third trial

[airlockedmods]

[With the announcement and the evidence, the Champions are free to decide amongst themselves what order the groups leave in. Once that's done the process of teleporting is automatic and happens in the blink of an eye. Once second they're in the center of the cafeteria before a soft blue light surrounds them and then they're standing in the middle of a circle of podiums.

The room itself it the same shiny, chrome-covered atrocity as most of the rest of the ship save for the sections of floor that aren't the teleporter: those are thick clear glass that show nothing but empty space and stars beneath the Champions' feet. As for the podiums they're the same sort of garish chrome with a digital screen facing toward the center of the circle. More portraits and names in blaring red have been added this week. Slaine Troyard, the Champion of War and Zombina, the Champion Rotten Girl.

The Overseers are waiting when they all arrive, standing on a floating platform just high enough to be out of reach and back far enough toward a far wall to have a full view of the courtroom. Both are dressed well, Rox in a pressed grey dress jacket and skirt and Blaze in a black suit with the sleeves rolled up to expose his numerous tattoos. Rox is smiling like that cat who ate the canary while Blaze is standing a little farther away than normal and looking uncomfortable.]

Welcome back, Champions! There are fourteen of you here but, if things go correctly, only thirteen of you will leave. I don't think I have to explain at this point what will happen if you choose wrong.

As usual there's no time limit but be sure to keep things interesting. [She folds her arms across her chest, looking down on the Champions with a grin.] Let the trial begin.

Comments

cw fingore mention; Cat-herding 2: Wrath of Khat

[in4apounding]

Okay- so. We know there had to be another person involved, because even if- if Zombina managed to turn on the compactor herself, one of her fingers had to get inside the compactor with her or down to the cafeteria somehow. She MEANT to do it herself, but it looks like she couldn't... and there might even be two people involved because there was so much alcohol drank beforehand. ...Or after, I guess? Probably before.

But everyone seems to be clean, so we can't be sure that way.

...And there was plastic from Mister Karamatsu's sunglasses with Zombina, because he'd given them to her in case Lucina's mask broke. Is that everything?

[le_mat]

There's the thread and needle too. But that could just be her stitching herself. I gotta wonder why she'd still bother knowing she was going to die.

[lovecolored]

Ya don't think someone else tried to stitch her up, maybe?

[le_mat]

Maybe. I don't see why though. Unless they were desperately trying to save her.

[in4apounding]

That. Could be why they haven't said anything. If they were trying to help and something went wrong-

[le_mat]

Guilt is a good mouth shutter.

[lovecolored]

...if this turns out t'be "someone accidentally pushed her in the compactor or accidentally pushed the button tryin' to make her not kill herself" and we gotta vote on a technicality again, I'm gonna fuckin' lose it.

[in4apounding]

...the first part might have happened. I don't know about accidentally pressing that button, though.

[lovecolored]

Well, either way. I was thinkin' of stumblin' around and accidentally grabbin' it while chasin' her, but still.

[titularly]

You checked out that room with Akira-kun, wouldn't you guys know if somebody could even do something like that on accident?

[lovecolored]

She coulda turned the compactor on, stumbled into the room, and then closed the door on herself; the compactor stops when the door opens. But it doesn't seem likely. Woulda been easier if there was a second set of hands, as much as I hate t'admit it.

[titularly]

Huh. I've never been in there so, like... is that it easy for somebody to get in by themselves?

[in4apounding]

It could have been habit, maybe? If her mind was- ...if she was already. Going.

[le_mat]

Very possible. If she was that gone...

[immaculacies]

Mm, do you think it would be helpful to start by narrowing down our suspects to those Zombina would trust enough to help her? If we accept that this really was intentional on her end.

[le_mat]

Also if there was someone she did trust who WASN'T in the note. Since in theory she woulda told them goodbye in person.

[immaculacies]

Ah, good point, Kurusu-san! What are the names we have listed, then?

[le_mat]

[He reopens the note]

Myself, the twins, Korra, Kaiba, Penny, Yuri, Marisa, Roxy, Max and Bolton.

[immaculacies]

Then that leaves... Myself, Jamie, and Maclaine-san. Right?

[le_mat]

And Jamie has an alibi. We can't make a accusation off a letter though, since it's possible Zombina pre wrote it.

[immaculacies]

Mm-hm, that's true, but—

[She does glance in Thomas's direction.]

[le_mat]

[Thomas WAS one of the people that knew. But-]

We shouldn't take anyone's history into account for this. Just the evidence.

[newcycle]

[Korra is not handling this well, but hearing her name finally shakes her out of her fugue]

She... trusted a lot of people here.

[le_mat]

She got along with pretty much everyone.

[newcycle]

... [honestly, she's kicking her podium. Fuck this.]