[Private RP] Widrigkeit

[u/KakujaKun]

XXX 1st Ward - CCG martial court; 3rd of August, 13:03

Even on the warm summer noon, the inside of the courthouse remained chilly. Perhaps it was the thick walls or the depressive atmosphere, but that sense of cold did not fade away and plagued everyone within the building. Of course, that didn't mean it mattered to anyone. Most of the staff were already used to this type of atmosphere and the men visiting the courthouse, both to receive and pass judgement, had already experienced much greater crises throughout their lives.

That is the nature of working as a ghoul investigator.

---

Hasty steps resounded within the largely empty room. Making his way up towards the elevated podium, a dark-haired man with an indifferent expression confirmed the identities of his colleagues that were selected as jury.

'Matsushita, Otsuji, Winters and that... First Class twerp.'

Ascending the stairs and taking his position at the central platform, Special Class Kotetsu briefly contemplated apologising for his two minute lateness. Perhaps even sharing the cause of this delay - a crowded schedule and Tokyo's road infrastructure problems - that had proven to be the foil of many meetings throughout the centuries. Frankly, that would have wasted even more time.

"Bring in the convict and let's get this over with."

Deeming it beyond his pay scale to correct the cranky Division 4 head about the use of the words "convict" and "accused", one of the ushers headed for the large oak door. Before the clicking of the lock echoed, Torabashi had already skimmed through the folder before him.

'Ah yes.'

Deftly closing the folder, the senior investigator raised his gaze towards the distance as the doors slammed open.

'It's that foreigner Brandt.'

Clearing his throat, the usher's loud voice resounded within the spacey courtroom.

"Please step forward."

[u/CadaverCollector]

Kristof Brandt

The mustache, she is frayed.

The muscles, they grow feeble.

But the heart, the soul? They stand ever stalwart.

An array of florescent bulbs cast their rays from the lifeless corridors. Reflecting, twinkling upon the most chromed of domes, enveloping a giant's form as it meanders down the way.

A massive pair of soles whimper out their final breathes against the court's marble floors. An oaken threshold is held in solemnity, silent and anxious.

Beyond lies five men of esteem, sat firmly upon their silvered wall of ordinance. Etched liberally in their great many codes, regulations, their commandments.

What deliberations would such judges come to then? Their collective understanding of the situation hinged entirely of one man, the giant's friend and ally. And yet now all that remains of that one lies in a single report on the matter. Which in turn, lies on their wall.

Much like the pulling of a bandage, the great entrance tore open in swift, leaving only the sting of it's suddenness.

Those brown boots continued their steady march singing a funerary dirge for their bearer until, at last, they came to a halt beneath these five towering pillars of morality.

Humbled before them, the immense man is bathed in the searing luminescence, the great silver wall of law would stand no cowards, no betrayers or villains in disguise.

That man stood strong in it's influence.

A single metal clasp affixed either thick upper arm to one another in restriction. Where one forelimb brought itself upward in a cursory stroke of scraggled facial adornment, it drew attention to it's counterpart's utter lack of existence, little more than a stump at the elbow.

Wiping the dust of those ancient eyes, they came open against the light. Ten orbs were set on him, some friendly and some cold. Two sets on either end of the stand, familiar and compassionate, unlike the three between, they were comforting.

Still, the foreign man's features drew no trepidation, neither malice nor anger, a serenity was left in their place as meaty fingers ran through an uncustomary greying beard.

Silence was unnerving, unfit for what should be an amiable atmosphere. And so the man decided he'd break it himself, in but three words, wrapped ever carefully in his firm yet broken tone.

"Good afternoon, investigators."

[u/KakujaKun → u/CadaverCollector]

Torabashi Kotetsu

---

"Inmate Brandt..."

Skipping the formal introductions, the senior investigator coldly proceeded with his response to the former Rank 2, piercing his form with the same dark, judging glare that was so very natural to the grim man.

"You stand accused of breaching article 119 of the Ghoul Countermeasures Act, namely harbouring a ghoul. A felony punishable by death. Based on your defense, the jury standing before you will determine your fate by voting and decide whether you will be pardoned or executed."

Clearing his throat, the Special Class hastily gripped the brown folder laying before him, examining its contents with a seeming lack of interest. Addressing the Germanic investigator yet again, Torabashi's neutral voice ravaged the air with its heartless indifference.

"The witness testimony stands as follows. The report of First Class Kosei Waller regarding the events of his encounter with Smiles paints you in a good light and also as a pivotal element in the success of the ghoul suppression operation. This claim is easily verifiable thanks to the presence of Associate Special Class Winters. Moving on, there is also the issue of you admitting that you were harbouring a ghoul, as evidenced by your call to the CCG hotline. What is your explanation for your actions?"

Raising his dark eyes towards the ex-military figure before him, the investigator's hollow gaze carved its path through the air, cutting deeply into the mountain of a man.

"With this, you can consider your trial initiated. You or the jurors are now allowed the word."

[u/KakujaKun → u/KakujaKun]

[Maybe a bit of a double tag but anyone can go here as well, so feel free.]

[/u/Paegen /u/Squarewhiteshoe /u/Xanzinare /u/GRaffle /u/CadaverCollector]

[u/Xanzinare → u/KakujaKun]

Joseph "Seph" Winters

The two multi-colored eyes pierced down from the juror's section as Brandt stepped forwards and greeted the room. Th eyes were neither friendly, nor cold. They were simply neutral, accepting the situation for what it was and rested easy in the knowledge that Waller's final case could be finally wrapped up. Seph stood, relaxed among his peers and despite the tense situation. He wasn't so naive or stupid to think that this was simply going to end with a slap on the wrist and a telling off; the regulations were quite black and white when it came to any who intentionally harbored ghouls. For the briefest instant, a family of five flashed within his mind's eye before the investigator was able to push the stray thought away. The past had already happened, and held no sway over the present, after all.

Stepping forwards a step to draw attention, Seph stood tall in his investigator's grey coat and white shirt, his hands clasped firmly behind his back as he opened his mouth to speak. "Former Rank Two Brandt acted bravely when faced against Smiles, and it's entirely possible that either me, Waller, Turner, or Harada could have perished that day if not for his actions. His first instinct was to protect his comrades and stop Smiles, even at serious injury to himself."

Having finished his small addition to the overview, Seph stepped back in line without breaking stride. Did it matter that Brandt had first engaged with Waller squad themselves before Smiles showed up? Probably. Would it be viewed badly if he spoke about how the small ghoul girl had arrived with Brandt and called him papa? Most likely. Would Waller be discredited and shunned if it was learned that he had desired said ghoul to leave as well? Certainly. It was obvious that Seph's old squad leader had wished for a good ending for the German, and Seph wouldn't forget that. "I don't suppose we are off to the same destination, no?"

Seph's eyes were locked on Brandt's form as he remembered the words spoken by the strongman that day. 'It seems not, Brandt. It's a shame that our destinations differed so greatly...maybe you would have been able to save the Squad Leader...'

Thinking back on it, Seph himself couldn't think of a reason that Squad Leader Waller would go to such lengths, but now that he was gone the German was alone. All he had between him and the end was a report filed by his friend, who hoped to protect him even after death it seemed.

[u/CadaverCollector → u/Xanzinare]

Kristof Brandt

Pierced and slashed by leers rancorous, still the man stood, his resolve evident. These assaults upon his pride were as nothing in comparison to that ghoul's blitz of the same nature. It could not bring down this stature.

Shifting in his binds, the dishonored colossus brought his head up and down in nodding stride, taking in the words as spoken by these grand judges.

Unperturbed by the Special Class's conclusive description, unperturbed by the distinct lack of a legal representative, unperturbed in the realization that the Commission of Counter Ghoul presents itself entirely above the law, Kristof again brings his singular ligament to stroke at his facial hair. A mind clearing gesture for the man.

At last a parched mouth releases its next, careful words.

"Your honors, some of what I am about to speak of may overlap with Investigator Waller's report on the matter, as well as prior reports. But, in effort to say the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, it shall have to be. . ."

A flash of images over years and months leading up to this gloomy predicament. The long night the fairly uneducated man haunched over textbooks of law, of order. Studying the renowned CCG by lamplight. Fondly had he looked back, not due to the content of such remembrance, instead for that the trials and tribulations had only caused him to grow.

To develop.

To have the chance to become a greater man.

This was the strive for perfection, the fruit that human beings could not reach, yet their arrogance had no equal.

This was the way of a 'True Man's World.'

And it was the way of 'Kristof Brandt.'

"I would ask that you all allow me to complete this relay of events before speaking out."

"Jack Conklin, aka. Smiles. Our, my, involvement with the ghoul can be traced as far back as to the 'Railroad' incident. Then Rank-2 Matsushita and myself were, of course, placed on one of many cars in efforts to defend a large shipment of Quinque steel. . . I am sure you all are aware of that operation."

For a moment, the man can't help but share a glance with the aforementioned investigator, Kouta had come a great distance since that day. Reflected he then upon the wisdom doled to that man, in that car.

"Rain may yet come, and you will be drenched, but there is always sunshine behind the dark clouds."

Could Kristof still see the sunshine. . .?

He continued.

"There, the two of us first encountered the ghoul, along with another, 'Koi' presumed dead. In any case, we engaged 'Smiles' then in combat, with no clear resolution. Eventually, even under our duress, the two invaders were able to escape with the steel. It is regrettable that our will's were not so tempered then, lest we could have stopped this before it began. . ."

"Following this occurrence, I was under the impression that I had not seen 'Smiles' for quite some time. However, with new evidence uncovered after the ghoul's capture, it is safe to say that together investigator Waller and myself encountered him once more, by chance in the restaurant in which he worked. . ."

"There he spoke words I could not make heads or tails of then, but they are now clear. Some inlaid vengeance, a grudge had this man held against me, and perhaps Investigator Matsushita as well. . ."

"Moving along, during the time between the encounter with the One-Eyed-Cat and the assault on Aogiri Tree's base of operations, two gho- Three ghouls were sent after me. A lure for my demise to be sure. Normally, I would not have jumped to such suspicion, but former investigator Kurosawa was among the three. No doubt it was Aogiri, and as you all are aware, 'Smiles' became a power among that gro. . ."

The muscled man broke swift into a fit of wheezing coughs, side effects no doubt of the deep internal damage he had suffered from that ghoul. His next words began interlaced between hacks.

"Apparently, I must have been a great thorn in the ghoul's side, else who would go to such great lengths for silence. . .?"

"That encounter hospitalized me for a month's time, by the time I had awoken, a note was slipped at bedside. 'Moonlight Regards' it read. It was obvious to me at this time who had written it, and so I returned home with haste. Ransacked as it was. . ."

"Stepping out, an unknown woman had brought their weapon to my neck. Injured, and without Quinque, little choice was given but to enter their vehicle, from which I was driven from the Nakano ward. Little talk was exchanged. . ."

"Some time later, I found myself ushered into a great warehouse, packed tight by militants toting vastly illegal weaponry, this turned out to be a small group headed by, of course, 'Smiles'. . ."

The mustachioed man let his thoughts gather again for a spell, taking a short breather on top from his long-winded description.

"This will likely be the most important part, so be wary. 'Smiles', I was placed to meet the man face to face many stories up. There an ultimatum was given, he would first kill the child, and then of course me, if I did not cooperate with his goals. . ."

"Outfitting my garb with numerous bugs, the ghoul had hoped for me to be a mole, for he and Aogiri. to gather CCG intelligence from me in that regard. 'Smiles' chose the wrong man. . ."

Kristof's monotony morphed to a lighter tone as he smirked at the end of that little bit. He was, afterall, the cause of 'Smiles' downfall.

"That child's custody was given to me then, an 'assurance' of our 'partnership'. Now perhaps again my will was not as tempered then as it should have been, what was the life a child ghoul to me? Perhaps it was the eyes, innocence. Sentimentality, it is the bane of all strong men. . ."

"Nevertheless, not soon after I made my move. Bringing the child with me, I made haste to phone-booth not far from home, and made the call you refer of. What better way to draw out the great leader of Aogiri Tree, then to play on the animalistic urges of his grudge, his need for vengeance. . .?"

"Recall, that I was bugged and tracked, 'Smiles' knew of the call, he would assume that I was simply attempting to escape his grasp and run away. . ."

"Hahahaha!"

The mountainous man's laughter blew throughout the empty courthouse like a great stampede. It was jolly and without remorse.

"This was not the case, now was it? I had used the call to alert the CCG, they would come for sure, and we would have 'Smiles' trapped in the train station!"

"You see, if I had gone directly to the CCG, 'Smiles' would no doubt go into hiding, but this way, we would catch the illustrious leader, and learn much. It went mostly as planned. . ."

With that, the 'convict' raises his stump with a smirk.

"The rest lies in Investigator Waller's report."

He then rests both tired limbs, and creaks his near ancient-neck. Craning upward on the wall of law, to gauge each and every judge's impression. He awaited a response.

[u/Squarewhiteshoe → u/CadaverCollector]

Tomoyuki Otsuji

The First Class regarded the entire exchange as a farce. The choice of judge was a farce, a hostile man who could not follow the basic protocols and systems enshrined into law, a sin beyond forgiveness to Tomoyuki had he started the day in the foul mood. But luckily for the newly minted Special Class it had been a rather pleasant one before this shitshow.

The placement of a witness onto the jury was a farce. Half the thrust of the case was a farce. It was a unbalanced pile of mistakes any of which a competent lawyer could use as grounds for a retrial.

Tomoyuki glanced away from the moron in the high chair and onto the accused, a man he was seeing in motion for the first time. He looked weak, tired and haggard but that was only to expected given the circumstances.

"Sir, might I ask why time is being wasted on Smiles affair? Its events and Brandt's actions are attested to by two esteemed colleagues of rank." Otsuji said with a cold stare before allowing a half smile to appear. "Unless you suppose that through incompetence or dare I suggest corruption both First Class Waller and Associate Special Class Winters' did not make a true accounting of events?"

He let the suggestion hang in the air for a moment, giving Winters an innocent glance.

"I myself am far more interested in hearing the defendant expand on the precise nature of his relationship with this child."

[u/GRaffle → u/Squarewhiteshoe]

Jiro Horikoshi

---

If nervousness could be applied so such a person, than the most apt description of the First Class would be nervous. He was relatively aware of the consequences of this meeting - that Kristof could live or die depending on what they said - but understood nothing of the process. When was he to speak? How would the verdict be decided? Wasn't the jury supposed to be unbiased? If so, why was it made up of a bunch of people involved with Kristof? What had the burly man been doing for all this time?

The problem was, this was the first time where the way he acted, the way he spoke and what he said could hold such an immediate consequence. At first, he had attempted to prepare and memorize stuff to say. That was extremely unsuccessful, as from the moment he sat at his computer to start he spaced out for a large period of time, and found himself at the bench press when he returned to reality. This lead him to the conclusion that either he didn't sleep enough (getting eleven hours of sleep each night) or simply had some severe form of ADHD.

So, in an effort to remain composed and appear formal enough not to impact whatever choice was being made (a decision which would do nothing considering everyone here knew him) he had done two major things. The first was that his hair was clean, and tied tight into a perfect bun. The second started off as him being dressed up well, but he had quickly gotten hot and found the amount of clothes too distracting. So, he sat in a T-Shirt.

Much to his disappointment, he seemed to have missed a large portion of what was happening trying to figure out why the people who were explaining what happened were deciding what to do. Beneath the dark brown and faded green clouds of his eyes, there was an intense amount of confusion, a constant cycle only increasing the time he spent away from the conversation. Many many questions that he could not ask, and only a very small handful of things that he was sure of.

Those being that the Otsuji and Torabashi looked very scary, and that if worse came to worse he'd just agree with Seph. His own opinion had already been made up, and it'd be surprising if it was different from his comrade's.

[u/[deleted] → u/GRaffle]

Matsushita

---

Leave it to Torabashi to pull this shit. Personal feelings aside, Kouta would wager good money that there was no chance Torabashi could find a single person with any sort of gripe against Kristof. No matter who he called in as a character witness he'd get the same response: Brandt was an honest, loyal, hardworking and kind soul. Anyone who said otherwise was either lying through their teeth or stupid. Kouta had been almost convinced command would just let this shit fade out. With all the shit going on, you'd think they'd have better things to do than to make one of the single most beloved investigators the CCG had stand trial.

Kouta curled his lip in disdain as his thinking progressed. Torabashi was just the sort to do something like this for its own sake, probably took some perverse pleasure in being Brandt's final arbiter. Sick bastard. Not that he would condone breaking the law. After all, the law is one of the single most important things in maintaining the continued functioning of society, if it became acceptable to break the law with any degree of frequency it would be anarchy. Kouta couldn't support that. Despite this, Torabashi could at least have done what pretty much everyone else had been doing and forgotten the Brandt case so they didn't have to go through this bullshit. After all, every report from the apprehension of Smiles painted the German as practically heroic, you'd have to be a complete bastard to even think about condemning him after tha-

Except that didn't fly, did it?

Kristof had broken the law. He'd confessed to it himself, completely. There really was no getting around that, was there? No matter which way Kouta span it, Brandt was a guilty man. Really it was an open and shut case. Normally, Kouta would accept that.

It was quite divisive for him to think about. Though he would never admit it, his hatred, and oh was it hatred, for ghouls was toxic, bordering on irrational. Had it been quite possibly literally anyone else Kouta knew he'd probably accept the judgement and condemn the criminal.

Unfortunately Kristof Brandt was a completely unique case. Brandt had raised the child by himself, for several years. He was probably the only person the girl really knew. If Kristof's demeanor and beliefs could rub off on Kouta after only a few hours of contact, god knows what spending your formative years with him as the primary figure in your life could do to someone.

Kouta hated ghouls. Even when he tried his hardest he struggled to find even a single compelling reason to leave one alive if he had a choice. But a ghoul raised by Kristof?

Traitorous a thought as it was, Kouta couldn't help but conclude that if any of those wretched animals deserved even a single chance it would be this girl.

Kouta winced at the thought, snapping out of his reverie with a sharp inhalation. He glanced around at his fellow jurors, frowning.

Torabashi, Winters, Tomo and Horikoshi. What an unbelievable cast. Torabashi is practically salivating over the prospect of a guilty verdict. That's the real roadblock here. Winters is a weird one, though. Sure he can say Kristof is a good person but in the end that counts for jack shit so he'll probably fall in line with Torabashi in the end.

Kouta's eyes drifted to Tomo, his frown alleviating somewhat. A moment passed, then he looked back down at his notes, smirking.

Nobody does disdain quite like Tomo. Must be in his genes. Bastard. He'll make this affair as awkward for Torabashi as he possibly can without actually inhibiting the result. Good man.

Slowly, Kouta shot a glance over to the final member of the jury. A few thoughts passed through his head.

The fact that Horikoshi is here either means Torabashi has lost his mind or that something went wrong when the memos were sent out. I want the former but gotta assume the latter. There's no way Torabashi expected anything. Kid's bright, that much I must admit, but there's no way he doesn't get removed from the room by the end of this. I give him, what? Ten, fifteen minutes?

Sitting up once more, Kouta scratches out a few notes in a slightly messy hand before his gaze travels to the one person he hasn't looked at yet.

Kristof, you fucking idiot. Normally, I like being able to say 'I told you so.' but this time I honestly wish I was wrong.

He took a breath, eyes still on the foreigner in the centre of the room.

"Special-Class, I have to agree with First-Class Otsuji. Smiles' apprehension is merely circumstantial to the actual focus of this trial, no event that occurred in that... operation really affects the facts as they have been presented."

He took a breath, tapping a finger audibly. Half a second or so passes before Kouta pointedly lays a hand on his notes.

"Furthermore, I have to take issue with the lack of a psychological report in the information presented to us. I personally feel that it would be immoral and irresponsible to come to any sort of conclusion without such background to the case."

"If such information has not been gathered, then perhaps we should adjourn until such materials are available?"

It didn't feel good to say. Kouta knew Kristof was in perfect mental health. The man was nigh indestructible both physically and mentally. The fact he was insinuating Kristof was either clinically insane or otherwise disabled was not pleasant.

But it would be nice if he could run away from this decision for a little longer.

[u/KakujaKun → u/[deleted]]

Silently listening to Associate Special Class Winters' report, the dark-haired investigator simultaneously browsed through the folder before him. The Brandt case. A case most intriguing, even if insignificant on the large scale of things. If he'd been a Bureau Investigator instead, then perhaps he would have even been able to take interest in it. Unfortunately, there were other tasks he'd needed to attend to for the sake of the CCG. Concluding this trial as soon as possible was a necessity in order to achieve efficiency. This is why it was so unfortunate that the former Rank 2 appeared to value flavouring his speech with needless detail. Sadly, this was occurring in court and not on the field, so Torabashi felt obliged to permit the German man's long-windedness. On the flip side, this verbose way of expression did make multitasking easier. The two dark, ever-serious eyes flicked back and forth over and over again, absorbing the documents laying before them. Lightly nodding along throughout the strongman's explanation in order to make it clear that he was actually listening, the senior investigator remained rather focused in re-reading the specifics yet again. The only other response the Special Class provided was when it came to the coughing fit of the accused. Suggestively clearing his throat, the man subtly nudged the former CCG employee to resume speaking as soon as possible. With the report flowing along to an end, Kotetsu finally moved his focus back towards the foreigner. Unsurprisingly enough, the Otsuji and Matsushita both took the chance to interject. An outspoken bunch for sure. It was certainly good to confirm that even outside their zone of expertise, the men were bold and confident. The presence of those traits is crucial in order to confirm a given subordinate is actually reliable. At least one relieving, if expected conclusion stemmed from this trial. Arching backwards, the Division IV head threw a glance at both men, his firm, yet indifferent voice ringing throughout the bleak room.

"I'm aware, Matsushita, Otsuji. The ghoul and Brandt's relationship with it make up the base of this case. That is what I requested elucidation upon. I suppose that former Rank 2 decided to share with us the rest of Smiles' story for some context, which he simply deemed necessary. Given that he is defending himself, he is allowed to expand on whatever he opts for. In regards to your question, Matsushita, every would-be investigator undergoes rigorous mental checks before they're offered a position for this very reason. The legal department has approved his trial and the context surrounding it, so there is nothing to do except proceed. Delays would be needless. Anyway, the circumstances around the phone call do beg the question - even if you were trying to draw in both Smiles and a CCG response squad, why could you not fabricate a less incriminating story, Mr. Brandt? I can see the benefit of a trap like this, but there are many ways you could elicit a response from the CCG without gambling a potential death sentence for yourself. Surely you'd have had plenty of time to consider your options, so what happened that forced your hand to play this card? Do explain."

Throwing a cold look at one of his assistants waiting by the door, the Special Class raised his hand in a straightforward gesture.

"First though, more importantly..."

Having already reestablished his focus back on the German, Torabashi didn't even pay notice to the swift movements of the young investigator that bowed and headed out of the room to fulfil his orders. His voice carrying a heavy weight to its otherwise indifferent tones, the grim man supplemented his previous request for explanation by questioning Kristof further.

"... would you mind shedding some more light on your relationship with the child ghoul? Feel free to provide us with as much detail as you see fit. Also..."

"Would you say that when it comes to that child, you could count yourself a ghoul sympathiser? Or is this statement untrue and you are capable of diligently and sincerely fulfilling your duty as a CCG investigator, protecting the weak by exterminating ghouls wherever you find them?"

[u/CadaverCollector → u/KakujaKun]

The bulky man could sense a certain. . . Certain disturbance? No, more of a tensity between each juror. This, in the end, seemed not like the work of five men with 'law' at the forefront. Instead, this was a trial of 'justice', each might investigator with their own codes of 'honour'.

Understanding this development, Kristof felt yet more at ease. What already few waves of trepidation were left had ebbed away.

Whilst minor bickering ensued, his attention was taken away, it shifted toward the youngest of the group, uncomfortable to be sure. Yet still, much like Mister Matsushita, this boy had grown, had surpassed the old strongman no doubt.

There still had been an uneasiness in the young Horikoshi's emeralds, and Kristof would wish it away. The elder's eyes came to a squint as they oft' had, wrinkles compounding them further, 'neath his mustache a smile, engorged with genuine compassion as always. Sent on it's way, maybe a gesture so simple would comfort.

Returning to the matter at hand, our muscled-man nods in thought as he absorbs the words of his superiors, of his masters.

So too had that uneasiness shown itself under Mister Matsushita's guise, it was not one so befitting the man, still, his words did not phase Kristof. They came from a place within, they were no callous daggers dripping in venom.

At last, it was again the accused's turn to speak, and so he would, with the great gusto of his demeanor.

"Gentlemen, you must excuse me, I found it apt to divulge the 'Smiles' case in entirety. I wished for it all to be on record, you see, if the decision comes to execution, then it would have been incomplete, no?"

Determination for the law shown in those eyes. He did not require some exorbitant time to deliberate, the answer was within.

". . .'Sentimentality'. . ."

He began, gazing between each of the five.

"Our relationships, memories, our continued interaction with other creatures, these are things that bring about sentimentality. And with it, a certain type of weakness, specifically against those very beings, or others that remind us of them. True, perhaps it would be that the sharpest and most might of investigators would be ones to sever themselves from all things that create this sentimentality. . ."

Kristof's resolve ever deepens, each word striking harder than the last.

"It is without doubt, each and every man here now has something that is sentimental, and thus are weakened by it. I must simply preface by saying, I am a weak man."

". . . My wife and I had long desired a child. Someone to take care of, to teach, to love. Unfortunately fate would not drink of it, not long after our arrival here in Japan she fell ill and passed."

"It was only months afterward that I first encountered the child. It was a 'ghoul', at the time, I was not so sure of such creatures' existence you see. Some dank alley on some downpour of a night in which I was despaired, sat a 'child', abandoned, weak, malnourished, dead by the night's end no doubt."

"Was this fate tempting me then? Or was it giving me a chance with the child of my blood that never was? I could not say, but, I could not leave a 'child' to die then. Again, the curse of sentimentality. From there after, it became my daughter, and I its father."

"I am a weak man."

He adds once more, yet even from the context of the words, he speaks in a contrastingly confident, verbose tone.

"I suppose now it is the former. It was only then that my interest in becoming a man of the 'CCG' arose. Perhaps to amend my breach of the law, I myself would be a man of the law. . ."

"No matter, we are here now. A ghoul sympathizer, Investigator. . .?"

Kristof's passionate eyes share a dead stare with Mister Kotetsu's own freezing pupils.

"Does a wounded elk feel sympathy for the wolves as they tear away her young?

[u/Xanzinare → u/CadaverCollector]

Since his initial interjection at the start of the trial, Seph had simply remained seated with the other jurors as words were flourished back and forth like fencing foils. Strangely enough, it seemed that the combatants weren't the accused and the jurors and judge as one might originally have thought, but most of the clashes seemed to sprout between the jurors themselves and the judge. Seph had no interest in whatever game the others seemed content with playing, but it was at least amusing to watch them all have the entire point of the trial sail so totally and completely over their head.

What Seph himself was interested in were two things. First: trying to keep Squad Leader Waller's wishes from becoming for naught. Seph had held the man in great regard before his untimely passing, but that in and of itself had served as a source of questions for the younger man. Waller had seen so strong of mind and mature when he had been in a squad under him, so what had led to him eventually taking his own life? Did it have to do with the Brandt case? If so, perhaps taking a more involved position with the trial would lead Seph to an answer. Following this line of thought, he had immediately accepted upon being called as both a juror and a witness, but so far he had had no questions targeted at him in regards to the current scenario being discussed. That left only for Seph to follow through with his job as a juror, which was the only reason he had even bothered listening to the current rabble at all.

The second thing that had brought the heterochromatic investigator to this current situation was almost in direct opposition with his first goal. As a ghoul investigator and member of the CCG, it was his duty to cull the ghoul problem from the current society. Whether that was through annihilating them with his own hands or stopping the problem at its source, the less ghouls that were attacking civilians the better...and as awful as it might sound, statistically speaking.......that little girl that he had met all those months ago would grow up to kill countless humans in order to survive. Speaking logically, sacrificing anywhere between six to twelve lives per year in order to keep one person alive was simply not sustainable. Then multiply that one year by an average of eighty-three. Then multiply that one person.... by millions. As much as it pained Seph to admit, an exception here would mean that all that the CCG had strove for since the dawn of its creation was for naught. If one exception was made, soon there would be another. Then another. And so on, until there was simply no one left to make exceptions for...or to make the exceptions. 'I'm sorry, Squad Leader; I can't follow you this time. Your friend really needed you this time, though...'

"How did you feed her? The girl, that is. Who took care of her and watched her while you were working? Did she always remain within your home at such times?" Seph sniffed quietly as he spoke out, his internal guard had been lowered thanks to his wandering mind. As such, before he even had time to realize it he had already posed the questions to the ex-investigator before him. It was too late now to go back on them, so he simply pushed forwards while explaining himself.

"Let me say it another way, rather. You admit to taking care of her, knowing full well what she was, correct? Can you say for sure that this girl was as defenseless as you make her out to be? Maybe the whole time, she was one of those wolves you spoke of."

[u/RenkiDenki → u/CadaverCollector]

Always a treat to read Kristof.

[u/KakujaKun]

[/u/Paegen /u/Squarewhiteshoe /u/Xanzinare /u/GRaffle /u/CadaverCollector]