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]

...Are you sayin' she wanted you to kill her?

[perpend]

...Yes.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

[sunsong]

Why the fuck did you go along with it, old man?

[ THEY COULD HAVE TALKED HER DOWN, MAYBE... ]

You said you didn't want to get away with it, and I can buy that...but why go along with it at all?

[perpend]

Because I was... afraid of what might happen to her if she committed suicide.

[What if the shadow monster ate her ghost in front of them?]

[sunsong]

There were other options, weren't there? Waking any of the rest of us up, getting us all to talk to her and tell her we didn't fuckin' blame her for being a mole. You could have knocked her out if you thought she was gonna do something rash before you could get to us.

[icysemblance]

...more afraid of that than what would happen if the shadows killed every one of us if something went wrong and we didn't find the truth?

[perpend]

What have I been saying from the beginning?

I believe in each and every one of you. I knew you would find the truth.

[icysemblance]

[Weiss can't quite hold back the emotions she's feeling, and starts to cry right there.]

We've lost so many people, we've been through so much, and we're human. We aren't perfect. There's always the chance of making a mistake.

...no matter how hard we try and how hard we work, it's never set in stone like that.

[ninehundredlives]

That's why he went and told us about the rat poison! He's been guiding us even through this!

[You've been LEADING THIS Cabanela you asshole]

[announcemyvictory]

We've let one another down so many times. The only ones who reached out and loved and believed are dead because of the ones who weren't. I don't know if we can do this, and you... you believe, officer?

[perpend]

I do.

I honestly do. What you, Blue, and Sukuyo did doesn't matter to me; I hold no ill will towards any of you.

I still believe. I always will.

[withabigsmile]

[...Oh.

...

Fuck this shit, she's crying too.]

[perpend]

....Forgive me.

[icysemblance]

I -

[She nods. The words won't come out, but she nods, and the meaning is clear.

[icysemblance]

I know, I - I know.

[And she does, but she's still crying.]

[withabigsmile]

You could have watched her. Stayed with her for the night and made sure it didn't happen.

[Oh my god Cabanela what the hell do you think you're doing--]

[perpend]

.....I should have.

[withabigsmile]

I hope the ghosts beat you up for being an idiot.

...And then take care of you, you big dummy.