fourth trial

[airlockedmods]

[As the last of the evidence is gathered, the voice chimes in with a call to come down to the courtroom.

In the slowly swindling podium circle McBurn and Shadow's portraits have been added and the green in their scrolling names replaced with red.

Jamie and Bolton are waiting on their floating platform, back in black and ready for a trial. Jamie still looks tired and his posture is a little more slouched than usual but he's here and there's not much else they can ask of him right now. Bolton's put on his usual showman's attitude despite the dark circles under his eyes, and he spreads his arms to make the announcement.]

Welcome, Champions, to the courtroom. Eleven of you have entered, but - in the best case scenario - only ten of you will leave. You all know the drill by now: compile your evidence and figure out who the killer is. If you vote correctly, the culprit will be executed and the rest of you will be allowed to go back upstairs.

Remember, there is no time limit but I'd advise you to keep things interesting.

Comments

[yukionna]

That was me, although it was an accident. I cast a fire kido, and the machine ended up as collateral damage.

[ratherdoweddings]

Does everyone have some secret power?

[yukionna]

They're not secret. Every Soul Reaper has the talent to perform at least low-level kido.

[ .......... ]

I just conveniently forgot to mention that it happens to be my specialty.

[ why ]

[ratherdoweddings]

After last week, that's not convenience at all.

[bylight]

Was the water already freezing when you hit it? Or did breaking it make it thaw?

[FINALLY someone else uses fire. A tad too late to find this out. Oh well.]

[yukionna]

I'm not sure, but I think it was the latter. One of us had hit the button at the start.

That, or the ice hadn't finished forming, so when I sent him flying, he crashed through the thin ice.

[bylight]

[She sighs softly.] So it was an accident, and you're taking the blame for it since it was your fault. Correct?

[There's a small chuckle now.]

Here we are at your trial and I just remembered you never did tell me what Easter was about.

[yukionna]

That's the way this damned kangaroo court seems to work.

[ a sigh ]

Oh, I'd almost forgotten. It's a religious holiday celebrating the resurrection of a savior, after he had been executed. It was seen as a miracle.

[ a little pause ]

...but in modern days, people use it as an excuse to eat candy and draw on eggs for fun.

[bylight]

I'm not sure what a kangaroo is, but I'll take your word for it.

[That makes her pause, thinking of her own occupation listed, before nodding.

There's no miracles to be had here.]

I see. I think I like the eggs and candy part of it... Thank you, Rukia.

[yukionna]

Ah, it's--

[ She hangs her head, laughing. At now, of all times, she's explaining kangaroos to someone. ]

They're big animals, with long tails and huge feet. They keep their babies in a pouch on their stomach. Pretty cute.

[bylight]

[At least Rukia got to laugh before she dies.]

That sounds... pretty unique. There's nothing like that on Cocoon or Gran Pulse. I'll try and find them in a book and see if you're right about them being cute.

[refusedtoleave]

So it was an accident...

[yukionna]

Unfortunately.

[refusedtoleave]

...And we have no way to work out why.