THE THIRD TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE THIRD TRIAL

[The Conductor doesn't meet them when the chime rings. Instead, it is the Smiling Priest.]

Come. Though betrayal waits for no one, she is waiting for you.

[He motions towards the Synod, beckoning all to follow. Soon, everyone passes, almost painfully slowly, through the Seven Stations. They come to the sherd of the Mountain. Beyond that are 15 podiums, illuminated by its light. Around those are pews, with many hooded figures already sitting.

The Conductor is in a chair in front of the step to the well, looking absolutely angry and miserable. She speaks the info into her phone, but she sounds like she is being forced to say it, as opposed to simply going through the same rote routine. She takes deep breaths as the suspect list loads on everyone's cuffs.]

THE BRIGHT	THE WATCHFUL	THE DEIDRE	THE BRITTLE
				THE HALVED

A member of my crew is dead alongside your dead. Justice shall be served. I do hope you are proud of yourself, whoever committed this crime.

[She says nothing else. She looks like she's on tenterhooks. Looks like there's no point in delaying.

The trial for the murders of Konawa Talimo, The Deidre, and Zack Foster, The Watchful, has begun.]

Comments

[charmingheroine]

All of us, and not her?

[There is no going back from how far she fell, before today. She was willing to end a universe.
He wouldn't have wanted that. She shouldn't have wanted that. There is no going back. There is only going - onward...]

Change of plans, everybody! I need you to trust me. Don't ask why, vote for me.

[biddentodance]

Wha- no!

[overworker]

Please Minato-- we don't have much time. I want to believe in her. I know she must have a plan.

[biddentodance]

But- she's-!

[overworker]

She's relying on us because she trusts us. So we need to rely on her too. We... we have to support each other. All of us.

[charmingheroine]

She's right here.

[Smiling, softly. Frightened, really.]

I can't believe this, I mean, you're wearing her ribbon, you'd be good to each other, I tried not to do this...

[And she kisses him.]

Trust me, okay?

[higanbana]

[woah]

[katzenpfote]

Trust her, Minato.

[biddentodance]

She had nothing to do with this!

[katzenpfote]

[He's got a heart in his hands but he runs over and pushes the damn button on Minato's cuff.]

[overworker]

...I trust you. Just... please be safe...

[otherworldlyking]

...Huh?

[ What even. ]

[katzenpfote]

[He's in the middle of harassing Lilac, but -]

... If you're certain!

[higanbana]

[. . .]

I trust you. If this is a mistake, I will hunt down what might remain of your soul and make you regret it.

[charmingheroine]

[She grins, terrified but also deeply touched.]

If it comes to that? I hope I can figure out a way to hold you to it.

[higanbana]

[And the smile she gets in return is definitely not unsettling at all.]

Oh, believe me, I will figure it out~. So let us both hope this will work out in our favor, my friend.

[charmingheroine]

[She really did kind of envy the Lecardes their whole "crazy vampire murder duo" thing, in a weird way... is this, then, what it'd be like having a sister?]

Only one way to find out!

[unwittingking]

[THIS IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF EXPLAINING LATER WHAT THE FU-]

Charlotte, unless you did this, I am not voting for you!

[charmingheroine]

It's the only way to make her pay, King. Please.

[unwittingking]

[…]

..fine.

[He makes his vote.]

But if this blows up, that man is dead!

[Pointing at the priest guy.]

[otherworldlyking]

She probably has a reason for it.

[ Whatever will fuck over their captors, he guesses. ]

[eternaldivide]

Charlotte....

[ He's quiet for a moment before a small sigh. ]

... Alright. But only because of what you've said before. I just ... hope this isn't a mistake.

[charmingheroine]

So do I.

All will be well, right? They kept saying that....

[eternaldivide]

[ ...... ]

Well, if it isn't... Trust me that I'll be helping Ris with finding your soul.

[charmingheroine]

Just as long as you don't use it to power a weapon...