fourth 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. Karamatsu Matsuno, the Champion of Painful Secondhand Embarrassment That's So Cringe Inducing, Narcissistic, And Eye Blindingly Glittery It Makes You Wish He'd Go Away, Korra, the Champion Avatar, Yuri Plisetsky, the Champion Figure Skater and Max Olguin, the Champion Portrait Artist.

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. He's also sporting a black eye patch with a flaming snowflake embroidered on it over his left eye. 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 ten of you here but, if things go correctly, only nine 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

[immaculacies]

[When Akira asks that question, for a second, Manaka only smiles. Then, behind her podium, her hands shift beneath her skirt, untying a knot that had been fastened there.

There was nothing to find in her pockets, because it had been wrapped around her hips this whole time.

She lifts it into plain view for everyone in the room to see. The same cloth that was cut from the sewing room. The same ribbon. It's been folded into neat little charms, shaped like omamori, each one tied with a cute bow at the end. There are exactly eleven, if anyone cares to count.]

Ahaha... You're so clever, Kurusu-san! But, everyone— Thank you for playing along this far, even if it's no longer necessary.

[She draws both ends of that braid of ribbon tight around her fingers, and smiles brightly.]

I am the one who killed Max Olguin.

[ FATAL BATTLE
1/1 ]

[karappo]

[What the fuck]

...so you are prepared to admit to torturing him as well then, Manaka-chan?

[immaculacies]

Haven't I already done so?

[karappo]

This...this is...

[Karamatsu leans back, his expression darkening. Horrified.]

You truly are a monster.

[andjerry]

[And at that, all the energy Max's death had drained starts to return. He didn't know who he believed would do this: none of them seemed that cruel, that twisted on the inside-

and then he remembers him, remembers all of the Raincoat Killer tricks and the obfuscation and the faked sorrow, and doesn't wonder anymore. He just wonders about it being the child he'd trusted, who wanted to keep up their spirits yesterday.]

Black magic- on someone who'd never done anything to you...

[immaculacies]

Kaiba-san was correct; I had to test it. To make sure that I had converted enough of that pain into magical energy.

[andjerry]

[he wraps his arms around himself, hands far into his jacket, like he wants to just disappear. this isn't real.]

That's all he was to you. Energy, so you could-?

[in4apounding]

What- why- how- WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?!

[immaculacies]

Why? Mm... There are a lot of reasons. Perhaps you can start with the motive?

I wasn't lying, when I said it had nothing to do with others learning about the Holy Grail War.

But maybe if you think really hard, starting from there, you'll be able to come up with something else?

[playthedamncard]

Not about the war itself.

About the prize--the wish it grants?

[in4apounding]

...Saber.

[le_mat]

[Even down an eye, Akira's perception is sharp. He sees the braids, does some math.]

...9 of us and 2 Overseers. Not counting her.

Watch out, I don't think she's done!

[playthedamncard]

[One, two seconds--and Kaiba's eye widens as well. Or you have succeeded, and we've yet to see the results. It's the most anyone's seen out of him since the investigation.]

[in4apounding]

[Well, crapbaskets.]

[Yeah, Penny's not making a move just yet, but she's grabbing Shovel-kun and tensing up like she's ready.]

[TOGETHER THIS TIME, AKIRA.]

[immaculacies]

Sharp eye, Kurusu-san! That's right— The moment any one of you takes a step toward me, all of you will die, just the way Max did.

[playthedamncard]

Of course you are. [He's not surprised at all. He's just tired.] It was never going to be Marisa, after all, no matter how many times I may have accused her.

The only real question to solve is what you were going to do.

[immaculacies]

Kaiba-san, you're very clever! You know I've always been very impressed with you. I'm sure you'll be able to figure things out!

[dejabrew]

You- You bitch!

[He grips onto Jamie to protect him and to keep himself from lunging.]

[immaculacies]

[Manaka doesn't respond at all.]

[lmafo]

Yo, girl, what the fuck?

[ SHE... LIKED YOU? ]

Why him?

[immaculacies]

He was there.

Ah, though, to tell you the truth, he was a convenient target. He was so trusting. Hypnosis affected him more easily than it would have some of you, I think.

[lovecolored]

...so are all magicians from your world this friggin' nuts, or are you just a top-tier weirdo?

[immaculacies]

[She laughs.]

Not many magi are what you would call a normal person. Still, I'm more than they are in all ways.

[unhappylittletrees]

[Jamie has been numbly quiet for most of the trial now but with this confession he's having the most visceral reaction he's had to any of the trials. Blood is pounding in his head and if not for Bolton holding him in a vice grip he'd be running across the courtroom to scream in her face. So instead he has to settle for straining against his boyfriend and yelling.]

Max was nothing but nice to you! To everyone! He just wanted to make us breakfast and paint and make sure everyone was okay! Why him?!

[immaculacies]

I've already said. It's because he was there. I'm lucky that it was someone so pliable, but I would have made do with anyone.