Fandom Fandomronpa [Closed]

[Xeppy]

Pinkie Pie
Zenterfold Ghost_Candy Takumi98 Capri

Trial Room

The Ultimate Party Planner had been standing there inside her designated podium, shivering as the winds of despair flew through her and everyone. The words of her peers as they discussed who they thought were the "suspect" went past Pinkie. She ignored as others voted for who they wanted, staring at the floor below them all. How long could she keep this up? Pinkie Pie wasn't the Ultimate Denier. She couldn't deny everything happening to them much longer. Ever since Monokuma delivered the news to them that they were in this terrible situation, everything had been silently eating her up. It wasn't that she didn't believe what Monokuma was saying to them... she hoped to not believe it. Even as common sense tried to catch up to her at their kidnapping, Trixie's body, a murderer being among them, she swatted it away and chose to be oblivious. Chose to not believe. She did believe, though. If she truly did not believe any of this, why did she have a hard time sleeping at night? Why would she panic at the word blood, or at any mention of someone killing another? Pinkie Pie had to physically shake her head to get any bad thoughts away from her, yet they still lingered.

She wanted to believe that Trixie was hiding somewhere, awaiting to come out. She wanted to believe nobody here would do terrible things to another, and that nobody here was a traitor. She so desperately wanted everything to be fine that it affected her way of thinking. It affected her actions. It affected everything. Gosh, Pinkie wanting to think everything was fine made her assume things that were far from what was actually happening. Pinkie knew how she was acting but refused to accept the fact that she was denying. She refused. She REFUSED.

...

Voting time was up. When Monokuma started speaking again. Pinkie was only barely listening to him. No. She was listening to him. She just chose not to hear. Hadn't she been doing that since the beginning? Hearing Monokuma's words, but not truly hearing them? Not listening to them? Not trusting and believing them? The large screens were showing something now. Pinkie had to look. She glanced at Atsushi for comfort, looked at Sophie to see how she was reacting, and then focused on the huge devices that showed something.

Menma's face.

GUILTY

Even though Pinkie was basically pointing fingers at the girl just a moment ago, she still stared at the word for a moment in disbelief. Guilty...? No, no! It must mean guilty... as a joke way! As in a lying way! What had Pinkie been saying before? That... this all had a fake murderer, right? The denying of Pinkie flared back up into her lungs, like how asthma would. The only difference here was that asthma made it difficult to breathe: denying made it possible for Pinkie to breathe. While others reacted in shock, gratefulness, or other emotions, Pinkie smiled nervously at the screen. She wasn't smiling for happiness that Menma was "guilty", or even thankfulness that they got their theories right, but of pure relief that it was over. Or, at least, Pinkie thought it was over. Of course, it wasn't. A comment Monokuma said earlier flashed inside her mind now. Even though Pinkie chose not to believe Monokuma and not listen to him, she still processed and remembered his words.
​

"... the losers will die. Execution. If you vote for the wrong person, every single one of you will die. And if you vote for the right one... they will die. That's the killing game!"

Was Monokuma being truthful about that? Since they voted for the "right one"... did that mean that Menma would...? No! No, that wouldn't happen! Pinkie still chose not to believe it! Even though Monokuma had been truthful about all the things he had said to them before... that one specific comment about execution had to be fake! Menma would be fine! She wouldn't be executed! No! Monokuma didn't answer Clementine's question earlier of if they would go home after this!! That must mean that they would! Everything would be okay! Everything would be okay.

It certainly wasn't, though, since soon after Clementine and Claude asked Menma "why", the girl admitted to her crimes. Admitted? She... admitted? Pinkie stared at the girl, as if not believing anything she was saying. What was she talking about? She... did it? No! NO! That was impossible! Even though Pinkie voted for her... she expected it all to be fake! Menma didn't actually do it! She didn't. She didn't! Even though Pinkie kept telling herself this, there was still the part of her that didn't believe a single word that she was thinking. That Menma was the true killer. That everything was real.

When Menma suddenly started laughing out loud, Pinkie's confused expression turned one into pure disbelief and terror. Menma was crying and laughing. This wasn't an act. This was coming from Menma's emotions, no acting involved. Pinkie's suspicions only got confirmed when Menma hung her head down low, as if ending her outburst. Pinkie couldn't believe it. She couldn't. How? Why? Menma actually...?

"No," Pinkie's voice choked out, as if that would end everything Menma just said. "No..." Unlike before, with Trixie's body, she didn't seem angry or confused. She seemed saddened by Menma. As would always happen when Pinkie was saddened, her hair shrunk to the straight form it had taken before. As she stared at the Ultimate Fighter, questions forming inside her head. Even if Menma truly was panicking... why would she cover it up? Why would she lead the rest of them down the wrong path and threaten to have them all... executed? So many people cared for Menma. So many went to her side when she was injured from the bomb, and so many messaged her after that. Clementine seemed to trust her, with how much she spoke to her. Besides all of that, Menma still made red herrings against them. Why? Why? Did... the power of friendship mean nothing to everyone here? Did peace and happiness not exist here?

Wait. Executed. Pinkie remembered again. Would... Menma...

"This is a-all... right?" She directed her words towards Monokuma, gripping the sides of her arms harder and harder. "M-Menma won't... she won't..." It was obvious Pinkie was trying to ask, "Menma won't be executed, right?" She looked at the bear with a pleading and fearful gaze, now begging with the words, "Please... please... she c-can't..."

Nobody deserved an execution. Even after what Menma did, she didn't deserve it. Monokuma... he couldn't do that to her! He just couldn't!​

 

[themagnoliaofutah]

@ all

Louise stared at the word GUILTY for a long moment, then slumped a little against the podium, letting out a faint sigh of relief. They were safe. For now. But she was so, so tired. So drained.

She didn't look up as Menma confessed, but a look of brief anguish passed over the woman's face. It was an accident!

The words rang in her head, changing pitch to match the last words she heard so long ago. She wondered if the Colonel - Wilford, he called himself now? - would remember her enough to miss her. She hoped he didn't.

She also hoped no one would notice the tears in her eyes.

 

[Capri]

SOPHIE WALTEN
Zenterfold Xeppy Takumi98 Josh lunar_moth @EveryoneElse

GUILTY

An overwhelming sense of relief filled Sophie, collapsing on her podium in relief. She survived the trial. In that one moment, the fact she gets to live another day made her feel a sense of euphoria.

But soon came the dread. Not about herself, or about Menma's inevitable demise, but about Pinkie.

In a moment, Sophie rushed over to Pinkie and enveloped her in a hug, a comforting one that told her everything was going to be okay.​

 

[GamblingGoblins]

Marie - Ultimate Decapitator
Trial Room
Verite HanikamuKitten Ghost_Candy @Everybody
​

All of their efforts had come to this. The moment of truth was upon them, and all that was left to do was wait. Marie herself had slumped down against her podium, peering between the variety of faces around her. There were so many unique souls here... what would their existences look like? Would they live long and fruitful lives, or fizzle out and burn up? Only time would tell. Marie herself had a lot of it to kill, judging by the fact that they were all still standing when the screens lit up with an image of Menma's face. She couldn't read it, but based on everyone's reactions, it was easy to pick up the meaning.

"Ah..."

So, she'd been wrong. That was a defeating thought, considering how she'd put everything she had into truly thinking all this over and coming up with the best answer she could. But the majority had been correct, and that was what mattered, right? That thought made it worth it, even despite her own shortcomings. Hopefully Nana, Cater and Shinoa wouldn't mind... and, now that she thought about it, Kotomine, too. She hadn't really had anything personal against the priest; he reminded her a lot of the other man of god she knew. Their souls were both convoluted and deeply confusing, but that was no reason to form a grudge. So, with the revelation of Menma's guilt, she managed a smile in the priest's direction. "I apologize for misunderstanding you," she offered sincerely with a brief polite bow of her head. "I hope you can forgive me, and that I can do better next time."

Next time. She said it so easily. Would there really be a next time? Would this be her last trial? Such thoughts didn't cross Marie's mind in the slightest- it was obvious that the young woman was wholly immersed in the present moment rather than worried over the future. She was just glad everyone seemed so relieved. Hopefully, they would all be able to achieve happiness again in the near future! Except, it didn't look like that was the case; many among them appeared to feel distraught, be it due to feeling betrayed, or simply feeling adverse to the idea of Menma meeting her end. It was incredibly confusing. Familiar questions ran through the blonde's mind once again. Wasn't it good they'd caught her? Why were people so frustrated over her killing? Death was only natural, and Menma's frantic cries shed light on the fact that it hadn't even been intentional. But, then... why would it matter if it had been, either?

Her head hurt far too much to solve such mysteries at present.

What she really wanted do was to sink down to a seated position and just take a nap. Normally, she didn't entertain the idea of sleep unless she had someone to snuggle up with, but she had genuinely exhausted herself here and felt like she could drop right here and now. But the anguish radiating off Menma in waves drove that urge away, and Marie turned her soft smile to the girl. "You don't need to cry," she cooed, gently. "Everything's okay now, isn't it? We all are here, together..." Except it would not last. This heartfelt and kind reassurance was meaningless; Menma was up on the chopping block, and Marie had forgotten entirely. Even thereafter, only death and destruction awaited them, so long as more than one soul remained alive in this hellish place. There was no reason to rejoice; there was only reason to fear.

 

[0ttonomous]

Trusty Patches - Trial Room
Ghost_Candy @all​

---

"Ah, curses. It had to be the girl eh?" Patches said, clearly dejected that Kotomine wasn't the killer. Yet, at the same time, he appeared to display an uncharacteristic amount of concern for Menma. She was a strong woman, and her heart was in the right place. If Patches was in her shoes, he'd have done the same. But of course, morality didn't matter here, and the Undead thief knew what was to come. "You all should exchange your last words. She hasn't much time left before fate claims her poor soul."

He then looked directly at Menma with a serious look on his face. "We didn't talk much, but you had a good run, love," he said in a plain, almost dispassionate tone. In truth, her death did not affect him very much. Throughout the ages, he'd seen all kinds of people die for similarly stupid reasons. At this point, he was just an old man attending yet another person's funeral. It also didn't help that her inevitable death would bring him one step closer to freedom.​

 

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Stiles " Ultimate Sarcasm" Stilinski

Stiles honestly didn't care that he was wrong, but hearing her confession it felt all too familiar to him. Somebody attacked you and in her defense, trying to escape, she killed the person. Maybe despite the mounting evidence, he didn't want it to be her- because that meant she was like him. A killer by accident. Donovan. The scaffolding. He shook his head, pushing the thought away. " I'm sorry that happened to you. Nobody should have to fear for their own life. I hope... that wherever you go.... it's peaecful."

Zenterfold Ghost_Candy @Trial

 

[Takumi98]

Pinkie Pie
Zenterfold Ghost_Candy Takumi98 Capri

Trial Room

The Ultimate Party Planner had been standing there inside her designated podium, shivering as the winds of despair flew through her and everyone. The words of her peers as they discussed who they thought were the "suspect" went past Pinkie. She ignored as others voted for who they wanted, staring at the floor below them all. How long could she keep this up? Pinkie Pie wasn't the Ultimate Denier. She couldn't deny everything happening to them much longer. Ever since Monokuma delivered the news to them that they were in this terrible situation, everything had been silently eating her up. It wasn't that she didn't believe what Monokuma was saying to them... she hoped to not believe it. Even as common sense tried to catch up to her at their kidnapping, Trixie's body, a murderer being among them, she swatted it away and chose to be oblivious. Chose to not believe. She did believe, though. If she truly did not believe any of this, why did she have a hard time sleeping at night? Why would she panic at the word blood, or at any mention of someone killing another? Pinkie Pie had to physically shake her head to get any bad thoughts away from her, yet they still lingered.

She wanted to believe that Trixie was hiding somewhere, awaiting to come out. She wanted to believe nobody here would do terrible things to another, and that nobody here was a traitor. She so desperately wanted everything to be fine that it affected her way of thinking. It affected her actions. It affected everything. Gosh, Pinkie wanting to think everything was fine made her assume things that were far from what was actually happening. Pinkie knew how she was acting but refused to accept the fact that she was denying. She refused. She REFUSED.

...

Voting time was up. When Monokuma started speaking again. Pinkie was only barely listening to him. No. She was listening to him. She just chose not to hear. Hadn't she been doing that since the beginning? Hearing Monokuma's words, but not truly hearing them? Not listening to them? Not trusting and believing them? The large screens were showing something now. Pinkie had to look. She glanced at Atsushi for comfort, looked at Sophie to see how she was reacting, and then focused on the huge devices that showed something.

Menma's face.

GUILTY

Even though Pinkie was basically pointing fingers at the girl just a moment ago, she still stared at the word for a moment in disbelief. Guilty...? No, no! It must mean guilty... as a joke way! As in a lying way! What had Pinkie been saying before? That... this all had a fake murderer, right? The denying of Pinkie flared back up into her lungs, like how asthma would. The only difference here was that asthma made it difficult to breathe: denying made it possible for Pinkie to breathe. While others reacted in shock, gratefulness, or other emotions, Pinkie smiled nervously at the screen. She wasn't smiling for happiness that Menma was "guilty", or even thankfulness that they got their theories right, but of pure relief that it was over. Or, at least, Pinkie thought it was over. Of course, it wasn't. A comment Monokuma said earlier flashed inside her mind now. Even though Pinkie chose not to believe Monokuma and not listen to him, she still processed and remembered his words.



Was Monokuma being truthful about that? Since they voted for the "right one"... did that mean that Menma would...? No! No, that wouldn't happen! Pinkie still chose not to believe it! Even though Monokuma had been truthful about all the things he had said to them before... that one specific comment about execution had to be fake! Menma would be fine! She wouldn't be executed! No! Monokuma didn't answer Clementine's question earlier of if they would go home after this!! That must mean that they would! Everything would be okay! Everything would be okay.

It certainly wasn't, though, since soon after Clementine and Claude asked Menma "why", the girl admitted to her crimes. Admitted? She... admitted? Pinkie stared at the girl, as if not believing anything she was saying. What was she talking about? She... did it? No! NO! That was impossible! Even though Pinkie voted for her... she expected it all to be fake! Menma didn't actually do it! She didn't. She didn't! Even though Pinkie kept telling herself this, there was still the part of her that didn't believe a single word that she was thinking. That Menma was the true killer. That everything was real.

When Menma suddenly started laughing out loud, Pinkie's confused expression turned one into pure disbelief and terror. Menma was crying and laughing. This wasn't an act. This was coming from Menma's emotions, no acting involved. Pinkie's suspicions only got confirmed when Menma hung her head down low, as if ending her outburst. Pinkie couldn't believe it. She couldn't. How? Why? Menma actually...?

"No," Pinkie's voice choked out, as if that would end everything Menma just said. "No..." Unlike before, with Trixie's body, she didn't seem angry or confused. She seemed saddened by Menma. As would always happen when Pinkie was saddened, her hair shrunk to the straight form it had taken before. As she stared at the Ultimate Fighter, questions forming inside her head. Even if Menma truly was panicking... why would she cover it up? Why would she lead the rest of them down the wrong path and threaten to have them all... executed? So many people cared for Menma. So many went to her side when she was injured from the bomb, and so many messaged her after that. Clementine seemed to trust her, with how much she spoke to her. Besides all of that, Menma still made red herrings against them. Why? Why? Did... the power of friendship mean nothing to everyone here? Did peace and happiness not exist here?

Wait. Executed. Pinkie remembered again. Would... Menma...

"This is a-all... right?" She directed her words towards Monokuma, gripping the sides of her arms harder and harder. "M-Menma won't... she won't..." It was obvious Pinkie was trying to ask, "Menma won't be executed, right?" She looked at the bear with a pleading and fearful gaze, now begging with the words, "Please... please... she c-can't..."

Nobody deserved an execution. Even after what Menma did, she didn't deserve it. Monokuma... he couldn't do that to her! He just couldn't!​

SOPHIE WALTEN
Zenterfold Xeppy Takumi98 Josh lunar_moth @EveryoneElse

GUILTY

An overwhelming sense of relief filled Sophie, collapsing on her podium in relief. She survived the trial. In that one moment, the fact she gets to live another day made her feel a sense of euphoria.

But soon came the dread. Not about herself, or about Menma's inevitable demise, but about Pinkie.

In a moment, Sophie rushed over to Pinkie and enveloped her in a hug, a comforting one that told her everything was going to be okay.​

Atsushi looked to Pinkie as she looked his way, ignoring the cheers and excitement from the audience completely. The majority was right in the end, and he and the rest would live. Menma would die. He let it sink in for a moment, and as much as he could understand where Menma was coming from when it came to attacking and killing in self defense, there wasn't anything that could be done now in this messed up situation.

Pinkie needed his comfort, and he'd do his best to give her whatever comfort she needed, but unlike her his reaction to the realization that Menma would be executed was an odd sense of calm. He at least, was glad that Sophie had been quick to reach Pinkie, to give her some form of comfort as well.

This was about survival, and he would survive as long as he could to hopefully see the bear be torn to pieces and return home. Until then, he was going to stick by his words to Pinkie and the rest as best as he could.

I won't let you wander the dark alone. He mouthed those words to her again, a reminder of what he said before they entered the trial room, words he had meant and intended to try and keep.

Xeppy Capri @Others @Trial Stage

 

[Xeppy]

Pinkie Pie
Capri Takumi98 Zenterfold

Trial Room

Pinkie Pie had been silently hoping that something terrible wouldn't happen to Menma, begging that something bad wouldn't happen. But... would Monokuma even listen to her pleas? To any words of hope and life? Would he even consider them? Would he let them even have a slimmer of hope here? Or would all their wishes just be turned to dust, blown away by the murdering? By the killing? By the lack of happiness or anything good here? Oh, how did Pinkie Pie get wrapped up in something like this? She was all smiles! She was all happiness! She was all joy! And it was her job to make others experience those feelings as well! But no. There was no chance of anything good happening here. There was no hope. There was no-!

Before Pinkie could think about anything further, she was suddenly wrapped in the comforting hug of Sophie. Pinkie… Pinkie had been too wrapped up in the despair of everything that she forgot that there was hope here. Pinkie had people she cared about, and people cared about her. Pinkie has friends, and she was confident that as long as she had them, she would be all right. Pinkie had been desperately wanting to be told that everything was okay right then and there, so at Sophie’s embrace giving that message, Pinkie melted into it.

“S-Sophi-“ Pinkie Pie managed to choke out before the waterworks came. They rushed out of her, although the tears were a mix of the stress of the situation, the death of Trixie, and knowing Menma really did it. Her tears were long overdue at this point. Teardrops were now staining the pink-haired girl’s cheeks as she clung onto Sophie. “D-don’t… sniff… don’t leave… m-me…” She said these words desperately, as if she couldn't think what could happen if they didn't come true. While Pinkie had meant this as in Don’t leave my side right now, it also had the message of, Don’t die. Don’t leave us alone forever. I need you. But how could Sophie be in charge of making sure the second message stayed true? How could Sophie be protected to make sure she would stay? That Pinkie would always see her?

While hugging Sophie, Pinkie’s eyes attached onto Atsushi’s reassuring gaze. Atsushi… he said so himself. That he was her friend too. Right? Even if Sophie didn’t say they were friends up and front, Pinkie trusted that she was a friend as well. She was surrounded by friends… so she would be all right. For some reason, when looking at Atsushi and in the comforting warmth of Sophie, the Ultimate Party Planner's mind wandered to the past. Her mind wandered to things Atsushi said before.
​

"I don't think 'creating smiles' will help us." He spoke up as he glanced to a few of the others that argued and theorized why they were all here.​

"So far the others aren't happy, and I think...it's hard to be happy in this situation with so many people...stuck in one place." He answered.

"I don't quite agree," Atsushi's tone was quiet, almost solemn, "but if that's what helps you, then...just...keep in mind that this situation is odd, and making everyone happy is hard."

Well, he was right, wasn't he? It was hard making everyone happy, and Pinkie wasn't strong enough for the challenge. Nobody was happy. Everyone was either filled with guilt, sadness, or just nothing. Some people were filled with relief, but it was at the cost of someone else's sadness. How would Pinkie keep her past words, her past confidence that smiles would fill the air? That everyone would be happy here? That she could make everyone happy? Even though Pinkie Pie was the Ultimate Party Planner and could easily create laughs back at home... was she capable of doing that here?

I won't let you wander through the dark alone.

Pinkie immediately recognized this from Atsushi's mouth, and the moment she processed it, her tears only came down faster. Her cries now seemed to be filled with relief. He wouldn't leave them alone. He wouldn't! Even if Pinkie wasn't in the light, she still had her friends' hands to hold. Even if they didn't have access to a flashlight to see, she could navigate through the tunnel of everything with her friends' voices. Even if the light is far away... she would get there eventually. The darkness would end, and the light would show. Even if it only showed for a minute, a second, it would always show.

Pinkie held onto Sophie tighter, and hoping Atsushi could read mouths, mouthed, I-I know you said that creating smiles won't help us, and making others happy is hard, and it is. But... no matter what... I'll make you smile. Even if I can't make others smile, I'll make sure you smile. I'LL MAKE YOU SMILE. Was Atsushi good at reading mouths? She didn't know. Still, she hoped that he did know what she was saying, because she meant every word. She wanted to make him smile. She wanted to make Sophie smile. She wanted to make Wanda smile. She wanted to make Usagi smile. She wanted to make as many people as possible smile around her.

"I'll make you smile..." Pinkie muttered, directing it at Sophie. Pinkie hoped she wasn't suffocating her friend with how tight she was embracing her. Even as her tears were still rolling down her face, she felt comforted. "I'll... I'll make you smile..."

Multiple people were trying to comfort Menma, saying their wishes to her. Pinkie stared at the girl, seeing her tears. Pinkie couldn't think of what could happen to her... she couldn't think of that right now. Focus on making her better. Even if Menma couldn't smile right now... the girl needed to at least feel slightly better. Pinkie, still hugging Sophie, turned to Clementine and said quietly, "C-Clementine..." Even if the ball-capped girl felt betrayed, horrified, if she gave comforting words to Menma, that would hopefully relax the Ultimate Fighter. Even if it was only a small comfort, Clementine needed to. Clementine and Menma grew close to one another, if Pinkie could remember. Menma directed her excuse at Clementine, saying it was an accident. That must have meant Menma needed Clementine not to feel badly towards her and her actions. So... Clementine needed to say something. She needed to forgive her for what she did.

Even if Clementine had to fake her words, her forgiveness, she needed to make Menma feel better.​

 

[Ghost_Candy]

Menma's eyes hurt, she looked up at her peers- their words; comforting or otherwise, all blended together. Her arms were crossed on the podium as she looked up, the anger now in her eyes; her emotion and the way she stood made her look similar to the 'Fallen Angel' painting.

Her nails dug into her arms so hard they bled.

She didn't mean to, she wouldn't feel as bad if she meant to.

There was nothing left, but despair.



"Fuck,"

Zenterfold Xeppy Takumi98 LuckycoolHawk9 0ttonomous GamblingGoblins Capri themagnoliaofutah @Trial​

 

[LuckycoolHawk9]

Stiles " Ultimate Sarcasm" Stilinski

Stiles was quiet for a moment. Honestly, he felt that her reaction was more then fair as it wasn't likely that she was going to live. It was so many different levels of fucked up. Maybe if there was one last thing he could do- the smallest and strangest of gestures. " Uh- Mr... Monokuma, could I ask something? Could you at least let her have her jacket back before you kill her?" He asked the bear. He had to wonder who was the bulldog, but it hardly seemed important at the moment. Maybe he would pet it for some comfort after the inevitable execution.

Zenterfold Ghost_Candy @Trial

 

[Icee]

​

Claude Von Riegan ​

Ultimate Stratigist​

Zenterfold Ghost_Candy +Anyone​

​

Trial Stage​

Claude did his best to keep a neutral expression as he listened to Menma's honest explaination of what happened to Trixie. In spite of all the horrifying evidence they had found, he actually beleived hee. Menma was about to die. What reason would she have had to not give them the truth in her final moments? The evidence did line up if one looked closely. How the laundry was spewn, it did show how Menma had likely panicked and tried to hide it. It was an accident but a murder was still a murder and he was sure that Menma would find no mercy from Monokuma when it cams time for her execution.
"So it was an accident. You didn't mean to kill her but you misunderstood your own strength and it happened anyway..." he said. "I'm sorry if I came off as harsh on you earlier, Menma. I just wanted to bring the killer to justice because I thought that this was a murder in cold blood. But only half of that was true. You murdered, but it was just a horrible accident...."

He glanced toward Monokuma. Knowing the bear's nature, he was sure that no mercy was going to be shown on Menma. She was going to face execution regardless of why she murdered and if it was going to be Monokuma style, he was sure that wasn't going to be pretty. Hopefully they wouldn't be made to watch it...

 

[Verite]

Kirei Kotomine

​

Kotomine's stony expression did not change when the word GUILTY flashed before everyone, confirming Menma as the true culprit, nor did he have any outward reaction to everyone's somber reactions to the whole situation, between the revelation of Menma having murdered someone else, the idea that it was in self-defense even, and the tragedy of her coming fate as well. He only blankly stared, folding his arms behind his back as he watched the scene unfold.

As Marie approached him briefly to apologize for casting suspicion upon him, it was only then that the priest gave any sort of reaction, an amused breath leaving his mouth as his lips curled into a wry smile. "Think nothing of it, child. Tis all in the name of... uncovering the truth, and as the Lord is my shepherd, I shall never be lost, want for the path to the truth," he shook his head briefly.

With that all said, as everyone else showed their grief for Menma, a grief that they had conjured by themselves, all ranging between denial, bargaining, and guilt, the priest gave a brief sidelong glance -- not to anyone or anything in particular, but for the mere sake of it -- before focusing his gaze forward once again. "What a pitiable state of affairs. An accidental murder brought upon in self-defense, you claim? An unfortunate happenstance, but it changes not that your hands are stained with the blood of another, and it is only through divine judgment that you may rectify this transgression," Kotomine said coldly, cruelly even, to Menma, not seeming to care if it would draw upon the ire of everyone else here. After all, there was no getting around it; she would meet her fate here, no matter how much anyone else here might want to take it all back.

"But more than the slaying of the girl named Trixie, in your panic, you attempted to obscure the truth from the rest of us. Instead of confessing the truth, you transgressed upon a sacred commandment, and even after the bear had announced that everyone else would have to die to allow you to live and escape, still you said nothing," the priest said, his tone low and calm yet his words cutting as deep as knives.

"It was one matter to kill one girl, but to put our own lives on the line in favor of yours own as well... Yours must truly be a wicked soul," Kotomine went on, his latter words almost seeming to contain a hint of admiration.

"But this is the path you chose. And surely, you would at least have the dignity to make peace with it and face the consequences head on. But rejoice, child, for the Lord may yet have mercy upon your soul and allow you into his kingdom."

---

Interactions: Ghost_Candy GamblingGoblins
Others Present: All

 

[Takumi98]

Pinkie Pie
Capri Takumi98 Zenterfold

Trial Room

Pinkie Pie had been silently hoping that something terrible wouldn't happen to Menma, begging that something bad wouldn't happen. But... would Monokuma even listen to her pleas? To any words of hope and life? Would he even consider them? Would he let them even have a slimmer of hope here? Or would all their wishes just be turned to dust, blown away by the murdering? By the killing? By the lack of happiness or anything good here? Oh, how did Pinkie Pie get wrapped up in something like this? She was all smiles! She was all happiness! She was all joy! And it was her job to make others experience those feelings as well! But no. There was no chance of anything good happening here. There was no hope. There was no-!

Before Pinkie could think about anything further, she was suddenly wrapped in the comforting hug of Sophie. Pinkie… Pinkie had been too wrapped up in the despair of everything that she forgot that there was hope here. Pinkie had people she cared about, and people cared about her. Pinkie has friends, and she was confident that as long as she had them, she would be all right. Pinkie had been desperately wanting to be told that everything was okay right then and there, so at Sophie’s embrace giving that message, Pinkie melted into it.

“S-Sophi-“ Pinkie Pie managed to choke out before the waterworks came. They rushed out of her, although the tears were a mix of the stress of the situation, the death of Trixie, and knowing Menma really did it. Her tears were long overdue at this point. Teardrops were now staining the pink-haired girl’s cheeks as she clung onto Sophie. “D-don’t… sniff… don’t leave… m-me…” She said these words desperately, as if she couldn't think what could happen if they didn't come true. While Pinkie had meant this as in Don’t leave my side right now, it also had the message of, Don’t die. Don’t leave us alone forever. I need you. But how could Sophie be in charge of making sure the second message stayed true? How could Sophie be protected to make sure she would stay? That Pinkie would always see her?

While hugging Sophie, Pinkie’s eyes attached onto Atsushi’s reassuring gaze. Atsushi… he said so himself. That he was her friend too. Right? Even if Sophie didn’t say they were friends up and front, Pinkie trusted that she was a friend as well. She was surrounded by friends… so she would be all right. For some reason, when looking at Atsushi and in the comforting warmth of Sophie, the Ultimate Party Planner's mind wandered to the past. Her mind wandered to things Atsushi said before.





Well, he was right, wasn't he? It was hard making everyone happy, and Pinkie wasn't strong enough for the challenge. Nobody was happy. Everyone was either filled with guilt, sadness, or just nothing. Some people were filled with relief, but it was at the cost of someone else's sadness. How would Pinkie keep her past words, her past confidence that smiles would fill the air? That everyone would be happy here? That she could make everyone happy? Even though Pinkie Pie was the Ultimate Party Planner and could easily create laughs back at home... was she capable of doing that here?

I won't let you wander through the dark alone.

Pinkie immediately recognized this from Atsushi's mouth, and the moment she processed it, her tears only came down faster. Her cries now seemed to be filled with relief. He wouldn't leave them alone. He wouldn't! Even if Pinkie wasn't in the light, she still had her friends' hands to hold. Even if they didn't have access to a flashlight to see, she could navigate through the tunnel of everything with her friends' voices. Even if the light is far away... she would get there eventually. The darkness would end, and the light would show. Even if it only showed for a minute, a second, it would always show.

Pinkie held onto Sophie tighter, and hoping Atsushi could read mouths, mouthed, I-I know you said that creating smiles won't help us, and making others happy is hard, and it is. But... no matter what... I'll make you smile. Even if I can't make others smile, I'll make sure you smile. I'LL MAKE YOU SMILE. Was Atsushi good at reading mouths? She didn't know. Still, she hoped that he did know what she was saying, because she meant every word. She wanted to make him smile. She wanted to make Sophie smile. She wanted to make Wanda smile. She wanted to make Usagi smile. She wanted to make as many people as possible smile around her.

"I'll make you smile..." Pinkie muttered, directing it at Sophie. Pinkie hoped she wasn't suffocating her friend with how tight she was embracing her. Even as her tears were still rolling down her face, she felt comforted. "I'll... I'll make you smile..."

Multiple people were trying to comfort Menma, saying their wishes to her. Pinkie stared at the girl, seeing her tears. Pinkie couldn't think of what could happen to her... she couldn't think of that right now. Focus on making her better. Even if Menma couldn't smile right now... the girl needed to at least feel slightly better. Pinkie, still hugging Sophie, turned to Clementine and said quietly, "C-Clementine..." Even if the ball-capped girl felt betrayed, horrified, if she gave comforting words to Menma, that would hopefully relax the Ultimate Fighter. Even if it was only a small comfort, Clementine needed to. Clementine and Menma grew close to one another, if Pinkie could remember. Menma directed her excuse at Clementine, saying it was an accident. That must have meant Menma needed Clementine not to feel badly towards her and her actions. So... Clementine needed to say something. She needed to forgive her for what she did.

Even if Clementine had to fake her words, her forgiveness, she needed to make Menma feel better.​

Focusing on the words she mouthed back to him as she clung to Sophie, Atsushi's gaze softened considerably as he nodded showing he understood what she was trying to convey. That he understood what she was trying to say.

He didn't think he deserved such a thing, having Pinkie put so much effort into something like making him smile. She likely wouldn't have tried if she knew what he was and what he did before coming to this place. She lived in a world so different than his, from what little she described and how hard she tried to deny what was happening around her, and she didn't deserve to be here with man-eating monsters and killers. Neither did Sophie, or Usagi, or even Wanda, or half of the people here for that matter.

And yet...

And yet, he was going out of his way to protect someone who called him a friend...despite her knowing little to nothing about him. He didn't quite understand it, and he wasn't sure if he ever would. He wished Dazai could give him advice or some form of guidance on what to do, what should he do?

What should he do? What should he do other than survive? Other than protect what he could? He wanted so badly to shred that dumb bear to pieces, moreso than even wanting to snap Akutagawa in half like a chocolate bar.

His grip was tight on the sides of his podium the more his thoughts traveled down this dark path, his gaze drifting and landing on the bear specifically for a moment as his pupils thinned to slits. He didn't care about the audience right now, but the bear and whoever controlled it were the real enemy.

He was sure that whatever this execution was, it would be something to get the audience excited for.

Zenterfold Xeppy Capri lunar_moth Josh @Others @Trial stage

 

[Capri]

SOPHIE WALTEN
Zenterfold Xeppy Takumi98 @EveryoneElse

"It’s okay, Pinkie," Sophie spoke, trying to comfort her, "You don't need to do anything. I'm right here,"

Sophie continued to hug Pinkie, running a hand through her hair.​

 

[HanikamuKitten]

Cater Diamond​

Stadium?
Zenterfold GamblingGoblins Verite Ghost_Candy @literallyeveryone ​

Cater grasped his podium, knuckles white as the image of Menma appeared on screen. Others had voted for her too, so now if they were wrong it was partially on him. For a brief moment he wanted to change his answer. Maybe he should have voted for Kotomine instead. He was probably wrong, he probably helped lead them to their demise-

That was until the word “guilty” flashed onto the screen.

He let go of the podium he hadn’t realized he’d been using as a crutch. Instead, he leaned his elbows on it and dropped his head. He let out a quick sign of relief and looked up again.

They weren’t going to die, save for one- Menma. He found himself staring at the girl. For being the ultimate fighter, she had a surprising beauty to her. She could have totes been Magicam famous.

Menma began to explain what happened. An accident. It could have happened to anyone. Accidents happen every day. Some so minor they’re hardly noteworthy. You drop your pencil, you trip, you bump into someone. That’s what you think when you think of an accident. But sometimes those accidents are the difference between life and death, and it’s out of our hands.

It was a reaction. Instinct. Fight or flight. And with Menma being the ultimate fighter…

She didn’t deserve this. She was protecting herself! But Cater presumed Monokuma didn’t care about that. A kill was a kill.

"You don't need to cry, Everything's okay now, isn't it? We all are here, together..."

Did Marie really not understand? Did she not understand that Menma’s life was about to be cut off at such a young age? She couldn’t have been much older than Cater. Barely the chance to live, to grow. She must have been great at what she did to be an “Ultimate”, too. Could such talent really just be let to waste like this? Could such a wonderful, talented soul be crushed so easily?

Now that the voting was over, he decided to go back to Marie. Why not? He had found himself so drawn to her, so comforted by her. Was it because she reminded him of his sisters? No not really. They were loud and pushy, and Marie was quite opposite of that. He didn’t know what it was that made Marie so special to him, but he knew he was going to find out why eventually.

Just as he was about to step down from his podium-

“What a pitiable state of affairs.”

-he opened his mouth.

Cater glanced to the priest next to him. He looked so callous, and just downright creepy.

He said a bunch of stuff to Menma that Cater didn’t quite understand, but message was clear. His derogatory tone of voice said it all.

Menma is a blackened villain and should still be treated as such no matter the circumstance.

And he seemed to enjoy it too. He was enjoying this game of life and death, and torturing this girl who already felt the weight of her actions. She was devastated already, wasn’t that enough? She was going. To DIE.

Cater held back his anger. He was just too tired at this point. But he still wasn’t going to let this go without some push back. So he gently poked the scary guy to get his attention.

“Listen.” He spoke calm and sure, despite the fact that if looks could kill, Kotomine would be the blackened in that moment. “I don’t know who you think you are, but if you were in her position what would you do? If you were told mid trial that everyone would die to save yourself? It’s not like Mo-ku over here gave her time to process. I’m not excusing her actions, but it was flight or fight for her and her body chose to fight, both here and with Trixie. If we’re to blame anyone shouldn’t it be Trixie? For starting this dammed killing game…”

He gave Kotomine zero time to respond before stepping off his podium and walking toward Menma. He shot out his hand.

“Menma? We never got to properly meet, but I think you’re cool. The name’s Cater Diamond. You wanna be my friend? Oh you need a nickname- wait wait wait. How about, Menny? So Menny, what do you say?”

 

[Ghost_Candy]

Menma looked at Marie confused, her innocence, as well as Pinkie's, baffled her.

Menma slowly turned her head to Kotomine as he spoke to her, his religious moral-high ground attitude making her deep pushed down anger rise up her throat. Her face went from one of misery to pure seething rage.



Her nails dug deeper into her own arms before she stood straight again. She was about to lunge at the priest, but someone stepped into her view- Cater. Menma had seen him amongst the crowd, but they never spoke. She was taken aback as he defended her and told off Kotomine- and as he reached out his hand to her, she stared at it almost expecting him to be joking.

With hesitation she gave her hand, shaking his firmly.

"Menny? That's so stupid," she snickered- fondly.

"The wacko is right, this is what I deserve, I still killed her. Also, I don't need my jacket, what so my corpse can be warm?"

She fiddled with a strand of her hair and looked down.

Her end was any second.



Zenterfold GamblingGoblins HanikamuKitten LuckycoolHawk9 Verite Xeppy @trial​

 

[Xeppy]

Pinkie Pie
Capri Takumi98 Josh lunar_moth Ghost_Candy Verite HanikamuKitten + anyone else

Trial Room

Pinkie felt a somewhat comfort when Atsushi got the message that she was trying to convey to him and felt even more comforted with how he reacted to it. He didn't seem to reject it, or even shoot down the idea with a cold look, but purely understood with a soft gaze. Did he understand why Pinkie wanted to make him smile? How even though Pinkie always wanted others to smile, she wanted Atsushi to smile because she thought that he deserved it? At every dark step that she took, didn't Atsushi watch over her? Throughout this trial, wasn't he the support that guided her? During the bomb, even though so many were injured, wasn't he the first one who came over to her? Yes, Pinkie always strived to make others happy, but Atsushi earned the right to smile wide. She felt as though he was kind to those close to him, and anyone who was like that deserved happiness. Even though she didn't know him that long, his actions spoke for him.

And... Sophie deserved to be joyful as well. Pinkie had a feeling that all the dark emotions she was feeling throughout this... Sophie understood. Sophie understood, and even though Pinkie was meant to be the happy, excited, chatterbox person, didn't judge her for her sad side. She guided Pinkie, comforted her, and no matter what anyone else thought... Pinkie believed Sophie was a good person. A good friend. If Sophie wasn't a good friend, why would she be embracing Pinkie? Why would she stick by Pinkie, no matter what happened in this story? Why would she be kind?

As well, Wanda had given her hugs, tried to protect her from seeing Trixie's body. The woman had continually tried to shelter herself and Usagi, being the motherly figure of them all. She had smiled at Pinkie, which is all the pink-haired girl wanted from others. Usagi had gladly been Pinkie's first friend, also, excitedly running around when they first discovered the reception. She had been friendly and kind and deserved that back as well.

Pinkie didn't know what would happen in the future. She didn't know what would happen to Menma. She didn't know why the world could do this, or why she was here. She did know one thing, though. The thing that she was fighting for. Her friends' happiness.

At Sophie's continuous warmth and comforting, Pinkie just continued hugging her, listening to her words through her tears. Sophie was right here. Yes, and she would continue being right there. But... she said... Pinkie didn't need to do anything? Sophie was going out of her way to hug and comfort Pinkie, and now her friend was telling her that she didn't need to do anything? Of course she needed to do something back for Sophie! She opened her mouth to protest, but only let out a shaky sigh when Sophie warmly ran a hand through her straight hair.

She nodded, her tears coming down at a much slower pace. The pink-haired girl seemed at a loss of words in a situation like this. Sophie most likely meant that Pinkie didn't need to do anything right now, in this specific moment... but Pinkie would definitely do something for Sophie later. Even if the girl didn't want Pinkie to do anything for her, Pinkie was going to do something. Whether it be presents, or trying to make her smile, Pinkie needed a reminder that she was going to be the great friend that her friends deserved. That they got the happiness they deserved.

Pinkie's calm breaths got hitched when the priest-man talked to Menma, choosing his words in a way that would definitely make Menma not happy. Pinkie's grip on Sophie tightened once more, being quite disturbed by his choosing of words. What really got to her, though, was a specific part of his speech. Pinkie had been thinking the same thing he was saying when he pointed out that she hid everything she had done from them. She had been wondering why Menma continued to keep what she had done a secret and endanger them all. Even though Pinkie was thinking these things, hearing them come out of the Ultimate Priest's mouth made her feel terrible. What was she doing, thinking these things? No matter what Menma did...

...she wasn't wicked. She didn't deserve consequences. She didn't deserve execution.

Yet, Pinkie couldn't find her voice to speak up. Her voice was strained, dry, incapable of speaking. She couldn't find herself to speak up and defend Menma, as much as she wanted to. No, she wanted to say aloud, That's not true! But, she was not as strong as others were. She wasn't as strong as Cater, who soon spoke against the priest-man and befriended Menma. She wasn't as strong as the others who confronted what was happening to them all and still tried to figure out the case. She wasn't as strong as anyone. She was so weak that she had to be comforted by others instead of comforting them.

Her sniffles got more frequent as she watched what was happening around her, yet having her ear open if Sophie had anything else to say. One thing caught her attention, though. She watched as Menma... snickered. Cater had managed to make her not cry or bang her podium in anger, but laugh at his nickname for her fondly. How had he managed to gather the strength to do that? How... had anyone had the strength to do anything here? How had they all had the strength to comfort Menma? How had Sophie had the strength to comfort Pinkie? How were people here so much stronger than Pinkie could ever be?

At Menma's comment to how she deserved punishment, Pinkie looked at her, wanting to say the words, You don't deserve anything, Menma, except happiness. When giving a present, isn't it the thought behind it that truly counts? So, if you didn't mean to do the terrible act... that should count! Don't grab your jacket to warm yourself, but to tell everyone that you're not giving up! That you're not giving anything up. Grab your jacket, not sadly, as it was involved with Trixie, but in your way. Look Monokuma in the eyes, and let that look say that you're not going to get trapped in what he wants and give up in your hopes, besides what's going to happen. That when you grab the jacket, you're not putting on despair, but you're having it your way.

Pinkie would never say those words, though. Perhaps Sophie would know what Pinkie was thinking with the squeeze she was giving and the look she was having towards Menma, but the words never left the pink-haired girl's mouth. Even as Pinkie wanted to say encouraging words... she didn't want Menma to leave. No, no... Monokuma couldn't do that to her. He couldn't. Menma couldn't leave. Pinkie's breathing got filled with panic, but she tried to level it down with Sophie's embrace.​

 

[GamblingGoblins]

Marie - Ultimate Decapitator
Trial Room
Verite HanikamuKitten Ghost_Candy @Everybody
​

Relief washed over Marie as Kotomine accepted her apology, seeming overall unconcerned by her prior failures. Marie hadn't really seen enough of him to know how he would react to her major blunder, but he seemed decent enough beyond that scary aura of his, so... she relaxed, a relieved smile crossing her lips as she clasped her hands in front of her. "That's a relief, then," she confessed. Still, his words piqued her interest, and her eyes momentarily shimmered with intrigue. He would never be lost, huh? She wondered what that was like. "Is that really true?" she wondered, unable to hide that bubbling interest. If it was, he must've been a very smart individual. Especially since he had managed to notice that clue the rest of them had missed. All of these stray thoughts motivated Marie to ask a question of the priest, though she wasn't sure how to approach it. She bolstered her courage nevertheless, though, doing all she could to override her usual difficulty with speaking to strangers. She steeled her resolve, reaching up to clutch at her heart with determination. "Do you think you could teach me? I... would like to be able to help everyone, too."

Eagerly, she awaited his answer, her will unwavering. She had to be braver and smarter, and... this would be a good path to achieving it, wouldn't it? Except, Marie quickly noticed that, for some reason, the others weren't exactly pleased with the priest. In fact, it was Cater's irritated words that managed to snag her attention, making her flinch with surprise. The calm coldness to his voice and the glower that could kill a man surprised her, coming from him; it was different from the searing passionate rage he'd displayed earlier. And it was scarier. Unwittingly, she found her thoughts beginning to spiral. Why was he this upset? Standing next to Kotomine, it felt almost like he was glaring daggers at both of them. Was it... because of her? She hadn't gotten to ask his forgiveness for her mistake yet. Maybe she had done so badly that he wouldn't like her anymore.

She... wouldn't be able to blame him if that was so. But likewise, the thought of such a thing made her sick to her stomach.

Briefly, the girl became so lost in her own world that she failed to even listen to what was being said. When she managed to snap out of it, she caught the tail end of what Menma had been saying. 'This is what she deserved'? 'Keeping her corpse warm'? What was she-- ...oh. Right. She had forgotten about the stakes of all this; forgotten just what the 'loser' in this game would lose. But, then, it still didn't seem like a big deal to her. Death happened. It was a constant. In one way or another, anyone and everyone would meet their end. Why would they weep for life going on as it did? It wasn't as though Menma would be alone in the sea of souls. Marie's brows creased, she hanging her head slightly and shaking it.

"This is all too confusing..."

 

[HanikamuKitten]

Cater Diamond​

Stadium?
Ghost_Candy GamblingGoblins @literallyeveryone​

"Menny? That's so stupid," she said that, but still she laughed. He knew he’d accomplished his goal.

“Yeah I guess it kinda is haha. Anyway I’ll uh, I’ll see you Menny.” He knew that wasn’t true, but he still said it anyway. Why? False hope? He started to walk away, but his eyes lingered on the girl, knowing that was the last he may ever see of his new friend.

Now Marie had caught his eye as he glided toward her. She seemed confused and sad-understandably so, given the circumstances. But yet Cater didn’t realize the true reason why. He also didn’t realize he was partly to blame.

Cater put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to meet his. He was as gentle as he could be. It felt like her head may just fall right off if he wasn’t too careful.

“You doing okay, cutie? I know death is difficult but we can push through. No one else has to die.”

Who was he convincing? Her, or himself? In truth he wanted to curl into a ball and sleep for a thousand years. But Marie being there made him want to keep going. He had to keep up appearances. He had to be okay.

 

[Josh]

Kirei Kotomine

View attachment 966505​

Kotomine's stony expression did not change when the word GUILTY flashed before everyone, confirming Menma as the true culprit, nor did he have any outward reaction to everyone's somber reactions to the whole situation, between the revelation of Menma having murdered someone else, the idea that it was in self-defense even, and the tragedy of her coming fate as well. He only blankly stared, folding his arms behind his back as he watched the scene unfold.

As Marie approached him briefly to apologize for casting suspicion upon him, it was only then that the priest gave any sort of reaction, an amused breath leaving his mouth as his lips curled into a wry smile. "Think nothing of it, child. Tis all in the name of... uncovering the truth, and as the Lord is my shepherd, I shall never be lost, want for the path to the truth," he shook his head briefly.

With that all said, as everyone else showed their grief for Menma, a grief that they had conjured by themselves, all ranging between denial, bargaining, and guilt, the priest gave a brief sidelong glance -- not to anyone or anything in particular, but for the mere sake of it -- before focusing his gaze forward once again. "What a pitiable state of affairs. An accidental murder brought upon in self-defense, you claim? An unfortunate happenstance, but it changes not that your hands are stained with the blood of another, and it is only through divine judgment that you may rectify this transgression," Kotomine said coldly, cruelly even, to Menma, not seeming to care if it would draw upon the ire of everyone else here. After all, there was no getting around it; she would meet her fate here, no matter how much anyone else here might want to take it all back.

"But more than the slaying of the girl named Trixie, in your panic, you attempted to obscure the truth from the rest of us. Instead of confessing the truth, you transgressed upon a sacred commandment, and even after the bear had announced that everyone else would have to die to allow you to live and escape, still you said nothing," the priest said, his tone low and calm yet his words cutting as deep as knives.

"It was one matter to kill one girl, but to put our own lives on the line in favor of yours own as well... Yours must truly be a wicked soul," Kotomine went on, his latter words almost seeming to contain a hint of admiration.

"But this is the path you chose. And surely, you would at least have the dignity to make peace with it and face the consequences head on. But rejoice, child, for the Lord may yet have mercy upon your soul and allow you into his kingdom."

---

Interactions: Ghost_Candy GamblingGoblins
Others Present: All

"You flagrant Sociopath."

Storming up to the priest, the scarlet witch's finger. A look of pure rage and furry adorned on her face.
"Have you no respect or care for what everyone is going through? Or what happened? Wait, I know the answer. No, you don't."

Pacing around the preist, Wanda got back into his face, her range not stopping. "I keep asking myself; Wanda, is Kotomine the worst person you ever met? At first, oh course not! I've faced a red skulled literal Nazis, entity in love with death herself, the devil, like, the actual devil. However? when it comes to humans? You're up there. I'd be impressed if I wasn't so pissed.

Turning to pinkie Pie and Usagi, Wanda sighed, turning to the Father. "Just stay way from me, and anyone associated with me."

Capri Capri Takumi98 Takumi98 Xeppy lunar_moth lunar_moth Ghost_Candy Ghost_Candy Verite Verite HanikamuKitten HanikamuKitten anyone ​

 

[Icee]

Claude Von Riegan​

Ultimate Stratigist​

Verite Ghost_Candy Xeppy Josh ​

​

Claude wanted to remain silent. It was bad enough that an execution was at hand. It was bad enoigh that they were about to lose another due to a mere accident. But something aboit Kotomine's words irritated him as well. Claude was never fond of him or how he spoke in such religious tongues. It reminded him of how so many people in Fodlan placed blind faith in the gods and never relied on their own strength to make changes. But Kotomine crossed a line, calling Menma truly wicked for what was an obvious accident. The girl was in honest tears, like any cornered person who had no choice but to accept death. He knew that expression, for he had to suffer seeing these expressions up close and personal when he had no choice but to kill some of his former classmates who would not join their side. They were never wicked. They were just put into unfourtunate circumstances. And Menma was also a person in unfourtunate circumstances.
"So that's what kind of person you are, are you?" the Ultimate Stratigist said angrily toward the priest. "Calling someone wicked when they truly murdered on accident?! I mean, look at her! She's about to die and she's in tears after telling us what happened. How does an accident make someone wicked? It was wrong to murder, sure, but she didn't mean it!"
He glanced over at Wanda's angered reaction. He himself stayed at his podium. There was no reason to get right in the priest's face over it. Afterall, they did have to try and say somewhat together but that was still a pretty harsh statement. But getting in faces and yelling was going to nothing to help the situation they were in. He glanced over at Pinkie Pie and Menma at the mention about Menma getting her jacket back.
"I doubt Monokuma will actually give the jacket back, but it would be nice for Menma to at least have the dignity of dying with everything she came with..." the archer mumbled, closing his eyes as he knew it was only wishful thinking. He knows that Monokuma likely won't let anyone here die with any sort of dignity. He glanced back at the bear. He still hoped they wouldn't be made to watch Menma's execution. It was bad enough she was being executed at all in the first place.

 

[Takumi98]

Pinkie Pie
Capri Takumi98 Josh lunar_moth Ghost_Candy Verite HanikamuKitten + anyone else

Trial Room

Pinkie felt a somewhat comfort when Atsushi got the message that she was trying to convey to him and felt even more comforted with how he reacted to it. He didn't seem to reject it, or even shoot down the idea with a cold look, but purely understood with a soft gaze. Did he understand why Pinkie wanted to make him smile? How even though Pinkie always wanted others to smile, she wanted Atsushi to smile because she thought that he deserved it? At every dark step that she took, didn't Atsushi watch over her? Throughout this trial, wasn't he the support that guided her? During the bomb, even though so many were injured, wasn't he the first one who came over to her? Yes, Pinkie always strived to make others happy, but Atsushi earned the right to smile wide. She felt as though he was kind to those close to him, and anyone who was like that deserved happiness. Even though she didn't know him that long, his actions spoke for him.

And... Sophie deserved to be joyful as well. Pinkie had a feeling that all the dark emotions she was feeling throughout this... Sophie understood. Sophie understood, and even though Pinkie was meant to be the happy, excited, chatterbox person, didn't judge her for her sad side. She guided Pinkie, comforted her, and no matter what anyone else thought... Pinkie believed Sophie was a good person. A good friend. If Sophie wasn't a good friend, why would she be embracing Pinkie? Why would she stick by Pinkie, no matter what happened in this story? Why would she be kind?

As well, Wanda had given her hugs, tried to protect her from seeing Trixie's body. The woman had continually tried to shelter herself and Usagi, being the motherly figure of them all. She had smiled at Pinkie, which is all the pink-haired girl wanted from others. Usagi had gladly been Pinkie's first friend, also, excitedly running around when they first discovered the reception. She had been friendly and kind and deserved that back as well.

Pinkie didn't know what would happen in the future. She didn't know what would happen to Menma. She didn't know why the world could do this, or why she was here. She did know one thing, though. The thing that she was fighting for. Her friends' happiness.

At Sophie's continuous warmth and comforting, Pinkie just continued hugging her, listening to her words through her tears. Sophie was right here. Yes, and she would continue being right there. But... she said... Pinkie didn't need to do anything? Sophie was going out of her way to hug and comfort Pinkie, and now her friend was telling her that she didn't need to do anything? Of course she needed to do something back for Sophie! She opened her mouth to protest, but only let out a shaky sigh when Sophie warmly ran a hand through her straight hair.

She nodded, her tears coming down at a much slower pace. The pink-haired girl seemed at a loss of words in a situation like this. Sophie most likely meant that Pinkie didn't need to do anything right now, in this specific moment... but Pinkie would definitely do something for Sophie later. Even if the girl didn't want Pinkie to do anything for her, Pinkie was going to do something. Whether it be presents, or trying to make her smile, Pinkie needed a reminder that she was going to be the great friend that her friends deserved. That they got the happiness they deserved.

Pinkie's calm breaths got hitched when the priest-man talked to Menma, choosing his words in a way that would definitely make Menma not happy. Pinkie's grip on Sophie tightened once more, being quite disturbed by his choosing of words. What really got to her, though, was a specific part of his speech. Pinkie had been thinking the same thing he was saying when he pointed out that she hid everything she had done from them. She had been wondering why Menma continued to keep what she had done a secret and endanger them all. Even though Pinkie was thinking these things, hearing them come out of the Ultimate Priest's mouth made her feel terrible. What was she doing, thinking these things? No matter what Menma did...

...she wasn't wicked. She didn't deserve consequences. She didn't deserve execution.

Yet, Pinkie couldn't find her voice to speak up. Her voice was strained, dry, incapable of speaking. She couldn't find herself to speak up and defend Menma, as much as she wanted to. No, she wanted to say aloud, That's not true! But, she was not as strong as others were. She wasn't as strong as Cater, who soon spoke against the priest-man and befriended Menma. She wasn't as strong as the others who confronted what was happening to them all and still tried to figure out the case. She wasn't as strong as anyone. She was so weak that she had to be comforted by others instead of comforting them.

Her sniffles got more frequent as she watched what was happening around her, yet having her ear open if Sophie had anything else to say. One thing caught her attention, though. She watched as Menma... snickered. Cater had managed to make her not cry or bang her podium in anger, but laugh at his nickname for her fondly. How had he managed to gather the strength to do that? How... had anyone had the strength to do anything here? How had they all had the strength to comfort Menma? How had Sophie had the strength to comfort Pinkie? How were people here so much stronger than Pinkie could ever be?

At Menma's comment to how she deserved punishment, Pinkie looked at her, wanting to say the words, You don't deserve anything, Menma, except happiness. When giving a present, isn't it the thought behind it that truly counts? So, if you didn't mean to do the terrible act... that should count! Don't grab your jacket to warm yourself, but to tell everyone that you're not giving up! That you're not giving anything up. Grab your jacket, not sadly, as it was involved with Trixie, but in your way. Look Monokuma in the eyes, and let that look say that you're not going to get trapped in what he wants and give up in your hopes, besides what's going to happen. That when you grab the jacket, you're not putting on despair, but you're having it your way.

Pinkie would never say those words, though. Perhaps Sophie would know what Pinkie was thinking with the squeeze she was giving and the look she was having towards Menma, but the words never left the pink-haired girl's mouth. Even as Pinkie wanted to say encouraging words... she didn't want Menma to leave. No, no... Monokuma couldn't do that to her. He couldn't. Menma couldn't leave. Pinkie's breathing got filled with panic, but she tried to level it down with Sophie's embrace.​

View attachment 966885

"You flagrant Sociopath."

Storming up to the priest, the scarlet witch's finger. A look of pure rage and furry adorned on her face.
"Have you no respect or care for what everyone is going through? Or what happened? Wait, I know the answer. No, you don't."

Pacing around the preist, Wanda got back into his face, her range not stopping. "I keep asking myself; Wanda, is Kotomine the worst person you ever met? At first, oh course not! I've faced a red skulled literal Nazis, entity in love with death herself, the devil, like, the actual devil. However? when it comes to humans? You're up there. I'd be impressed if I wasn't so pissed.

Turning to pinkie Pie and Usagi, Wanda sighed, turning to the Father. "Just stay way from me, and anyone associated with me."

Capri Capri Takumi98 Takumi98 Xeppy lunar_moth lunar_moth Ghost_Candy Ghost_Candy Verite Verite HanikamuKitten HanikamuKitten anyone ​

Seeing Pinkie look close to panicking almost alarmed Atsushi, and his focus was solely on her in an attempt to calm her, though he was temporarily distracted by Wanda leaving her podium to verbally dig into Kotomine before turning her back to him to focus on Pinkie and Usagi. Her being in such close proximity to the man put him on edge, simply because of the incident in the daycare, despite vaguely recalling a rule against violence though he wouldn't put it past Monokuma to let the tensions continue for the audience to lap up like stray dogs. Admittedly, Atsushi had stopped paying attention to anything the priest said once the votes started rolling in, so he was slightly confused on why so many were quickly lashing out at the man yet by some of what Wanda said as well.

The devil? Red skulled...Nazis?? What?

Maybe he should of paid more attention to what the priest had said, but in all honesty...the man held himself in a similar fashion to the late orphanage director from how he stood tall, a looming figure with an intimidating presence to the words he spoke that were sharp like knives. While the two men had more differences than similarities as far as the white-haired teen could tell there was enough there that helped him realize why he felt the need to avoid and stay out of the way of Kotomine in general, if not to remain wary of the priest.

Even as messaging partners, with the man only replying in response to the messages the teen sent Atsushi only put anything he considered relevant or worth noting in the message, mostly where he was and who he was with other than Shinobu at the time.

Verite Xeppy Capri Josh @Others @Trial stage

 

[themagnoliaofutah]

Icee Verite @ others

Louise glanced up from her slouched over position, flinching a little at that same word. She straightened up a little, bracing her hands against the podium. She glanced at Menma, then back to the others. "Stop it. I said, stop it!" She paused, looked around anxiously. "Stop fighting! Don't you have any respect for the poor girl?"

 

[Zenterfold]

An accident, huh?

When Clementine had said she was familiar with people killing for the stupidest of reasons, that had been one of them. A flash of anger crossed her face and she was forced to look away from Menma. Even if one could pin this on Trixie, something at the back of Clementine's mind told her it wasn't as simple as that. "Maybe you didn't mean to do it, but you still did it," she said, her voice low and grim. She could barely be heard over the cries of those around her and the excited murmurings of the audience. "This still could have been avoided. If only you had..."

Clementine's eyes met the eyes of the girl next to her. Pinkie whispered her name, pleading with her in her expression. What could she do, Clementine thought. She had no power here. It took her a moment to consider the reality of the situation. Execution. Monokuma had said there would be an execution. She was upset with Menma, but an execution? Fuck, was that really the answer? Clementine had known many killers. She herself was one. But in her world, it was always a complicated matter.

She thought then of AJ, how he had killed Marlon. There could have been an argument made that he had been justified, but AJ hadn't known what it meant to kill someone. Clementine had to be hard on him, tell him that what he did was murder. That's how she felt now. In this situation, they could not afford to break down and consume each other through these murders and executions. She could not tell Menma that what she did was okay, but she could wish that Menma actually could atone for what she had done.

She listened then to the priest, who was never one to pull his punches. The others were reacting negatively to what he was saying, but Clementine could not help but identify with some of what he was saying.

"I'm not going to blame Menma," Clementine finally said. "And I won't blame Trixie either. I mean, it's all the bear's fault in the end. The fault of all these people watching us and cheering. But Menma... Why did this have to happen? This could have gone differently!"

There was also the matter of that apparent knife. It would have been easy for Menma to slip into the kitchen in the early morning to put it back. She had tried her best to hide herself, but it all fell apart in the end.



"You guys sure like to jabber," Monokuma said, lounging casually in his chair. "This was never going to go differently, you know. At the end of the day, a kill is a kill. Your justifications matter little in a killing game such as this. But hey, this really helps prove my point! Every one of you is capable of murder! This is just the beginning. There's so many more thrills, chills, and kills awaiting us!

The audience roared. "Thrills! Chills! Kills!" they yelled in unison.

"And I did promise an execution, didn't I?"

"She should be allowed to atone for what she's done!" Clementine burst out. "Isn't that... a better story?" She looked around at the crowd, her face pleading for some level of sympathy. "Isn't that what you all want?! Entertainment!"

Silence.

Monokuma laughed. "Puhuhu... What do you know, girl? Don't be delusional. Killing is what they want. They want to see drama! They want to see pain! It's my job to put you guys through the wringer! That's what our audience wants!"

Laughter from the audience. They found Monokuma funny. A few people cheered. It was like none of this was real to them.

"I'm so pleased to announce, that for the first time this season, it's PUNISHMENT TIME!"

The monitors around the stadium were all on Menma as a mechanical hand grabbed her from the stage and pulled her on to the stadium ground. The arm turned into a pole that clasped Menma to it with a series of chains. There was nothing the Ultimate Fighter could do to escape.

Inside, Menma's thoughts were swirling. She wasn't a good person, but somehow they thought she was. She started fights, was violent and selfish. She was unkind and defensive, she hurt herself and others. She was abused her entire life and she never wanted to feel like a victim again. But, she didn't mean to kill that girl. This is what she deserved. She didn't deserve tears or sympathy, she deserved anything this bear did to her. She didn't deserve forgiveness.



Sweat poured down the young woman's face. She watched as Monokumas began appearing from below the ground, filling up the stadium grounds with copies of himself. Most of them looked on in awe, looking like a mirror image of the audience that surrounded the stadium. One Monokuma in particular had its paws wrapped in cloth as it approached the trapped Menma.



Monokuma began punching Menma. The other Monokumas began to hold up signs and take pictures as if they were watching some kind of official match. Sadly, this fight was one-sided as Menma could do nothing but take punch after punch.

Punch after punch after punch after punch.

It was a horrible, brutal display. Menma slowly became a mess of bruises and cuts and blood. But she was a fighter. She held on for as long as she could, showing Monokuma defiance with every single blow. She did not beg, nor did she cry. She embraced her fate with strength, anger and courage.

At least, until she no longer could. Eventually, Menma's head fell. Monokuma had beaten her to death.

The audience was just as silent as the participants. It seemed they too were horrified at this display of brutality. The only difference was... they wanted to be horrified. The more shocking the better. A few shocked faces turned slowly into wide grins. These people were hungry for blood.

"I think it's time you all got it into your heads that this is your reality now," Monokuma said. "It's kill or be killed. Who will be left standing when it's all over? If you don't have the nerve, it won't be you."

The trial stage slowly descended, carrying the participants back to their living quarters. The audience disappeared from view and the ceiling closed up above them. A profound despair could be felt as a monitor in the trial room turned on announcing it was nighttime.

10 PM

Clementine collapsed into her wheelchair, feeling exhausted. Without a word, she began to wheel herself out of the trial room.​

 

[themagnoliaofutah]

Icee R U S T Verite Zenterfold @ others
Louise's knuckles were white against the podium, a look of pure horror on her face. At the start of the execution, her head had immediately snapped up, eyes taking in every horrible lurid detail as if she was a camera in her own right, forced to watch, to record in her mind every last part. As if there was another audience watching through her.

Once the stage reached the ground, she lingered, still staring into space for a moment or two. She finally let out a small shudder, stepping away, and began to walk back to her room. There was a faint black smear under her eyes, as if she had been wearing runny mascara, and her expression was blank, haunted.

She had died and watched death many times, but that was brutal. It wasn't an execution. It was a torture session that happened to end in death.