THIRD TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Once all the needed information has been pulled from the PARTY ZONE and nearby echelons, Davy Jones once again does his rounds to collect everyone and bring them to the theatre. ]

You are all familiar with this procedure by now, step quickly!

[ And with the blast of the organ, down the elevator starts to go, into the bowels of the ship below. Things darken and then, as before, you hear a song from the crew of the Dutchman drifting predatory below. ]

Take yer places, all of ye.

[ The circle of podiums remains, two more podiums rusted over and aged. Jones takes his place, meanwhile, looking out the window at the sea.

The shanty dies down, and the atmosphere darkens.

Welcome to your third trial. ]

Comments

[paucipan]

[And sure enough, Plumeria will give a small sniff, and...]

...I recognize this scent.

[As if she'd fucking forget that smell from the party??? And Plumeria is going to try to back off once she confirms it, eyes narrowing.]

Why is it on you?

[jibunwo]

[Remember how he was checking his phone earlier?]

'Trivia: Was a very convincing Lloyd Irving cosplayer.'

'Alice'...you've been very quiet, haven't you?

[guffawsungraciously]

...

Are you certain that Decus did not lift Alice up on his shoulders so that she could cut the chandelier down.

[paucipan]

...That seems far more plausible than an identity swap...

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ The fact she kind of ignores Jasper should tell him all he needs to know about the answer to that question. ]

[queceracera]

.............. Are you saying she made him cosplay as her? [A beat.] I guess that's not the weirdest thing they've done.

[conceivesfrenzy]

Oh, you think Decus is actually me? Don't be stupid. He doesn't have the core on him that he used when he was pretending to be that guy.

[deathmagnetic]

[ ... ]

'This scent'?

[paucipan]

Decus's perfume.

[conceivesfrenzy]

Huh?

[ She sniffs her arm, and - ]

Decus, your stupid cologne from your jacket got on me! I thought you aired that thing out!

[thisaroma]

What? I aired out the room, but it's harder to get it out of fabric. It has feathers on it, so I couldn't put it in the wash...

[paucipan]

[Well, there's some damning evidence.]

Ha! That's curious. I didn't think you liked him enough to be in contact with his jacket.

[Ohhh boy.]

What exactly did the two of you do?

[conceivesfrenzy]

[ About that first part... ]

[bonesorter]

[Lorna coughs at that, looking away awkwardly.]

Are we... sure we want to ask about it like that?

[No offense Plumeria, but this line of questioning threatens for an answer that may not be G-rated for this courtroom.]

[paucipan]

[...

Not even she thought that Alice would have standards that low??? To do the murdernasty??? Uh--]

Point taken. Apologies.

[coughs. oh dear gods she didn't even intend for that to be lewd]