Week 3, Saturday

[foundationmods]

This time, when everyone files into the studio, they aren't escorted to their seats. Instead, they are sent to podiums up on the stage arrange in a semi-circle. Everyone can see each other, and everyone is also visible to the cameras. Off to stage right is a jury box with 12 prinnies in it, all in various states of 'fancy dress'. One is wearing a suit top, another a blouse, one a huge Colonial-era wig. To stage left at box 0 is Dazai's seat, where he will be spending most of the trial, but he will get up to move around at times. And in the very center is a picture of Aqua. Once everyone is in their spots, one of the prinnies will hit a gavel against the podium in front of it, signaling the start of the trial.

It's time to find Aqua's killer.


EDIT: voting link

Comments

[merirut]

[Without any other signs of Nora attacking, Sandalphon just floats there softly, the glow of six brilliant wings adding to the room's ambience. He looks incredibly indifferent to what Nora's saying.]

I don't care anymore. It's all pointless anyways...

[houndumb]

So you're just going to fuckin' give up? With all of that power and all the bullshit you keep spouting everyday, that's all you're going to do?!

[Nora manifests his spear, though he doesn't throw it -- he actually marches over and goes to outright prod at Sandalphon's armor with it, ridiculous and annoying. There's a flicker of some kind of magic in the middle, but it doesn't turn into anything substantial and can probably be ignored.]

What the hell did you even do this for, then?!

[merirut]

To give him a chance. And if the price is my own life, then I have no problem paying it in full.

[He doesn't bat an eye at the spear, letting him prod all he wants--there's no point fighting back here except for the sake of his own pride, but even that doesn't feel worth it anymore.]

[houndumb]

... So that's the kind of guy Lucifer is, huh. The kind of guy who'd just let people die for him, for stupid reasons, on a stupid gameshow in the middle of nowhere.

[There's... possibly actual resentment in Nora's voice at this point? It might be directed towards Sandalphon, or the titular Lucifer, the Foundation... something else entirely. Either way, he puts down the spear but doesn't back down.]

[merirut]

[This is probably expected at this point, but wow does Sandalphon not take that well??]

...Don't you dare sully his name like that. This decision was my own, and no one else's!

[houndumb]

[Yeah, apparently this is just what they're doing now. Did Nora rile him up on purpose?? Judging by the spear-prodding beforehand, maybe. MAYBE.]

Then make up your damn mind! Is he involved in this or not?? If nobody else's got anything to do with this, then who did you do it for!!

[merirut]

Of course I did it for him, but you'd be an idiot to think he would ask for this!

[It was something he knew from the very beginning--Lucifer wouldn't approve of these actions at all, and yet.]

[houndumb]

Sounds to me like YOU'RE the idiot here, Sandalphon!! If Lucifer ain't a total whackjob of a boss then there's no way any of this shit would fly with him, which means you TOTALLY FUCKIN' DESERVE THIS.

[Annnd he's just going to. Punch him full in the face, floating and everything, because boy howdy demons can jump. I'm sorry, this is apparently how he's going to do this.]

[merirut]

And you don't--

[Well, he was definitely about to finish that retort with something but then there's x pounds of dog demon flying at him and he's too surprised to even react. So he is duly punched, face snapping to the side at the impact, although the force of the whole jump also sends them flying backwards to land some distance behind his podium. After taking a second to recover from having the breath knocked out of his lungs, he starts struggling instinctively, one wing sweeping in from the side to try and to force Nora off.]

Get off of me, you imbecile!

[houndumb]

[Ah, yes, the sensation of fist plowing into face is truly the most satisfying one he's managed this entire trial -- there's something about it that's almost better than just obliterating stuff with magic. It's tempting to follow up with magic, actually, now that he's got some stupid chicken hawk on the defensive; but Nora just reaches down and grabs him by the collar instead.

It'll take more than a forceful wing to move him when he's really got his mind set on something.]

Or what?? You're goin' to lie down and give up some more?? Thought that was your plan here!

[merirut]

[This whole damn situation is irritating, and not just because of the punch or this weird little pile they've got going on either. It'd be one thing if Nora was trying to kill him or get revenge, but this? He doesn't know if this is supposed to be some way of getting him to take responsibility or... something.

But what he does know is that he hates this, with Nora just grabbing him as he pleases to shout in his face. He grits his teeth at the words, deliberating over them for half a second before he decides that he doesn't have to answer--not to him, or to anyone else. So he reaches up with both of his hands--]

And why does it even matter to you what I do? Don't tell me you actually care about me or some nonsense like that!

[--so he can grab onto Nora's head and pull it towards his own for a headbutt.

He's going to die anyways, so what's the point in caring about his dignity.]

[houndumb]

[Real good question because it's a true mystery whether even Nora knows what he's trying to do here. There's no plan or precedent or anything for this, he's absolutely operating solely on fire and fury and impulse and the inability to sit back -- that's what he's always done and it's only gotten worse over his time in the Foundation.

So of course he doesn't see the headbutt coming, crashing into him along with the words -- there's a moment afterwards where he just stares, scowl firm and fixed before it twists a little bit.]

Hell no. I've just had ENOUGH--

[Know what? He's going for a headbutt of his own, with a gusto that is probably not entirely warranted considering they're still in a heap and boy his ears are going to be ringing after that but no regrets, buster.]

And I'm sick and fuckin' tired of getting told we gotta die for the Foundation or the world or all this bullshit! Every damn time-- [there's an abrupt stop and a start, a snarl on top because maybe he didn't entirely mean to say that either, but whatever] So fucking stop it already!!

[merirut]

[Okay well, he wasn't expecting that as a follow up, so he takes the hit full on, back of the head cracking against the stage floor as well. And honestly, none of what's being said is really making sense to Sandalphon right now, although whether it's because he assumes Nora is spouting nonsense or because he's seeing stars from the retaliatory headbutt, it's hard to say. As he lies in a daze and instinctively blinks to clear his vision, he just fires back a response without thinking.]

Then what the hell would you have me do? Fly over and kill that man? Or should I raze this place to the ground instead?!

[He then shifts a bit to try and extricate a leg from this weird pile they have going on, heel clacking against the stage floor.]

I killed someone who trusted me! So I'll accept my punishment however I damn well please!

[And he rounds that off by trying to knee Nora in the side.]

[houndumb]

[He's definitely said more than he meant to, even if it really isn't entirely coherent, but Nora is honestly so far past what he meant to do here that he might as well keep on going. The satisfaction of how solidly the headbutt connects manages to slice through most of the impending headache and disorientation somehow.

His own roiling temper does the rest, because of course he isn't done; they're not done here till the fat lady sings.]

Yeah, you're a fuckin' asshole for that, but I knew that already!!

[Nora's still got a hold on his collar like the sometimes-bulldog he is, and it keeps him from getting kicked off when the knee connects -- there's a full-faced wince and curling up, though, because thanks THAT'S THE CHAINSAW BRUISE.]

AUGH-- You've got that head of yours so far up in the clouds-- you suck at seeing anything else, but I ain't letting you accept shit! 'Sides-- [he's had the wind knocked out of him, but shounen wheeze-yelling is the trick of the hour and he somehow manages a rictus of a half-grin anyway] --how're you expecting to do anything else when ya can't even go through me?!

[merirut]

[Oops?? He didn't actually know the chainsaw bruise existed but hey, if it'll help get Nora off of him, he will actually keep kneeing it because what is honor and what is playing fair when you've got a rabid hellhound breathing down your hoodie collar. It's nonsense, that's what.

But there's something about what Nora says that lets a small something click in his head, and suddenly he's lifting his torso upwards as he lets his wings fold in behind him, hands moving to grip Nora's shoulders as his eyes flash with more fire than they've had this entire trial.]

Don't test me, hellhound!

[And then his wings extend with a snap, pushing his entire body forward in a furious and reckless shove.]

[houndumb]

[I mean, he also hella stabbed his teammate and they've established that so what's a little dirty fighting between two yelling morons, really. Everything shifts fast and Nora only sees what's coming for a split second because he's way too busy getting the last of the breath kneed out of him, grip loosening and head spinning a little and also wow, his poor ribs??

Angels are the worst, honestly. They're almost worse than cats.

But then the world goes upside down and ah, there it is, when Sandalphon finally manages to throw him, and now Nora's just wheeze-laughing dry and defiant even as he skids across the floor and tries to curl up around his side. Wow, ow.]

Ha-- Hahaha, joke's-- on you, Cerberus ain't ever been a hellhound, stupid angel!!