FINAL TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

FINAL TRIAL

[The Strangers manage to escape. By the time anyone has realized they have left, the Analemma is already on a course to a new destination, one not intended by their Conductor-who was certainly surprised to find their ride gone, hours later.

Cardia has turned off radar and other equipment that would allow anyone to find the train easily. There is no barrier around this train, so everyone can see the Clockwork Sun as it gets closer and closer.

They aren't going to London, obviously. Cardia manages to explain that, originally, the Throne of Hours was located there, but after Victoria became Twice-Renewed, the Throne was ordered moved closer to the Sun. Now, it is connected to the station called Sunspur-a desolate place, formerly an exhibition hall, where only the Sun's engineers and wayward captains now go. No one dares to cross the bridge that connects the Throne to it, when they are there.

That will change, but not immediately. Even at top speed, it will take several hours for the train to reach its destination. Cardia suggests everyone relax in the Lounge of this new train. Apparently, this one was going to pick up its newest passengers very shortly, and so the bar and kitchens are stocked with food and drink, at least.

There is much to talk about. Much to look through, and much to consider. The past four weeks have been difficult to process, but the evidence from Perdurance has been especially daunting. It only shows just how stark the situation is-and it's up to the Strangers to figure out just what they will do when they do, at last, confront Her Enduring Majesty.
After all.

Whatever happens, a reckoning cannot be postponed. Not indefinitely. And the bill is almost due...]





[It's time! The objectives are simple in this trial: untangle the story of this place and decide what to ultimately do when they finally confront Victoria, the Mastermind of the Little Courtesy! It will not be easy and the truth, as ever, will not be a light one.

Will they triumph? Will they go home? What else might happen? What else could be in store? There's only way to find out!

Have fun, and good luck! And remember-

All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.]

Comments

[overworker]

W-wait up!

[She'll take off after him. Don't go to far jeez. Short legs.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ At least she's not chasing after little girls in hoods this time...! ]

[overworker]

[Nah, just her questionable cotton-candy-hair'd friend.]

A GILDED SEAT

[strangerpeople]

[What McBurn and Towa find as the cross the bridge is a room. It looks like it could be a throne room, at least. The ceiling is high and domed with mint light coming through the windows. A massive window with bombazine curtains has been thrown open, allowing the light of the Sun into the room. Glass stalactites have sprung up through the red carpet as a result.

And there, a few feet from the window, is a magnificent throne carved in what looks like gold wood, also partly turned into glass sherds. And sitting on that throne is a figure that stares out that window, hands folded in serenity, a smile of peace in their profile.

This must be the Empress herself. She doesn't stand up and toss wine glasses. She doesn't turn and demand the reasons they have come, or zap them with laser eyes, or order guards to come forth. Indeed, she doesn't acknowledge that anyone has come into the room.



>Approach?]

[overworker]

[Towa takes a deep breath and approaches in a slow manner-- no need to risk things getting out of hand at the onset. She'll stand before the throne with as much confidence as she can manage.]

Excuse me.

[She bows her her head, but there's not much respect in it.]

[15unknowns]

[Silence, for a moment.

She doesn't turn as she speaks. There's a certain harshness to it.]

What are you doing here.

[The harshness, though, diminishes after a moment.]

...Are you here to see V?

[overworker]

We received an invitation to meet with the Empress.

[Well. One of them did, technically.]

...or weren't you aware?

[15unknowns]

...That's right. I'm the Empress.

[Still she doesn't look.]

But look. Isn't he beautiful? Every day, he gets more and more beautiful...how could I have ever hated his light?

[Are...those tears in her eye?]

Don't you agree?

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...Figures that Minato was right. ]

Why would we?

[15unknowns]

[She laughs.]

Because it's true! My dearest, wonderful V...I sacrificed so much for him...and every day, I am so glad...we can now be together forever.

I can forever look into his mint eyes without regret.

[A pause.]

...you're here to look at him, too, aren't you? To hear him profess how much he loves me, as much as I love him? I don't mind company.

It's been...a little lonely here.

[otherworldlyking]

And what's the rest of his name - this 'V'? His full name can't be just an initial.

[ This isn't how he was expecting any of this to go but here we are... ]

Not really here to look at him.

[ As honest and blunt as ever, really. ]

[15unknowns]

Oh, haven't you ever met any artists? Surely...surely you know how work...but...maybe not in this London...

[She trails off.]

Why are you here?

[overworker]

[...how to proceed...]

I'm not sure I feel that strongly about him, but it's enough to see you speak of him that way.

[She looks out the window from the corner of her eye.]

[technicolourdifficulties]

Looks like someone forgot that looking directly at the sun is bad for you.

[Yeesh.]

[unwittingking]

[Not saying it, but he is pretty much same]

[15unknowns]

Why not?

[Outside, the green light is glaring, powerful. Maybe a little painful to look at directly.]

He's the sun! And the sun gives life...and love. Who couldn't feel anything but love back? Especially for someone so...wonderful...

[overworker]

The sun is lovely-- and I'm grateful to it. But there's far more to it than that. Light, darkness, earth, water... there are so many things that are required to make life blossom. I won't forget what all of them do for me. However...

The real thing that makes my life what it is... are the people here with me now. And the ones that can't be here with me.

[otherworldlyking]

[ Yeah, he approaches alright.

She doesn't speak first and they're supposed to maybe talk her into submission, so... ]

Got anything to say for yourself?

[ No bowing on his end. ]

[15unknowns]

[well]

[eternaldivide]

Heh. Someone's ready to finish this.

[ Fine with him. He'll go and follow after Towa and McBurn. ]

[overworker]

I'm terrified... but I don't want this to continue anymore. It's hurt everyone too much as it is.

[For her friends and family's sake, she can't accept failure.]

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos is silent for a moment. ]

I didn't think I'd be playing a game of 'good and evil' again. But so be it. This needs to end one way or another.

[overworker]

...you're not alone.

[One last quick hug before-- whatever comes next.]

We're all worried but... it's going to be okay.

[eternaldivide]

[ his eyes widen slightly at the hugs. and, more important, towa's words.

'you're not alone'

..... it's ironic. how he's somehow on the other side right now. and that he cares enough to want this to turn out okay.

he doesn't hug back. instead he just sighs. ]

That's what we need to hope for, isn't it... Alright then. Let's go.

[overworker]

Right.

[She's shaking a little less at least. The task before them is, in fact, probably more than she should be hoping to accomplish. But look at all they've managed to accomplish? In the end maybe... she just has to believe in that.

And... if it ended poorly...]

Let's make sure we do this in a way that we won't have any regrets.

[She could still be happy with their choices, standing here with them now.]