Trial 2

[jinglehellmods]

WHO KILLED CHRISTMAS?

Four hours pass yet again. Thug Dangerzone and Brasco move all the tables together (with no help from Starshine), and once again the dining room becomes a makeshift trial center. Poor Diana's body is carefully laid out on one of the tables. She's covered by a sheet, because frankly her corpse looks a little nauseating, but she's there if anyone needs to look at her.

On each spot at the table is a some cookies and apple cider, and that basket sits remains cheery and present at the center of the tavle. Next to the food is a pen and a small notebook, like the kind they use on police procedural.

After everyone is seated, or at least standing awkwardly around, Brasco stands up on a chair. "I gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed in you all," he says, and you get the sense he honestly means it. "This is way, way more murders than we wanted here! By a significant margin! But at least justice can be served a little. Me and Princess and Thug were looking around some after you guys finished, and we narrowed it down to five different suspects. So figure it out! You've got all day. Go vote when you're sure, and remember: this isn't a joke. Make sure you get it right. When we've got a majority vote, or when it gets too late, we'll decide.

Ready? Start!"

 

19 GUESTS REMAIN

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Comments

[originallutece]

[Of course she had, but it's hard to remember when you're on trial for murder. And truthfully, Robert is so vital a part of her that she wouldn't be surprised if she'd mentioned him off-hand and simply forgot.]

He is . . . he's my other half.

[What an odd phrasing. All the more so for how carefully she seems to choose it.]

[happydreamed]

I see.

[Kantera is quiet, thoughtful.]

I can imagine why "he" would be considered a suitable replacement for you, in that case.

[originallutece]

No.

[Swiftly, terribly, harshly, and yet pitched low enough that the others will have to be close to hear it.]

He isn't. Not in the least. He's far better than me, and far less suited for a place like this.

[happydreamed]

You would do quite a number of things to keep him from being brought here, perhaps killed here. Am I wrong in believing so?

[originallutece]

[A deep breath, then, and though none of the tension coursing through her leaves her, something settles in her expression.]

There is nothing I wouldn't do in order to keep him from harm.

[transparentanswer]

["Not a single person would miss me back home, and I wouldn't care if any of them ended up here instead of me."

Thank you, Hans. It all makes sense. As soon as he hears Rosalind's voice speak those words, Shintaro lunges forward angrily, slamming his palms onto the table.]

You killed her!

[originallutece]

Yes.

[Perhaps it infuriates him how bloody calm she looks. Rosalind is by no means relaxed or happy, but she certainly doesn't look regretful.]

Quickly, if it's any consolation to you.

[transparentanswer]

I don't fucking care how it happened!

You...You selfish....

[Indeed, her lack of reaction makes his stomach turn. Diana died for what? So this disgusting woman could get caught red handed anyway? He grabs the bloody, ashy cloth and throws it at her in a fit of distressed anger.]

Take your fucking shirt back!

She would never have hurt anyone!

[thedifferencebetween]

Hey! Don't call her selfish, like you wouldn't do the same if you were in the same position. Like anybody wouldn't!

[originallutece]

[Aw, Jack. She can't smile right now, but her gaze is softer.]

You played your part admirably. Thank you for that.

[thedifferencebetween]

Not well enough, clearly. Though that one's...kinda on you, not me.

[originallutece]

[She shrugs, conceding the point.]

A pity. But I suppose for my second murder, I got away with it for long enough.

[transparentanswer]

Y-You...you knew.

You tried to help her get away with it...?

[thedifferencebetween]

To be fair, I didn't really know until after the trail had started. And it was less 'know' and more 'knew she could have done it'.

[He could try throwing her under the bus, but...eh. He's too tired, and this whole thing's shitty enough. He can spin it fine.]

But yeah, I tried to help out someone who means something to me. It's not like I was lying out my ass, she is my special friend. Name a guy who's not gonna try and protect his girl.

[transparentanswer]

[He grits his teeth, and all he can think about his Ayano. If she had done something terrible, and thought she was justified, would he support her? Would he? It's hard...and impossible circumstance to ponder. Shintaro looks up at Jack sadly. He doesn't trust him, he doesn't even really like him at all but...maybe there's something genuine to this?]

...Yeah.

You were trying to protect someone you cared about. You're not the one who killed Diana. She's the one that made that decision.

[originallutece]

[She's swift to catch it, setting it down on a spare table.]

Yes. That was rather the point, you see. She was easy to subdue. I was hardly going to go after someone larger.

[thedifferencebetween]

Ros...just stop talking.

Seriously.

[originallutece]

Why bother? They know it was me. Nothing I say or do at this point will save me from my inevitable fate.

[transparentanswer]

Don't talk about her like that! Like she was prey or something!

[His voice is hoarse and starting to crack as tears form in the corners of his eyes. He bangs his palm on the table again in frustration.]

Was it worth it? Are you satisfied?

You're going to end up just like Ries! Butchered by some monster. You...You and Diana both.

[viperess]

That's enough.

[ this is quite a mess and it's a sad sight for all. ]

Please compose yourself. Rosalind has made her choice knowing the consequences. Now we will make ours.

[originallutece]

Yes. Because Robert won't come here.

[And that's all it really comes down to. She'll die, and Diana is dead, and yet Robert won't be here, so it's fine. She doesn't want to die, no, but she's done it before; it won't be so bad. She'll die, and maybe she'll be resurrected again and maybe she won't, but Robert will keep going.

That's all it really comes down to, in the end.

That's all her life ever really comes down to, doesn't it?

Selling her soul to Comstock. Buying an infant. Building the tower, keeping Elizabeth locked away for eighteen years, performing horrifying task after task after task in that hideous false utopia, always ignoring her own conscience, because it meant Robert would be safe. Robert would be here, next to her, right where he should be, always at her side, loving her, guiding her, giving purpose and meaning to her life as only her work had ever done before.

A thousand memories flood through her as she stares at Shintaro. Robert, bloody and injured, his mind rebelling against him, grasping for her from their shared bed. Robert, smiling and laughing as he juggled for a group of children, eagerly watching her to see a hint of a smile. Robert, sixteen and gasping in joy as he first contacted her. Robert, his face tired and worn, blackmailing her into doing the right thing, hating himself but hating being the villain more.

He wouldn't have survived a place like this. He wouldn't have had the heart to murder an innocent to keep someone safe, no matter that it had to be done. He's too good a person for it.

But Rosalind isn't.

(Another memory, soft and faint: just think of it, Rosie . . . a baby of our own. Not now, not yet, but once you're ready . . . wouldn't that be something? They'll never have that adventure now, and she regrets that. But even she can't accomplish everything.)]

If you don't understand that, you won't understand anything that's happened here. There are people worth dying for.

[letstrythatagain]

[Since she's over by him anyway-]

Come here, luv.

[He needs a hug, clearly. So he can calm down and not act rashly right now, she is honestly worried about him doing something.]

[transparentanswer]

[He's yelling and shouting at Rosalind and Jack when Lena's voice cuts through it all. He looks back at her, angry tears starting to run down his cheek, and taking long heavy breathes. He's stiff, and when he speaks, his voice is suddenly hoarse and quiet.]

I don't...get it, I...We should have been more careful, and...and she tried to get away with it and I don't...

[please hug this boy before he breaks completely]

[letstrythatagain]

[Yep, she's hugging him tightly.]

As much as I'd like to say otherwise, not everybody in the world has the best intentions. Some people are just...well. They have more personal motivations.

It's alright to be angry, but you need to look out for yourself too. Don't let the anger eat you up, understand? I don't think Diana would want you to be consumed by thoughts of revenge.

[happydreamed]

...As I thought.

Thank you. I have no further questions for you.

[He sits down to write his vote.]