SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, same as every week before this - gather at the Vault Door so my Assistant can let you in. And I can start hoping to salvage at least the aquarium.

[ The Assistant, nee Failsafe, stands in her armor at the ready when you arrive, not saying a word and simply unlocking the door and elevator for you to head on down to the trial room. Second verse, same as the first five verses, but a whole lot quieter and a whole lot meaner.

The elevator is a lot emptier now, isn't it? Your number has fallen yet again since the last time you were here. Feels like yesterday, or maybe forever ago? Time's feeling pretty weird right about now, but trial days are for getting locked into the moment. You're here, you're present.

You're running out of allies.

The screens are the same as ever, though, and lower as you enter. ]

I see you haven't decided to continue to increase the number of bodies this week. Perhaps something to be thankful for, in all of this. Hotshot is dead, and the responsibility of finding his killer falls to you. Hopefully this is all old hat to you by now, no?

[The screens rise.

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[fivestagegod]

[WHY THE FUCK IS HE THE ONE STANDING NEXT TO THIS.]

You're mad at us for being liars and hypocrites. Oh my god, get in line.

[blackmass]

No--just at her.

I only find it amusing that the rest of us are such a tangled disaster of buried secrets and hidden monsters.

[fivestagegod]

Right. Almost a shame the Professor caught me about five minutes early, otherwise I'd be one of them too.

So are you at least enjoying yourself with this, or is this grandstanding more pointless than the usual?

[blackmass]

I think you misunderstand me, Birkin. I hate this entire situation, and I was endlessly frustrated from the moment Vincent attacked me.

I had no interest in the Professor, his motive, or anything but feeling his neck snap beneath my hands. My hand was forced, and this is the result.

This is stalling because I won't give him the satisfaction of killing me.

[bogwife]

[She's so glad to be almost halfway across the courtroom because boy, that looks like some demon nonsense that she doesn't want to be near.]

He injured you in the fight. Some of that blood splatter was yours, wasn't it?

[blackmass]

He injured me once. And once was enough.

[fivestagegod]

No, I think you're the one misunderstanding. Let me rephrase: do you always get like this when you're stalling for time, or is this a special circumstance? Because I'm not sure you realize what a shitshow you're being.

By all means, keep doing it if it's going to get you what you want. I'm willing to stand here and argue about pointless shit with you until you die, if that's what you're after. I can get behind the whole not-giving-him-the-satisfaction thing.

[blackmass]

I assure you, I realize it.

[He's been a shitshow his entire life.]

[fivestagegod]

[hahahaha holy shit

It gets him to laugh, anyway. Damn.]

Just keep your...you. Whatever that is. Is that you, because I really can't tell. Just keep it over there, yeah?

[blackmass]

It isn't me. It's my heart, such as it is.

Do calm yourself. I can't attack with it now.

[fivestagegod]

I am actually entirely okay with this, but thanks for the concern.

So. While we're all waiting around for something either inspiring or obnoxious to happen, do you want to explain how your heart is managing to not be a part of you, or is that something you're taking with you?

[blackmass]

[it's magic i ain't gotta explain shit[

[nothingcanstop]

...

Why were you in the garden? Just wanted some peace and quiet?

[blackmass]

...I couldn't sleep. The fluctuation of powers has been...somewhat painful, this past week.

[nothingcanstop]

Sleep's been pretty hard to come by, fluctuating or not, so... I super get that. [ Man, this is. Sort of upsetting?? ] You thought the Professor was targeting you earlier, didn't you?

[blackmass]

...I was not sure how to warn Therion that I believed I was the one being targeted for this week's motive. Were all my magical and supernatural qualities to be utterly cut off, then I would be dead.

I was killed ten years ago, by a man who shot me through the heart. Something...replaced it. An amalgamation of hatred and curses named Angra Mainyu brought my back to life, and it's...failing. Whatever Vincent Valentine was, he was enough to damage it.

I would estimate a minute or two at most.

[bolderfell]

[W...wait, what.]

Hang on. If you're so heartless, why would you try to warn any of us?

[blackmass]

Because I hate the Professor more than I wanted to kill any of you.

There was something...crucial, that I had to do back in Fuyuki. Something my entire life hinged upon. All I cared about was killing the person responsible for interrupting that, and returning to see it through.

You're...close to it, I think. That business with the Failsafe...I feel that this is going to near its ending. I almost regret that I won't be there to kill him myself.

[nothingcanstop]

[ Della exhales slowly. ]

Thank you for the other day, Kirei. And for not trying to take the rest of us down with you. You're probably going to say I don't need to thank you, but... Well, I want to.

[blackmass]

...The answer to what you wanted to know about me is left in my room. I care nothing for what you do with that information.

[nothingcanstop]

[ yorokobe ahiru ]

I would've rather learned it from you while you were alive.

[blackmass]

Yes, well...if this proves anything it is only that our desires are largely meaningless, apparently.

[nothingcanstop]

Maybe it's just me being contrary to the very end, but... I still don't really believe that.

[fivestagegod]

You are such a weird, depressing person.

[Just saying.]

Kind of a shame that it was you, though, I guess. You were useful, at least.

[It's very "that's rough, buddy" but it's something, anyway.]

[blackmass]

I did find you somewhat amusing.

[which is...about as nice as kirei gets.]