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

[eldritcheyes]

It's not about humanity right now! It's about 6350's, and in case you forgot, you're one, too! Or do you really want all of us wiped out?!

[visionem]

I am aware of that fact, Leonard Watch.

[ That's harsh and strikingly frigid, though it smooths out after. ]

That is not what I wish for.

[eldritcheyes]

Then what do you want?!

[visionem]

You do not need to know.

[eldritcheyes]

Bullshit! People are dead, and no matter how much you think you're above it all, a lot of us are hurting AND WE DESERVE ANSWERS, DAMMIT!

[The Eyes crack open slightly, Leo's intent quite clear. Luckily for him, their power is negated at the moment, though the realization that he's being blocked makes him rage through gritted teeth.]

[visionem]

[ Regardless of boxy shenanigans in the past, present or future at that the metal tendrils swarm around Alcor, similar to a many limbed spider. ]

You do not deserve, anything. Progress and answers are all earned, they always have been since the Beginning.

[eldritcheyes]

And who gave you the right to say all the blood spilled and lives lost didn't earn any answers?! When's it enough, when you're the only one left standing?!

[visionem]

I took it for myself because that was the role others assigned for me. Those who faced down the seven days of judgement and defied fate despite the odds, perils, and destruction. Those who fought even when it was hopeless.

[ ... ]

I have no desire to rule over an empty world. Nor do I have a desire to see it suffer in the first place.

[eldritcheyes]

The world they wanted you to watch over? This isn't that world. Here, you're just like us, except you still think like some... divine administrator. Well, you're not one right now. So you've gotta start cooperating with us, before we all go down together. Because I'm pretty sure they have a countermeasure against you, and if you think they won't use it the second you throw this kind of above-it-all crap at them, you've got less godly brains than you think.

[visionem]

[ ...that was probably not the right thing to say. His lips curve downward before those tendrils shoot out towards Leo (he has long reach despite the distance) though in the mess of everything his aim isn't great considering. ]

I do not have to do anything unless I want to. That is the gift and curse of free will.

[failsaw]

[OH SORRY, were you trying to murder one of giriko's teammates? Leo's getting a hand on his shoulder as Giriko yanks him back.

oh and leo's getting one of giriko's hands over his mouth. shut up, idiot kid.]

Hey! Asshole! Put the shitty tentacles away, this isn't a fuckin' porno!

[eldritcheyes]

[Leo's intimidated, but he's the Tortoise Knight. He fucking stands his ground, shouting at Alcor even as the tendrils shoot toward him.]

I have free will, too! So expect me to get up in your case if you're keeping shi--

[And then Giriko yanks him away. He's fighting mad, still yelling behind her hand.]

[failsaw]

[HOLDING HIM

giriko is strong, not quite to the level of supernatural but stronger even than she looks (and she looks pretty strong)]

Shut up, kid. [She mutters. This has the potential to go very bad, very quickly.]

[eldritcheyes]

MMPH!!

[He's glaring(??) at her over her hand but at least he's not fighting to escape her hold. Let him go so he can headbutt Alcor, dammit!]

[failsaw]

[And then, once Alcor leaves and Giriko tugs Leo even further away from him,]

What the fuck were you thinking? You tryin' to get yourself killed?

[is this... concern? No, not quite, but it is Giriko being serious, without that wild, angry bluster.]

[eldritcheyes]

[He yanks away from her, scowling.]

I'm sick of people hiding shit that might help all of us! We're supposed to help each other, not this!

[He flails his hands vaguely in the direction of... well, everything and everyone around them.]

Sandalphon and Aqua are dead because there's still not enough trust between everybody, and the Foundation's gonna use that to wipe us all out! Like regular people don't disagree and fight and even kill each other all the time, but they'll spin this to make us look like monsters!

[failsaw]

You can't force people to trust each other, moron. You're some kinda "hero" or what the fuck ever, you've probably got a little team of friends, you fight evil, save the world, that kinda bullshit, yeah?

Do you fuckin' realize half the people here are the villains you fight against? None of us are gonna sit down and listen to your "lets be friends" speech, you know? We've seen too much shit, yeah? We aren't naive enough to think there's gonna be "enough trust" here, and you're just gonna have to learn that the hard way. You already are, yeah? This is fuckin' killing you, just because people are pitch black inside?

The Foundation doesn't have to spin shit, we're already fuckin' monsters.

[eldritcheyes]

....

[Leo deflates at that. He's blown out most of his anger, and now he's just tired.]

What about the ones that aren't? Don't we deserve a chance? I'm not a hero, I just don't want to see anybody else die, Giriko. Even the worst people here have loved ones, the motive proved that. People who would miss them if they were gone. We're all getting punished for what goes down here.

[failsaw]

Yeah, no shit we're getting punished. [She skims over half of that, the "even the worst people here have loved ones" part, the "people who would miss them if they were gone" part.]

But goading some idiot into killing you during a trial is a pretty shitty way of getting that chance.

[visionem]

[ gj that completely throws Alcor off. He's retracting those tendrils of his and just blinking a bit. ]

...what?

[failsaw]

This ain't the time and place for that, and you fuckin' know it.

[visionem]

[ ... ]

Perhaps not. There are more significant matters to attend to, after all.

[failsaw]

[Giriko isn't going to keep goading him. Not right now.]