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

[superstylishsquid]

[Alastor's eyes are like spotlights in their focused intensity as he glares at Zero.]

I hope you know, if I ever get my claws into you, you'll be wishing I'd let your soul pass down into Hell.

[And then he sighs and looks at Anya. His eyes dim, and his tail droops.]

I'm sorry I wasn't nearby. Might've gone different.

[And so he votes...Anya.]

[jinglebros]

Is that a promise? That you'll do that?

[superstylishsquid]

I am a demon. [He bares almost vampiric looking fangs in a snarl aimed at Zero.] So yeah, it's no empty threat. I won't give him the opportunity to have his soul eaten.

[jinglebros]

Well.

[ Yeah, Aoi is looking at Alastor in a different way now. ]

[15unknowns]

[There is a...bemused chuckle at this.]

What a thing for you to say, Mr. Alastor. I am tickled, I will admit.

[superstylishsquid]

You think I can't? I used to give human souls a fair chance out of choice, because I knew they had potential.

[15unknowns]

Oh, I don't doubt it, Mr. Alastor.

That's not what's so...amusing to me.

[superstylishsquid]

Gonna enlighten me, or are you just enjoying being mysterious?

[threwabone]

It's...it's appreciated...

[And then, a thought comes to her.]

The-the sword-

I didn't put it there.

[somuchshipping]

[...Huh.]

Can I have it, then?

[threwabone]

Uh-sure? I just...

I don't know who put that there. And I know it wasn't there when I was in there.

[onychomance]

[Kira is the one who's holding it, though....]

Get your own.

[somuchshipping]

I already have! But that looks cool, too!

[Hermes is eying the sword like some sort of [Kleptomaniac]. Wat do, Kira?]

[onychomance]

[Well this is the most interesting thing he's heard so far, after the evolutions]

It wasn't Power's? You can't be saying that it came from nowhere.

[threwabone]

If it was, she didn't have it on her when she went into the kitchen.

It wasn't there before, and I swear I didn't put it there. I don't know who did it, but-it wasn't me.

[onychomance]

I suppose that does make the most sense... it was bloodied, and yet no sign of injuries... someone was trying to waste our time.

[yesorwoof]

Her head. What about moving her head?

[threwabone]

I...

[That...get's her looking away again.]

Mr. Moriarty got that earlier. I...I panicked.

[She doesn't look proud, admitting it.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Still doesn't look happy about getting it, honestly.]

Yes...the pattern was consistent with it, along with the vomit.

[yesorwoof]

How strange. Someone saw her head before anyone else and didn't tell us...? We're right about what that indicates even if we are wrong about the reason why...

[exequte]

Wait...

What... what did you do?

There was... someone else....??

[threwabone]

I-I didn't put that sword there.

I don't who, or why, but-I swear on-on everything I can swear on I didn't put that there!

[And that, honestly, is freaking her out right now!]

[exequte]

[She shakes her head, a little frantic]

I trust you! But if that's the case... was there anything else that got moved or that... that wasn't the way it was when you left?

Because if someone else found it and changed things, then... then if this happens again....

[godspiousjasper]

Very well spoken, dear Alastor.

[ That's simple and to the point. He's absolutely angry about all this, but it's also an agreement to where he thinks Zero's soul should descend to. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Didn't think I'd hear any arguments on it.