trustfell | Take Responsibility.

This particular investigation was likely a difficult one, for various reasons; whether through frustration or sheer disgust at the level of depravity involved, it's been a long day already.

It doesn't seem like it will get any easier by the time the door to the courtroom unlocks, gently swinging open to allow everyone downstairs.

As always, the stairwell is dark, but the courtroom is already lit up down below, a thin amount of light bouncing up the corridor to guide everyone downstairs; the podium circle stands stark and silent in the center, marking spots for both the living and the dead; by now, the latter far outnumber the former.

Kirei, Milla, Angel, and Susan have all had their spots altered, their podiums draped in black cloth and their portraits set atop them; they'll be joining those watching all of you in greyscale as you work today. Do you think you'll do them justice?

Either way and as always, the thirty-sixth podium remains empty and unadorned.

Once everyone has found their place in the circle, Jericho can be heard over the public-address system; he doesn't seem to have settled any from the investigation.

"Peerless, Edifying, and Adroit have all been taken from you - and hey, it looks like you found all of them, we appreciate that. But even if you hadn't, you'd still be down here, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you what you have to do as a result of everything that's happened. This is another one of those things that's either gonna be great or it's going to be terrible, though maybe I'll add in a third option of 'interesting' this time, just due to the setup.

As always, you know what's going on here - the innocent versus the guilty. Seventh time lucky, maybe. As always, do your best!"

Thirteen Participants remain. We'll see how many leave here at the end of the day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Guess that's that, then.]

Well...I'm glad you had that much, at the very least.

No! Don't you dare leave it at that!

[ Elda uh. Slams her fist on her podium? ]

Was it fun watching me cry?! Or was the part you got a kick out of the part where you prevented me from damaging your art piece?! Which part, Aligula?!

[ Ah, shit, Elda. Aligula kicks her heels on her podium again, tap-tap-tap-tap. ]

All of it, Indomitable! Well, not specifically you... I didn't really see your attempt to throttle the life back into Adroit coming?

Say my name, you selfish bitch!

[ She slams her podium again, her eyes turning into catlike mode as she glares daggers into the other. ]

What, was this stupid show to prove something to yourself?! That you could still live your life freely?!

[ Someone's soooooo pissed, she...

...does not love it half as much as she expected to, but she can't give up the drive now; she's never been afraid of commitment, after all. ]

Nope! It really was just to have a good time! And, you know, if I could get away with it... Then even better!! [ She had half a hope she might be able to, really, but she's complimented the group on being good at this before; she knows the risk is there. ] And if you ask a little nicer, Indomitable, I totally will! I mean, Alex asked me really nicely to call her that, and I did~! So ask, ask, ask!

No.

[ She snarls this, and she's going to be... walking over to Aligula now. Well, her podium. Her eyes are hard in catlike mode as she goes, and her temper's flaring worse than it has at most of these other trials. ]

I'm not going to ask you for anything again.

Edited 2017-10-28 21:13 (UTC)

[...Oh my god, Elda, don't you dare--she's going to walk over there if she has to, goddammit, but for now she settles on shouting.]

Elda, she'll be taken care of when we cast the vote! Back off from her!

[...]

And I'm sure Ashworth-san will be able to lop off her hair or something to get even if she can't get back at her properly!

I look good with short hair anyway! I had it like that before I met Brody!

[ SO IT'S NOT EVEN THAT BAD ]

Well, then I hope she shaves you bald or something!

[ !!!!! ]

I hope you go bald!

["I hope your boyfriend forgets you!"

...You know, it's a sad thing that she can't actually bring herself to say that. Not because of decorum or the like, but...dammit, Aligula.]

...Sure, I probably deserve to at this point.

[Yep. Back to flippant.]

[Jesus, Sayaka. Rin shoots her an annoyed look, but clamps down on it. No, this is the wrong time.]

Like I care! I've got something I've got to say to this woman personally and I'm not going to have anyone interfere with that!

[ She roars this back at Sayaka. Let's just close the remaining distance here. She did promise Aligula something back a few hours ago at the investigation, right? Aligula suggested something, right? She's going to get her due. ]

If it extends beyond a 'say', I'm going to stop you before you do something stupid!

[...Said like she already isn't to try and make sure she can actually, you know, get over there in time.]

[ I mean, you decide ]

[Rin's more worried about what Aligula might do in retaliation, she sees her hands by those pockets there. That has Rin moving in closer, and reaching for her own...]

[ You know what, she can do that, sure. Aligula's fine up here, though her hands are by her apron pockets like she's got something there, just in case. ]

Then I guess you're not getting crud from me, huh?

No, I am getting satisfaction.

[ Because Elda, with all the quickness of her normal vampire movement and fulfilling the promise Aligula suggested herself earlier, is going to try leap up and (try to)
slap Aligula across the face with every bit of force she can muster. ]

Edited 2017-10-28 21:20 (UTC)

Ow!

[ ...That hurts a lot, actually; it jerks her head to the side and she holds her cheek in shock for a moment before she just... starts laughing, head dropping. ]

I did tell you to do that, didn't I? [ ...This is so much more preferable to getting her throat ripped out. ] Do you feel any better, Elda?

[ Elda. ]

Not one bit! I'm losing two of my friends to your horse shit, Aligula!

[ She has tears in her eyes and a throbbing sensation in her hand. She keeps her gaze fierce on Aligula, her own shoulders slouching.

Two friends. ]

[ .......God, she can't even bring herself to do anything, and after a moment she pulls out that missing piece of the sword. It's not really too long, but it's sharp, and she sets it beside her on the podium. ]

If it was anyone but you or Sayaka touching me, Elda, they totally would've regretted it. [ Just saying. ] I'm glad we were friends though~! I considered you one too. I mean, I'd never take just anyone for a tour around the city.

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[ ...it's not that she's deflating a little here, but— ]

Ugh, get mad or something, Attentive!

Do I really have the right to, when I was close to doing something like this?

[She could get mad at the show, she could get mad at the people who've died, she could...well, pick a whole slew of subjects, really. But Sayaka just looks tired.]

If you want that, talk to anyone else here. They've got the right to be angry.

[ ......god, you— ]

You turned out to be so freakin' boring. [ That's not said with any malice though. ] Whatever.

Yeah, well, I'm tired of losing people I care about. I guess we're even.

[So you know what? Whatever. Have your little show, Aligula.]