ]

As I said... I'd just like to get closer to figuring out who it could be, even if I couldn't help stop this from happening.

[ ... He actually regrets saying that latter part. He doesn't want to let his mask slip any further.

Damn it... ]

[byanyother_name]

...None of us could, Kurusu-san. [Kurama's voice is the gentlest it's been since the trial started.]

We will find them. In the situation we're in, the likelihood of human error is significant. Staying too distant would be suspicious, but getting too close might allow us to catch inconsistencies. It's a delicate position for our infiltrator.

[beguiledcard]

But, I--!!! [ For just a moment, his teeth are clenched together, that guilt flaring up in his eyes all over again. His brow tenses unsteadily, hands tightening into fists, shoulders actually... trembling just a little.

He forces out an even exhale, quickly. Body quickly fighting to relax, face fighting so hard to return to something calm. He can't get worked up, he can't afford to seem like he can't handle this! After closing his eyes for a moment, he shakes his head. ]

... I know. It's dangerous, and we'll need to find some... system of communication that could hide our intentions.

[ His voice is only loud enough for Kurama to hear. ]