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

[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]

[buriedstar]

[ Cracking up A+++ ]

[capreelcious]

[ OOOOOOOOH ]

[fuckingguy]

[ STOP, STOP, HE'S ALREADY DEAD inside ]

Cw suicidal ideation

[hotpaprika]

[If Jonathan had more fight in him, he would argue back

But now...]

Okay, I understand.

If anyone wants to murder next week, aim for me. I am well aware that I am more useful to everyone dead than alive. It's better me than... someone like Dandy.

[asymptotes]

[ An exhale. ]

Clearly you don't, but someone will be along to pat your back later, I'm sure. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to solve our situation with the other adults. And the teenagers. When you're done looking for excuses to justify hating yourself and running in circles after your own tail, feel free to join us.

[hotpaprika]

... I do not need anyone to coddle me. I know how you feel about me.

[asymptotes]

And you're clearly fine with it. So nothing will change, because you won't take action. Not can't. Won't.

[ He shrugs. ]

I do not think you're any more useless to this game than you make yourself. Don't mistake pity for anger. Every moment, you choose this.

[hotpaprika]

What do you want me to do?! [Jonathan suddenly cries out.] Every attempt I've made at doing anything to help it ends up backfiring! The meetings never helped, people I care about get upset at me when I try to help, and every time I've tried to get help from the outside I get nothing but apathy.

I cannot even keep my own promises of keeping my emotions in check! I've tried so hard to keep myself from being useless but it never works!

[allatonce]

[not to be rude but:]

It's your attitude. Like, the meetings are helpful but because they're not helpful in the exact way you want them to be, you think they're a failure. You just kinda, like, freak out every time something happens that doesn't align perfectly with your perception of things which is a super rigid way to be. If you loosened up a little, it would probably help.

[asymptotes]

People get upset at you. Others fail you. You put too much stock in their opinions. If you're drowning and no one offers a hand, or can offer a hand, you swim or you die.

So swim, Jonathan Harker. Stop waiting for others to rescue you and see how far you can get on your own. You may surprise yourself.

[howveryglib]

Are you truly acting like the meetings are useless? I would prefer you did not talk so openly about them here, but if you are concerned that they have not prevented any deaths, then everyone else here is as useless as you are.

[...that last bit is a bit angrier than intended. perhaps he touched a nerve...]

[daimakaicho]

[ Yeah, ok. She's had enough. ]

Jonathan, with all due respect, if you're not going to help figure out who murdered both Dandy and Undertaker, I would advise not speaking.

[ Her voice is hard, and her eyes narrow slightly. ]

[buriedstar]

That's way more respect than he deserves, noona.

Cw suicidal ideation

[sastruga]

[Mafuyu is quiet. Eerily so, this time, just kind of... staring, as he makes that proclamation.]

...Jonathan?

[hotpaprika]

[There is a hesitation, remembering Obi's trial.]

... My apologies, I promise to remain silent for the rest of the trial and not make everything about me.

cw suicidal uh.... e... encouragement.....????? oh god I'm sorry

[sastruga]

...If you want to disappear so badly, don't make it someone else's responsibility.

[specialyellthing]

Mafuyu!

[sastruga]

...

[...]

...I'm not taking it back.

Cw suicidal discussion

[hotpaprika]

[...]

I do have a knife on me, if it will make everyone...

[howveryglib]

Jonathan I am putting you in a chokehold if you keep following this line of thought.

cw suicidal discussion

[sastruga]

...Shut up.

If this was about everyone else, you wouldn't even have said that.