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]

[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?

[otherworldlyking]

[ He's not surprised he's hardly following. ]

Nah, can't say that I have. I don't have much time to go around meeting artists, anyway.

[ ... ]

Because of that invitation—but also to stop you from continuing those annoying 'courtesy' games of yours.

[15unknowns]

Courtesy...?

[Her smile fades into a frown of confusion.]

What are...you talking about?

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...

Also not quite the reaction he expected. ]

You've been taking people from other worlds, putting them on trains, and forcing them to play in games where they'd murder each other. Know what I'm talking about now?

[ He's going to take a quick glance around the room, before looking back at her. ]

[15unknowns]

[He will see large prints of photographs dotting the walls.]

I...no. No! What in the world...what nonsense!

[She actually looks slightly offended.]

We're at war with the Reach! Why would I murder my soldiers, I-

[otherworldlyking]

[ This is getting strange, and he's not sure if she's in denial or if something else is going on here.

Photographs of...what, exactly? ]

Tell that to those other people at that stuffy prison "Perdurance".

[unwittingking]

Currently? Wanting to ask what you did with Chaesun Moon.

In general? Attempting to end these murder trains.

[Corgi turned Cheetah is not afraid of straight up calling out Gods to their faces.]

MYSTIC MESSENGER TRUE ENDING SPOILERS

[15unknowns]

Chaeson...? Murder...?

[This confuses her further, and she starts to sound worried.]

No, I...I didn't--it was Saeran who shot my dear Jihyun but...he's fine now! He's...see?

He's fine. Better than fine! Why even bring it up?

[unwittingking]

...what?

I'm...not asking about Saeran or V. I'm talking about Chaesun and these space trains.

[She...she can hear him, right?]

[15unknowns]

Chaesun...she...but I...did nothing to her! Even if she tried to hurt V, I still..I still want her to...

[She looks over at the Sun again.]

...

[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.

MYSTIC MESSENGER SPOILERS-ISH

[15unknowns]

....I understand just how you feel.

It's just how I feel with him.

[She never once has turned to look at anyone. Still looking at the Sun. Still smiling.]

He is all I ever will need. His light no longer smothers me like it did before. If only everyone could see what I saw...and what he saw in me...!

Maybe one day they will.

[overworker]

I think if you explained it to them, maybe they could understand better. But... no one's seen you in a very long time.

...I understand the feeling of wanting to always be with someone. But even so, it would be lonely without the rest of my friends. Don't you miss having other people in your life?

[15unknowns]

[about t h a t]