Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

There's a door at the juncture of the building, to the south of Room 10 and to the west of Room 16; it blends well with the wall, and it's difficult to notice unless you're staring directly at it. Either way, however, it's just appeared to be dead space – after all, were it something vitally important, surely it would have been unlocked before now, wouldn't it? The Wordsmith has promised to provide for you all. That door is open now. It's hard to say when it opened; it simply...seems to have, without anyone visible unlocking it. But the fact of the matter is that it's open, and the room beyond seems to be a holding area – somewhere to wait while the elevator beyond the threshold arrives. Its doors opened without it being called; it seems it was sent from elsewhere, given that there are no call buttons anywhere to be seen. The doors slide open, revealing enough space for all of you; it won't be terribly comfortable, but it'll be safe – the ride itself is fast and smooth, without any alarming shaking or noise that implies you should probably be concerned about the contraption. It's noticeable, though, that the elevator is bringing you upward. The door opens into what seems to have been, appropriately enough for a university, a grand lecture hall – it's all polished wood and no windows, with several rows and aisles of seats to be occupied by students set behind long tables for note-taking and doing assignments. Each individual area is outfitted with vaguely outdated-looking lamps designed to make it a little easier to see exactly what one is writing. The front of the room, though, has been cleared out and remodeled, in a big way, and that's where the aisles lead you, clearly where you're supposed to go - in the center of the room is a circle of podiums, thirty in total, arranged so that everyone standing at them can see each other. So everyone can look each other in the eyes, if they so choose. The podiums are interlocked - there's no cutting across the center of the circle, and for good reason, it looks like there's a lot of nothing down there where the floor should be - and each is bearing the title of the person who's assigned to stand at it. No names, just adjectives, emblazoned across two brass panels on the very top and the front of each podium. (They're all the same height, but the smaller among you will find that there are a couple of steps behind your podium, leading up to a raised platform for you to stand on so you can see over it. It's a little more dignified, at least, than needing someone to fetch a box.) All of the podiums are identical, outside of the abovementioned physical accommodations, except for the one intended for Adelina. The podium that should bear Securing's title has had a black cloth draped over it, and a copy of Adelina's profile photo is sitting on top of it, framed and colorless, an image in greyscale. To the north of the podium circle, behind where everyone is standing, is the lectern – a tall podium raised several feet off the ground, presumably where the professor delivering the lessons for the day would stand such that they could be seen and heard by everyone in the room. For the time being, however, that particular podium is empty. That doesn't mean you won't be addressed, however; once you've all found your places, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard above any ambient noise that may be present. 'In accordance with Rule Seven, the party responsible for the death of Securing must avoid detection in order to end the exercise here at the university. Which means, naturally, that you will all be given a fair chance to foil that attempt. That is why you are all here today. To the innocent: seek justice for your fallen Apprentice. To the guilty: be prepared to take responsibility for your actions, should they succeed.'

Comments

[introspects]

Kimbley-san, could you please tell me what size those are?

[alchemicals]

I probably could, yeah.

[...is he going to, probably not]

[introspects]

[ oh my god don't start ]

Then what size are they?

[alchemicals]

Depends. Do you actually think I did this?

[certaingiant]

Personally, I think that it's strange that you consider the sanctity of your shoe size more important than information that would help everyone, including yourself, not to die.

It's strange assuming you're innocent, that is.

[introspects]

[ bless your soul ]

[certaingiant]

[Is shoe size ever really that important.

Really.]

[introspects]

[ only someone who seems GUILTY would think so >:T ]

[alchemicals]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a little annoyed that I've been dragged into this entire dog and pony show without actually signing up for it, and if anything it's just made me want a piece of the Wordsmith's face even more.

But I'm not exactly a normal guy, from what I've been told, and if I die here that's not going to upset me.

[introspects]

Then there should be no issues with showing us your boots, Kimbley-san.

[ get yo ass in here ]

[alchemicals]

[How about not.]

I personally just want to know why you think I'd be capable of strangling someone to death like that, that's all. Tell me that much and maybe I'll cooperate a little more easily.

[certaingiant]

What a ridiculous question.

Anyone is capable of that.

[introspects]

[ you wanna play this game with her punk. LET'S THROWDOWN. ]

You personally told me that you were a part of the military. I'd think that someone in the military would have combat experience and the appropriate knowledge on how to strangle someone.

[certaingiant]

There's no accounting for people with a death wish.

[Kimbley is weird, news at eleven.]

However, if you're going to get yourself killed, I think we'd all appreciate you not dragging us down with you. Is there any actual reason you shouldn't let us examine your shoes?

[alchemicals]

Not really.

[well okay then]

[stepout]

...How can you not be upset about that?

[ better question, why does she keep asking kimbley questions. ]

[alchemicals]

[...why do you keep giving this man a platform to talk]

I've been waiting to die for the past ten years, and I've been getting really annoyed with the delay. If I go out here, that's fine with me.

[iaspis]

[......oh that's

going to give her a feeling apparently]

We should talk after this is over.

[stepout]

[ because she likes him, apparently, why the fuck else would she let him keep talking ]

That's... different. [ that sure is the only way she can think to put it. ] I've never met someone who was waiting to die. Is there some reason for it, or...

[ ........ actually, you know what— ]

Never mind, it's not important right now.

[ she'll leave him be ]

[officerhops]

Kimbley, this is important. We need to check with everyone. It doesn't mean anyone is pointing fingers, we just have to be thorough.

[alchemicals]

Then don't rule me out as a suspect. I really don't care either way.

[iaspis]

[k i m b l e y]

[matchbreaker]

Hey, big orange lady [ Jasper ] why not got pin him down and rip 'em off for me.

[officerhops]

[Kimbley that...no.]

You might not care, but it's going to matter if we can't figure this out and we all have to pay the price.

[She likes you, to be honest, and she doesn't want to see you be fingered as a suspect either...but being intentionally difficult isn't helping, guy.]

[alchemicals]

So tell me something.

Do you actually think that your lives hinge on my shoes, of all things? I'd think you'd be more worried about the actual evidence, none of which points at me.