The Convening - Chapter 1 Trial Outcomes

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent’s antagonism against Jack could only go for so long, as more people voiced out their votes… Some surprised him at first… But maybe… There was a reason after all. No? From what he knows… And what he doesn’t.

He could only observe as these three move forward to hear the verdict.

… So they were right, after all. Fuck. Even if Vinzent knew already before, hearing it again didn’t make it better.

He was about to ask Fenna why she did kill Atsuko, what she did do when-

The punishment chamber? That sounded anything but great! There’s only so many options that came to his minds when it was about that room. Injury or death.

…

He didn’t like this. And he sure didn’t dare to experiement either to wander, opting to stay seated where he was.

“Fenna…”

He… What was he going to say to her? She… He still was… Not mad at her, but… Disappointement. Is the word. He was really disappointed that she went that low. Disappointed that she caused this trial to go to hell, figuratively. It wasn’t just her. But still.

…

Maybe there’s a little anger in him, but was it directed at her? Not really, most of it was reserved for Jack. But that’ll be for later. Guy’s deserving less of a shoe throw and more of a brick-at-his-face throw at this point.

And how long is getting mad at Fenna going to help anyway? When she will probably die, in the worst case scenario? Should he say something, or…

“I wish we could have talked more. Perhaps things could have been different.”

But maybe it would have been not.

“… That’s… All.”

To be honest, he wasn’t sure anymore if he wanted to see what was awaiting Fenna. The more he simmered on this, the less he was willing to anticipate it. Only the worst will happen. That’s all he knew. But what? That, he didn’t know. And he really dreaded this.

Fenna Van Daalen

Fenna wasn’t sure what to expect after the statue read out the verdict. It wasn’t like she’d killed someone before, after all. At first, there was an awkward silence as she scanned the jury, but eventually it was broken by Vinzent.

Vinzent Mayer “I wish we could have talked more. Perhaps things could have been different.”

“I wish dat too, dear. Yer a good kid.”

She knew better than to light a cigarette that’s been soaked in saltwater, but she needed something, damn it. She wasn’t too old to play pretend.

Dexter Blanche “Your son, Miss Fenna. When I disembark this train, I will do my best to find them. Its only right, I believe, that they know what happened.”

“…Would ya really? I know I ain’t got a right ta ask, but… The address was…”

She pulled a sheet out of her mascot-assigned notebook and wrote down the address as best she could remember from her letter. Hopefully it was right… Wasn’t like she could double-check now.

R.N.A. “Miss Fenna, I apologise… that things ended up this way… But when you come back from your… punishment… I will try to assist you in… exiting the train.”

“I appreciate dat… but… I get the feelin’ dis is my last stop.”

She looked over to the new statue guarding the path to the “punishment chamber.” Something was wrong here, right? Why’d that judge statue been so worried… and Neko-Neko so excited? Fenna knew her own horrible, terrible luck, and it certainly wouldn’t pull through for her now.

And then the bickering started. Fenna still wasn’t sure what the hell Viper’s problem was– did something happen between her and Atsuko?– but her rebellious actions weren’t unexpected by now. Nor was Matsu’s outburst, though she was a little surprised at the relative sympathy. And Taran, the loyal catboy…

Taran “You may not have been right to do this, but you were damn right about why. I’m with Dexter, somebody here is gonna get off of this fucking train, and they’re going to find your son and keep him safe.”

“Yous too… I’m… sorry I lied to ya–”

Alarm filled her eyes as the situation escalated quickly. Viper set off Matsu who set off Abel and Vinzent– shit, had she seen that kind of anger out of Vinzent before? There was the incident with Asuka, but she hadn’t entirely believed he could really…

Then Jack hopped the railing and she saw the glint of a knife. She couldn’t make it over there in time.

“H-hey! Somebody stop ’im– or– what?”

Jesus, two people were dead, hadn’t there been enough chaos already? She hadn’t even begun to explain what actually happened…

Dexter Blanche

A pity. This is what this entire ordeal was, a pity.

Don’t get Dexter wrong. He didn’t necessarily pity Fenna. Or Jack, for that matter, but this whole situation could have been avoided. Perhaps if people kept a level head, perhaps if people didn’t resort to such… barbaric outbursts.

Well, Dexter thinks. Outbursts of violence were only natural, and they were all human after all. (Well, mostly. Jury’s still out on RNA.)

“Your son, Miss Fenna. When I disembark this train, I will do my best to find them. Its only right, I believe, that they know what happened.”

This was, in the end, his fault, wasn’t it? So in his travels, it wouldn’t be too much of a quest to try and get into contact. He’s sure that he could pull some strings to try and track him down.

Still… this outcome. He sighs.

You know, he used to respect Jack. Living alone, this long on the train, it showed an amount of determination and unbreakable human spirit that Dexter found admirable in a person even if his morals and demeanor were unapproachable. But seeing him go back to his old cocky self after the reveal that he’d killed a person; a real actual person: and that he’d get away with it too.

Well. Everyone else was sure to be give him a wide berth. Which, to an extent, was also a pity. A person like Jack was, even if he was intolerable at the best of times… interesting. And he was also still a person. A good one? Eh, but as a person that cared about people and nature as one, it made him think. Maybe they could talk later. Lord knows the amount of people who would willingly talk to him are vanishingly few.

Narrator Those of you so inclined to experiment would now find yourselves free of the odd little forcefield keeping you in the jury box. But there was still something between you and the next room.

…Something was going to happen to Fenna, and Dexter had, given everything they’d experienced on this train so far, heavily doubted that it would be as simple and mundane as life behind bars. Whatever happened… he needed to be there to see it.

The figure in front of him was intimidating, for sure, but Dexter has faced down bigger beasts. (From a safe distance, behind the eyes of a camera, but hey. all the same.)

He looks around, the others are shuffling around, should he say something? He’s not sure. He’s not a conversation starter at all. He said what he needed to.

All that was left was to wait for that moment when time feels like its standing still.

R.N.A.

Narrator "IN THE CASE OF THE MURDER OF THE PASSENGER KNOWN AS ATSUKO SAMUKURA, THIS COURT FINDS…

THE DEFENDANT, R.N.A., NOT GUILTY.

THE DEFENDANT, JACK, NOT GUILTY.

THE DEFENDANT, FENNA VAN DAALEN… GUILTY."

Well, that was good! They had reached the truth after all. It was unfortunate that Fenna had taken such drastic action… But hopefully this would be enough to deter any further murder. After all, this trial was long and seemingly rather painful for the entire group. Not to mention, they had caught the culprit, in the end.

Narrator “THE GUILTY DEFENDANT SHALL NOW BE DELIVERED TO…”

Iustitia hesitated, as if caught off-guard by something in her script. She tried to move for a moment, but her legs seemed bound to the podium.

Narrator “WHAT IS THIS? THE PUNISHMENT CHAMBER? I…”

Narrator “…I CANNOT SEE, I CANNOT ACT, I MAY ONLY JUDGE. FORGIVE ME…”

Hm… Odd. Why was there a pause? Why the apology? In society, people were punished for crimes, of course. Fenna should be no exception to this rule, even if they’re all currently on a train instead of regular society. Perhaps the judge was just not a fan of punishment in general. Which was a little odd for a judge, but even judges had their weaknesses and soft spots.

They decided to approach the soon to be punished. The guilty party herself, and put a hand on her back… in a comforting gesture. “Miss Fenna, I apologise… that things ended up this way… But when you come back from your… punishment… I will try to assist you in… exiting the train.” They weren’t going to just leave her behind, after all. It seemed like she really wanted to see her son again, and R.N.A. knew the value of family. Even if she had done something so awful… surely she deserved the chance to grow and change?

It was all R.N.A. could do to make up for this failure.

Viper

… Finally. The culprit caught- and luckily, a lack of people naming Jack guilty through spite. Viper hadn’t felt the need to grace Melvin’s hostility with a response, despite being the one to start it. Yeah, maybe someone’s vote had her feeling a twinge of hurt in the pit of her stomach, but overall? Viper was coping.

Feeling content now to stroll back over to her assigned seat, Viper gave an experimental lean onto the railing, narrowly catching herself as she leant backward a little too far.

“Yeah this is all… super nice and all… but I think I said all I wanted to say. Kinda wish it could have been different and all.” In a movement that probably actually looks somewhat impressive, Viper flips backwards over the jury box railing. “Glad not all of ya hate Jack enough to condemn him for a crime he didn’t even do.” With that, she’s off.

Typical of her to just leave as soon as she wasn’t needed in the jury box anymore, it had gotten real stuffy in there being expected to sit down normally.

Instead, her attention is on that scrap that had been on the floor beside the defence bench when they arrived.

“Yo, kittykins.” Viper salutes Nekoneko as she crouches down to pick up and inspect the scrap.

Matsu

Jack laughed. He laughed and then voted himself guilty, too. Something about that felt wrong to Matsu – it was supposed to hurt him, damnit! It was supposed to bother him. They grit their teeth and glower at him, even as others vote.

Abel Lazarus “That stupid cat is.”

“Forget the g-d d-mned cat. What, did they suddenly pull the fucking trigger? Crack that weirdo’s skull? Don’t be stupid.” Even aimed at Abel, their voice is venomous.

Punishment chamber, whatever. They don’t care. They just wanted to get everything over with and get out of this room.

Matsukaze tries to not watch too closely as Viper approaches, though despite the tightening of their grip on their upper arms. There’s something, almost a relief, that she’s returning. Just a little. The gap between them and the rest of the group was about to close and that was a rel–

Viper immediately flips over the banister instead of sitting down, then walks away.

Wow.

Their understanding of everything people had been saying throughout the trial was confirmed right there, wasn’t it? So much for… whatever that had been after their tape.

Viper “Glad not all of ya hate Jack enough to condemn him for a crime he didn’t even do.”

“Glad you do hate what’s-their-face enough to not give a shit that they just got murdered like that. Glad you’re fucking besties with that clown.” Their tone is scathing. “So Fenna shoots someone and that’s worth punching Haruka in the face, but this Jack-ass can just smash someone’s head in without any repercussion? Fuck you.” They didn’t even see the crime scene. They didn’t even speak to Comedy ever. There was just something angry and hot twisting in their stomach.

Oh no. An all too familiar prickling starts in Matsukaze’s eyes. They’ve always been an angry crier… they clench their jaw again and try to blink it back. It would be stupid to cry here, over this. ~~They’re coping.~~ They don’t care. It doesn’t matter. At least maybe now they can go.

They don’t move.

“Actually, fuck all of you who said he wasn’t guilty. Who gives a shit if the vote is supposed to be about Atsuko? He still fucking killed someone – it’s not a crime he didn’t do. He deserves at least the same as Fenna.”

Abel Lazarus

Matsu but this Jack-ass can just smash someone’s head in without any repercussion? Fuck you.”

“I don’t think you’re even thinking this through as much as you believe you are. The rules state only the Correct killer for the case gets killed. Voting for Jack doesn’t guarantee he receives any punishment. It just ups the chances we all get the mistrial punishment. Which, mind you, is the only punishment that isn’t guaranteed to be Death.”

He.

God. What’s the point to any of this? Did Abel really want to risk taking a punishment for Fenna to get out? With that vote he implied as much but really.

…

“Do you think killers deserve to die, Ito? Is that just the line you draw? No matter what? Quite frankly Comedy didn’t deserve to die- nor did Samukura- but I won’t say that Jack or… Ms. Fenna deserves as much either.” He stalls before he speaks Fenna’s name. Deciding between the way she introduced herself and the want to drop the formality.

Regardless. Does Abel really care about these deaths or does he simply hate that people go? He doesn’t want Jack dead even if he hates him honestly. He doesn’t… want Fenna dead for many reasons. He’s so.

This is dumb. He wants to go home.

Matsu He still fucking killed someone – it’s not a crime he didn’t do. He deserves at least the same as Fenna.”

“The vote was never ‘who’s a killer.’ It was always ‘Who killed Atsuko?’ Even then. We are not winners for deciding her son should now be an orphan.”

Ough. Oh he’s a little emotional about that one isn’t he? Whatever. You’re flip flopping Hard Abel. You were just insulting her and implying she wasn’t a good mother, we’re you not?

… but maybe he isn’t flip flopping as much as people might think. After all! He never wanted his own mother dead despite how she treated him. Maybe he’s got some fantasy in his head of Fenna getting out and making amends with the version of her son he’s produced in his mind. Undoubtably he’s wrong- but the idea offers comfort anyway. Perhaps it’s never actually about Fenna, anyway.

Petting Creature makes him yearn for something in this room- but now isn’t the moment to figure out if it’s still actually around.

Viper Glad not all of ya hate Jack enough to condemn him for a crime he didn’t even do.” With that, she’s off.

This isn’t any personal sort of grudge- but in his mind where he’s already decided he will no longer engage with the people here- part of him feels a slight… resentment that Viper of all people voted Fenna guilty. Shouldn’t she have been on his side? Agreed with him? It’s not fair or rational but still. He feels burning hot and alone. It feels almost like.

Almost…

…

It slips from his grasp. He doesn’t know what’s real to him anymore. Where does he start and the shadows over him begin? Is he his uncle or his mother right now? Doesn’t matter. It will never matter. There’s a Deep Hollow Ache somewhere in him.

Taran “Matsu, you’re right, but Abel’s more right. If it wasn’t for the cat, or if it wasn’t for the train? Neither Jack or Fenna would be killing people. Hell, if you never got on board you wouldn’t have to deal with this. But we’re all stuck here, and we-

He did register this. It just didn’t change what he wanted to say to Matsu about the matter. It did, however, offer him some level of regained control over his words before he spoke them. He’s not entirely wrong. But still. It does surprise him some that Taran agrees with him. Perhaps he’ll be a good replacement for Abel for Viper and Vinzent. It’s for the better.

Taran somebody here is gonna get off of this fucking train,

Maybe so. Maybe someone. Maybe one day.

Does he wish to address Fenna? …. Maybe not at the moment. Perhaps she’ll understand enough off what he’s given her- or perhaps it’s better he starts working to forget her now.

Vinzent Mayer

[swears cw]

Everything seemed to be fine… So far. Vinzent was listening to what other people had to say.

Dexter mentionned Fenna’s son. Huh. On one hand he should have expected it, on the other… That was a new information. That just really makes it worse, huh…

… No comment on R.N.A.

Viper Glad not all of ya hate Jack enough to condemn him for a crime he didn’t even do

… That. He disagreed with an clearly annoyed groan. Normally, Vinzent doesn’t want to play by the rules. But he knows the all too familiar feeling if he dared to fight the fire. You get burned. Or in this case, you confront your bully and get hurt, badly. Again and again. So much that he learned to choose in which situation it’d be worth making a snarky comment.

He was about to say something when Matsu spoke. At first, Vinzent wasn’t disagreeing with what they said then…

Matsu “Actually, fuck all of you who said he wasn’t guilty. Who gives a shit if the vote is supposed to be about Atsuko? He still fucking killed someone – it’s not a crime he didn’t do. He deserves at least the same as Fenna.”

“You think I wanted this? You think I wanted this motherfucker to get away? No. It was specifically for Atsuko’s murder ONLY, and Jack hadn’t an hand in this. If Comedy’s murder was counted, then I’d gladly send his ass to hell without hesitation!”

Patience was not in this man’s cards today. Not anymore after this nonsense. He had half a mind to go and slap Matsu’s face for implying that he wanted this outcome.

Taran then spoke… It makes a lot of sense, honestly. Much more. Something about this guy is just… How is he able to keep his cool when Vinzent is barely able to? When Abel hasn’t been able to much this trial? Especially with several factors in, now that Vinzent recalls having seen… It’s been a while but… It explains so much.

Abel spoke. Vinzent cooled down again. Trying to take in the words.

Abel Lazarus “The vote was never ‘who’s a killer.’ It was always ‘Who killed Atsuko?’ Even then. We are not winners for deciding her son should now be an orphan.”

Oh. Yeah. Of course. … Of course. It’s difficult. Vinzent can’t read Abel’s mind, but somewhere in there… He knows Abel is telling the truth anyway. There’s still a moment of hesitation, like he wants to be there for him but… It’s not the right moment ever, is it?

Will there still be a chance to talk to him again?

Vinzent wasn’t… He was torn between being there for Abel, or… Just letting it be. He really didn’t want to do the latter because…

Because…

It felt lonely again. Even if it wasn’t really the case in reality. It still hurts.

He’s…

He’s even more tired. Everything fucking sucks. Let it be fucking over already. He… Wants to leave. If Abel isn’t going to be around… He doesn’t know. Anymore.

Stupid. He knows Taran is caring, he’s been there but…

Vinzent has talked to Abel alot that it hurts much more. Just because he knows some things doesn’t mean he knows how to help.

…

…….

He’s useless, isn’t he? Isn’t being there at his side enough? It doesn’t seem so.

Should he bother trying?

But if everything continue going to shit, then… He shouldn’t.

But he doesn’t want to give up.

Ah…

It hurts. It’s frustrating.

Why does this feel like it’s going on forever?

Taran

As the court rolled along Taran found himself to be the last one of his little hugpile left on the floor. He got up only as he was called on to vote, and fell into another short bout of smiling anger, like he gave to R.N.A. but with extra disdain. Fenna was innocent! Jack was guilty! Neither of those things were true in the circumstance, but he felt them, and voting wrong wasn’t going to change shit, was it? No, it didn’t.

And before Taran can even muster up something to say to Fenna? The arguing breaks out again.

Matsu "He still fucking killed someone – it’s not a crime he didn’t do. He deserves at least the same as Fenna.”

“Matsu, you’re right, but Abel’s more right. If it wasn’t for the cat, or if it wasn’t for the train? Neither Jack or Fenna would be killing people. Hell, if you never got on board you wouldn’t have to deal with this. But we’re all stuck here, and we- you! AND VIPER!- need to start acting like it. Or you’re gonna make me a liar.”

Deep breath now. He turns to Fenna.

“You may not have been right to do this, but you were damn right about why. I’m with Dexter, somebody here is gonna get off of this fucking train, and they’re going to find your son and keep him safe.”

He feels the hair on his neck stand up. Two possibilities- it would be him or it wouldn’t. A couple measures of some song play in his subconscious before burying itself… All of Taran’s mettle vanishes with it.

“I don’t know what happens next, but I’m gonna miss you.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Jack was a little slow in registering the summons to the stand, but he hopped out of the jury box as soon as he could. Despite the loose boot. When had the laces come undone? He, uh, probably needed to fix that.

But the findings sufficiently distracted him. Ah, not guilty after all… What a joke. At least Neko-Neko wasn’t gonna kill everyone or whatever the punishment for being wrong was. Had that been in the notebook? He didn’t feel particularly pressed to check.

And things got much more distracting from there.

Matsu “Actually, [freak] all of you who said he wasn’t guilty. Who gives a [crap] if the vote is supposed to be about Atsuko? He still [freaking] killed someone – it’s not a crime he didn’t do. He deserves at least the same as Fenna.”

Taran “Matsu, you’re right, but Abel’s more right. If it wasn’t for the cat, or if it wasn’t for the train? Neither Jack or Fenna would be killing people.

Abel Lazarus “Do you think killers deserve to die, Ito? Is that just the line you draw? No matter what? Quite frankly Comedy didn’t deserve to die- nor did Samukura- but I won’t say that Jack or… Ms. Fenna deserves as much either.”

Vinzent Mayer If Comedy’s murder was counted, then I’d gladly send his [butt] to [heck] without hesitation!”

At least some of them were right, but sure not all. Wouldn’t kill otherwise? Didn’t deserve this? Please.

His chuckle broke off into a silent grin as he turned to the jury box. Not too far a hike. He started that way, his pace almost casual.

“Geez, what’s all this fuss over me about? I can settle the issue real easy. I deserve to die, ’r worse. Still killed a guy.”

Only after he hopped the railing to the jury box did he pull a knife and pick up the pace. Vinzent easily got out of the way, but Matsu just backed farther into their corner the closer he drew. Yeah, they’d do. Either woulda worked.

With a side-eye at Taran—“Not my first, an’ I’m guessin’ it won’t be my last. Unless—”

He lunged and snatched Matsu’s closest wrist, forcing their small fingers over his own—the ones wrapped around his knife hilt. Dipping just enough, he jerked their arm straight to put the blade right at his neck.

“Since you feel so strongly ’bout it, why don’t you just kill me yourself?”

Matsu

Taran “Matsu, you’re right, but Abel’s more right. If it wasn’t for the cat, or if it wasn’t for the train? Neither Jack or Fenna would be killing people. Hell, if you never got on board you wouldn’t have to deal with this."

Of course it would all wind up back at being their fault

Abel Lazarus "The rules state only the Correct killer for the case gets killed. Voting for Jack doesn’t guarantee he receives any punishment. It just ups the chances we all get the mistrial punishment. Which, mind you, is the only punishment that isn’t guaranteed to be Death.”

They weren’t going to admit they were wrong. They weren’t wrong! Abel was just being too… stupid. Or closed minded. Or something.

Do they think all killers should die? No. It’s just –

Matsukaze’s head is pounding as Vinzent tears in. The dirty look they’re giving Abel quickly transfers over to the artist, and unfortunately it escapes them that these two are literally two of the ones that kept them from drowning in the shipwreck.

Even more unfortunately, Jack’s movement into the jury box also escapes them at first, until Vinzent moves away. Their eyes widen and lock on the scarred man who is COMING STRAIGHT AT THEM. Reflexively, they stumble back only to have the banister of the jury box press into their back. Fuck. Fuck.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Not my first, an’ I’m guessin’ it won’t be my last. Unless—”

Matsukaze flinches as he lunges at them, but he just grabs their wrist tightly and forces his knife into their hand. Jerks their arm to put the blade to his own throat. If Jack was looking to scare anyone, it’s clear that Matsu is terrified.

It feels like their head is stuffed with cotton.

The fire and anger isn’t gone, not in the least, but now they’re being given a choice.

They could do it. They could lunge at him with their full strength, slit his throat in front of everyone.

Or… could they? The grip he has on their hand is tight, enough that it hurts. He surely could prevent them from doing anything he didn’t want them to do. He could also force the blade right back at them so easily. He’s doing this because he doesn’'t think they’re a threat. He doesn’t take them seriously.

All of these realizations happen in seconds, and there’s just a moment where Matsukaze stays frozen. When they move, they don’t push into his throat (not yet, at least).

Instead, they kick at his left shin as hard as they can manage, even at the cost of their own balance.

Melvin Greene

Narrator “…I CANNOT SEE, I CANNOT ACT, I MAY ONLY JUDGE. FORGIVE ME…”

Yeah, that’s not good.

Didn’t seem like there were many laws under Murdercat’s jurisdiction except ‘kill people’ and ‘die.’ Which was just great, considering how badly he wanted to do neither of those things. Everyone got all mad about Atsuko and Comedy dying, rightfully so, but a lot of people seemed to be kinda forgetting about something the cat had said. And look, okay, Melvin knows his memory isn’t great either, but it’s hard not to remember something ‘and if everyone else figures out you did it, you also die, because that’s more exciting and also I’m a stupid evil robot and I suck, nyahahahahaha.’

… Okay, maybe they hadn’t said that last part. But Fenna was about to get the chair or whatever and instead of extending any real sympathy, some people were too busy arguing about Jack. He really did not care to get into the entire debate about whether or not the guy also deserved to die for killing someone whose death ‘didn’t count.’ Or what a death ‘not counting’ implied. Just hearing it made him feel a little sick. That’s what this was, this was all sick, they were all fucking sick for treating the situation like this. Like it ever would have happened otherwise, like it ever should have been their call to make. At least Taran and Abel were making sense. Good. Someone had to. Even if Abel had been doing… whatever the ever-loving hell he had been doing earlier. Abel’s kind of freaking him out today. Taran’s still cool.

Vinzent Mayer If Comedy’s murder was counted, then I’d gladly send his ass to hell without hesitation!

Mental note: if you piss Vinzent off enough he will send you to hell without hesitation provided the opportunity. Maybe he should speed up that apology he’s been putting off, jesus christ, what the hell, he’d seemed like one of the normal ones!?!? Don’t get him wrong, he hates Jack too, and… if it was gonna be anyone here Melvin would definitely miss him the least, but holy shit, not like this. He doesn’t want anything to do with it. Once again he wishes he just slept in his stupid broken down car and didn’t get on this stupid train. Never woulda met any of these people and never woulda felt a thing about it. Now he’s gotta deal with all this stupid arguing and dying shit. It sucks!

Fenna Van Daalen “I appreciate dat… but… I get the feelin’ dis is my last stop.”

Yeah. Sure was, wasn’t it. He really wishes he knew better what to say right now. Maybe literally anything expressing an appreciation of her kindness and that she’d be missed or something? But nope. Never been any good at that. It’s still kind of difficult to wrap his head around the fact that he could have, did, does consider her a friend for reasons that WEREN’T superficial.

“Why didn’t you just let Dexter keep at it? You had something worth going back for.”

It’s easy to say that after the fact. Despite everything, he did prefer being alive. He’d have probably felt at least a little betrayed, but whatever, maybe at least it would have helped someone he actually liked. The thing was, she didn’t even let it happen passively. As soon as the idea was even suggested, she was the first to shoot it down. Strange behaviour from a cold-blooded killer, since apparently that’s what half the room thought Fenna was now. Viper was still Vipering all over the place as if it was totally Haruka’s fault that she punched them, because apparently that was totally justified but nothing else was. This was a new low, but surely now it couldn’t get any worse.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Since you feel so strongly ’bout it, why don’t you just kill me yourself?”

God. Damn. It.

This is so cool and great. It’s really awesome that somebody else is once again about to get murdered in here in front of literally everyone, that was something he was interested in seeing today. For quite possibly the first time, he’s kind of glad R.N.A is here, if only for their unstabbability. Makes them a perfect force to de-escalate the situation. He feels a little faint after that because he was straight up fully convinced it was about to turn into a third homicide. He wasn’t even in the line of fire and his heart’s pounding like it wants to kill him, too. He fiddles with the brim of his cap so he doesn’t have to even look at anyone he doesn’t wanna see, which is pretty much almost everybody right now.

“… Bunch of wild fucking animals in here.”

That’s all he’s got. Maybe Neko-Neko should just let them stay here and finish tearing each other apart if that’s what they want so badly.

Abel Lazarus

Vinzent Mayer then I’d gladly send his ass to hell without hesitation!”

Well this mine was so unexpected the person setting them didn’t even know it was there until it exploded.

Maybe when Abel is less emotional he can realize there’s no way this was on purpose- perhaps it might not have even set him off if it hadn’t been so clear God was truly fed up with him. This had to be on purpose, right? All of this? Fenna, the alcohol, The rock, the reference- Dexter didn’t know it was loaded. Fenna didn’t know it was loaded-

But Abel feels somewhere in his deeply emotional response that Vinzent should have known it was loaded. That he should have known this is exactly something Ramona would have said about Marius.

Vinzent earned a look of utter Betrayal for adding to a dog pile he surely didn’t know he would trip into.

And then of course. Jack’s stunt. Abel’s truly sick of the man now. Of Viper babying him. He’s sick of everyone. All of them. Well.

Strangely enough he’s not precisely sick of four among the group- but at this Very Strong Moment of Emotion he hardly cares about the semantics at play.

Viper “Someone come over here and stop this idiot bleeding out?”

And this. Abel doesn’t remember bleeding out too clearly but he remembers who truly helped and who did less with more clarity as time goes on. Viper didn’t show him the same care then. She’d helped him- he remembered that fuzzily- just not much. She’d definitely not cared this much. Jack stabbed her. Jack stabbed her and she Cared About Him More. He isn’t even bleeding out. Nothing. Compared. To. Abel.

But this has always been his life hasn’t it? Only Marius looked for him first.

Truly he’s as alone as he’s ever been. He’s ever felt. He could get along on the company of a select handful every so often and rot away on this dumb train. Maybe someone will do him a favor get rid of him.

How dumb to have had Hope.

He walks away from the Jack situation without another look back. Towards Fenna. In a strangely intense display he takes her hand. It’s not. Rough surprisingly. More so like he just needed her to pay attention to Him. Not the mess behind him. Him.

But what did he want to say to her? Thank her? For… the little care she gave? The. Bits of effort he received when he let her?

“Thank you.” Is that it? Didn’t Marius once tell him apologizing is important? “I’m sorry.” And he lets her go. He lets all of this go. He doesn’t need it anymore. He doesn’t need the guilt. Maybe that’ll only alleviate a smidgen of it but he doesn’t care.

As long as it’s enough. To get him through.

Viper

Pocketing the strange item she’d picked up from by the defence bench, Viper was contented to vibe out here- but Matsu’s words cut through her thoughts.

Matsu “Glad you do hate what’s-their-face enough to not give a shit that they just got murdered like that. Glad you’re fucking besties with that clown.” Their tone is scathing. “So Fenna shoots someone and that’s worth punching Haruka in the face, but this Jack-ass can just smash someone’s head in without any repercussion? Fuck you.”

“Smiley-mask fella was actually pretty nice, I’ll have ya know.” Viper replies tartly, “They didn’t deserve ta die, but… neither did Atsuko. And here we are.” She rolls her eyes at the comment about Haruka, and folds her arms as she finally starts walking back toward the jury box.

“Why are ya actin’ like I meant ta hit her in the face? That’s normally what happens when ya jump in front of a swingin’ fist.” Viper scoffs, but there’s… hurt. Deep down in there. She didn’t want to be having this quarrel with Matsu, and yet…

…She’d brought it upon herself, hadn’t she? Perhaps people were right to hate her.

Taran But we’re all stuck here, and we- you! AND VIPER!- need to start acting like it. Or you’re gonna make me a liar.”

“…Me? Little ol’ me?” VIPER. “Sorry, I ain’t exactly sugarcoatin’ myself or anythin’. It’s jus’ what I’m like.” Viper shrugs, “…But maybe ya could convince me yet. Ya’re nice, Taran.” She really shouldn’t be tormenting everyone like this.

Someone would decide they’d had enough before long and–

She shouldn’t think about that. Viper didn’t think about that, not often.

Roadie 🪶Jack Only after he hopped the railing to the jury box did he pull a knife and pick up the pace. Vinzent easily got out of the way, but Matsu just backed farther into their corner the closer he drew. Yeah, they’d do. Either woulda worked.

…

Jack. What was he doing? Viper snaps out of her thoughts in an instant. He was so insistent on making everyone hate him even more, why, oh why did he have to go after Matsu of all people?! Now she’d seem like a total ass.

Well, Viper wasn’t even considering the latter point. Her blood ran cold as Jack advanced, backing them into that corner and then he lunged-

Roadie 🪶Jack He lunged and snatched Matsu’s closest wrist, forcing their small fingers over his own—the ones wrapped around his knife hilt. Dipping just enough, he jerked their arm straight to put the blade right at his neck.

Get off them. Get off. Get off get off get off get off

She was moving before she even had a chance to realise what she was doing.

“LEAVE THEM THE F-CK ALONE!” Her face burned with rage, as Matsu kicked him, Viper took the opportunity to get between the pair of them, grabbing at Jack’s arm and pushing it away from his neck. “If ya wanna f-ckin’ fight someone, I’m right here. I’ll f-ckin do it. Jus’ don’t make Matsu do it.” She grips, tighter and tighter.

Get off of them get off don’t hurt them

“So?” Viper was visibly bristling, her lip curled in a sneer, for once wishing she was taller so she could stand a bit more at Jack’s eye level. She regretted backing him up. Saying such nice things about him, giving him the gift of sympathy. She’d probably still get over it, sure, but…

Helping Matsukaze was her priority right now.

Why were other people not doing anything? why were they just watching this happen? why why why why-

Was she one of the only ones who didn’t wish death on Jack? For Matsukaze to not be hurt?

Cowards. The lot of them.

Vinzent Mayer

Fenna Van Daalen “I wish dat too, dear. Yer a good kid.”

Kid… Well, Guess that’s a force of habit and, he hasn’t told her he’s actually 26 at all. No need to get in these pointless details, as there’s no much time left, Her answer was appreciated at least even if it’s… Hurting.

Fenna Van Daalen shit, had she seen that kind of anger out of Vinzent before?

Indeed she has not. He has gotten angry before but never in front of Fenna. Or… Abel, even, Vinzent did show anger, yes, but it was more when he was retelling his story to him, it wasn’t to him. The people who hasn’t seen him getting that angry has gone from many to presumably zero now. Funny, he used to have a short wick back when he was younger. But he learned to keep these emotions in and basically let it all explode when he wasn’t able to keep the lid closed…

There’s not even a moment to catch a break for him, or for anyone really huh. More chaos ensued, especially after Jack has once again started more shit. Seeing him approach with a knife did send Vinzent in a panicked state. Oh shit, fuck. Fuck fuck fuck-

Roadie 🪶Jack Only after he hopped the railing to the jury box did he pull a knife and pick up the pace. Vinzent easily got out of the way, but Matsu just backed farther into their corner the closer he drew. Yeah, they’d do. Either woulda worked.

… Just because he got out of the way doesn’t mean Vinzent was happy Matsu was the one who got cornered. Then, everything did not happen as he thought.

Roadie 🪶Jack He lunged and snatched Matsu’s closest wrist, forcing their small fingers over his own—the ones wrapped around his knife hilt. Dipping just enough, he jerked their arm straight to put the blade right at his neck.

“The fuck are you doing?!” Did he always hate this man’s guts? Yes. Did he have thoughts about slamming his face on the hard surface or whatever many times whenever Jack opened his mouth? Yes.

Did he want to kill Jack?

… That, he wasn’t too keen. But… Hurting him, maybe. Maybe it would have drawn some satisfication from Vinzent. To finally get back at the ones who hurt him. To make them feel pain and no happiness. Just, revenge. Revenge…

He’s been always told revenge doesn’t solve things. And as of now, there’s only one guy he still wants dead and he’s not even here.

…

Hopefully he ate shit in the meantime Vinzent is on this train. That’d be funny.

… Maybe it wouldn’t be so in the end.

Watching Matsukaze kicking Jack in the shin was… Well, it was something! At least they didn’t kill him. Despite their attitude and his frequent clashes with them, Vinzent really doesn’t want Matsu to die either.

He didn’t get a chance to talk as Viper spoke up, huh. She’s getting hard to read. Like a wildcard. Of course he wants Matsu to be free of Jack’s grip.

Then R.N.A. intervened. Again, as obnoxious they were…

They were right.

And to think he could have been the one to hold the knife close. To have his hand in Jack’s grip.

What. The hell is Jack’s deal. Is he willing to run at the death’s door so much to drag someone with him? Is this what he wants?

He can eat shit alone, for all Vinzent cares. But don’t drag people down with you.

He considered, REALLY considered freeing Matsu of Jack’s grip, but… Is that going to make it worse? Especially with how weak he is. If he does try… Would he be a fool? If he doesn’t… He’ll be a coward.

“Leave them be. Don’t drag them in your stupid spectacle! I’m sick of your shit, Jack! Everyone is! But that doesn’t mean we want this to happen!”

Viper Was she one of the only ones who didn’t wish death on Jack? For Matsukaze to not be hurt?

Cowards. The lot of them.

He might be a coward in wishing Jack dead but he won’t be a coward in NOT wishing for Matsu to be hurt. Should he let Viper handle this, as much as she’s really hard to read? Or to understand?

…

He’s just good at trying to run away, isn’t he.

Maybe he was really a coward in the end.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Matsu Instead, they kick at his left shin as hard as they can manage, even at the cost of their own balance.

Their foot hit at full force, and Jack flinched a little harder than you’d expect from Mr. Tough Guy. Ahaha… Was that all?

More people spoke, but only the up close and personal had a chance of reaching him at this point—mentally or physically.

But there sure was plenty of that.

Viper “LEAVE THEM THE F-CK ALONE!” Her face burned with rage, as Matsu kicked him, Viper took the opportunity to get between the pair of them, grabbing at Jack’s arm and pushing it away from his neck. “If ya wanna f-ckin’ fight someone, I’m right here. I’ll f-ckin do it. Jus’ don’t make Matsu do it.”

Jack had explicit anti-dodging intent for this whole stunt, so no fancy moves came to stop that. A little resistance to moving the knife the wrong way, but only just. Something melancholy crossed his gaze, but he dismissed it quickly enough.

“If this’s whatcha think me fighting looks like, guess we really are due for a match.”

He made no move to strike, though.

“ ‘m not makin’ anybody do anything. Just providing an opportunity. It’s a rare one.”

R.N.A. without even a hint of hesitation or fear, R.N.A. reached up and closed their hand around the blade. They pushed, creating space for their metal fingers to worm around until they served as an iron barrier between blade and any flesh.

He scowled briefly at that one. The creeping bloodstain just visible over the top of his boot likely wasn’t helping his mood.

“You’re gonna dull the blade, c’mon. Hands off.”

R.N.A. “YOU DO NOT. DESERVE TO DIE.

DO NOT DRAG. MATSUKAZE INTO THIS. INTO YOUR SELF-LOATHING. RELEASE THEIR HAND. NOW.”

He laughed, strained.

“Drag ’em into what now? The loathing’s all theirs—weren’t you listening?”

“ ‘n here I thought you wanted us to all hold hands and be friends.”

No point hanging on to them now, anyway. This wasn’t something anybody’d go through with once the heat of the moment had passed. He didn’t know what he’d expected. But he’d sure gotten everyone up in arms, so it was funny, right?

Then why did he just feel tired?

Vinzent Mayer I’m sick of your shit, Jack! Everyone is! But that doesn’t mean we want this to happen!”

“…Do too. Just not enough to do the honors yourself.”

He laughed, but it died out swiftly. He wasn’t quite standing steady, either. Even if he wasn’t exactly bleeding out, it was becoming clearer and clearer that he was barely hanging onto consciousness by the fingernails.

He whacked his injured shin into the railing or robot or whatever was close enough and grunted. Good. Stay awake. Stay awake.

It would always be better than facing those memories again.

Dexter Blanche

“Ah, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but must we dig into eachother at a time like this? I implore you all to please… leave Mx. Matsukaze alone.”

He apologizes in his head, he doesn’t know Matsu’s surname, so this must come across as very familiar. But, who knows. Maybe Dexter was just sticking up for the fellow Voted Jack Guilty Crew, or maybe the yelling just gave him a headache. Who can say.

Should he… do something about Jack literally forcing a knife into someone’s hands and then holding it to his own throat? That FEELS like something that he should do something about.

But it’s clear from Matsukaze’s expression that nothing will come of it. There’s a part of Dexter that scoffs. <“Coward, false bravado. He’d never do it with someone he knows would actually follow through”> he thinks, silently, to himself.

“Ah… come now, Mr. Jack. This is unnecessary.”

…Is all that he Musters. Perhaps he’s a coward too for not moving, his hands still clutched on his camera? For not bravely stepping to action? Well. Dexter can live with that he decides pretty quickly.

“Must you all make Miss Fenna’s last moments so… terrible? Pity.”

R.N.A.

No.

NO.

Whatever R.N.A. had in their programming was erased the moment Jack pulled the knife out. It was as if the shiny metal was a magnet, drawing all of R.N.A.'s attention away from everything else.

Could a robot have limits? R.N.A. had no idea. All that they knew was that inaction had created one horrible situation, and it was close to causing another. But this time, R.N.A. had a chance to do something. To stop it. To break the cycle. Break the chains.

Walking over calmly to the two (now three), without even a hint of hesitation or fear, R.N.A. reached up and closed their hand around the blade. They pushed, creating space for their metal fingers to worm around until they served as an iron barrier between blade and any flesh.

“YOU DO NOT. DESERVE TO DIE. NOBODY DESERVES TO BE MURDERED. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.” For a rather normally placid robot, you could almost feel the anger dripping off of every single word. “DO NOT DRAG. MATSUKAZE INTO THIS. INTO YOUR SELF-LOATHING. RELEASE THEIR HAND. NOW.” Oddly authoritative for a robot that normally took orders from others…

Fenna Van Daalen

Now left alone at the stand, Fenna watched the violence unfold with her eyes wide as plates. She sure was missing her bouncer right now. What was with these people? Maybe Melvin, Arty and Taran were fine, but they sure wouldn’t be after all this– and the rest of them? She’d barely had time to scratch the surface of whatever the hell was wrong with them.

Maybe in another life she coulda lent them an ear if they’d shown up at her bar, one at a time, willingly. But here on this train, with death lingering at every turn? God help these poor assholes.

Only after Jack had been subdued did she make her way back to the jury box.

Abel Lazarus “Thank you.” Is that it? Didn’t Marius once tell him apologizing is important? “I’m sorry.”

She looked a little confused by Abel’s gesture, but it obviously meant a lot to him– she squeezed his hand back solemnly.

Melvin Greene “Why didn’t you just let Dexter keep at it? You had something worth going back for.”

“I mean, as soon as the shoes came up, the jig was up, right? But I’d been thinkin’ already… ya know, I didn’t know what would happen to yous guys if I did pull it off. If it was as bad as what happened ta Abel…”

“I gatta say, though, now dat I see the way yous people are actin’– Jesus christ! That cat don’t even gatta lift a finger fer yous ta tear each other apart, huh?”

There’s a long, hissing sigh as she took a drag off the unlit cigarette. Tastes horrible.

“If yous’ll hear me out, I’ll tell ya what happened. Maybe it can be a… warnin’. Or some sorta closure. Or yous can just ignore me an’ keep on wid your bullshit. Dahsen’t make much difference ta me now.”

Viper

There was something wrong with Jack. He was… he was Jack, but he was also not Jack. He may have challenged her to a fight, but this wasn’t the Jack she’d gotten to know so far. Something… felt off. The little unsteadiness in his gait makes her look down and her eyes widen at the creeping bloodstain.

He’s bleeding. Oh sh-t, he’s bleeding. He could bleed out and someone here could be deemed responsible-

Viper glances fervently to her side, to her chair, and scurries just those couple steps away to find something to try and dampen the blood with. She still had a little of that bandage from Comedy left, right? Or even some of that fabric that had been bloodied before-

Finding her quarry in the form of the fabric scraps, she turned her attention back to the assembled group. Using her position from Jack’s side, in a quick, swift movement she delivered a sharp, yet not overly forceful kick to the back of his knees. It probably hurt, but would do little for lasting damage.

“…Ya sittin’ down now, butthole.” Jack has lost his standing privileges. Viper tossed the fabric scraps onto him as she essentially pushed him to the ground, back up against the railing- narrowly avoiding RNA in the process. “Someone come over here and stop this idiot bleeding out?” She hopped up onto the railing, sitting her butt on it, her legs pressing either of his shoulders back against the rails, her heels tucked under his arms to stop him from getting up.

“You.” She leans down, staring at Jack, heels pressing him backwards harder. “…Stay there. Don’t even think about stabbing me. Much as most people hate ya an’ I’m p-ssed off, I ain’t gonna just let ya bleed yaself to death.” She huffs. “Stop bein’ too much of a hard-ss to admit ya bein’ a martyr.” Hypocrite much?

Roadie 🪶Jack

Even with the refreshed injury, it was hard for Jack to hang onto consciousness. He certainly couldn’t pay much attention to all the other people here. At least he stayed in his own skin.

Viper Using her position from Jack’s side, in a quick, swift movement she delivered a sharp, yet not overly forceful kick to the back of his knees.

But not on his own feet. His rear hit the floor—“Oof”—as his brain frantically and poorly tried to make sense of the shift in surroundings. A wave of nausea hit. He couldn’t make heads or tails of the little bitty fabric scraps coming at him but reflexively caught a few anyway. Hey uhhh free stuff?

Viper She hopped up onto the railing, sitting her butt on it, her legs pressing either of his shoulders back against the rails, her heels tucked under his arms to stop him from getting up.

Oh, this was annoying. Not wanting to crane his neck and upset his altitude conversions any worse, he aimed a withering glare at some of the chair legs. Maybe it would bounce off and hit her somehow.

Or she could lean over to stare at him anyway. His eyelid twitched at her heels digging in further, but bucking her off didn’t seem worth the effort. Would he even be able to stand after something like that? He could if he had to, always could if he had to, but… Enough had happened already. If this didn’t turn dire, he really couldn’t see the point in fighting here.

Viper “…Stay there. Don’t even think about stabbing me. Much as most people hate ya an’ I’m p-ssed off, I ain’t gonna just let ya bleed yaself to death.”

Having completely missed her cry for help earlier, he just squinted hard. Glanced down at the bloodstain on his leg, which had hardly grown. Squinted back at her.

“ ’m not remotely close to bleedin’ out.” An exhale that didn’t quite have enough energy to count as a snort. “ ‘nd ’ve been close.”

Finally registering his voice was barely loud enough to hear, he winced and took a deep breath. He could be louder. It was fine. Everything was still fine. His vision wouldn’t quite focus, but he didn’t need it that badly and this would pass soon enough.

“Got perfectly good styptic… ‘f y’ take back the not thinking ’bout stabbing you part.”

Eyeing her warily, he carefully withdrew a jar from his pocket.

Vinzent Mayer

Abel Lazarus Well this mine was so unexpected the person setting them didn’t even know it was there until it exploded.

Maybe when Abel is less emotional he can realize there’s no way this was on purpose- perhaps it might not have even set him off if it hadn’t been so clear God was truly fed up with him. This had to be on purpose, right? All of this? Fenna, the alcohol, The rock, the reference- Dexter didn’t know it was loaded. Fenna didn’t know it was loaded-

But Abel feels somewhere in his deeply emotional response that Vinzent should have known it was loaded. That he should have known this is exactly something Ramona would have said about Marius.

Vinzent earned a look of utter Betrayal for adding to a dog pile he surely didn’t know he would trip into.

The stare Vinzent felt was… Unusual. Anything during the conversation by the rest of the people felt like background noise. It, either thankfully or not, didn’t take long for him to realize why he was stared at by Abel of all people. And not for a good reason.

Oh no.

“…”

Oh no, no no no. No. No.

How much more is he going to cry? He really fucked it up there, didn’t he?

He shouldn’t have said these particular set of words. He should have known.

HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN.

But… He didn’t cry much this time. Only a few more teardrops. But that’s about it.

The rest? It’s eating him away. Nothing else matters.

He simply watched as Abel left, To talk to Fenna.

If it wasn’t bad before…

He really killed all chances to try to talk to Abel again, hasn’t he?

The only sound he managed to let out…

Was simply a strangled…

I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me.

Nothing else mattered anymore.

Nothing. Can this end?

Can he go already? He just wants to leave.

He regrets saying things that shouldn’t be said.

He regrets letting emotion taking over reason.

He’ll end up all alone at this point. Just like before.

Matsu

He flinches, sure, but Jack doesn’t let go or back off. What if he tried to stab them, now? His grip on their hand is tight. It’s hard to breathe.

Everything else in the room is a blur. They can see movement rushing towards them, but they don’t look away from the knife.

Viper pushes into them just as they start to put pressure to the knife – enough that Jack likely noticed they were starting to go for it – and in the process of wedging herself between them and shoving the blade away from Jack’s throat jostles them quite a bit. They stagger a little, thankfully with the railing pressing into their back, and even though Viper wasn’t trying to shove them they still feel a shoot of pain in their elbow and their hand and wrist where Jack had a hold on them. At least her intrusion kept them from acting rashly.

Not that it mattered, since R.N.A. quickly had a grasp on the blade itself and started to dig into Jack verbally.

Everyone was shouting and yelling for Jack to leave them alone, to not bring them into this – “It’s not self loathing!” they do snap at R.N.A., though they are clearly shaken. The moment Jack loosens the grip on their hand, they jerk back, just wanting to get away from his grasp.

But then.

Viper leaves.

And they’re still stuck between the railing and Jack, even if R.N.A. is here with the knife under control.

Matsukaze starts to try and get away, trying to slide to the side and get more space between them. Conveniently, Viper was only gone a moment, and she’s probably coming to help them, right?

Right?

They’re left standing there while she forces Jack to sit and starts doting on him. Scolding him while asking for someone to give medical help – medical help to the guy who stabbed her, killed someone, and had attacked them? Medical help for… well whatever it was, it was their self defense that made it start bleeding like that.

But no one checked on them. No one even asked if they were ok. Abel is just walking away and everyone is just watching and god, did Viper even look at them? Obviously her claim of besties was bullshit, they were stupid for even starting to entertain it after she helped them.

Matsu puts a few more steps between them and Jack, rubbing at their hand. It would be fine, they’re sure, but now both of their hands hurt. Their elbow is still throbbing. And no one cares.

Somehow, they feel even more alone in these few seconds than they have in years.

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