Sixth Trial

[bathymetric]

[ After a time, as always, your investigation is interrupted by the Mayor's now-familiar voice, calling out to you over the loudspeakers. ]

And that's gonna be time. Pack it in, everyone, bring what you're gonna bring because it's trial time.

[ There are so many bathyspheres missing, you cannot help but notice, as you all pile into the station for your standard trip down to the trial room. Your number has dipped to about a third of its original size - a fact that becomes even more evident when you reach the circle of podiums at the bottom of New Rapture's ocean trench. ]

You all know why you're here. Someone killed Pillage Idiot, and it's your job to figure out who. This is your sixth one, I sure hope you have the procedure down by now.

[ Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[honeyedtea]

Oh, of course. Your location on the night that this murder took place is completely irrelevant to the events that occurred.

[visiblepattern]

I gave up my location freely. What I was doing there has nothing to do with anything.

It doesn't relate.

[sastruga]

I was simply asking if you were reminiscing. Hardly an interrogation.

[inaclearing]

I think we can all imagine. We know what was in there.

[sastruga]

The motive. Yes.

Rather an important part of the case, actually, so I'm not sure why we're acting like it has no bearing on anything.

[honeyedtea]

Perhaps people would prefer to playact at being above temptation this late in the game.

[specialyellthing]

… It was a big deal.

Y’all have no idea, how much sadness I saw in that man’s eyes, lookin at a damn photo of a horse. I think he loved it more than he’s ever loved anyone. And despite all that? He still didn’t try an trade anyones lives for it.

But someone here killed him.

[honeyedtea]

... I say this with no disrespect [ mainly just because zinda's still holding the mace ] but... over a horse? Really?

[specialyellthing]

Don’t talk shit about John.

[honeyedtea]

Wh–what does Jonathan have to do with any of this?!

[ she doesn't realize....... the horse's name is john........ ]

[specialyellthing]

The horse—-

[and then.

mielles done something magical.

zinda’s laughing. she got it.]

They had the same name!!! [shes laugh crying.]

[sastruga]

...John and Jonny...

[honeyedtea]

... I... suppose they did...?

[ oh god zinda's lost it ]

[specialyellthing]

Do ya—— [shes lost it. she wipes a tear away.]

Do ya think that’s why he an Jonathan were such buddies?

[sastruga]

Probably.

[She shrugs, lightly.]

I'll share first, since it is relevant. I never really lost anyone important before we got stuck here. My motive was my grandparents, who I barely remember.

If I was going to kill anyone, I would have done it weeks ago.

[honeyedtea]

... It was my brother.

[ She very clearly Does Not Want to be talking about this, but she recognizes she's certainly not in a position to avoid it. ]

He was poisoned shortly before I was brought here. I... when I... t–targeted Mister Oliver [ she refuses to say the name 'tommy' out loud ] those weeks back, it was to see if I couldn't prevent it from happening.

... If he could be saved, it would be wonderful. But I wouldn't trade Mafuyu for the chance to see him alive again.

[inaclearing]

[Brett nods. It's not like he was really getting worked up about it; he's still not now.]

It was my parents. They died twenty years ago, in a wreck. It was...well, this was just that motive with the radios all over again for me, only without the time travel aspect.

[howveryglib]

...I was going to say the same. With regard to the motive with the radios, of course, not with any parents.

[howveryglib]

...

Mine were my adopted daughter Livia and my dear friend Midas. Livia... perished in battle very shortly before I arrived here, and Midas died fifteen years ago at this point. I have made my peace with both at this point.

[visiblepattern]

If you think it's that important, act like it. Either you're questioning me or you're not.

[sastruga]

[???]

I was throwing it out as important in the proceedings. I wasn't really talking about only you, specifically.

[specialyellthing]

Hey!

What did I say about bickerin? This is important. All of it. So both of you, knock it off.

[inaclearing]

I don't think there's any reason to drag something painful out of him like that. Unless we want to make everyone do it. There’s nothing pointing to Forrest except that he’s been honest about his movements last night, and he easily could have lied.

If we do want that, I'll go along. I just don't...like to see him singled out.

[sastruga]

I was barely asking him anything. You're being overly sensitive, considering this is a murder trial. There are all of eight of us left.

We do have to ask people about what they were doing, especially if they were out late.

You're free to share, if you'd like. I already have.

[visiblepattern]

I was talking to my father in there last night. I was showing him that I got Brynhildr back, and reading a few passages to prove that I was working on understanding it.

I'm sorry for being defensive about it, but my father isn't the sort of person I have good memories with. So it wasn't exactly reminiscing, I was just...talking to him.