first trial

[airlockedmods]

[When the announcement sounds and the evidence gathered it’s time for a trial. When the remaining champions are all gathered by the repaired docking bay doors they slide slowly slide open.

There are two lines of robots, silent as sentries, creating a border path from the docking bay doors to the circle of metal podiums. The podiums themselves were made of strange metals in red and gold and orange and black, each one etched with the name of one of the Champions. There are flood lights - like spot lights - in front of each podium, but the lights in front of Shirou, Hamilton, and Albel are dark, and hung on the front of their podiums are greyscale portraits, printed from their profiles.

Blaze Dudely stands on a repair deck on top of his ship, which looms over the proceedings ominously. Rather than the glee the Champions may think he would take in this kind of display, he merely stands there with his arms crossed, expression unreadable and his cyborg eye scanning the Champions with a piercing scrutiny, like he's searching for one of them to act out of line.]

Mornin’, Champions. Here’s how this is goin’ to go: take the evidence ya found, piece together what happened and find who took out the Champion Swordsman. If ya find them, they’ll be dealt with. If ya don’t, they’ll be free to go and the rest of ya will face punishment. Take the time ya need but don’t bore me.

Comments

[ebonyknight]

I will, yes.

[So. Anything missing or is it just a standard riding helmet?]

[jerkassic]

[He'll make a big deal out of handing it over.]

Really, you should be grateful. People would fall over themselves for this opportunity back home.

[Diego thinking he's the greatest thing since sliced bread...which hasn't been invented yet, so the greatest thing ever, aside...the helmet itself is intact. The straps are still on. The hat pins are all there. There's no missing letters. The ribbon's there too, if tied a little sloppier than it could be.]

[withoutred]

[ Erika'll also finally head near Apollo, and gingerly offer the fabric scratch for comparison. ]

I suppose you'll need this.

mods

[ebonyknight]

We'll see.

[She's untying the ribbon and holding up the scrap. Does it match?]

[airlockedmods]

[It sure does.]

[chides]

....You'd better have a good explanation for this.

[withoutred]

I knew this stupid scrap was relevant!

[ just.

put her in a corner or something.

please. ]

[ebonyknight]

Don't shout in my ear.

[She gets smacked on the head.]

But, yes, you better have a good explanation.

[withoutred]

[ boy I sure hope Apollo didn't expect that to be the off button, because she just shrieked louder. ]

How dare you--

[heartswapped]

[Diego, she's going to just give you a well-placed maternal Stare of Disapproval.]

[induality]

Contain yourself.

[WHY IS THIS THEIR DETECTIVE???]

[chides]

[ that's a good question ]

[empathiser]

It was at the crime scene, wasn't it? Everything at a crime scene is potential evidence. It goes without saying.

[Sorry to say.]

[jerkassic]

That bastard! How dare he deface something like this! If he weren't dead, I'd-

[...about halfway into losing his shit, it occurs to Diego that maybe he should calm the fuck down.]

I can explain.

[ebonyknight]

Can you?

[tuskenlancer]

You better.

[goldrighthand]

Please do.

[tokencanadian]

[Pyrrha's just over here, silently looking on in horror.]

[tenimuho]

[okay so on the one hand he was totally wrong, but also]

...Is your hat really more important than someone's life...?

[silverguitarhero]

[John's watching this, his eyes smoldering.] We will see how well it holds.

[andneversaydie]

...are you really more concerned about your hat getting messed up than the fact that you probably just killed someone and might die!?

[heartswapped]

...

Diego.

Tell me more about how he "defaced" it.

[Cheryl's drumming her fingers on crossed arms in impatience.]

[jerkassic]

[Okay, he's found his chill. He can do this.]

Yes, I can. In case anyone's forgotten, Albel was my...roommate.

[He's not saying cellmate. He doesn't deserve to have a cellmate or be in a cell, so it's a room.]

I'd left my hat in there, thinking that some people would be respectful and leave other people's things alone. I came back to find him holding my hat. Before I could even say anything, he threw it at me, claiming it was stupid.

[This is said like it is clearly not stupid when it shares a space next to beer hats and novelty foam ones on the stupid scale.]

I didn't think to check at the time, but the only explanation I can think of is that he tore the ribbon and retied it so that I wouldn't notice. I must have walked in right after he finished, given his reaction.

[pr159]

[ raises eyebrow... ]

[empathiser]

We're waiting.