THE FOURTH TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FOURTH TRIAL
(~SK. 24-25)




[There's no announcement informing the Strangers to come into the theater. There is only the sound of the doors opening, beckoning those left to come inside. It's best not to tarry-really, do you want to know what happens if they refuse to go to the trial?

When they enter the theater, it's...different. Sort of. Maybe it's because the area where the podiums are covered in donuts (and yes, Roland will see the little white animals pop over and pinch a few off the top). Maybe it's the fact that more spaces are draped in black. Maybe it's the fact that Zack's podium is also missing from where it sat, leaving nothing but donuts-in fact, that's where the primary pile of donuts are. Digging through that pile will only yield donuts, and nothing more.

(Some of the animals try to approach Akane. They disintegrate before they get two steps. Apparently they're better off eating the donuts.)

But-most of all-it's the fact that Zero is not on the screens that pop out through the theater. There's nothing but static. And while the curtains are closed, you know you are being watched regardless.




Uh. So. Maybe it's not worth waiting for Zero on this.


The trial for the murder of Zack Prince, the One, has begun.]

Comments

[exequte]

[Akane is left looking between Roland and Ritsu a little frantically in that moment, but-

Alastor is already there, he's already picking up Roland, and Ritsu is still here-

Akane is the weakest, physically, of anyone here, and she actually gags from coming this close to a rotting corpse, but she still races back down to Ritsu after a moment and tries her best to pull her up.]

[voidseeing]

[Fortunately, Gai is here to help and he's strong enough to manage lifting Ritsu with Akane's help even despite the symptoms of the Virus.]

We need to leave now!

[exequte]

[oh good because she is a tiny frail sick girl who recently passed out due to chronic fevers and she has nothing to keep her moving except determination at this point.]

I know!!

[autonomousthought]

[Three people with body problems; by our powers combined we can get the fuck out of here. Ritsu can take a little of her own weight, too.]

Thank you...both of you...

[voidseeing]

[Three people with body problems, combined they might almost equal one whole intact person? We hope.]

Thank us once we're out of here.

[He owes you for last week, after all!]

[exequte]

Come on!!

[Her voice is frantic and breathless, trying to push herself faster, further, push all of them.

Staying in here seems like a very, very bad idea.]