Take Responsibility.

[antitrust]

After a while, the door at the bottom of those stairs unlocks and it swings open gently of its own accord, allowing everyone back down into the courtroom; it's not as bad as it was last week, but again, there are decidedly fewer of them than there were last time. The podium circle has changed once again, with Rick, Tabby and Sukuyo joining the ranks of the deceased, their podiums draped with black cloth and adorned with greyscale photographs. The shadows are quiet down in the darkness of the pit; for the time being, it's hard to say what the pit itself looks like after the explosion last week. One way or another, we'll find out by the end of the day. As usual, the proceedings are being watched from behind that panel of glass behind podium 30; he'll speak as soon as everyone has found their place in the circle. "Familial has been taken from you. Regardless of what her affiliation was – whether she was with me or the lot of you – you know what you have to do by now. There can be no hesitation; you should offer no mercy. It's you against the guilty. Take control of your fate, and hold them responsible." Ten Participants remain. However many more we lose today is up to you.

Comments

[sunsong]

Dunno. I just find it a little weird when people change their tune.

[blazeit]

... If you're thinking what I think you are, then you have an issue with what the inspector just said, right? Because it doesn't align with what he's been saying until now.

[perpend]

[....!]

[sunsong]

Isn't that obviously my issue? If it were Susan sayin' the killer was a monster, I'd have no issue. No offense, Susan - that's a fair point of view.

[ She gestures vaguely. ]

But it's always been pretty clear cut where we fall on the scale of what we call the culprits, hasn't it? Anyway, it's not a big deal just yet, I'm just curious about why this killer qualifies the term "monster".

[blazeit]

... You know what? I agree.

Because I basically just said I believe the inspector seems suspicious, and he barely reacted. Kind of not what he did in previous trials. Maybe somebody feels guilty?

[sunsong]

And we only have his word that his supply of those pills ran out.

[ MAY AS WELL GO ALL OUT, HERE. ]

If it was just sleepin' pills, why bother tryin' to confuse the issue...? The real cause of death had to point to the true killer, right?

[blazeit]

Yeah, we've already established at this point there must be a reason for the rat poison cover-up. And if I'm right about how the cloth was used, too... that lines up as well.

... I'm kind of wanting to hear a denial now, but I'm not hearing anything.

[sunsong]

His arm would require him to carry her in a different way, still. Yeah?

[blazeit]

Yeah, exactly.

[sunsong]

I don't think we're wrong, here.

[perpend]

[It doesn't look like Cabanela is going to comment.

He's finding his sleeve fascinating right now.]

[sunsong]

Hey, old man. You told Hibiki to stop when she called Asuka a monster, right? So...is the reason it's different this time because you're the culprit, or what?

[ SOL, YOU COULD EXERCISE TACT no she couldn't she never does ]

[withabigsmile]

He wouldn't.

[There is some shit she is pointedly not here for and number one on that list is accusing Cabanela.]

You wouldn't, right?

[sunsong]

He said once or twice the point of this is that all of us would under the right circumstances.

[ninehundredlives]

He didn't...have to tell us what strychnine does. None of us knew except for him.

[Susan doesn't...sound terribly convinced all of a sudden.]

[perpend]

I liked Asuka, that's why I didn't... want to hear anyone calling her that.

[sunsong]

Yeah, I liked her too.

[ But are you wearing your white coat, bro, or. ]

But it's still entirely different from what you usually say, isn't it?

[perpend]

[....]

I just haven't sleeping well lately. I guess I'm just acting out of character.

[openterrain]

[ Jean isn't as direct as Sol, at the moment, and settles for studying Cabanela himself.

He usually wears a white coat, right? Is he wearing it today? ]

[perpend]

[He is not wearing his coat today, no.]

[openterrain]

[ Damnit... ]

... Hey, Cabanela. You're usually wearing that coat of yours all the time.

It's white, isn't it?

[blazeit]

[ NO TACT FROM THESE ASSHOLES ]

I'm with Sol on this one. Why aren't you reacting? We're accusing you of murder, you know?

[perpend]

I've been accused of murder once already, you know.

That last time, things didn't go so smoothly.

[blazeit]

... Do you know what I expected you to say right away? I didn't do it, or I never could have done that.

[ Like in the past trials... ]

At the very least, you could defend yourself.

[ninehundredlives]

None taken.

[Just sort of. Watching Cabanela.]