Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

The time allotted for investigation this week is a bit longer than normal - not due to anything done wrong on the part of the Apprentices, but perhaps due to a basic understanding that two corpses are going to be decidedly more difficult to handle than one. However, at the end of the time period you've been given, the elevator is waiting for you, as cold and sterile as always in its journey up to the courtroom; you're down to almost half of your original number, and if anything is going to indicate that this shows no signs of stopping, it's probably this week. The deceased have had three more join their numbers since you were here last - Gold, Varric, and Viktor's portraits have been greyed-out and set atop their spots in the podium circle, the podiums themselves draped in black fabric. As always, the lectern above stands empty. Whether he's with you or not, however, once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard throughout the room. "Welcome back. Two more Apprentices are missing from your number today, and I have little doubt that weighs heavily on your minds. Balanced and Capricious have been lost to you, so that the guilty may have a chance to leave the academy and possibly even gain something otherwise impossible to attain. If you wish for your fallen Apprentices to receive justice in death, then you know what to do: yet again, hold the guilty accountable." Sixteen Apprentices remain. However many leave here at the end of the day has yet to be seen.

Comments

[foundfate]

[WELP]

W-we should at least compare the fur, before jumping to any conclusions.

[plegia]

Absolutely not! You all are going to assume I did this and then you're going to get me killed because you're all idiots!

[ah yes, this is going well]

[oyashiromama]

[...]

I told you...I would prevent a witch hunt, didn't I?

[plegia]

Look how much good that's doing right now! This is absolutely a witch hunt!

[introspects]

Look at how you're acting right now--of course it would be a witch hunt, because you're being uncooperative and very, very suspicious.

[plegia]

I'm always suspicious!

[...true, but should you really say that???]

[oyashiromama]

I said that based on past events, on previous faults. I will not let you be suspected on character alone...but please try to cooperate in the here and now. If you have been framed, I will find the true culprit. This I...

[She wavers.]

...I dedicate myself to doing so.

[plegia]

[He notices.]

Fine! Then find the true culprit! You all are solving anything getting stuck on blaming me!

[matchbreaker]

Me and the stick [ referencing Lusamine ] aren't! I'm not about to kill you unless you actually did it.

[ After all, her bonafides about truth for the sake of her own survival were shown last week ]

[plegia]

And I didn't! I'm innocent!

[matchbreaker]

Then show the doll [ referencing Orihime ] your fur, and we'll retrace your steps. After all, we don't know what use the art studio was in all this.

[introspects]

While you're at it? Why don't you let us inspect your entire outfit? Surely there wouldn't be any bloodstains on it if you were innocent, right?

[iaspis]

I will not presume anything.

[plegia]

Then do me a favor and keep them off of me! The second they compare this fur they're going to assume I did it and they'll kill me!

[iaspis]

Fine.

If it will make you feel better, I shall stand guard.

[And so she's going to leave her podium and look like the world's most intimidating bodyguard next to Gangrel.]

[foundfate]

I'm not going to jump to any conclusions.

[Okay, he will, but he'll keep those thoughts to himself.]

One clue is hardly an indication of guilt. And if we check it and it's not a match, then nobody will suspect you anyway.

[plegia]

Don't be stupid! The moment you match it the rest of you will jump! If no one tries to stab me then I'll be executed and take the rest of you imbeciles with me!

[foundfate]

[He can't control the vote, but.]

Then I'll stand right by you, so that they would have to stab me before they could stab you. How does that sound?

[tsugomori]

[ ... ]

Ah, well... I wouldn't try to get you killed. I think there are a few things that haven't been resolved yet.

[plegia]

Right! So solve for everything and then we can compare the fur if you're really that desperate for it! But I didn't do it!

[deofoled]

...I don't think it was you.

[ Then he's going to offer Gangrel a cookie from his food pile.]

[plegia]

[HE'LL TAKE IT oh my god he hates everything right now.]

I'm glad someone has some sense! If I'd actually killed them, I'd never be able to stop laughing!

[gangrel why are you like this]

[deofoled]

Is that how'd you handle it?

[ He's glad he took the cookie.]

[iaspis]

[the sad part is, she thinks he's right

he'd be way too happy if he'd committed a double murder]

[byday]

[eyetwitch]

Good to see your moral compass is perfectly rigid, even if it turns out it wasn't you.