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

[buriedstar]

How are you checking shoes? [ He'll offer his hands first, which are clean. There's a sigil on his left ring finger like usual. After he'll roll up his sleeves, there's nothing remarkable on his left arm and on his right it looks clear from what brett can see, though he has a gold bangle on his wrist. ]

[inaclearing]

Take them off, I guess. [Everyone else has.] Could you remove your jewelry as well?

[buriedstar]

Hmm, I could but—

[ ....... ]

I refuse.

[inaclearing]

...I'm sorry?

[also how did you do that with your mouth]

[buriedstar]

[ His tone as opposed to the usual is exceedingly flat. ]

You heard me, didn't you?

[inaclearing]

[eh, brett's been flat all day]

You know how that looks.

[buriedstar]

I do.

[dullshooter]

[...]

Mind if I take a look at them?

[buriedstar]

I'd rather you didn't, Misfire-yah.

[dullshooter]

[...]

Someone's going to have to, you know? Might as well.

[buriedstar]

No.

Misfire-yah, no one can make you do anything against your will. That's one of the privileges to being alive?

[specialyellthing]

I think I made Jonathan pass out earlier—-

[buriedstar]

[ He laughs. ]

Well, I didn't mean it that way~. Anyone can step on a worm and kill it.

[allatonce]

[.......]

As long as I don't kill him, I can't be punished, right?

[specialyellthing]

Free game, Sis.

[dullshooter]

Hey!

[specialyellthing]

What? Everyone was fine with me whackin’ Jonathan earlier!

[howveryglib]

…

But you are not technically alive, are you.

[hahahah

This sucks, man.]

[buriedstar]

[ He laughs, long and hollow. ]

[dullshooter]

[Where his tone has been even before, some desperation slips into Misfire's voice.]

...Please. We're not doing this.

[buriedstar]

I'll always do whatever I need to. And I warned you, didn't I?

[daimakaicho]

[ ...... ]

Dawon.

[buriedstar]

Hild.

[ No honorific, oops. ]

torture/gore ment

[daimakaicho]

[ She smiles at that, seemingly nonplussed about the lack of 'noona.' ]

Torturing someone and ripping their heart out is much more of your style, isn't it?

[buriedstar]

You do know me well~.