Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

And once the allotted time for investigating comes to a close, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up; the ride down is fast, smooth, and understandably tense as far as atmosphere goes. You're down to less than half of your original number. The doors slide open and the podium circle comes into view, standing stark against the black-walled courtroom and encircling that pit in the center; Misa and Aqua have joined the ranks of the deceased, photographs in greyscale watching the proceedings from their podiums draped in black. Of course and as always, the deceased aren't the only ones watching; the Kingmaker will make his presence known once everyone has settled at their podium, his voice sounding out through the room for all to hear. "Resilient has been taken from you. Maybe this time the guilty party will actually succeed at fulfilling Rule Seven, seeing as this is the sixth try and all. Whether they manage it is up to the rest of you." Thirteen Survivors remain. However many will be down by the end of the day is up to you.

Comments

[isafraid]

[...]

I guess we should at least ask when you were washing your gloves?

[ratingspoint]

It was at some point last night? I don't really recall the time. Why?

[captainobnoxious]

... Because there was some of it on the sinks in the women's restroom, actually, along with water and blood.

[... And it's tough to say this, but she's a leader and... that, that should come first, even if the realization is dropping dread.]

So... if someone was washing out something like that, you'd be the first suspect. Since you used it last night. And it was there. And stuff. I mean, I totally believe you about the letters, but. Yeah.

[That.]

[ratingspoint]

...Sweetheart. Please. Why the hell would I go up to the third floor women's restroom in order to wash out the gloves that I got ink on in my room?

If I wanted hydrogen peroxide, there's the first-aid room on the second floor. Which would be entirely more convenient either way.

[pokexplorer]

So is that where you headed once you got the ink on your gloves? The first-aid room.

The logic is indeed odd, but since peroxide is involved in the case as well, it doesn't hurt to clear things up on your end.

[ratingspoint]

That's where I went, yes! I went there and dealt with the stains, and that was the end of it. I've still got the bottle in my room, in case it happens again - I'll show you once the trial's over.

[pokexplorer]

I suppose there won't be much need to do that once it's over, but appreciated nonetheless.

And you said this was sometime during the night? You didn't see anything strange going on during your adventure to the second floor?

[ratingspoint]

I wouldn't call it much of an adventure! It was pretty boring, actually.

[isafraid]

How well can those floors muffle sound? Aqua was bloody getting murdered right above your head!

[amygdalae]

We know that our rooms can muffle sound very well, but the other general areas don't usually seem to have that.

[Not saying anything but... just as a reference...?]

[isafraid]

Well it's... 'open' in a sense with the stairs and all that. You can hear what's going on in a room if the door is left open.

[amygdalae]

That much is true.

[He supposes it doesn't matter as much, then.]

[isafraid]

....Given the amount of shouting that goes on around here, I'd wager that someone could hear something on the next floor.

[He. He's trying. And he's thinking hard.

And he doesn't want to think about it this way...]

Corr...

[amygdalae]

[...?]

Is there something on your mind?

[isafraid]

Simply put: I have a culprit in mind.

...Just don't feel like believing it yet.

[amygdalae]

...I know that feeling.

[Bruce has an inkling too, but he's not going to randomly point and accuse either.

Here's hoping they're both wrong.]

[ratingspoint]

It might have been after the murder, for all I know. Things would be reasonably quiet then, right?

[...]

Also "bloody" is a really unfortunate euphemism right now, sweetheart. Just saying.

[isafraid]

As we've been thinking, feels like a mess like that would take a while to put together. But anything could be possible.

[....Ah]

Sorry. Only a figure of speech.

[captainobnoxious]

I'm just saying. That's how some minds work. I don't think you would've killed Aqua anyway.

[She has total faith in him, okay. She'd be the first one to bite someone's finger off if they pointed it at him.]

... Or anyone of us. Since I'm taking you home and that can't happen if I'm dead.

[ratingspoint]

Exactly, sweetheart. You still have to show me that mountain of yours.

[isafraid]

... I'm sorry. But seeing as we're all rather lost right now, and you coming in smelling like that 'peroxide', it's feeling a little suspicious to me.

[he means... no offense. yet]

[ratingspoint]

Oh, you don't have anything to apologize for, darling! It's just that this is kind of pointless. It's not relevant, so I don't see why we're bothering, that's all.

[isafraid]

Well since the stuff seems to be a big part of this case, I'd say the whole thing's quite relevant. [He shrugs lightly, aimlessly.] Maybe there's someone else that hasn't been checked.