THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL
(~SK. 3-4)


[When the investigation wraps up, there is a low, rumbling <D O N G, which vibrates throughout the ship. This is followed by the sound of creaking doors opening on the D Deck-the locked doors at the end of the hall.

Zero's voice speaks through the ship once this happens.]

The Investigation has ended. It is time for the Trial. Please proceed into the theater.

I suggest you be quick about it.

[And when you do...you will find a completely empty theater. There is a higher level, but this is currently blocked off by ropes, as is the stage itself. Anyone who attempts to jump the ropes will find themselves knocked on their butts; it seems there's no choice but to go to the podiums, located in the orchestra area of the theater. Notably, the podiums for bunks 6 and 7 are empty, draped with black crinoline and adorned with a photo of the deceased. And in the center of the podiums is...a birthday cake with some confetti surrounding it, along with some drinks. No indication whose birthday it is, but that's pretty much all you'll see in this otherwise very bare, quiet place.



CW: animal death

Unless, of course, you're the Eye. If you're the Eye, you will see every seat filled, if not by a root or vine, then by a...thing with glowing red eyes. One of these...things tries to move towards Anya-and immediately, after suddenly glowing red, thunks over sideways, it's head popping off with an almost comical P O P. The majority of the other...things stare at it before resuming their...whatever they're doing, while one of the things sitting next to it looks over, then towards the stage, then slowly hops off the seat and out the door.

Oh, and he doesn't even get his own podium. Aoi and Makima, good luck to you-Roland's been squeezed in between you, forced to take podium 3. You get to also see what he sees.

Once everyone's in place, A large wide screen....screen schlllorps from the stage, and Zero's face pops in once it turns on.]


Welcome to the Trial. Please, enjoy the refreshments. You will be here until you have either convicted the correct culprit-or, the culprit successfully gets away with it. If you have not familiarized yourself with the guidelines, I suggest you do so now.

All evidence is also available for review on your watches, if need be. Take your time, but...do not delay. Justice must be served.

[Well? No reason to delay. Power is dead. Very dead. And now it is time to figure out who would kill her with explogurt for a cheeseburger-if that's even what happened.


The trial of Power, The Drop, has begun.]

Comments

[godspiousjasper]

...I get this feeling you wouldn't deliberately kill someone. That's what my instincts are saying.

[ A deep breath exhaled and then he walks over so he can get a bit closer. There's nothing threatening or anything angry about his body language. ]

Did Miss Power come at you first and everything that happened after was self defense?

[threwabone]

I...I...I just...

[At this, it finally happens.

She collapses.]

I didn't know that was going to happen!

[godspiousjasper]

...

[ That's the sound of his heart breaking as he knelt in front of her. Probably will give her as gentle of a hug as he can. ]

It was an accident... so that's how it is...

[ A small exhale. He hates this so much. ]

Please. Tell us what happened.

[superstylishsquid]

[Alastor finally just...almost deflates as he sighs. He crouches down to put a hand on her shoulder, letting his tail curl on the ground.]

We're not judging you. I know we were on the same page about the stupidity of this motive, so I never thought you'd have done it because you wanted to. Just...well, I'm sorry it got to this point.

[threwabone]

I-I just...I just wanted to eat something...just a snack, and then she...

[A sob]

She ran at me, and I panicked, and-and I sent an arrow we just-we kept shouting because she does that, and I don't why, she just scares me, she acts like it's a game, and I just...

I didn't mean what I said.

[exequte]

[She's just holding her hand and crying, now.]

[threwabone]

[Leaning into it.

She's scared.

So, so scared.]

[godspiousjasper]

[ He just quietly holds her as she talks, eyes closed and anyone can tell how much this absolutely hurts him. There's a young woman here who is crying and just... this is all he can do right now. ]

People... say a lot of things in the moment that they don't mean. You were scared and with good reason, Miss Anya.

[ What else could he EVEN say beyond that? If anyone looks closely, he almost looks close to tears himself. ]

[threwabone]

I...I don't wanna die...

[It wasn't supposed to be like this. She was supposed to have a long life. Even if not the nicest, something better than this, better than dying at seventeen.

She's so scared.]

[valkavian]

Jesus.

This... Nah, this entire situation is fucked.

I actually liked you a little. You actually had some damn potential.

[ She's not blaming you, Anya, but this situation is just a travesty. ]

[threwabone]

[That...

Congrats, Val. You got a laugh out of her.

A miserable, small, partially forced laugh, but a laugh.]

Th...thanks, actually.

[It's weird, hearing that from her. But...nice, in a way she can't quite describe.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Roland has the hug, so he'll just place a hand on her should for support.]

[threwabone]

[She just keeps crying.

She doesn't know if she can do more than cry.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Sometimes, that's all you can do.]

[not_a_lego_maniac]

.........................

[Slowly, he goes over to her. He doesn't hug her, mainly because 1. Roland is there, and 2. would...she even want a hug?



But he's there. If nothing else, he's...he's there if she needs him.]

[threwabone]

[It's appreciated, even if she can't say it.]

[not_a_lego_maniac]

[She might feel something on her shoulder.


It's not a hand, though. It's Betty. The plush.]


I...you don't have to be scared.

[threwabone]

[A short, sharp laugh. HA.]

Kinda hard not to be. Easier said than done and all that.

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes goes and gets a piece of cake for Anya and puts it on her podium.]

[threwabone]

[Congrats, Hermes. You're the second person to get a small, sad laugh out of Anya.]

Th-thanks, Hermes.

I...I'm sorry I was a jerk, before.

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes bobs up and down a little.]

This is the first time I've seen you smile! You look good with it!

[threwabone]

[A snort this time.]

Thanks.

If...if you ever get out of here, and you can go to my world...can you tell Sean to suck it? He's...the guy. You know the one.

[autonomousthought]

[Ritsu hasn't spoken to Anya before this, really. She kind of thinks ant effort she might make to comfort would ring hollow.

But this situation grinds something in her, creating feelings familiar and yet unidentifiable.]

...The cards were stacked against you - you didn't have any way to know. This isn't fair.

I'm sorry.

[threwabone]

[Ritsu doesn't really get much acknowledgement at first, other than a sob.

But at some point, Anya does look at her.]

I, uh...I think you're the closest left for a teen standing, so...

Try not to be like us, okay?

[autonomousthought]

...I...

[She isn't fully sure what to make of that. She's already meant for killing. It, quite literally, comes more naturally to her than breathing. But maybe that's not what was meant...]

I'll try.