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]

[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.

[thedifferencebetween]

Because it's not gonna do any good either way, and there's gonna be...aftermath.

[Says the guy who spent the whole trial lying his ass for her.]

And you still gotta get through...whatever, don't give anybody more reason to want to try for some messy revenge.

[originallutece]

Do you really think I won't be killed once they take me away?

[She clearly thinks so. But ah, that's a good point, and she adds:]

And before you all start, no, he wasn't involved. Not in the least. He was . . . I have no idea where he was that night, but it wasn't near me.

[letstrythatagain]

So he was lying to cover for you?

[originallutece]

Yes. But not, I want to emphasize, at my previous instruction. I suspect he thought I was innocent and wanted to be sure I wasn't implicated.

[Actually, she suspects he simply didn't want his fuckbuddy to die either way, but she won't say that.]

[letstrythatagain]

That's still wrong! An innocent person could have been implicated by it!

[originallutece]

Well, yes. That was the idea.

[SURPRISE TURNS OUT SHE'S NOT A NICE PERSON]

I would have preferred not to die in order to save Robert, but so it goes.

[letstrythatagain]

[Yeah, not okay.

Don't blink, or you might miss the moment when Lena snaps forward to try and punch Rosalind. Even without her blinking abilities she's still pretty fast.]

[originallutece]

[Oh hell no-- Rosalind jerks back, quick but not quick enough. The punch clips her, turning her head and leaving her jaw sore and reddened.]

Christ--

[Fucking hell, she bit her tongue; now there's blood at her lips.]

And here I thought you were one of the good ones. Or is violence excused so long as it's against someone you deem morally in the wrong?

[letstrythatagain]

Good isn't always nice, luv. Nor is 'good' a sign of being a doormat. I'm a soldier, not a pacifist. I'd prefer a peaceful solution, but even I know when words aren't reaching someone.

When you show that you're honestly sorry for what you did, then we can talk about morals. Until then, you get no say in such matters.

[originallutece]

Then by all means, shoot me now. You'd be saving me time and effort waiting for my execution.

[commemoration]

P--Please don't say such things. This is not the proper way of dealing with this matter...

[you're making Yumemi so uncomfortable here Rosalind]

[originallutece]

Would you prefer I be killed in a day or so by one of our hosts?

[commemoration]

I don't think they would do that. What happened to Miss Ries... it wasn't their fault or anyone else here, I'm sure of it...

[letstrythatagain]

No.

Because even if you're a despicable person, even you deserve a proper trial and jail time. And I'm going to do my best to make sure you survive that long.

[originallutece]

You know . . . I think that's almost crueler. But if it satisfies your moral heart, by all means. Leave me trapped in a box to be killed in a day or so.

[letstrythatagain]

It's not just that. If I do kill you, I'll be the next one on the chopping block. Not only do I not want to put Shin through that, but I do have to get back to my own world. The people there need me, and I don't think Emily would forgive me if I killed someone in cold blood.

[thedifferencebetween]

No, I know. Which is bullshit, this whole thing is bullshit. It's not like you're even really to blame, you didn't get us all stuck here. You aren't blackmailing and threatening anyone to murder people. Which is something I feel we should be focusing on, but no, let's all just be asshats and take it out on you instead. 'Cause you're right here and it's easy.

[Jack rolls his eyes. She doesn't deserve this. What, for killing somebody? So what, people get killed all the time. It's not like she did it for fun, or because she wanted to, or for any reason that could be argued is worth dying in turn.]

[And yeah, he's gonna miss her. And he doesn't look forward to dealing with the aftermath, but...]

Like it matters, don't worry about it.

[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.

[transparentanswer]

If you needed to kill someone to save him, you should have killed yourself.

[He says it darkly, sadly. He's been irreparably wounded today, this past week. Nothing can fix what's happened. He wonders, briefly, would he do the same for Ayano? For his sister? Kill someone? He doesn't know. It's beyond thought. This is all beyond thought.

He settles down, digging his fingernails into the table.]

I don't ever want to see your face again.
But...I hope that it doesn't kill you.

[originallutece]

[She won't say it, but the thought flits through her mind: that would be pointless.]

A noble sentiment. I might even believe you mean it.