Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

The time allotted for this week's investigation passes fairly briefly, but not easily - what with the state of the body and the things that have been found, the mood is perhaps oddly sobering. Either way, eventually the elevator will be waiting for you at the exit of your floor of choice, bringing you up to the courtroom swiftly and easily. There are so few of you now. Two more portraits have joined the ranks of the dead, watching over the proceedings. Gangrel and Orihime's images watch over you with with eyes that see nothing, all colored in greyscale and set up on their places in the podium circle, black fabric draped over each setting. As always, the lectern remains empty and unaffected by what's happened here. After a while, however, once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith can be heard addressing the group, voice audible throughout the room. "Sacrificing one to save many—that is ostensibly why Harmonious is no longer among you. Truly, that is the most pragmatic of options in a situation with no chance of victory. I may even come close to commending such a decision. But I must also wonder if the dead can be said to have been 'saved', when they have passed beyond your reach in all but mere messages. Unless you should wish to follow Harmonious and join them, hold the guilty accountable for their practicality." Eleven Apprentices remain. However many leave this place is up to you.

Comments

[iaspis]

She may have realized the risk of being out on a Thursday night.

[elepe]

[There's a flinch at that, but...]

Very well, let's. Perhaps we should look at whoever may have been working with her, then?

[matchbreaker]

[ . . . A cultural difference, probably. She... ]

... It would have, to be sure.

[tsugomori]

My duty is more important than the lives that have passed on, even if I do care about them.

[acherontiastyx]

I mean, yeah. There's a lot of evidence that we might be able to do something, but that goes right out the window if the Wordsmith just decides to empty the recycle bin or something.

[matchbreaker]

[ She knows, she knows, she knows.

And she agrees.

Really, that's the whole issue. ]

[tsugomori]

Oh, I see. That makes sense, if she was like that.

[ That only serves to make things sadder, really. ]

[feistytrader]

I'm not putting any hope into you and Hanyuu and your plans. I told Hanyuu the same. I won't bet on a miracle.

[It's a nice thought, but if he gets his hopes up and lets them down at this point, he'll break.]

Gold's already dead, while you guys are very much alive.

[elepe]

...I made a solemn swear that I would not let what Gangrel died for be in vain.

[There's a small look at Elda when she says that, before she looks back and grips her podium.]

Even...at the risk if this, I swore to live. I would not simply break it.

[foundfate]

You know how well I can cover stuff up.

[Translation: not well at all.]

[acherontiastyx]

...so. You... knew about this. You know how to use a sword. You have one of those whack lookin' wiggly swords. You were on call to make curry. Someone made curry.

[foundfate]

I mean, she was apologetic for giving herself up to save her friends once, so you never know.

[SORRY ORIHIME he doesn't mean to share secrets like that, but it might be important.]

[matchbreaker]

[ Elda mouths, in a whisper probably only Lusamine and maybe Hanyuu can hear ]

I believe in you.

[ For her. ]

[tsugomori]

[ Oh no, he's not here for this. ]

That doesn't mean Estelle had any part in this.

[acherontiastyx]

...

Not... gonna say I haven't thought about it. I'm just...

[shit. He probably shouldn't have started it, because he doesn't want to finish.]

cw: suicide discussion

[oyashiromama]

[She...

Hanyuu doesn't look at any of them.]

...It's only right I say... I spoke with the Wordsmith, after the motive. [Another dark look, at the lectern.] I inquired...about suicide. I asked if that would count as acting on Rule Seven, bringing an end to the exercise. After some prying, he told me it would.

I was planning on enacting it. At least, I...was strongly considering it, for awhile. [...And she sure sounds full of regret, right now.]

[firstaid]

[Estelle slowly clasps her hands in front of her stomach.]

It's true. I do know how to make curry, however, do you truly believe I would have chosen to make curry after last week? It would have been in bad taste. If Orihime had approached me, I would have chosen to make gazpacho, a recipe Killia wrote to me, or I would have chosen to make vichyssoise.

And yes, I do know how to use a sword. That is something I say with pride!

However, if you are accusing me of being her murderer, I will say this: I did not kill her.

[foundfate]

You're just what?

[acherontiastyx]

Look. You think I wanna do this, man? Nobody wants to do this. I'm just...

Tapus, man. If we all die, do we have any chance of fixing shit?

[foundfate]

Hanyuu...

[It's funny that the thing bringing him out of all of this hurt is someone else hurting.]

I. I'm glad you didn't.

[elepe]

...Guzma, you're stronger than that.

[It's...a slight interjection, not with the usual bite that she may have had weeks prior when he said something she didn't agree with.]

Far stronger.

[matchbreaker]

[ Okay, so this isn't the time (the time will be once this is over) but Elda notices that and she sort of clenches and unclenches a fist. Touching her doesn't seem right after the admission, but she will in a moment. ]

[feistytrader]

[...Well, he can back that up, at least.]

I've seen her in the kitchen a lot this week. I haven't seen her make curry at all.

[firstaid]

Thank you for not doing so. In these trials, if you had... well... we would have likely gotten the wrong person as a result.

[acherontiastyx]

...

...too much of a wimp.