15strangers | THE SECOND TRIAL

THE SECOND TRIAL

[Soon enough, once the final clues have been uncovered, the telltale DING echoes through the Mall. The elevator in the food court has opened once more, and it will not close until all of the remaining Titled have gotten in it. And, as before, a thought comes to them, the realization that they needed to get on the roof, and get to the bottom of this.

Soon enough, everyone is back on the roof, and they will find that their platform arrangement has changed to reflect those who had died since last week. The podiums of Dio, Torri, and Yuuri are each all lowered and covered with white cloths. Otherwise, everyone else's platforms also have food and drinks, just like last week.

It's probably still not much comfort, especially with what everyone knows must happen. They must look at the evidence they have gathered, and once more, they will have to figure out the truth, putting their lives on the line to do so. Hopefully, their luck will hold.

So, get ready.

The trial for the murders of Torri Feiji, The Bliss, and Yuuri Katsuki, The Future, has begun.]

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[ ...If there's one thing that Helena probably shouldn't have done, it's that. Because Croix is marching right up to her and slapping her across the face as hard as she can. ]

Don't you dare speak to her that way, you insufferable bitch! At least she tries! Everything I've seen of you has been someone who gave up!

[ Helena can't dodge that hit and possibly doesn't want to. She reels from the hit, having to hold on to her podium to not fall over. There is very little physical strength in her body, she's a frail girl. ]

She tries what? Getting us all killed by crying out over and over for her hurt emotions? That's real helpful.

[ And she's... going to spit at Croix. Well. ]

[ All that does is make her angrier. Way to go, Helena. ]

To actually care about people and not give up on everything the moment an ounce of effort has to be put in like you, the shut-in! What're you shutting yourself in from, huh, Helena!? Yourself? Your own miserable life so you don't have to face it? Having to care about anyone other than your own miserable, worthless self!?

[ Croix is being vicious, stalking closer and getting right up in Helena's face. She's practically growling and probably seems almost feral. ]

[ Helena has never fought someone like this. Her whole little sheltered life she'd only ever seen flamewars on the internet or petty rich girl arguments. Now someone is hurting her, yelling at her, threatening her in real time in real life... She hadn't known what an adrenaline rush like this could be like. She feels like a machine too wound up to shut down, pulse pumping hard. ]

Are you trying to pretend you know anything about me know? Like you all thought you knew anything about Mr. Assassin over there? That's suuuuuper convincing.

I'm a wanted terrorist threatened with the death penalty. But unlike other people here, I shoulder my actions as my own and don't kill innocent people to save my own sorry ass.

[ ... Yeah, okay, as angry at Helena as she is, she can't condone this, and she knows Croix will sit here and fight for her honor all day, so she's going to finally snap out of it, get up from her podium and race over to Croix, grabbing her across the waist. It hurts her bad arm, but dammit, she's got to do something. ]

Croix, now's not the time--I'm angry too, but I can defend myself... please, don't yell at her.

[ Come on. Back to your podium. Or over to hers. Or something. ]

We won't get anywhere like this. We're all upset and angry.

[ Croix's only biting her tongue because of Ursula, but she's also shooting an absolutely venomous glare toward Helena. ]

[ Helena meanwhile gives a vicious smirk back.

It's not like she hates either of the witches, that thought had never occurred to her before today. But this trial... This kind of faith that Helena could only dream of having in anybody, this kind of naivety that she finds so reprehensible...

She huffs, rubbing her cheek that is reddening immensely from the hit it took. ]

Right. There is a murderer to condemn.

Helena... I want to make something clear--

[ Thank you for not struggling, Croix, it'd be hard for her to talk otherwise. ]

I don't hate you. But I do think you're wrong. You should believe in people more... and yourself. If you let what the world, or this place does break you down into someone jaded and terrible... then you end up letting the bad things in life win.

Wouldn't it be better to fight back against that?

THE SECOND TRIAL

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I feel I should apologize but this is. Kind of how she is in canon.

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