Trial Room
You already know what this room looks like.
Stranger: ...The ride down is slow. Too slow. And far too quiet.
Nobody really knows what to say...but a thought is nagging at the back of Stranger's head.
(We're...we're leaving this place with one less prota by our side, aren't we?)
He kept giving The Destroyer angry glances from across the platform, though the guy seemed to not see nor care. It was just humming to itself, as if unaware of how fucked up this all was.
Just then, Stranger felt a tap on his shoulder.
Lotus: It was Lotus. Tears were still welling in his eyes, and Stranger heard a faint sniffle under all of the noise the platform made.
"A-Ah...Stranger...sorry to interrupt you, b-but...I'm still...scared."
Stranger: "Scared?" He spoke quieter than normal...partially because he didn't want a certain prawn to overhear, but also to not spook the poor dude any more. "There's...no reason to be scared, kid. You, me, and Ivan were together the whole time, so we got a good alibi."
Lotus: "I-I-I know, bbut...it's not that."
Stranger: "Mmm...What is it then?"
Lotus: "I...D-Don't know if I can handle this...having someone else die, that we trusted? T-That we cared about? I...I don't know..."
The tears are growing more and more prevalent. He sniffles and hics, though Stranger can tell he's trying to hide it. "W-What if it all gets to me, and I give up? What if I end up h-hurting someone too in the future!? W-What if...hhiiic..."
He goes quiet, and looks away. "....Sorry...I'm sorry."
Stranger: . . .
Wordlessly, yet carefully, he pulls the prota in for a hug.
Lotus: "...Aah-..!"
Stranger: "...Kid. I know it's gonna be hard, but...we'll be alright, you and I, okay?"
A thought enters Stranger's mind...a memory. So recent, yet still so far away...
I...I know that things seem hopeless...but we still have each other, yeah?
Those words of Jasper's echo in his mind.
"We...we have each other. And even if bad things happen, even if we're betrayed...someone out there will be here for you, alright?"
Lotus: "S-Sniff...alright. Tha...Thank, you..."
Although the hug eventually dissipates, Lotus stays by Stranger's side for the rest of the ride down.
Stranger: ...The ride stops. The door opens.
...And there stands the trial room. 16 stands make a circle...although one is already filled in with a hanging portrait of Jasper, which has been X-d out in the color of blood.
Slowly, everyone pours into the stands, finding each stand that has their matching nameplate. The Destroyer takes a detour to sit in a sort of throne overlooking the scene.
True Destroyer: "Aaah, here we are! Now, before we begin, I would like to go over the rules really quick...
Rule 1! The only goal is to figure out who the killer is! Nothing else matters!
Rule 2! If you get the killer right, the killer is executed. And if not, everyone else is executed and the killer goes home!
and Rule 3! You may only ask me for help if whoever has The Wren card hasn't used it yet!
That is all...now go! Have fun!"
Stranger: (...Right. I have that card. I should keep that in mind.)
For a good few seconds...everyone just kind of stands there in silence. Thinking, wondering what to say...
Paradi: And the one to break the silence is an unfortunate choice.
"So are we going to stand here all day, or will I have to state the obvious again?"
Clober: "Huuuuh? What did feather-friend say again?"
Paradi: "That the culprit is Arsenic, obviously."
Arsenic: "UGHH- Enough of that shit, already! I told you, I didn't do it."
She seems to be just BARELY keeping herself from punching them in the face again.
Paradi: "Say that all you want, but is there anything to actually deny my statement?" A sly smile creeps on his face.
NONSTOP DEBATE - START
Paradi: "I can see all those scars you wear on your body..."
Paradi: "...A sure sign of your killing prowess, no?"
Arsenic: "Stop making stupid assumptions, you flying featherball!"
Bryan: "...To be fair, you were the last one to see Jasper..."
Arsenic: "And what reason did I have to kill him!? He had just helped me finish my dare!"
Paradi: "But I'm sure you would have wanted to escape, would you not?"
Paradi: "And it would have been easy to sneak off when no one was looking..."
Stranger: . . .
Stranger: (...Something about one of those sentences...it doesn't seem to add up.)
Bryan: "...To be fair, you were the last one to see Jasper..."
IVAN AND ARSENIC'S ACCOUNT - BREAK!!
Stranger: "Actually, someone else saw Jasper when they were leaving...right, Ivan?"
Ivan: "Wowie zowie! The spotlight already?" Huh, looks like he's back in a good mood compared to last night.
"Yup! I saw Jasper walk off to his dorm, saying that he was going to go take a nap. Then I hung out with Stranger and Lotus, cause we were all in the theatre room! Arsenic wasn't moving a muscle, she was just staring at her painting!"
Stranger: "I also saw her out in the living room when I was coming by...she didn't have anything on her that could've even been a murder weapon, besides her tail...and I doubt her tail could've inflicted the injuries the body had."
Hitori: "Hold on a second!"
Stranger: "...Huh?"
Hitori: "Yeah, all of that stuff you said makes sense, but...if she was sitting there the entire time, how did she not see or even hear the killer enter the pool room!?"
Stranger: (...Damn. The weird snail guy is right about that...there has to be something that can make sense of it, and prove Arsenic's innocence.)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
THE CLOSET
Stranger: "Well, it's possible the killer showed up at the pool room much earlier then the time of the killing. They could've snuck in while Arsenic and Jasper were preoccupied, or even before then, and simply hid in the closet until the time was right."
Arsenic: "...It is true. We heard a lot of footsteps come and go, but-"
She suddenly stops. A realization hits her like a sledgehammer. "Wait a damn second...you little bitch!"
Paradi: "...Oh?"
Arsenic: "I saw you specifically heading to the backstage door, doing some shady shit! Who's to say YOU didn't do it!?"
Paradi: "Huhu...while that is true, I-"
Paradi: ...They keep their mouth open. A weird, gasping noise escapes their mouth...but no words.
They suddenly seem...very confused.
MX-Z0: "...Huh?"
Firestarter: "HAHAHAAA!!! The poor fuck can't even find words!!"
Lotus: "U-Uhm...is your voice, okay...Paradi?"
Arsenic: "It's obvious, look at them. They're guilty as hell, and trying to frame me!"
Stranger: "Hold on...Paradi, are you...able to say anything about what you were doing, even something someone's already said?"
Paradi: "Well I was....aaaaaa..."
It happens again. It's like something is stuck in their throat.
Stranger: (...This feels so forced...like they aren't doing it on purpose. Is there something that would cause them to act so strangely?)
What's causing Paradi to act so strange is...
- They have stage fright
- They forgot what they were doing
- They have a card preventing them from speaking
Stranger: "...Paradi, what card do you have?"
Paradi: "Oh, ah-" They seem caught off guard, if only for a moment. After a few seconds' thought, they put a finger to their lips.
Stranger: "I would assume that the effects of a card could make you unable to speak...perhaps, unable to even give testimony."
True Destroyer: "Wow, so intelligent! Yup, you're super correct. Paradi can't say a word about what they did during the trial!"
Stranger: "Well, in that case...can I ask for a favor, Destroyer? I haven't used The Wren card, after all."
True Destroyer: "Oh? Go on..."
Stranger: "If Paradi can't give us their alibi...I want you to do it instead."
True Destroyer: "!!"
He seems surprised at that being his request...but he gives a smile. "Sure thing, my dear Wren! If I am to have the floor for a second..."
True Destroyer: "So if I was to pretend to be Paradi for a moment...Ohohohoo! Hallooo! I'm Paradi!! Last night, I was going to get some super cute drawing supplies to doodle in my room!! And while I was there, I saw one of the extension cables and some pencils were already taken away! I didn't really mind it, and just went back to my room. Also, I've already done my truth card! It was "to say where my allegiance lies", and I already told everyone I was on the side of this killing game during Rue's announcement! Hahaha!! Suck my religious ween!"
Paradi: "I...do, agree with that...except for the last thing you said." They seem annoyed. "Thank you, regardless. There you have it, friends. An alibi for all the points~."
Arsenic: ...She seems annoyed also, just glaring at Paradi silently.
MX-Z0: "I won't say you're off the hook entirely, Paradi...although when I checked to see who was sleeping at the time of the murder, I did see you drawing."
Her antennae twitch as she thinks. "How about we figure out how the murder happened before the who? That way, we can narrow down our suspects."
Lotus: "Ah, y-yeah..." Lotus speaks up. "I've been meaning to ask...if Ivan and Arsenic saw Jasper going to his dorm, then why was he in the pool room?"
Stranger: (Why Jasper was in the pool room? Oh, right...)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
THE NOTES
Stranger: "We found a note addressed to Jasper in the trash in the pool room, as well as one addressed to me at my own door. Jasper's note said to go to the pool room, from an anonymous sender."
Ivan: "Notes?? This guy knows how to read?? That's crazy~!"
Seven Stones: "...And you don't know how to?"
Firestarter: "So, simple so far!! The killer planted the notes, hid in the closet, and when Jasper came in...slam! Dead and gone!"
Firestarter: "...Actually, was it a slam? We don't know what killed him yet...maybe he got set on fire!!!"
Dax: "Firestarter, darling, it took place in a pool room."
Firestarter: "...Shit. Aw man...then I'm all out of ideas :["
Stranger: (...Some sort of evidence pointing to what could've killed Jasper...Is there anything?)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
THE BLOODSTAINS
Stranger: "...Well, there were some bloodstains on the floor. Two of them, to be exact. Maybe one of those could help narrow it down?"
MX-Z0: "Possibly. But, we don't know what caused the bloodstains to begin with..."
Arsenic: "Actually robot lady, I have a good idea!"
She seems riled up again-- this time, on things not involving Paradi.
NONSTOP DEBATE - START
Arsenic: "Judging by the shape of the big bloodstain on the ground..."
Arsenic: "It was probably a blunt weapon."
Clober: "Eww! Those are so...simple! Not cool at all!"
Ivan: "But, wait, blunt weapons don't usually cause bleeding!"
Arsenic: "Well, maybe it had weird spikes or something."
Bryan: "...Hey, don't look at me like that!"
Arsenic: "I mean, nothing else could have caused the blood..."
Stranger: (...Hold on a second. One of those is definitely wrong, because...!)
Arsenic: "I mean, nothing else could have caused the blood..."
JASPER'S WEAK SPOT - BREAK!!
Stranger: "Actually...and this is a bit gross...there is something that could have made that bloodstain."
Arsenic: "Huh?"
Stranger: "Remember the weak spot I found on the back of Jasper's head? It was burst open and all bloody...if Jasper was knocked to the ground on the back of his head, that would have been enough pressure to burst that soft spot open, and there would definitely be blood."
Lotus: "S-So he was...knocked to the ground? Somehow?"
Stranger: "Correct. And that means that it's unlikely the weapon was a bl-"
Tarnish: "BE VANQUISHED TO THE FIERY DEPTHS!!"
CRASH
REBUTTAL SHOWDOWN - START
Tarnish: "You dare say such nonsense! Stranger, buffoon that you are...those bloodstains having nothing to do with the case at all!"
Tarnish: "Look at them! They're all faded and worn!"
SLASH
Tarnish: "Someone probably just got a cut a few days prior, that is all!"
SLASH
Tarnish: "To point out such faded stains is like believing Oakki is still risen!"
SLASH
Tarnish: "Tell me, Stranger, how such old stains could be so new!?"
THE TOWEL - BREAK!
Stranger: "The stains aren't old, Tarnish. They were just poorly wiped away."
Tarnish: "Huh!? What evidence do you have of that!?"
Stranger: "We found a towel in the pool where Jasper was...it even shows it in the body report."
Arsenic: "Yeah...the killer probably threw both it and the body in there for good reason. The towel was probably to hide all the blood that got soaked into it, since the water is red."
Paradi: "Hm...but the floor in there isn't carpet. Why would stains soak into it so easily?"
True Destroyer: "Actually, it is carpet! Just really really fine carpet."
Seven Stones: "..."
Seven Stones: "You're disgusting."
Stranger: Stranger...quickly puts that horrible realization aside. "Regardless, I'm certain. Jasper wasn't killed by a blunt object. It had to be something else."
Stranger: (Something else...I know just what that something could have been!)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
THE UNWOUND EXTENSION CABLE
Stranger: "...Perhaps, the real murder weapon was the unwound extension cable Ivan and Lotus found in the backstage area. And if Paradi's alibi is to be believed, then that same cable was absent up until the murder."
Clober: "Huuuh? Choking?"
Clober: "But choking can be like...Super super noisy. Wouldn't someone have heard? How did the killer choke the little guy without being heard?"
Stranger: (...Hm...)
Stranger: (Judging from what we know so far about the case...I think I can make an assumption.)
Jasper wasn't heard being choked to death because:
- He liked it
- He was unconscious
- He was choked super super fast
Stranger: "Well, if he ended up hitting the back of his head on the floor, it's possible he was unconscious. If that was the case, the killer would have easily been able to choke him to death without Jasper making a sound."
Lotus: "Hhe...got...choked? That sounds so....cruel..."
Ivan: "At least he was unconscious for it..."
Paradi: "...Well, that was a good show. Are we going to actually find the killer now?"
MX-Z0: "...Huh?"
Paradi: "You all figured out how the murder happened. Good job. But it didn't really lead us anywhere."
Paradi: "If you want to avenge your "friend", then go for someone's throat. Start narrowing down suspects."
Arsenic: "God, would you shut up!? Even if you're right, I don't want to hear it."
MX-Z0: "...They do bring up a good point. We haven't narrowed anyone else down."
Ivan: "Actually, can I ask a question this time?"
MX-Z0: "Go on."
Ivan: "So, we said the murder weapon was the cable, yeah? But, if that's the case...how did it get back to the backstage room so quickly after the murder? Wouldn't the killer still have it with them, logically?"
Ivan: "I know the BDA report says there was stress on the neck...but there could have been other things. And if there's some sort of paradox caused by the extension cable's placement, we need to crack it!"
NONSTOP DEBATE - START
Clober: "Ohhh, I know, I know!"
Clober: "Maybe the killer had magical powers!"
Seven Stones: "Look, little green guy, the only one here with powers is me."
Seven Stones: "Telekinesis is weaker then you think. It can't go through walls or work long-distance."
MX-Z0: "Hm..."
MX-Z0: "Perhaps there were two cables all along?"
Firestarter: "But bitch-boy said he only saw one missing!"
MX-Z0: "Hm...perhaps, then, there was a time window where they could have returned it safely..."
Stranger: (...What one of them said...)
Stranger: (...Actually, I think I understand what she means.)
MX-Z0: "Hm...perhaps, then, there was a time window where they could have returned it safely..."
THE NOTES - CONSENT
Stranger: "...There's something I want to bring up that might help with this debate."
MX-Z0: "...Go on."
Stranger: "Remember how I said I also received a note?"
Stranger: "It told me to go to the pool room, yeah?"
Dax: "Hmmm, but what does that have to do with the case~?"
Stranger: "...Well, the notes have the same handwriting. It's obvious the killer wrote both notes...but why would the killer want to guide me to where the body was?"
Stranger: (...Exactly...why did they?)
The killer tried leading Stranger to the pool room because...
- They wanted to kill him
- They thought Stranger would like a fun surprise
- They wanted to control when the body was discovered
Stranger: "...They were trying to use the body discovery announcement to distract everyone who was awake."
Clober: "Woah!! Really!!?"
MX-Z0: "It's not out of the question...although it's certainly a smarter move."
Firestarter: "Okay, okay, mister protagonist...figuring out all the mysteries n' stuff..." Firestarter speaks up. "Maybe that happened, but how did the killer know when you were going to go to your dorm!?"
Ivan: "Actually, how did the killer know that you would even help Jasper!?"
Stranger: (Hm...I...I have to...think about this.)
HANGMAN'S STUPID IDIOT GAMBIT
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GROUP CHAT AND THE OPENED DOOR
THIS GAMBIT SUCKED!!
Stranger: "...The group chat. I said I liked going to bed at around 11 pm, didn't I?"
MX-Z0: "You did."
Stranger: "And then...earlier that day, while me and Jasper were talking, I spotted someone listening in to us through a slightly opened door. I didn't catch who it was, and I didn't think anything of it..."
Ivan: "...Huh. I guess they would know everything they needed to know if they were fucking SPYING on you!"
MX-Z0: "Hmm....well, even if we have that whole mystery figured out...we still haven't narrowed down any suspects."
Lotus: "Did we...miss anything? Anything at all?"
Stranger: (...Did we?)
Stranger: (...Actually, wait..!)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
THE BLOODSTAINS
Stranger: "...Hold on a minute! There was another bloodstain, remember?"
Bryan: "Yeah, what about it?"
Stranger: "...We said that the bigger bloodstain was from Jasper's soft spot...but we don't know what the other one came from. That thing is sharper, wispier. Nothing we know of could have produced a blood splatter which looks like that."
Seven Stones: "Oh geez, more and more mysteries! By the end of this we'll be saying he was shot by a gun or somethin'..."
NONSTOP DEBATE - START
Ivan: "Hmm...what would have made that bloodstain..."
Ivan: "Maybe it was someone with sharp talons!"
Lotus: "I-Ivan, the only person that incriminates is you..."
Bryan: "Maybe the killer had a sharp weapon on them, too?"
MX-Z0: "Hm...possible, but it would have to be easy to hide, considering I didn't find it."
Firestarter: "God, this is some elaborate stuff!!"
Firestarter: "How could Jasper even fight back against someone so clever!?"
Seven Stones: "He didn't. That's why he's dead."
Seven Stones: "Poor guy...I would've died in his place if I had the chance."
Stranger: (...Hold on...I remember what Arsenic told me.)
Firestarter: "How could Jasper even fight back against someone so clever!?"
JASPER'S ATTUNEMENT - BREAK!!
Stranger: "...Hold on. Arsenic, do you remember what you said about Jasper?"
Arsenic: "...!!"
Her eyes light up. "Yes, I do. His signs of elemental attunement."
Clober: "That wimpy little man? Elemental powers!?"
Arsenic: "Clober, do you tango?"
Clober: "Only on weekends, why?"
Arsenic: "...If you're one of those types of people, you should know attunement when you see one. It doesn't have to be strong, it just has to be there. The tail and horns point to crystal attunement.
Ivan: "Crystals!? So what you're saying is..."
Arsenic: "Exactly. Jasper had to have fought back."
Firestarter: "Pfft, like he would have been able to! The guy was probably a pacifist!"
Seven Stones: "I...don't see it."
Rue: "And you wouldn't fight to survive?"
Seven Stones: "I would accept it, personally."
Gust: Gust has been snoring this entire time...wonder why. She suddenly speaks up in this conversation, somewhat confused.
"But...But...fighting is bad! Jasper is good! He would not!"
MX-Z0: "There had to have been a source for the bloodstain..."
Stranger: "Aw, c'mon guys. Are we really split?"
True Destroyer: . . .
True Destroyer: "Split?"
Stranger: "Y...Yeah, split. That's what I said-"
True Destroyer: "SPLIT???"
Stranger: "Y-Yeah, I said-"
The podiums begin to rise, forming two different sides. It's incredibly disorienting-- Stranger almost trips and falls.
True Destroyer: "THIS SHIT GOES HARD!! SCRUM DEBATE GO!!"
SCRUM DEBATE
(JASPER DIDN'T FIGHT BACK)
Firestarter
Seven Stones
Clober
Lotus
Gust
Bryan
Ivan
(JASPER DID FIGHT BACK)
Stranger
MX-Z0
Dax
Rue
Arsenic
Tarnish
Firestarter: "The little guy was far too weak! What could he have done!?"
Tarnish: "Perhaps he had two sides...one which was nice and cheerful...and the other quick to defend!"
Seven Stones: "I'm not sure he would have been confident in that. He probably just gave up..."
Rue: "Maybe you would, but everyone else here probably has more confidence than that."
Clober: "But if he had weak powers, what would he hope to do to the killer?"
Arsenic: "Probably not kill him. He probably just wanted a momentary distraction to escape..."
Lotus: "B-But...I would be so...scared...I'd just be frozen in fear!"
Rue: "Sorry to say this, but Jasper and you aren't the same person."
Gust: "Fighting is not allowed!"
Dax: "And yet what are we fighting over right now?"
Bryan: "If someone here was injured, where's the wound?"
MX-Z0: "I would assume it could easily be hidden, including with clothing."
Ivan: "Is it really the only option for that bloodstain!?"
Stranger: "We've found nothing else-- it all makes sense like this."
PUSH!!
. . .
BREAK!!
Stranger: "Guys, please... we need to agree on this. What other piece of evidence do we have?"
Stranger: The stands quickly return to normal as he speaks.
Clober: "Ugh, fiiine..."
Clober: "But, hold on...nobody who was awake wore any clothes! Besides Paradi, but we already cleared the idiot out!"
Paradi: "Hmm? Do you not wish for me to...strip, for you, Stranger?"
Stranger: "...Don't look at me like that."
MX-Z0: "Well, there was Rue..."
Rue: "Correct. Shall I?"
MX-Z0: "...If you want."
Rue: And so, he begins to strip. Slowly, carefully...
...And they show with zero injuries. None. At all. They even go out of the way to move the soft fur they have around...nothing, besides older scars that are in no way new.
MX-Z0: "...Huh. Guess it wasn't you?"
Rue: "I have trouble sleeping. That is all."
Seven Stones: "God-- Then who the hell is it!? If everyone else was asleep, then-- how!?"
Stranger: (...That's right...)
Stranger: (This is a stretch...but maybe?)
...Select a piece of evidence!
. . .
GUST'S ACCOUNT
Stranger: "...Gust. Could you recall what you said to Mixzo last night?"
Gust: Snork...mimi...snork...mimi- guh-
"H-Huh? Oh! Yes! Gust can! Gust had trouble sleeping last night, because someone kept running in and out of their dorm...it was super loud..."
Stranger: "Exactly...and that got me thinking..."
Stranger: "...What if the killer only pretended to be asleep?"
Bryan: "Huh??"
MX-Z0: "...To be fair, it is easy to pretend to do that. I would be none the wiser just by peeking through a peephole."
Stranger: "Alright, then...that means anyone with clothes could have done it. Dax, Tarnish?"
Dax: "....Fine."
Dax goes first. He carefully takes off his clothes...
...And there is nothing, once again.
Tarnish: "M-Me!? But this is my coat of darkness, with the horrid symbol! I cannot-"
Arsenic: "Would you rather we accuse you of murder?"
Tarnish: "..."
Tarnish: He takes off his coat.
...And there is also nothing.
MX-Z0: "...Huh? But, none of you show any recent injuries..."
Stranger: (...)
Stranger: (Wait a second.)
Stranger: (That's not the only person here technically wearing clothes.)
Stranger: (...Someone here who is wearing something...someone here who wasn't revealed their truth or dare to us yet, either...!)
SELECT SOMEONE!
- STRANGER
- MX-Z0
- CLOBER
- IVAN
- RUE
- LOTUS
- TARNISH
- PARADI
- ARSENIC
- BRYAN
- GUST
- SEVEN STONES
- FIRESTARTER
- HITORI
- DAX
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE!!
Stranger: "...Hey, Bryan."
Bryan: "...What?"
Stranger: "I need you to take your tie off."
Bryan: "M-My tie!?" He seems...offended, almost. "I'm not doing that. How could I hide an entire injury behind a tie!?"
Stranger: "It's improbable...but I need to see the proof."
Bryan: "C'mon, man, I'm not-"
Arsenic: SHHKK.
Arsenic: Without any warning, Arsenic rips the tie right off of him.
Bryan: ...And there, almost perfectly covered by the tie, is a wispy, fresh cut. Similar in every way to the bloodstain.
Bryan: Bryan freezes. His face goes cold....all eyes are on him.
Lotus: "B-B-B...Bryan!? You...?"
Bryan: "N...No...No! IT WASN'T ME! IT- IT WAS-"
FINAL SHOWDOWN - START!
Bryan: "IT WASN'T ME! IT WASN'T ME!!"
! ! !
Bryan: "DO YOU THINK I'M SMART ENOUGH TO DO THAT?"
! ! !
Bryan: "I'M JUST A NORMAL GUY!!!"
! ! !
Bryan: "I WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING!"
! ! !
Bryan: "FOR YOU TO FORSAKE ME LIKE THIS--"
! ! !
Bryan: "WHY WOULD YOU EVER...!!"
! ! !
Bryan: "TELL ME, WHY WOULD I EVEN KILL HIM!?"
T R U T H
O R
D A R E
FINAL BREAK!!!
. . .
. . .
. . .
Bryan: The room is silent.
A growing void envelops the trial room. Bryan is left...sobbing. Whimpering. He has nothing left to say.
"I'm...I'm...sorry..." He mumbles.
Bryan: "I...I just...couldn't admit to all of you..."
MX-Z0: "? Couldn't admit what?"
True Destroyer: "Well! We'll get to that in a second! It's time to vote for who the killer is!!"
VOTING TIME!
15 VOTES FOR: BRYAN
🎉 BRYAN IS CORRECT 🎉
Stranger: "Bryan..." He glares at him. There is a level of disdain he holds towards the kill of someone so...innocent...but at the same time, he can't help but feel sympathy for someone looking so pathetic in this moment.
"...Why?"
Bryan: "M-Mm..." He's choking on tears. It's like he's barely able to force the words out...
Bryan: "My...my truth...card..."
Stranger: "Your truth card...?"
Seven Stones: "What the hell could you have done to justify this!?"
Bryan: "I...I..."
True Destroyer: "Oh, no need to speak, Bryan!"
True Destroyer: It suddenly jumps down from its seat, and pulls out a screen from seemingly nowhere.
"It's prawn tradition to confess one's sins at the time of death! So let's do that now, and explain afterwards!"
Bryan: His eyes grow tense and wide.
"You-- You what--!?"
True Destroyer: It does not wait for a response. With a press of a remote it somehow obtained...the screen turns on.
???: . . .
Fire. Chaos. Honking cars and screaming people.
???: The streets of Serpent City became hell on earth that day...when the Electric Riots happened.
A fight between two sides...those who hated the use of electronic and articifical enhancements in medicine and daily life...and those who did not mind.
???: But this sinner did not care for those reasons.
???: This sinner took to the streets for one reason only.
???: To feel control.
???: The screen shows an image of Bryan leading an assault on a family bakery. Breaking windows, smashing things...
???: This sinner was just an ordinary office worker.
???: He never had power. He never had control.
???: And when his office buddies began joining the fight...
???: ...He saw an opportunity to take his anger out on everything without punishment.
???: The screen shows Bryan using his bat to smash in the heads of random people in the streets. Officers, passersby, the owners of the stores he plundered...
???: He and the boys didn't care what they did. To them, it was all...nothing. Fake. It was a riot. Who cares what you did during a riot? In all of the chaos, not a soul saw this one guy in the sea of many...
???: ...And when the riots settled, it all faded from his mind. He went back to his 9-5 job, with a newfound vigor in his eyes...
???: ...His truth was to admit this all to you.
???: And he was too prideful to even do that.
???: The screen shuts off.
Bryan: His face is pale. He's frozen, shaking wildly, his life flashing through his eyes. It's like the life was drained straight out of him.
Stranger: The faces of everyone there are also motionless. They had never seen such horrible things up close...was it true? That Bryan was actually like this? Someone who would kill and destroy, just to feel control in his life...!?
Paradi: ...But someone had to speak up eventually.
Paradi: "I'm ashamed of you, really, Bryan."
Bryan: "I...I k-know....I know..."
Paradi: "Then why did you kill Jasper, hmm? If you really weren't a sinner, then you would have owned up to this. Look where you are now."
Bryan: "J-Just...shut up..."
He clutches his head in pain, crying out. "Shut up!! All of you!! I don't want to feel anything!! I don't want to be anything!!"
Bryan: "I was born in a life I had no control over, I just wanted something!!"
Rue: . . .
Rue looks...off. Very off.
This is the first time anyone has ever seen Rue be anything but neutral. That neutrality has been replaced with a quiet rage.
Rue: He walks up to Bryan.
True Destroyer: "Ugh, enough back and forth! Votes are done, things are done, let's go!"
Rue: "Bryan."
Bryan: "W...Wh....huh?"
True Destroyer: "Let's give it everything we've g- Wait, no, that's too iconic....okay-okay! Let's go! Here comes the PUNISHMENT!"
Rue: "So it was someone like you who brought me down here."
He kicks him in the face, just as the show begins.