all lowercase letters: Like every other chapter title of this fic, this chapter's title is in all lowercase letters.
Content Warnings: There’s one before the start of the chapter. It says “potential tw at the end of the chapter,” and at the author’s notes after the end of the chapter it mentions Aaron poisoned himself, which would have been suicide if it weren’t for his waking up in a new timeline after he died. The author’s notes also provide a brief synopsis of the chapter for those who chose to skip reading it because of the content warning.
Courtroom Episode: One of two chapters focusing on court cases. This one focuses on Aaron’s second treason trial in the third lifetime.
Double-Meaning Title: Chapter 34, "then i'll be socrates." The full Hamilton lyric is "then I'll be Socrates throwing verbal rocks at these mediocrities," which could apply to Aaron poking huge holes in the prosecution's case and him pointing out the lack of foresight Jefferson and the 32 Representatives who would perjure themselves on his say-so had: whether they succeed in getting Aaron a guilty verdict or not, a huge chunk of government is exposed to be corrupt, which is awful for the public's trust in the "American experiment" of a government and the country's continued existence. A lyric almost immediately before "then I'll be Socrates" could apply to the same situation and highlights Aaron's status as a lawyer: "I practiced the law, I practic’ly perfected it, I’ve seen injustice in the world and I’ve corrected it." Finally, Socrates was put on trial and denied the charges brought against him, and accepted his death at the end for the good of civic interest, calmly drinking poison, just like Aaron.
Do Wrong, Right: Aaron’s offended that the 32 written statements from the corrupt representatives are full of contradictions, thinking if they want to get him convicted of treason and executed they should do it properly.
Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: Following the convention of naming every chapter title after a Hamilton lyric, this chapter takes its title from the line “then I'll be Socrates throwing verbal rocks at these mediocrities" from "Non-Stop."
Real Event, Fictional Cause: Thomas Jefferson did not enter the Barbary Coast Wars in order to get Aaron Burr tried for treason like he did in the fic, though he did actually enter the First Barbary War and try Aaron Burr for treason. Just as separate, unrelated events. In reality, the First Barbary War ended in 1805 during Jefferson's presidency, while the first hint he got of treason from Burr was in 1806, and he was arrested, tried, and acquitted in 1807. This means there's no way he could have declared the First Barbary War to have Burr tried in reality the way he did in the fic, since it was already over by the time he'd have any cause to do that. As for the Second Barbary War, it didn't start until 1815, far after Jefferson left office and no longer had the ability to declare war. This treason trial also didn't have Aaron attempt or be accused of trying to be Emperor of Mexico. Instead, all charges are related to his very fictional Seer power: being a Seer during time of warfare without telling the US government, using Seer abilities to manipulate American politics, and the murder of people who died because of the Manhattan Company fiasco since as a Seer, he should have seen it coming.
Say My Name: As Aaron drinks poison, Alexander screams ”Aaron” over and over.
Season Finale: Along with chapter 35. It’s the last chapter of Aaron’s third life, with the dramatic conclusion event of him drinking poison in the third treason trial. It’s also the penultimate chapter of the third timeline.
Self-Sacrifice Scheme: Aaron Burr planned to commit suicide at this treason trial so the 32 corrupt Representatives can't testify, so that their testimony can't destroy trust in the government—which he thinks it would have regardless of whether he was found guilty or not. He planned it out years before the trial, anticipating something like this would have happened. It's a little less of a sacrifice than usual with this trope considering he wakes up in his fourth lifetime, but to everyone at the trial, he dies and life continues on as he stays dead.
Take a Third Option: Aaron might be declared guilty or not guilty for treason. A guilty verdict would show that many other government officials were willing to go along with the treasonous acts he was accused of. A not guilty verdict, or a guilty verdict in which he disproves some of the representatives' testimonies, shows how many government officials (32) were willing to perjure themselves to get Aaron declared guilty on the president's say-so. Either way, bad for public trust in the government. He takes the third option of not getting declared anything and not letting the representatives testify by killing himself before court resumes. Of course, the sacrifice is a little less of a sacrifice given he'll wake up alive starting his fourth lifetime, but to everyone in the third lifetime, he's dead.
