"Justice" - Es' Trial One Voice Drama
Jackalope: You understand now, right?
Es: I believe so, yes…
Jackalope: Good! Good! Now, come with me. We have to go now. The prisoners might realize we’re not there yet. Since you prepared, MUGRAM, the first trial begins now! Or whatever! Let’s move!!
Es: Eh–??
: Go where?
Jackalope: Panopticon. It has a panoramic view of the prisoners’ rooms.
Es: Panopticon…?
Jackalope: Your head is a little foggy right? Sorry about that. I’ll explain a few things to you on the way.
Es: Okay. My memory problem won’t interfere with being the Warden.
Jackalope: …
: That’s good to know.
[footsteps]
Jackalope: Hey, Es, can you open the door?
Es: Eh? Can’t you… Right, you’re… never mind. [footsteps]
Jackalope: Look, the only door I can’t open is the one to your bedroom. Other rooms have an entrance for me.
Es: Oh, that’s… nice. Do I really have a… “rabbit” as another Warden?
Jackalope: …
: My feelings, Es… But, yes, I am technically another Warden.
[door opens, the pair walk]
Es: Eh… This hallway is long.
Jackalope: At the end of this passageway is your bedroom. There are various rooms and facilities along the way. Explaining it would take too long, so I’m skipping it, alright?
Es: What’s opposite my room?
Jackalope: My room! You can’t enter without my permission, though.
Es: Eh, I don’t plan on it. Plus, there’s no door big enough for a human anyway.
Jackalope: Oh, that’s true. [more footsteps] This is the prisoners’ shower room. Across is the storage room. Necessities are mostly here.
Es: The prisoners are allowed to go in and out of this passageway?
Jackalope: Yep, they need their necessities, correct?
Es: …
: Mhm.
Jackalope: Anyways, when they’re allowed in the passageway, whether showers should be separated by male and female and so on, the specific rules for their lives are things you decide later.
Es: …I can decide?
Jackalope: Yep! You can decide how MILGRAM is administered. So, if you want to make it heaven or hell, it’s up to you.
Es: I would ask why, but it’s probably because I’m the Warden, right? Even if I can’t remember.
Jackalope: Oh, yes.
Es: Oh, Jackalope. You might have to move faster. I might step on you.
Jackalope: I’m going as fast as I can, alright?! Hold on.
Es: …Sorry.
Jackalope: Anyways, this is the dining hall.
Es: Wait, who prepares the meals? Apart from the two of us, is there anyone else who–
Jackalope: I do.
Es: Oh. Wait– What??
Jackalope: I’m the head chef of MUGRAM. I can make anything you’d like.
Es: How can you even do that?? How do you hold a frying pan or a knife with like… your paws? Hands?
Jackalope: If I hold it firmly, I can.
Es: What…? How does your… fur not get into it??
Jackalope: If it’s molting season, then a lot of it gets in.
Es: What–
Jackalope: Alright, we’re finally at the heart of MUGRAM: the Panopticon.
[door opens]
Es: This is… Panopticon. It’s… a dome?
Jackalope: We’re at the north of the dome. The entrance is at the twelve o’clock position.
Es: So, I’m assuming each door is a prisoner’s room?
Jackalope: Yep, it’s pretty much like a clock. The prisoner number and the times match. Pretty easy to remember, right?
Es: Mhm.
Jackalope: Oh, there’s still some time left. Okay, I think I have time to introduce the prisoners. I’ve only seen their faces, though. [footsteps] So, the one o’clock room, prisoner number one, Mayumi Kubo.
: She has a… serious expression on her face. Honestly, I don’t really know if you’ll learn anything about her.
Es: Well, she’s a murderer. That’s all I need to know, isn’t it?
Jackalope: Yes… But… [sigh] Let’s just move on.
: Next, at two o’clock, prisoner number two, Masaru Iwai. He has an angry expression on his face. If I were you, I’d ensure he didn’t cause too much trouble. He looks like… a young adult. I couldn’t really tell that much, though.
Es: You don’t know the prisoners’ ages?
Jackalope: Ehh… Well, I’m not allowed to look into stuff like that. But, you are. So, figure them out the prisoners for me, will ya? [footsteps] At three o’clock, we have prisoner three, Keisuke Izumi. He looks… normal, I guess. It’s not like he seems shocked or anything; he’s just… normal.
Es: Well, he’s a murderer, isn’t he? I wouldn’t believe that if it were true…
Jackalope: Well, first impressions reveal a lot about a person, so…
Es: Huh. Anyways, the next prisoner is… Prisoner number four is Tomoko Shiratori.
Jackalope: Another serious-looking person. It’s sort of hard to understand these types of people; they never try to reveal anything about themselves unless they have to.
Es: Well, no matter, I’ll figure it out in the end and judge them according to the law–
Jackalope: Eh? According to the law? Well, if we just judged them according to the law, then there’s no point in you being here. [Es makes an annoyed noise] You should make decisions based on your own standards. Even if it's based on sex or love, I have no problem with it.
Es: …Let’s just move on.
Jackalope: Alright. The next prisoner is Shun Minami. They’re around… 25, I believe? She seems oddly happy, which I won’t question. I suppose you’ll have to find out why she seems so happy. Or it could be pretend. I don’t know.
Es: Due south. Six o’clock. We’re halfway through already?
Jackalope: Yep, this is prisoner number six, Daiki Kawaguchi. He looks pretty strong. I’d be careful around him as well. He seems like the type to tell you off if you did something bad.
Es: That sounds like a father, Jackalope.
Jackalope: …
: Okay, I wouldn’t know that, alright? Leave me alone.
: Either way, you’ll find out their true colors eventually.
Es: Sure.
Jackalope: Alright, prisoner number seven, Isamu Takao. He looks pretty kind and nice. I’d believe his expression if his hand wasn’t in a fist. I’d be careful of him as well.
Es: It seems like there are loads of prisoners I have to be careful around. What happens if I get attacked by one of them? It feels awkward to say, but I don’t think I could put up a fight with the likes of Daiki and Isamu.
Jackalope: They can’t attack us, guards. Don’t worry.
Es: Guards? So… It’s not the same for the prisoners? They can attack each other?
Jackalope: Pretty much. That could happen, but it really depends on your judgment. [footsteps] Now, this is prisoner number eight, Mia Fukuda. I believe she’s around your age, Es.
Es: Eh? Around my age?
Jackalope: Yeah. I don’t know if you two would relate because of that, but if it helps you find the truth, then I guess I don’t mind. You need to determine if they’re good people by talking to them. It’s basically your duty as the prison guard.
Es: Oh, I see. So, interrogating them is the only way to determine if I should forgive them or not, even if I don’t want to at all.
Jackalope: You got it!
Es: You sound awfully like a parent, J. [laughs]
Jackalope: Well, I am supervising you, so… [laughs] Anyways, next prisoner. Prisoner number nine, Ryuu Seki. He looks… interesting. I don’t know. He seems like one of those people who pretend to be someone else. I wouldn’t know, I guess.
Es: …Well, that is an interesting comment, isn’t it?
Jackalope: Last is prisoner ten, Sora Mochizuki. She looks exhausted. I’d say make sure she doesn’t pass out on you, but that’d be seriously out of taste. I hope whatever she committed relieved her of her exhaustion.
Es: That’s ten.
Jackalope: And, that’s the end of all of the prisoners I have to introduce. You just have to talk to them afterward and decide things for yourself.
Es: Hey, J?
Jackalope: Hm?
Es: At eleven o’clock, there’s another cell. It’s pretty old, judging by how rusty it is and its lack of a lock.
Jackalope: Ah, don’t worry about it. There’s nothing.
Es: What do you mean there’s nothi– [bell rings] What the hell was that?
Jackalope: It’s finally time for you to finally meet the prisoners face-to-face! If you have any doubts or confusions – anything! – you have to kill them all now. You’re supposed to be the Warden. Don’t hesitate. Make the prisoners respect you and your authority.
Es: Well… I guess, J. I am MUGRAM’s Warden. That’s all I have to know about myself, right? There’s nothing else I have to know. I’m looking forward to it a little… Meeting all the prisoners here and learning of their murders. [Jacklaope makes a noise of understanding.] With my own will, I’ll reveal their sins. I can put some of my feelings aside and decide if I really want to forgive these murderers. I wonder what their thoughts are… I want to know the truth.
Jackalope: …I see, Es.
[mechanical sounds]
Jackalope: Good luck, Es. I believe in you.
Es: I can do this. It’s my first job as the Warden.
[ominous footsteps]
Es: Good day, prisoners. I am Es, your Warden. This is the MUGRAM prison. It exists to judge your sins, all ten of you prisoners. I may not know much about you, but I am aware that you are all murderers – And, that’s all I know. So, from now on, I’ll have you enlighten me about yourselves. Welcome to MUGRAM. Have a nice life in prison.
MUSIC VIDEO - Judge, Jury, Executioner
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I already brought this up, but for quicker reference:
Order of Attack: Mahiru nightmare sequence about Kotoko's attacks. Gotta round out the guilty trio.
Feel free to not prioritize this. :D
LISTEN, I CAN'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ANGST THAT YOU REQUEST (<- made myself sad over Mappi and worries I may be in trouble for this one). Obligatory "I don't hate Kotoko and think she's very complex but from these character's pov I had to make her solely scary I'm sorry." And of course I was prioritizing this 👀👀👀 I really loved your nightmare sequences, I tried to make one that completed the set but was still unique!! Thank you for the request >:3
TW for referencing her bf's suicide, and descriptions of the attack injuries
“Aw, come on, you can tell me~” Yuno turned her attention away from where she’d been helping Mahiru with dinner. “Both Fuuta and Amane have had nightmares about her. Hell, I’ve had a nightmare or two about her. I won’t think you’re a mean person for admitting it.”
“I’m not lying,” Mahiru insisted. Her lips rounded into a little pout.
Yuno studied her expression. The girl had a way of really looking at someone when she wanted to. Sometimes it was a wonderful feeling – her gaze could be full of understanding, warmth. You were seen. You were heard. She saw you for all that you were.
But in times like these, Mahiru found herself shifting under the pressure of it. Yuno was truly seeing her. She could see how Mahiru’s smile was frozen in its forced shape these past few weeks. She could see the way she flinched at loud noises, or how all the blood drained from her face when Kotoko’s voice echoed from the room next door. In waking, there was no doubt Mahiru was afraid of her. In sleep, though…
Yuno took her hands in both of hers.
“Then… what do you dream about?”
—
Mahiru was in the woods. She was running, her feet bare, her breath hitching.
At first, she thought she was fleeing something. Danger and death loomed around her. The trees closed in. The canopy plunged her into darkness. The branches reached out to tear at her flowered dress, or snag on her hair. The trees pressed close to suffocate her. She grabbed at her throat.
At some point, it became clear she was running towards something. A figure came into her view, just ahead. Though he didn’t appear to be running, she couldn’t catch up to him. She had to. He was in danger. She had to get to him. She had to stop him.
He entered a clearing up ahead. Mahiru could just barely see into it. She tried to scream out, begging him to stop, but no words came out of her wheezing mouth. She could stop everything, she could stop all of this, if only –
She burst through the clearing. The figure, now a young woman, stood in the center. She faced away.
Mahiru tried again to tell Kotoko to stop, but it didn’t matter whether or not she could speak, now; it was too late.
On the ground below, between tree roots and scattered leaves, lay two small bodies.
Mahiru’s hands flew to cover her mouth. Her legs grew weak with horror. There was blood everywhere, and bones bent at wrong angles. Fuuta’s limbs were twisted and limp. Amane had curled herself to cover her face, blood streaming from between her fingers.
Kotoko, too, had red-stained hands. She surveyed her work with pride.
“What… have you done…?”
Slowly, Kotoko turned. Mahiru wanted to turn around and run before those bloodthirsty eyes could land on her. Her legs stayed frozen in place even as her heart raced in her chest.
Kotoko met her gaze. Then, she gave a gentle smile.
“Thank you.”
Mahiru stumbled back a few steps.
“You let this happen.”
“No…”
“You did. You could have stopped this, but you didn’t. Thank you.”
“I-I didn’t –! This isn’t – ! I thought –”
“You knew this was going to happen.” She spoke a familiar name, and Mahiru shook her head violently. “You knew what he was planning. You had plenty of chances to stop him. You didn't. You knew what I was planning. You know how to calm people down, how to bring groups together. But you didn’t speak to me once about it. You wanted this to happen.”
“I didn’t!” She said it frantically, unsure if she was trying to convince Kotoko, the two beaten prisoners, herself, or someone else. “I didn’t.” The statement was true, but it didn’t change anything that Kotoko had said.
The forest closed in. Kotoko reached a hand out, beckoning to her.
“We make a good team, don’t we?”
“No…”
Mahiru was struck with the thought that she didn’t want to take hold of such a disgusting hand, only to glance down at her own. They were just as slick with blood. She let out a shriek.
It was Amane’s. It was Fuuta’s. It was his.
Mahiru’s legs finally gave out on her. When she looked up, Kotoko was still smiling.
“So… who will be next?”
—
Mahiru slipped away from Yuno’s grasp.
“Oh, don’t you worry about little old me!” She turned back to their work. She brushed her hands off on her apron, giving them an extra swipe for good measure. “I promise, Kotoko isn’t the villain in my dreams.”
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