Second trial

[letsplayamod]

The time has come once again. Gather in the arena, it is time for judgement.

[The murky weather outside reflects the mood of the walk out to the cliffs. Once again, several soldiers have stepped free of Typhon's veins to stand guard over the arena. Maybe it's a mistake, but they seem to offer their silent condolence, if not their indifference.

With everyone gathered, a great rift opens once more outside the barrier. Typhon reveals himself, this time only from the waist up. Peering down from his glowing portal, blanketed in the last light drizzles outside your shimmering dome.]

Bah... So safe and secure within your bubble. Or, perhaps not anymore. [He moves to rest a palm on the barrier, and recoils as it once again stings his palm.] See what your Athena has 'gifted' you - nothing but strife. A broken world that needs rebuilding... But no matter. I will complete that task once we are through.

You have your evidence. Now, begin.

[TRIAL START]

Comments

[phototraces]

I--fuck.

[Almost on their accord...something snaps. It's a quiet, subtle sound. For those watching it's almost like a brief riffle of wind tugs at both Ai's and Wendy's hair.

Then Wendy's bracelet snaps. The many random charms clatters to the ground.]

I... forgot... The matches...

[murchada]

...You.

[she's just staring.]

Are you serious?

[phototraces]

I had to! I had to, okay? I'm not proud of it--it took so long and I hated every second of it but--

[murchada]

What the hell do you mean, you had to?!

[phototraces]

My best friend, my boyfriend, my sister, my classmates... death took all of them! If it wasn't for Athena I'd be next! So fuck, yeah it's dumb. Yeah, I believed him! I panicked--I knew if I didn't do something then--

[latinumsbetter]

You didn't have to do anything. That's just an excuse.

[phototraces]

Yeah. Maybe it is but what's the point of defending myself? It doesn't matter now. You found your cold, heartless killer. Right? Just some shitty dumbass teenager who's hysterical?

[fillets]

... Oh, dear. You really thought there was a chance.

[necromants]

So what was it? What would you have changed with Typhon's offer?

[pariunt]

You couldn’t possibly have thought we wouldn’t find you out after last week.

[yourheroine]

Wendy. Was it...was it for Julie?

[phototraces]

Yes. Because I was stupid enough not to make her go home that night! That stupid, shitty, fucking roller coaster!

[raisethemoon]

So, what? You decided to serve Death instead, to save yourself?

[brokenhabit]

Did you now.

[latinumsbetter]

[You know what, Quark's going to take a step back and let Leb cook on this one. He knows that kind of tone of voice.]

[liedol]

[ ... Ai lets out a short, pained breath. ]

Yeah. You did.

[ She swallows hard. ]

Did you target Alex-kun on purpose? Or would anybody have been fine?

cw: suicide implication

[catsgothistongue]

[...]

... Anyone, including her? She's the one who brought up potential suicide.

cw: suicide implication

[sweetsynergy]

Would it have been suicide? Death's got a plan for everyone, after all.

[Alex talked about it enough, but he wasn't the only one, was he.]

[phototraces]

You were right, Ai. I wasn't aiming for anyone. If no one died, I'd except that, too.

But...

[She stares at the shattered bracelet between their feet.]

Alex and I were the same except... He was an only child.

[liedol]

[ Short, sharp and trembling; ]

And that makes it better?

[phototraces]

Of course it doesn't! I messed up! But it doesn't matter now, does it. The only person in this place who would have understood is gone and now... now everytone is just going to do the same thing they've already done before.

[She's... there's something. Different. Hysterical. The fear, the rage, the helplessness pours out in her voice.]

It doesn't matter. It doesn't fucking matter!

[catsgothistongue]

Bet that makes you feel so much better about this then, huh? After all, you said it yourself: he has nobody left to go back to. No family, no Clear. What's his life compared to yours and your sibling's, right?

[His smile's strained and while he's trying to be blithe and sarcastic, his voice taking on a colder edge to it.]

[stringup]

[ The face of someone who just suddenly got a whiff of an ominous portent: ]

Wait, you...

[sweetsynergy]

Oh. Huh.

[Well that makes a worrying amount of sense.]

[brokenhabit]

You forgot.

[ That tone is um. Level and calm in that like. Dangerous way. ]