WEEK 6 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, the smile on her face bright once again.

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.

...There was so few of them now.
All of them...were now alone, having to come to this conclusion themselves.
Yet, they had to find the truth.
Why did three people die?
Who did this?
The answer...stretched on ahead...

Comments

[cryosurgeon]

[And there's Erhard in his bloody sleeping clothes, gasping and clutching his right eye, caught for a few heartbeats in the shock of his own death. The fury in Kurama's eyes, the blade flashing down, the blinding agony....

It all goes away when he sees Sherlock.

He covers his face with both hands and sobs.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[At the moment, logic, morality - that didn't matter, all that matter is this single moment of time. Sherlock pushes himself off his knees, stumbling forward toward Erhard, his arms reaching out to hold him tightly]

[cryosurgeon]

[Erhard clings and bawls into Sherlock's shoulder like a child. It won't be long enough, it could never be long enough, but he'll gladly face Nirrti's brutal punishment with the memory of the man's embrace lodged at the center of his heart.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He held him as long as allowed, his hand rubbing over Erhard's back. What words he wanted to say died in his throat. The man touches their forehead together]

[cryosurgeon]

[It's worth it, it's all worth it. Because if Sherlock is doing this, then he isn't hated. He has to hold on to that hope, it's the only thing that could glue his broken self back together.]

Das tut mir leid... ich liebe dich.

[It slips out so easily, carried on hysteria, but it's been there brewing like coffee in the heat of grief. Maybe it's too soon, but he doesn't know if he'll ever get another chance. He doesn't know what will become of him before this is over. He'll be someone else, for who knows how long.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[His eyes opened at that, he understood every word as he smiles in a bittersweet fashion, before whispering softly, his hand - his right one touching Erhard's cheek, a thumb brushing away tears.]

We'll see each other again, I will not let this be a farewell.

[cryosurgeon]

[He leans into that touch, a smile both sorrowful and content finding his lips.]

If the demon acts like an ass, you have my permission to knock its lights out.

[goldenmaniac]

[After the gay goodbye, even with Erhard still covered in gore, Takumi walks over and embraces him]

[cryosurgeon]

[At that point, Erhard's mostly in this state of numb shock, possibly slightly dissociated, but he's lucid enough to recognize Takumi and return the hug without hesitation.]

... I'm so sorry I let you down.

[goldenmaniac]

It's... it's not okay. But I forgive you- it's gonna take way more to earn the same from Emi. So be prepared for that, okay?

[cryosurgeon]

They can do whatever they want to me. It doesn't matter, as long as the people I care about are alive. That includes you, Takumi.

[goldenmaniac]

I'll see you again soon, okay? And I'll look after Sherlock until then.

[cryosurgeon]

I....

[He won't say he doesn't deserve to be brought back, because then none of them do. But the thought is there, mired in two decades of pain.]

Thank you. I know you'll come through for us, all of you.