WEEK 3 TRIAL

[foundationmods]

It was noon on Saturday.

No matter where they were, no matter what they were doing...the moment the chimes rang out through the hall, they felt a change.

The world...began to expand, as they felt themselves leaving the world they were on, and towards another, much larger world...🗈

...As always, the courtroom was there - along with the audience, watching, waiting for the entertainment before them.

The Witch - Nirrti - was there, sitting in the most important place, watching all of them with a sharp, cruel gaze, a smile of pure delight on her face.

Watanuki was also there, but he merely lounged in the back behind them, smoking a kiseru pipe in silence.
...It seemed as if he was content to watch - that he had to watch - as part of the rules of the game.

There was no music to be heard, but... perhaps on another plane, in another place, someone else heard music as they gazed upon the proceedings.

Again, their forms had changed - perhaps into something different than last time, but...still a change, no matter how dramatic or inconsequential it was.

...There was a deep silence in the room, one that no one wanted to break. It was the faint tension in the air, like the moments before a race or a competition begins.

They had found the truth last time....but now, two people had died.
Was it possible for them to find the culprit this time?
A culprit that....had...

No, it had to be.

For the sake of the dead...and the sake of them all.

Comments

1/2

[beguiledcard]

[ And... for a moment, he just stares... ]

[beguiledcard]

[ Clearly, it's taking a moment to sink in. I mean... is that really such a surprise? Haha... ha...

But, then, after the shock factor is out of the way, there's just

a laugh.

This is not a healthy laugh. Head bowed as it all kind of. Brokenly escapes, for now. ]

[keydomhearts]

[ Well Sora can float so he's going to nyoom there to crash into Akira and give him a hug. ]

You idiot! Why would you do such a thing? Why were you holding on to so much?!

[beguiledcard]

[ WELL THAT'S A STUNNED GASP AS HE JUST GOES STILL... ]

... Sora?

[keydomhearts]

[ Take his affection, binch ]

Why did you have to be stupid? I didn't even know you were upset or anything about you...

[fullbodied]

...

[she looks up at Akira, struggling for the words.]

Akira. Why?

Why him?

[beguiledcard]

[ He can't look at Ann, at first.

When he does, his eyes are already glistening a little. There's a wry sort of smile - the kind when there's absolutely nothing to smile about, but it's all you can do to stop from crying? ]

It wasn't supposed to be him.

[fullbodied]

... What?

[aleph_armed]

[Well, there's not really much to say here, from Gebura's perspective. They weren't exactly close, but she did like him and appreciate him encouraging her to dance for trolls.]

It's not my place to judge you. Around here, someone's inevitably going to break.

Let me just say this, though: Desire is not inherently a sin, you just lacked the ability to temper it properly. It happens a lot. Still, your Justice still showed in the last moments. You shall be remembered, as a soldier who lost their way.

[beguiledcard]

[ Ah...

... He just stares at her for a moment. ]

Let's be real here...

[ There's bitterness in his smile. ]

I don't even deserve that much.

[cryosurgeon]

Akira.

[His voice comes out quiet and hoarse, all the emotion of his earlier outburst is gone.]

You wanted me to teach you about medicine. Whether that was the truth or a lie, this is your first lesson.

[Erhard looks up, the lenses of his mask gone. The eyes behind them are expressionless, dead. His words ring out hollowly.]

“Primum non nocere.”

First, do no harm.

[beguiledcard]

[ He's just giving him a bitter smile. ]

That was never a lie.

[foundfate]

...Akira-kun.

[Watanuki is still weak, but if Akira will accept it, he will walk right up to him.]

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow is on standby... he knows Watanuki still has to feel three more deaths today.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He sighs, nodding weakly, just closing his eyes]

[beguiledcard]

[ He won't stop him, but... he also won't look at him... ]

[anonnomnomnom]

[He laughs back, though this one is sharp and amused and absolutely inhuman.] The kidney, huh?

[beguiledcard]

[ Mooooore of that bitter smirk thing he's been doing lately. ]

... Yeah.

[excavated]

. . . Akira-san.

I'm sorry. I should have been able to speak to you more. I heard from Takamaki-san about the fact that there were other 'yous' in that world, in the Foundation. Because I understand that feeling all too well.

[beguiledcard]

[ For the second time, since his return, he's staring... Completely stunned.

Then, he just... presses his face into his hands. ]

You're sorry!? It wasn't you who killed him, idiot!

[incrediblystressedout]

[Joey just wants to hear why, but Ann deserves to ask that question.]

...this is not why I was giving dance lessons, Akira.

[beguiledcard]

[ He just gives her a wry sort of smile. ]

And... this isn't why I accepted them.

[rikuchi]

So that's how it is, is it?

[ He turns away.

He'll leave the rest to the others. ]

[byanyother_name]

Akira...

[There's no mistaking the sheer pain in Kurama's voice.

It's not that he didn't consider this possibility. He had the pieces. He knew...

But he hadn't wanted to believe it. Enough to be willing to sit and quietly let himself be accused with only token defense.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He's not... looking at him... ]