Taking Responsibility.

[trustbound]

A while after that space behind and above the game room has been accessed, after things have been looked over, Jericho can be heard over the intercom; apparently, it works over in that area as well. "Wow, you guys really are having a great time going through our stuff, aren't you? Good for you! Seriously, look at all of you go, utilizing Rule Four and everything. It's cute as hell. I'm guessing you want something out of all of this, though – I mean, we absolutely could leave you there to just sort of mull things over until somebody else dies, but that seems like a waste of everybody's time, and believe it or not, I'm not too crazy about wasting tme. So if you're all happy with what you found, go ahead and head down to the courtroom – as always, we'll be waiting for you." And as he's said, the door the courtroom below is unlocked and open when you arrive; as always, feel free to follow that darkened stairwell down to that familiar room made of concrete and steel. There are so few of you now. Kyrie's photograph has joined the others in the circle that have their pictures in monochrome, their podiums draped in black – but notably, the podiums have all been rearranged. There are definite patterns to it, if you look; either way, feel free to find and take your place. The pit in the center of the circle remains darkened, but it isn't as though it matters much for the time being, given that there would be no one in it; after all, the thirty-sixth podium, across from all of you, is occupied. Hilda is standing there, dressed in black as always, a notebook folded tightly against her chest – not the notebook that killed Aligula, but a nice leatherbound one. She looks at everyone expectantly as they walk in; the implication is incredibly clear. It's you against the guilty. Take control of your fate, and hold them responsible. When she does speak, it's simple and straightforward, especially as compared to Jericho's rambling. "Let's begin, shall we?"

Comments

[notaccurate]

J...for Jericho?

So it's Jericho's cat?

[heritrix]

It is Jericho's cat, but I've known that for a while. Hilda told me once he brought it with him when he came to this building.

[Rin takes something out of her pocket now: it's a pink collar with a little bell on it, and a nametag!]

It looks like it always had a collar like this, but it was off for some reason. The letter on the nametag is just a fancy looking J, which is why whatever the cat's real name is, that's probably the first initial.

[notaccurate]

It could be a designation of some sort, a way of claiming the cat.

[Maybe. Luca doesn't like animals so he doesn't exactly have first-hand experience here.]

[perpend]

...Not to be a pendant, but it's usually the other way around, with cats.

[bloodisthicker]

Ah, well, I found a bunch of cat toys in Jericho's room, so that explains that.

...for the record, the only other things I found in his room were genre fiction in different languages and a bunch of blank notebooks.

[heritrix]

That's good confirmation at least.

[Though thinking of that...]

You know, if Alena is the one that made the cat as Hilda said, but it's Jericho's pet, does that mean the two of them were close? I've been wondering that for a while. He seemed fond of her.

[bloodisthicker]

Well, they're all coworkers, so I'm sure it would've been a total nightmare if they weren't at least a little friendly with each other.

...not impossible, mind. Been there, done that, but I had more than just two other coworkers, so.

[heritrix]

Mm, that's not completely what I'm getting at, though. Maybe it was just my perception, but the Alena that was with us didn't have any particular opinion about Jericho. But now that we know this Rachel woman apparently looks just like her, that's made me wonder if the real Alena was never with us at all.

[bloodisthicker]

...yes, we do really have to wonder about that. Was Alena just... dead the whole time?

[heritrix]

That's my thoughts on it. I think that's what Elda is getting at, too.