trusthell | Take Responsibility.

For the third time, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up at the end of the allotted investigation period; the ride down is, as ever, smooth and quick-moving.

You're down by five.

When the doors slide open, the podium circle still stands in stark contrast to that now-familiar black void of a courtroom, and once again, it's changed to reflect your losses – Caren and Mion have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed greyscale profile portraits staring out at the rest of you.

(The portrait of Pearl hasn't been removed from her room, but it seems the Kingmaker has replaced it with another; either way, her photograph is in the courtroom along with the rest.)

As before, the Kingmaker waits until everyone is settled at their podiums before he speaks; he still isn't visible, but he can clearly be heard, his voice coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

"Capable has been taken from you. I'll confirm one thing for you so no one will waste time asking – the killer wasn't me. Looks like the guilty decided to take a shot at Rule Seven after all – and whether they succeed or not is up to you."

Twenty-two Survivors remain. We'll see how many the group has lost at the end of the day.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm sure they are.

[Incidentally, does Yato have pockets on anything he's wearing right now?]

[ He does not! He's back in his ceremonial robes for the trial, given that his low-effort yukata is... a little casual for something like this. ]

This is mostly out of curiosity, but since you don't have pockets right now, where do you have your own key?

You're really asking me to give away some serious secrets!

[ He gives his right sleeve a shake and out tumbles... his key and some of those nice candies you can find in the kitchen. ]

Oh, I see. Good idea.

Do you have more of those in your left sleeve?

... Just for you, I'll share this once!

[ And out comes... man, how many candies is he hiding? Like five more candies out of his left sleeve. ]

What color do you want?

Red, if you don't mind.

Thank you for indulging me.

[At least if he's the killer, he's not stupid enough to have an extra key still on his person.]

Red it is! But don't expect me to share all the time!

[ ... He was thinking about tossing it, but he'll just coerce people into handing it down around the perimeter of the circle. ]

[Probably a better idea.]

Just this once, I promise.

[-- Sigrun sees that.]

Oh! Oh oh oh! Me! I want one! Let me have one! I want a blue one! Me! Lemme have one, fancy toes!

[Similar question - does Sigrun have any pockets visible?]

[Pockets, no.

Little bags on her belt, yes.]

Excuse me, Miss Sigrun. Do you think you could empty the contents of your bags for us?

Oh, yeah, sure. Nothing too interesting though.

[There's three on her left side and none on her right, and she sets the sword aside to empty them. There's bandages for a quick fix, some food from the machine, and the last is empty; she even shakes each one to show there's nothing else in there.]

That's interesting. Your key's not in there.

(no subject)

captainobnoxious - 2016-03-19 17:01 (UTC) - Expand

cherryblooded - 2016-03-19 17:03 (UTC) - Expand

captainobnoxious - 2016-03-19 17:06 (UTC) - Expand

cherryblooded - 2016-03-19 17:07 (UTC) - Expand

[ !!! ]

Blue ones are the best! [ Just look at his bright baby blues, of course he thinks the blue candies are the best. ] I was going to say no, but you have good taste.

[ He'll toss that one across for her!! ]

[YES!!! SHE GETS TO HAVE A CANDY!!!

She is eating this right now.]

You're good people, fancy toes! Thanks!

[ WINK AND A PEACE SIGN... ]

There are a ton of 'em on the back of the highest shelves in the kitchen. Just, you know. For future reference!

[Speedwagon's just kind of... watching all of this. You guys]

That's a good bit of persuasion, isn't it? Probably not enough to catch a murderer mind...

[ .... are you judging him for his candies?! ]

You're not coming after my sweets stock too, are you?

[Why would he ever judge anyone for their candies??]

Not unless it has something to do with the murder. [He shakes his head.] Your stock should be safe otherwise.

Good! Because I work hard, you know, picking the best of the best and all that!

[ ... no he doesn't, he just takes a bunch and shoves them up his sleeves ]

[He watches Cherry ask about pockets and the like]

Are we stripping now, is this where this is going again?

I think asking everyone to empty their pockets would be less objectionable than making them take off their clothes.

Probably.

[He does empty out his own though. His key, phone. Nothing exciting]

I have my knives up my sleeve too, if anyone needs them.

[They are much to small to make that cut, at least]