THE THIRD TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE THIRD TRIAL

[It happens again, like clockwork. Once the final clues have happened, the elevator in the food court opens with a DING. It doesn't leave until everyone has gotten on, and the thought occurs to everyone that they shouldn't waste time.

An innocent man was ruthlessly murdered, after all. After everything that's happened.

Just as before, everyone who is still alive will find their favorite food and drink at their platform. And just as before, Akechi, Helena and Ren's platforms have now been lowered and covered with a white cloth, joining the increasing number of dead spaces in the trial area. Helena's platform, however, has an addition not present on any other deceased's platform: a single white lily, placed almost reverently on top.

Well. Whatever reason that lily is there, it shouldn't detract from the fact that there is a trial to be had here, once more. Its time to look at the evidence at hand, and to hopefully find whoever did this heinous crime.

So, it's time, Titled.

The trial for the murder of Ren Sanzashi, The Doorframe, has begun.]

Comments

[theirmagic]

.....

[ She came to that conclusion as well, and looks quite uncomfortable. ]

[greatfascinations]

[ALSO UNCOMFORTABLE??? LIKE WOW??? Just saying.]

[theirmagic]

Coach... I want to be clear. I don't think you did it. And I'll fight to make sure the others don't think so, too. It's against the rules for you to kill us, right?

[greatfascinations]

[frowning.]

... Those rules are, like, for you Titled. My own rules are between me and, like, the boss?

And... I totally can't confirm or deny something so specific to who the killer could be. Sorry.

[theirmagic]

...

[ She doesn't like the sound of that... ]

... You're really not helping us, here. What happens if you break your personal rules? Can you at least tell us that much?

[greatfascinations]

[Her eyes slide around for a moment.]

I would be ... subject to judgment from my superiors.

[That sounds pretty textbook.]

[theirmagic]

... "Judgement". If you broke a rule... would you die as well?

[greatfascinations]

... L-Let's just, like, say that's a funny question where I'm concerned!

[beguiledcard]

Funny because the punishment is worse, or funny because you're already dead?

[ The latter would feel far-fetched if not for literally everything there is about this place.

WHAT OTHER REASONS COULD THERE BE...? ]

[greatfascinations]

...Huh! I guess ya did feel something other than breast back then.

Yup. You got me. I'm not actually alive.

so i had to dig for this, hope y'all are happy

[theirmagic]

... Did you know I have a good memory, Coach? Would you like to recall the First Trial? I remember what you said during the vote.

[ Really, she does. ]

I remember you telling Helena... you'd get erased if you tried to kill one of us. But in the same breath, you said you're someone you can't kill... yet, later, the very same girl you had that conversation with almost killed you.

... I think that... you're tied up in something. I don't... know what. I don't know if someone is framing you, or who it might be. Maybe it's the person who writes the motives; they seem pretty cruel. ... Are they trying to get you to do this? Or is it the real killer? I don't know, but... Coach...

If you were "erased", that doesn't sound like the same as being dead. Why not just say you'd die?

[greatfascinations]

[Well. Akira called her out. So.]

... Maybe I just wanna, like, make ya feel better when ya have to vote for me.

[scienceofmagic]

...In other words... We have no way of knowing what your rules are.

[ Which is saddening??? It means you could have killed him. ]

[greatfascinations]

Totes sorry about that.

[incrediblystressedout]

Coco...definitely wouldn't kill anyone, but it's not against the rules to ask her for help with chemistry, right?

[greatfascinations]

Probably not, but like, if someone did ask me I'd totally have to reveal that if someone asked.

So, since you're obvs gonna, I didn't help anyone else.

[comesaround]

Not even if it was the victim himself?

[greatfascinations]

No way. Assisted suicide is totally not my thing!

[theirmagic]

Then, if you didn't do it, we have to assume the nail was planted... by our traitor...

Or that you're lying.

[comesaround]

Let's make it clear, then. Care to show us your hands, Coach-chan?

[ Since it was a fake nail that was found, and well, if it really was honestly her? There'd be a missing one. ]

[greatfascinations]

Uhh... well...

[She does lift her hands. The fake nails are identical to the one that was found, but there isn't a missing one.

The time of death was quite a while ago, though. Almost immediately after that party Ren held.]

[scienceofmagic]

...No, that wouldn't work, because she could have replaced the nail between the murder and now if she wasn't sure where she dropped it.

[comesaround]

I know. Just trying to cover all bases, nothing more. Surely it doesn't hurt anything in checking.

[incrediblystressedout]

I'm glad we can rely on you to be honest.

So if you're not an accomplice, and no one else uses blue press-ons, that means this one was planted, right?

[greatfascinations]

[She seems to be thinking about that a lot.]