ukimiya | Third Trial

THIRD TRIAL

Saturday, Week 3

UNCOVER THE GUILTY PARTY

No one can resist the tug that urges them forward and into the Great Hall. There's no point in lingering within the safe confines of your bed or loitering in the castle halls. Neither will shield you from these tedious trials nor will they keep you from witnessing the ghastly scenes that follow. Most of you have reluctantly accepted this as your reality. Right now, it probably feels like there's no stopping the course you're on. All you can do is hold on tight and wait for Sunday to come. If you can just get through this trial, surely next week won't end in disappointment and tragedy.

It's only when all twenty-two of you are present that the doors in the Great Hall fly open, allowing everyone to enter into the trial room. The only surprise here it is if anyone's still shocked by the display.

As soon as you enter, it's easy to see that the only difference from last week is there are less of you to fill the seats around the table. Likely because of how spacious the room is, with so many of your number missing it's starting to feel a little lonely. With a quick glance, you can see the profiles still lining the walls. Their presence serves as a grim reminder of those whose lives have been lost, just in case the absence of their voices wasn't enough.

When everyone settles into their respective seats, The Sage's cold voice seeps in through their pendants.

"It is time, my warriors, to meet the challenge head on. Thus far, your quick wit and perseverance have prevented these trials from meeting an unrighteous end. As you come upon your third tribunal, I can only ponder if this trend will continue.

May you be blessed with only the best of fortune. You will need it."

As soon as the Sage finishes speaking, five images flicker into sight as if brought to life by a projector. Seeing how there's no such device present, it may not be a stretch to consider magic is at work here.

Soldier on, Warriors.

22 REMAIN

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But if wine can be washed, then why burn the tarp?

Isn't it because the tarp itself is evidence of how the body was transported? And they might have wanted us to think it had been carried, for example.

I don't think our culprit was that idiotic. It's obvious the tarp was used by the lack of blood and the trail. I'm convinced there was something on that tarp the culprit had to hide no matter what.

Dunno about that, but I think there's two parts to it. Your question and then the question about the other half of the lemon.

What did they use it on? Think about it. If they were planning on burning the tarp, they wouldn't need to clean it with the lemon. And if they weren't using the lemon for anything important, why isn't it in the garbage with the other half?

Because they burned it, didn't they? At least, that's where I'm thinking the other half went.

But why would they need to?

That's what we're trying to figure out.

It's burned, but the question's why burn it as opposed to put it in the trash.

Either way, they were using it on something after they did shit in the kitchen. What we need to think about is what they were cleaning after the murder that couldn't be washed out by a simple soak with water.

Edited 2017-08-19 22:27 (UTC)

Hmmm...

[He thinks for a moment.]

Edna, you saw the kitchen, right? What did the blood look like there? You said there was a clean spot but what else? What shape was that clean spot?

Natalia-shaped, if you have to ask. It looks like she was lying there as the blood settled. The position wasn't haphazard either. She was laying flat on her back, from the looks of it.

Good to know. [He smiles.]

I figured that may be the case, but I didn't see the scene myself so I figured I'd ask.

Sure. You can ask me whatever you want.

[That's what she's here for right now. And well... if it's him she probably won't hide anything.]

[He's probably still near her so he's running his hand over her head.

He'll be a gross protective big bro if he wants to be kk.]

I just wanted to know what you saw. You didn't do it, so I know you would answer honestly.

Sure.

[Funny thing about that. Looking fondly at her as you pat her head as much as you do, Eizen might notice an odd little splotch on her hair ribbon. It's hard to tell from the way it's wrapped what exactly it is but it's... off.

..................................................care to ask, Eizen?]

[He does notice that little splotch....

His fingers will run over that ribbon, and the look on his face says there's something off. However, he says nothing... instead holding her back against him...

...protectively.]

...something wrong, Eizen-kun? You just made a weird face.

Edited 2017-08-19 22:55 (UTC)

Nothing's wrong. Go back to focusing on the evidence.

[Okay, he's with Kizakura here.]

So tell us what that was all about.

[She's not going to comment on the irony that is Mahiro interrogating people re: strange looks, but no she's with him and Kizakura on this one. ...Doesn't stop her from giving him a weird look before turning her attention back to Eizen and Edna here.]

(no subject)

coinflipped - 2017-08-19 23:05 (UTC) - Expand

Ah--

[Looking up close he might actually realize that this ribbon is a little different. It used to be on her wrist. She thought she could hide the stain though.]

Eizen.

[You can't protect her this time.]

[He's not going to say anything, instead he holds her tighter.

He's good at lying. He's good at so many things, but when it comes to Edna, he gets emotional. That is something he can't hide.]

Eizen, you're only making this more suspicious.

maddogs - 2017-08-19 23:05 (UTC) - Expand

gyakusatsu - 2017-08-19 23:07 (UTC) - Expand

Listen. We'll have time to talk about this later.

[For now she has something to do. Because she knows he won't.]

[Look, she's shit at putting things together, but she's good at noticing things that need to be noticed.]

Edna-san...?

[look. sibling con.

you're not the only ones with siblings.]

... Edna, about your alibi.