RECORDING 3: THE FIRST TRIAL

[foundationmods]

The worst has happened... and now you're all here, in the living room where you first met Todd. As all of you enter, the Vessel is there - glowering at all of you, still missing the arm Dazai shorn from him with his touch.

On one of the tables away from the center is a small enclosed box entitled 'VOTES', with slips of paper nearby and a pen. It's sufficiently away from what will be the 'main' action, but not enough to really give anyone complete privacy as they vote.

Once everyone is inside, the doors automatically shut and lock themselves, leaving you trapped in here with the Vessel...and each other.

One of you is a murderer...however, in this game, the guilty do not need to be voted out. As long as there are enough people voted out that matches the victims...then it will be accepted.

...But, can you really let someone get away with murder...?

The choice...is up to you.

VICTIM: OLYMPIA
PEOPLE TO VOTE OUT: 1

WEEK 1 VOTING

Comments

[finalring]

Battler.

[ well, this isn't a good way to greet anyone after they've been knocked out.

he grabs him firmly by the arm, looking straight at him. ]

Let's go.

[tsunderine]

[Rin sees this and just shoots a worried look at Romani's way, almost a quiet 'please take care of him' because she is very much aware of what happened to Battler's family, so uh, talking about bombs is...bad?]

[finalring]

[ he gives her a subtle nod in her direction. he'll do the best he can. ]

[boardreversal]

Sen-Sensei, what...?

[It's all a jumbled mess and he doesn't know what to do, but -

He numbly nods, though he notices his Aunt also in her own issues, and -]

Aunt Rosa...! Romani-sensei - please check on her first, I'm alright for now...!

[He's really not, but he wouldn't be Battler if he didn't care about others first.]

[finalring]

[ he nods with some hesitation, almost standing up to go do just that, but stops when he sees date with rosa ]

Date's taking care of her. Let me take care of you.

[boardreversal]

...Okay.

[At seeing that she's in Date's hands - someone who's a police officer, no less - he shakily stands, taking Romani's hand to steady himself.]

I...What even...happened? I remember - Sho's arms falling, and then -

[He grips his shoulder, suddenly, as if remembering.]

...Wasn't...Didn't I get cut...?

[finalring]

You did.

[ he nods ]

It wasn't as bad as we initially thought, though. Guess that's what happens in the height of the moment, you begin to panic and whatnot. Jack--the soldier from the future--was a big help. He had this device that basically helps accelerate your body's ability to heal. I'd thank him next time you see him.

[boardreversal]

[he looks up, hesitant....but eventually, he nods.]

...Alright. I...believe you, Sensei.

[though...]

What...was that noise? And...

[He looks around, taking stock of everything...and comes to a conclusion.]

....That noise was Minamimoto-kun exploding, wasn't it.

[finalring]

....

[ after a long and heavy silence, romani nods. there’s no way to mistake the gore that’s both on battler and on himself. ]

Yes. It was.

[boardreversal]

...Dammit.

[He presses a hand to his face, mournfully.]

...I didn't get along with him, but - I didn't want to see him dead. And Olympia-chan...

[He shakes his head.]

Even if she was a robot, even if he was right and she didn't have a soul...It still wouldn't matter, because she talked and laughed along with us...

[He's not crying, but...there's a definite feeling of both sadness and...him accepting the inevitability of it all.]

...I thought, maybe...since it'd been almost a week, none of us would give in, but...I guess I was being too goddamn foolish.

Aaah, It's useless...it's all useless.

[finalring]

[ romani looks over at battler as he mourns the death of the two. what surprises him the most is the fact that one of those is the same person that held him hostage less than an hour ago.

it’s a gentleness that romani didn’t consider being possible, and it breaks his heart to see battler suffering like this... for a fourth time. ]

Battler...

[ he reaches to settle a gloved hand on his shoulder, the one that was not injured, looking at him with a firm expression.

is it alright to continue lying to him? such is the question that runs through the doctor’s mind. but the decision is quickly made, and he nods. ]

We’ll find a way to save them. I’ll do my best to do that.

[boardreversal]

[A way to save them...

He knows it's most likely referring to all the talk of Souls and Miasma, but...

For him, they're already gone. And if he's talking about the rest of them...

He didn't hear about Sho talking about no escape, but he didn't need to hear it.

With this murder, everything...has been set into motion.

...But he doesn't want to argue against Romani-sensei, a man who's helped him out so much. So...

He just slowly nods, closing his eyes.]

I know, Sensei. I know...you will. ...I will, too.

[If there's even a single sliver of hope....

...But for now, he needs to recollect himself.]