WEEK 3 - TRIAL

[foundationmods]

TRIAL

The morning seemed so far away yesterday - yet, it also seems too soon when morning comes and you are all yet again ushered to the third floor by The Lady. The Captain is there, in all of his....wait, no, he's asleep.

The doors close, and...nothing happens. There's still the box labeled 'VOTES' in his lap on the couch, but...

On the table is a letter, that reads 'Only one person may be voted for execution this week. Please figure out who that will be during the time limit.'

As you finish reading that, music begins to play in the room...


VICTIM: SHIROU EMIYA, HIMEKO INABA, AND MUNEHISA IWAI

23 GUESTS REMAIN.

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[that knocks him off guard, and Akira's expression falls slack as his hand shoots to his chest, curling around his shirt over his heart]

What? I c. . . giving someone this is. . .

[. . . . . .]

Give me. . . five seconds. Just five seconds.

[his grip tightens, knuckles white, head bowed to the point of where his bangs shadow his expression. and then he looks up in the crowd, searching for Minato's face within it]

[foundationmods]

Five seconds.

Not a second more.

[wrongtiming]

[He doesn't say anything, so Akira might not even notice it, but he's definitely getting a Very Concerned glance his way.]

[messianic]

[Minato's there! And watching Akira, expression calm and clear, eyes firm.

And, softly, he says plainly (so even if the words can't be heard, his lips form the words clearly):]

You can't.

[Akira can't give someone else that path. It's not who Akira is. Minato believes in him. He can find another way, one that doesn't involve undermining who he is as a person--even if Minato would love to see Akira relieved of the burden of that path.

It's not about them anymore, after all. It's about everyone else.

So... he smiles. Because he believes in Akira, with everything he has--and that's what really matters, isn't it? No deals with the devil--just Akira, exactly as he is.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . of course. that's the answer he expected, isn't it? even if he took this deal, Minato would never forgive him for foisting his burdens onto someone else. he'd never forgive himself. and really, it's that path that's mucking things up here, isn't it? because if it didn't exist, Akira would've accepted the Lady's terms in a heartbeat]

[his grip on his shirt tightens, hands shaking, and he has to be quick, he knows he has to be quick, he was given not more than five seconds]

Would you walk it, Minato?

[he needs an answer asap]

[messianic]

[... Ha. So that's how it is, isn't it? Minato had asked Akira to share his burdens, and now that's so completely, utterly literal in the worst of ways.

Minato wants to. More than anything else, all he's wanted this entire game is to save everyone, and to relieve Akira of this burden.

But...

Not if it means Akira's dying in his place. In that case, more than anything...]

No. Not if it means I live instead of you.

[And, calmly:]

You can do more good here, Akira, than anyone. I believe that. So... I'm sorry. But selfishly, I have to ask you to continue.

1/2

[purrtagonist]

. . .

[he sucks in a deep breath, eyes slipping shut, brows slightly furrowed as his eyes slip shut]

[purrtagonist]

[and then he turns to the Lady, chin tilted up, voice firm]

. . . I accept. And I choose Minato Arisato to walk my path, because he wouldn't forgive me if I chose anyone else.

[messianic]

[Shock flashes across his features at that--and then a frown, tight and upset.]

Akira, wait, you can't--!

[justfists]

Akira!

[enter_the_darkness]

Idiot.

[whirlingmace]

You can't. Akira you...

[resortghosts]

[head slap]

[dolleyed]

You're crazy... you're so fucking crazy....

[ WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON. ]

[theycallhimmrpchan]

What the hell?!

[rosebridled]

[ ah. ]

[13thpromise]

[ ...... what. What's happening?? Is Akira just throwing his life away? ]

No! Stop it!

[wrongtiming]

Akira?!

[foundationmods]

....Very well.

[She lowers her left arm, and opens her right hand.]

Akira Kurusu. I impart upon you the role of The Savior. You have the choice to save someone at the expense of your own life.

....may I assume that you are using your role to take Minato Arisato's place as the Executed?

[latebluemer]

[... Her hand drops.

It tightens into a fist, even as her face goes stormy, even as she takes a reflexive step forward and then stops herself, even as she closes her eyes. Opens them. There's a clear fury in them, but she looks between him, and Minato, and doesn't say anything.]

[moonlightbeast]

Kurusu-san, don't-

[He reaches out towards Akira, but he's not fast enough to stop him.

Boy, this sure is familiar.]

[latebluemer]

[Her eyes widen from where she's looked up -- from watching Minato, from everything, all the wreckage they've created -- and she sees him there next to the Lady and yeah. That's bad. Her eyes widen further and she drops a hand from wiping the tears from her face to reach out.

Hey. Akira. Don't be stupid.]

[enter_the_darkness]

Heh... of course.

[ He's frowning hard at the idiot... ]

[rosebridled]

[thejusticewagon]

[She does bite her lip...]

I mean... it’s not the end. No matter who goes, it’s not the end. There’s still a chance for everyone here if we make it out, even if they’re just gonna be spirits for a while.

Just... think about it like that, okay?