THE TRIAL ROUND... TRIAL... YEAH I SHOULD'VE CHOSEN ANOTHER NAME.

[thegardeners]

[On Saturday morning, the gates of the courthouse fly open.

All character will be ushered-- or forcibly dragged, if it comes to that-- the the Courthouse by the various gardeners. The interior of the courthouse is spacious enough for any amount of vigorous discussion, whatever that may be. Who knows what's on the second floor and beyond.

Meng Po sits above the chairs, overseeing everyone below.]

Today, you have all been brought here to find the one who murdered Cagliostro. Once you have come to a decision over who is guilty, you will cast votes on who you believe is the murderer. If the majority votes correctly, the murderer is condemned to Hell, and you will all be one step closer to reincarnation. If they are not found, they will be reincarnated instead, and whoever else is voted in their place as the murderer will be scapegoated. The murderer's sins will be falsely imprinted on them, condemning the scapegoat to Hell.

Should you correctly identify the murderer, there will be a second round of voting: the mercy vote, or the exoneration vote. If you believe the murderer deserves to be reincarnated or the victim deserved to die for any reason, you can vote for exoneration, and the murderer will be reincarnated if the majority votes for it. However, I am not responsible for what happens afterwards to the rest of you.

[...That's... okay, sure.]

Without further ado: the court is in session.

[Do your worst.]

Comments

HOLD ON JOSHUA INCOMING

[unfashionable]

...Yeah. She did.

[ ........ ] I didn't mean to--she tried to kill me! I hurt her in self-defense. I never meant to kill her.

hi i came

[keepcomposed]

There you have it. What a refreshingly honest confession after how much running around you made us do. And this is honest, isn't it, Neku? [ He kind of sounds like he's giggling, whadda dick. ]

[shikiori_no_hane]

Wow.

[ wow josh u dickaroo

not that Tsurumaru really blames him for the comment, but how cheery he sounds...!! ]

Well, then again there isn't much to say now, is there?

[unfashionable]

[ he is so going to beat you up josh before he dies-- ]

As honest as it gets. I just...I didn't want anyone taking the fall for what I did.

[keepcomposed]

[ Adding assault to manslaughter isn't going to help anyone. ]

Hee hee... Of course you didn't. You're far too kind to let someone go down for you.

[ Unlike some people. He brushes his hair away from his eyes, never once losing his cool smile. ] Since we have our answer, let's get this over with. We don't need to ask Neku any unnecessary questions.

[shikiori_no_hane]

I agree. Guess we gotta call the vote.

[unfashionable]

...Sorry, Josh.

[ even if you're kind of being a dick right now. ]

And, uh, everyone else. For this mess.

[creepylaugh]

Stop apologizing. It wasn't your fault.

[unfashionable]

...I could've said something earlier. I--I just didn't want to die a second time.

1/2

[keepcomposed]

...

[ Sigh. ]

Apologizing to me after everything I've done? If you keep that up, you might be able to change my mind about this.

[keepcomposed]

I was going to keep teasing him, but it's no fun kicking a dog while it's down. I'm afraid you've got the wrong person, the only crime Neku's committed is trying to protect me.

I'm the real murderer here.

[shikiori_no_hane]

[ crickets chirp.mp3 ]

... Good try? I mean I'm not falling for it, but good try.

[ He's fooled too many people to be fooled so easily, sry Josh. ]

[keepcomposed]

No? [ He stifles a gigle. ] It's better for me if you don't believe it, you know.

I'll be looking forward to saying "I told you so" later.

[unfashionable]

--!!

[ what the fuck? ]

What the hell, Josh?! What're you doing?!

[ladyporthos]

And you tried to save her, didn't you?

[unfashionable]

Yeah. I did. Obviously that didn't work out.

[ladyporthos]

[A nod.] There's no reason I can think of to condemn you, then.

[unfashionable]

You have to.

[ it's said hurriedly, insistently: ] Remember what they said? Who knows what'll happen to you guys if you spare me? Look, as much as I don't wanna die, it's not fair if something bad were to happen to the rest of you.

[ladyporthos]

[She glares at the ground.] As I said, I couldn't live with myself if I condemned an innocent.

[shikiori_no_hane]

[ He'll just comment in from the side here, kinda flippant, quietly: ]

That's nice, except for the part where it's going to probably get us into deep trouble if everyone goes ahead and does that.

[creepylaugh]

Psh, it's a total fluke! What are they going to do, take away our beds? Bring it on!

[ Iria's just trying to fool herself with this. She doesn't want to vote guilty either. ]

[shikiori_no_hane]

As much as I don't wanna admit it, these guys are not ones to be trifled with. Not without a good plan, anyway.

[ Why are you guys like this!! ]

[unfashionable]

But I'm not innocent. I killed her. Even if I didn't mean to.

[ladyporthos]

But...courts don't give the death penalty for manslaughter or self-defense! [She looks quite upset about this.] You didn't even leave her to die or anything!

[unfashionable]

...

[ nira's got a point, but... ] I don't know if that's an option here.