THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Two bodies this week. As a result, it's a little longer before Mayor Fontaine's voice calls out over the loudspeakers. ]

All right, that'll do, all of you. Get to the bathyspheres. Trial time.

[ There's fewer bathyspheres this week, aren't there? It's starting to get really noticeable. One by one, alone or in pairs, you descend into the depths. The bottom of the seafloor, a place no human life was meant to travel to unassisted. It's dark, until it isn't, the same bio-luminescent slugs as before lighting up the area and revealing the great glass dome in which the trial takes place.

Within, three more podiums have gone dark. They remain empty as you all gather around into the circle.

The projector clicks on, and you see the silhouette of Mayor Fontaine above you. ]

We all know why we're here. Florida Man and Cryptobro got themselves got. Up to you to figure out who did it, or... well, you know by now.

[ Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[vholran]

What is there to explain?

[ Before the attempted kicking, he asks this. ]

[bootyhunter]

Tell me where you were!

[BECAUSE IF NOT HE IS GOING TO LEAP FROM HIS PODIUM AND THROWDOWN HIMSELF...

which may or may not be happening?]

[vholran]

[ Are you sure you want to do that Dandy... he has a sword.

Though he just smirks infuriatingly in his direction. ]

In my room, obviously.

[bootyhunter]

JACKASS!

Put that piece of shit down and face me like a man.

[Dandy growls! He... Has absolutely left the podium.]

Or without it, are you nothing.

I can't believe I gave your no-good ass the benefit of the doubt.

[vholran]

Come here, then.

[ Vholran will wait for the other man to draw near. There may be a little struggle happening regardless. ]

[buriedstar]

[ .......... ]

Vhloran, what is it you want?

[vholran]

[ He begins to chuckle, then laugh. ]

What do I want...?

They shouldn't have stood in my way. Jason should have realized that playing with fire would get him hurt. And Hagakure...I couldn't allow a witness to live.

[ It's not sane. It's definitely not said right. Unreliable narrator mode is a go?

He'll go back to the answer soon enough. ]

That man insulted me. With that taunt of disgusting power.

I've something to take care of. And only I can do it. No one else!

[onemillion]

...The Great Spirit of Rena?

[Oh hey, he knows this one!! We just talked about it earlier!! Shame he didn't connect two and two way earlier but ehh these things happen.]

You... couldn't wait any longer. Is that it?

[vholran]

That's correct. I couldn't.

[ Vholran does not trust in Alphen and friends one iota.

Plus, honestly, he has to do it himself. ]

A bright one as always.

[onemillion]

So you had to act now. The motive had nothing to do with it, then? What happened last night, Vholran?

[feel free to fudge this timeline however you want for when this conversation is taking place but the idea of vholran just calmly replying while fighting half the cast is sending me.]

[vholran]

[ Yeah Vholran will be fighting at some point of this conversation, lmao...

So, this is a time! ]

The motive had nothing to do with it, in a sense. I did not desire that power.

Last night, I ventured out and caught sight of the two. Then...we fought. Hagakure ran away while I overwhelmed Jason. I stabbed him to the death.

Then I hunted down Hagakure, and finished him off. His barricade was useless.

[ ...He is at least making an effort to sort of string together events for Rossiu, at least. Even if it sounds like kind of like a very abridged version. ]

[onemillion]

[Abridged is understandable given the... everything.]

Thank you for telling me.

[It's not going to offer any solace to anyone, but knowing is important regardless.

He's quiet for a moment, considering.]

The threat that faces your world - is there anyone else who will step up to stop it?

[sastruga]

[She's just kind of watching this display, standing in front of Mielle to shield her, just in case. But at that... hearing that. She tilts her head, frowning.]

That's... why?

[There's FIGHTIN' happening, which is more important, of course, so don't mind her.]

Huh...

[vholran]

Of course.

[ He'll state before the midst of fighting happens, but nothing else, so she will be free to definitely....well, stay out of it, naturally. ]

[sastruga]

...I guess... I was expecting something a little less pathetic.

[hotpaprika]

[After all... That is over.]

Tragically we thought we were dealing with someone more intelligent than a man who does not even change his clothes after committing a double homicide.

[buriedstar]

He did, didn't he?

[ He really doesn't need to say it but he does anyway. His expression is curiously blank until the end where he just...lets out a sigh and smiles. ]

Vhloran-ie [ Honorific added on again, the new one he's been using all day. ] I think you'll get the fight you wanted after all of this. Don't disappoint me, hm?

[vholran]

Yes, that's exactly right.

[ ... ]

I won't. See to it you make it out, Seo Dawon.

I'd be disappointed in you if you didn't.

[ He then, perhaps, in the midst of a fight or right before it all goes down, tosses something black his way. Please catch it. ]

[buriedstar]

You already know who I am, don't you?

[ He catches whatever it is without missing a beat. He'll look down at it momentarily but first: ]

Of course I won't disappoint you. Make sure you watch me.

[vholran]

[ It's an interesting device. Once the other gets a chance to play it, well. He will see later. ]

I will.

[ Vholran reaches out, fingers aiming to lightly brush against the other man's cheek, albeit briefly. ]

Not even a supposed execution will be able to stop me.

[bootyhunter]

[Dandy is absolutely bleeding! So he can't do much physically right now, but um-]

DO YOU FEEL POWERFUL RIGHT NOW, BABY?!

NOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA EAT SHIT IN FRONT OF ALL OF US?

[vholran]

[ Back in the past he probably said nothing here, lolol ]

[daimakaicho]

Not bad. I hope it was worth the price of payment.

[ What's inevitably gonna happen, not the fact that he had two kill two people for it.

Her eyes glow slightly with a light smile. ]

[vholran]

[ ...lmao, yeah.

Looking forward to that end (not)

He doesn't have an answer to that. So maybe he does believe it was, maybe he doesn't. ]

[daimakaicho]

[

She'll take it regardless. ]