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

[firstaid]

[Estelle notices this. She'll simply look back at Guzma as if silently asking him what he wishes to say to her.]

[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.

[tsugomori]

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

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

[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?

[tsugomori]

No, of course not. I just don't want to...I can't...!

[... damnit. For a moment, he just ... he doesn't know what to say. ]

It wouldn't make sense for three of them, one right after the other, to kill!

[ Three of his close companions, that is. It's probably a weak defense, but he feels he's out of options. ]

[acherontiastyx]

...

Yeah, I mean, between you and poor fuckin' Jasper this place just needs to lay the fuck off.

[iaspis]

[amen to that]

[tsugomori]

...That it really does...I'm tired of it.

[sportadork]

[gently] You know what things start to look like, when you talk like that.

[see: everything last week was]

[tsugomori]

[ He hates this. ]

Yes, I do, I suppose. But it's not like that, either.

[firstaid]

Thank you, Mikazuki. All I can do is promise you that I did not do this.

[tsugomori]

I believe you. There's no reason that you would.

[ He smiles... he's sure of that at least. ]

[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.

[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, Silver.

[matchbreaker]

If you were informed about her plans before now, did you see her on Thursday at all?

[firstaid]

[She shakes her head.]

I promise you, I didn't know anything nor did I see her.

[matchbreaker]

[ Promises, man. ]

We do have no evidence to the contrary.

[firstaid]

What evidence is that? Please show me.

[matchbreaker]

I just said there was none!

[ Yet. ]

... But we should probably return to it.

[acherontiastyx]

...so like, maybe someone was trying to frame you? I mean, if they got ahold of Orihime's list, well, none of that stuff about you is secret.

'Course, now I'm just pissed, because really.

[firstaid]

Why... would someone frame me? I... I mean...

[Her hands fall and she just looks.... sad.]

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, I don't get it at all. Like, unless part of the deal is you actually have to try and get away with it.

[matchbreaker]

I actually asked Wordsmith about that. He said that his wording was precise but it would be up to us if we believed that the need to "win" the game was implied or not.

[firstaid]

[Her hands now wrap around her, gripping on to the sleeves of your white dress... that thought... she doesn't like it.]

So... in order to receive the incentive, they chose Orihime... and then you think they chose me to frame since it would have been the easiest give... this last week?

[She shakes her head.]

But... why? I... I don't get it. Why? Who would do this?