WEEK 4 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, though no smile could be seen on her face today.

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.

Truth was elusive, yet they had to find it.
No matter how painful, or upsetting.
No badly how much they all hurt.

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

Comments

[cryosurgeon]

You're not. I'm worried about you.

[Erhard sighs.]

Shadow snapped at me the other day, and it made me think. I don't know what I'm feeling when I see the rest of you bonding, but it's unpleasant, to say the least. I don't have anyone to blame but myself for it, though. You knew you could be hurt if you lost someone you care about, and you let yourself care anyway. I wish I had that kind of strength, Takumi.

[goldenmaniac]

[He shakes his head]

I don't want you to hurt like this, Erhard-san. It's not fair.

[cryosurgeon]

Do you want to be all alone, like I am? It's not a place for someone like you. I'm not going to seek the power of a witch, but I don't want you following me down this path, either.

[goldenmaniac]

N-no, I don't want to be alone again.

... I should have told you all that I knew from the start but I was so scared- I couldn't even lie decently enough to save him either.

[cryosurgeon]

He didn't want you to. I think he's been carrying so much guilt for a long time. That's something even I understand too well.

[He rests his hands on Takumi's shoulders.]

I don't think there's a single one of us left who isn't damaged by this. But I promise, I'm not broken. I might find out things I couldn't if everyone thinks I am. That's why I'm trusting you with the truth right now.

And the only way I'm leaving this game is if Nirrti forces me out.

[goldenmaniac]

... okay. I'll keep it secret.

[He's just gonna... cling to Erhard for a bit. It's fine probably]

[cryosurgeon]

[It feels strange, but Erhard certainly isn't rejecting the hug. He returns it, a cool hand between Takumi's shoulders.]

Do you want to rest, or just talk for a little while?

[goldenmaniac]

...rest, please.

[His throat hurts and he's just... so tired]

[cryosurgeon]

[Erhard nods, easing the poor teen back onto the bed and resettling the blanket over him. He'll sit with Takumi for as long as he wants, occasionally stroking that blazing red hair, because that's what you do when you want to comfort someone, right? He murmurs to himself as Takumi rests.]


Mutter... Vater... du hast mein Herz verkrüppelt. Wie kann ich jetzt helfen?