Fourth Trial

[bathymetric]

[ After the evidence (and what a large batch of evidence it is, this time) has been gathered up, after actually patiently waiting a longer time than usual to make sure everything's been grabbed, the speakers over New Rapture crackle to life. ]

Time's up, everyone. You know where to go.

[ The lower number of bathyspheres, as you descend, is starting to become really notable, isn't it? The descent is the same as ever, lower and lower into the sea. The bioluminescence of those slugs on the ocean floor is almost brighter today, somehow, and some of them have even crawled up the cliff face around you as you pass them.

The dome approaches, slowly as ever, gleaming red in the darkness. The bathyspheres land in a row, doors opening one by one to reveal the familiar sight of the trial room, three more podiums now darkened. ]

Take your places, ladies and gentlemen. You've got a doozy of a situation to discuss. Ass Man and Silver Fox are dead. You know what happens if you can't figure out whodunnit.

[ Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[hotpaprika]

... Why.

[Theres venom in his voice, like Jonathan could fathom how Dandy would have an ounce of empathy towards his killer.]

[pairtner]

I don't get why, either. Why would he...?

[It's pretty illogical. Aiba is well aware emotions don't follow a logical trail of logic and sense, but still, this is pretty unexpected]

I might be wrong about what it was, I suppose.

[She's not wrong, it was by mod decree it's empathy, haha]

[hotpaprika]

What is wrong with Dandy... how could he... why could he...

[asymptotes]

Some people are like that. Not willing to seek retribution.

[ Couldn't be him!!! Except for the every other him. ]

Not afraid to face death.

[hotpaprika]

[He's silent for a long moment.]

Didn't he care about us...?

[pairtner]

...maybe he...overall cared more about us all than one would think.

[Uf, she's feeling guilty. Not that long ago she told Brett Dandy was a fundamentally selfish person and that he taking a moment to ask her to go tell Brett to drink orange juice was a sign of a bond.

Dandy being so empathic and maybe forgiving was unexpected for her]

[inaclearing]

...I tried to apologize to him last week. For thinking...poorly of him, before. He wouldn't let me.

[It's as unemotional as everything else Brett has said today, but...at least he's saying it?]

nsfw mention

[dullshooter]

…He did give me unsolicited pep talks.

[Mostly about getting laid but you know.]

[asymptotes]

[ An scoff. ]

If you think that not being angry in your last moments is somehow selfish, Jonathan, I don't really know what to tell you. Or does it upset you if you're not everyone's last thought?

[specialyellthing]

[OH GIRL ITS ON]

[daimakaicho]

[ OOOOH, LORD DRAKKON, OOOOOOOH ]

[dullshooter]

[OHHH SHIITTTTTT]

[specialyellthing]

Don't take it out on her.

[hotpaprika]

I'm not angry at her.

[Anger isn't quite the right word. Betrayal? Frustration? Confusion? It's hard to say what it is.]

[allatonce]

I mean. If anyone here killed me, I'd be like "damn, peace be with you" or whatever you Christians say. No hard feelings. Dandy was kind of the same way.

[hotpaprika]

... He's wrong.

[inaclearing]

It's not objective. He had the right to his feelings.

[dullshooter]

Is it really that hard to imagine?

cw tendon trauma, gore mention

[hotpaprika]

The murderer sliced his tendons so he couldn't run! They tried to cut out his heart! How could anyone forgive someone like that?!

[dullshooter]

‘Cause you’re only thinking from your perspective. Dandy was decent to Penelope, and she was literally sent to hell for being evil.

[daimakaicho]

[ coughs ]

[hotpaprika]

He was tortured!

[He seems less like he's talking to Misfire and more at Dandy.]

[dullshooter]

And that’d have me cursing my assailant to the grave - but I know Dandy and I aren’t the same. Clearly, whatever idea you have of him isn’t matching up, and you’re just gonna have to deal with that.

[specialyellthing]

[zinda opens her mouth to correct the tried---


closes her mouth]

[pairtner]

........

[Aiba goes quiet, thinks about it for a moment, and then says:]

...I suppose...you're not wrong that some people would forgive somebody murdering them so brutally.

[Hard to believe, but not implausible]