THE SECOND TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND TRIAL
(~SK. 10-11)


[Once the investigation wraps up, Zero's voice emanates once more throughout the Gigantic. The doors to the theater on both the C Deck and D Deck open as he speaks. And yes, when people come in through the C Deck Doors, they will find they can access the lower level from the stairs.

Yay?]

It is time. Come to the theater.

I wouldn't worry about bringing blankets.

[And indeed, when the Strangers come into the theater, they will find that the room is considerably warmer compared to the rest of the ship. There are also changes to the podiums-John, Anya and Kaito's places are all draped in black.

The screens schlllorrrp back in, with Zero's face appearing after a moment of static.]

Of course I am here for any questions. But I believe you know how this goes, so I suggest you begin. Justice delayed is...justice denied.

[The trial for Kaito Momota, The High King, has begun.]

Comments

[pegasinister]

I will confess, I did not recognize the game being played- though it is similar enough to card games I do know to guess at it being a betting pairs game of some sort. The significance of the cards and such is lost on me.

[somuchshipping]

What WERE the cards?

[pegasinister]

One hand had a single pair. The second had two and a letter card.

[somuchshipping]

I've had five aces before.

[pegasinister]

...is that supposed to be impressive?

[He's not even being sarcastic he legit doesn't know]

[somuchshipping]

[...]

[...]

...

...I think I need to teach you how to play poker.

[pegasinister]

Is it a skill game or a chance game?

[somuchshipping]

All chance. Athena hates it. She doesn't like luck.

[pegasinister]

Then no, I am not interested in gambling.

[somuchshipping]

Aww, come on! It'll be fun! You don't even have to bet anything!

[pegasinister]

Luck games are pointless. You may as well draw lots.

[yesorwoof]

Poker is played with antes. Well, a simplified version would simply mean continuing the game until one player "folds". Otherwise, the hands are numerically compared. So you might use a large bet to force the other player to assume your hand has those merits so you should fold.

[pegasinister]

Oh, so a mind game?

[That sounds much more interesting to him]

[autonomousthought]

It's indicative of cheating.

[She's helping!]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Which were those - do you remember, perchance?

[pegasinister]

Only the 'better' looking hand in detail. A Q card with a red heart. Two A cards that were black. And two 8s, also black. The hand with one pair... also had a K card of some sort. I will admit once I realize it was a betting game I lost interest.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Moriarty goes still, at that.]

....I see.

Then that was the Dead Man's Hand.

[pegasinister]

...how ominous. A 'poker' term I take it?

[somuchshipping]

Yep!

[...Though why it is, Hermes couldn't tell you.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Yes, so named as it being the hand someone was holding when shot in America's Wild West period - a very famous incident that caused that gathering of cards to be called that from then on.

[He sighs, unamused.]

It would be an intense spot of luck for such a hand to show up in play - especially on that night.

[pegasinister]

So we must assume it was set up.

Either our culprit or our fabricator certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

That would be the assumption, yes. Though we've no shortage of dramatic people here - myself included, of course!

[Moriarty knows he's a goddamn ham, man.]

[somuchshipping]

1 in 730,000! And all without dice rolls determining the cards drawn!

[yesorwoof]

Though Zero has a bit of fondness for fate. Hmmm...