FOURTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ Well! That's sure something, isn't it? There may or may not be a lot of you excited to get down to business, but Jones does eventually move to collect you all and bring you to the theatre. It's a familiar routine by now, perhaps even comfortingly so given the irregularities of this particular killing.

Two of you gone this week. The elevator is started to feel downright spacious, don't you think?

A shanty, as usual, echoes from the crew of the Dutchman as you enter. The room is the same as it has ever been before you as the elevator settles into position. ]

To yer positions, passengers. Chins up.

[ Three more podiums claimed by the rust and wear.

You have your evidence, and you're going to need it before long. The music outside dies down.

Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[ltcommandroid]

...I believe we can call for a vote now.

[what, like he wants to just stand around and see what the fuck this thing's gonna do?]

[jibunwo]

That does quite seem to settle it, any other lingering questions aside.

[bonesorter]

[Instead of being threatened by that... the spirit actually grins. It seems she was actually waiting for someone to mention this specifically.]

And condemn this poor girl for a murder she didn't commit? How deliciously cruel...

[hellahighwater]

You damn fucking coward!!

[jibunwo]

I don't really care, and neither does the Captain.

Her body, her crime. Same as with Allenby.

[bonesorter]

Indeed. Her body will die.

[...]

But what do you think I'M going to do, when she dies?

[does zero know his ghost 101 here]

[silentscout]

You're going to pass on. I won't let you take any of them.

[jibunwo]

We've done a seance, I'm sure an exorcism isn't that far out of the realm of possibility. The question is if you want to do this the hard way or not.

[bonesorter]

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

[A pause, and then--]

I'm curious, though. What name are you going to write when casting your vote?

[cethflayn]

[Flayn's hands are shaking.

She's pulled out her Cadeuces Staff, the one she's had on her since it's returned to her, and she's coming out from behind her podium and pointing it at the being that has taken Lorna.]

You...You will leave this place. You will allow Lorna to pass in peace!

[queceracera]

Yeah, I don't think ghost rules work like that here.

[leaveittomother]

You won't have a suitable host or if you do you'll take one of us, I suppose. It doesn't really matter.

[sivard]

I imagine the Captain has a plan.

[ltcommandroid]

You were aware that would happen when you took the actions you did. It is regrettable, but I do not believe Lorna would prefer that the rest of the group be sacrificed on her behalf.

[sivard]

...We have no choice.

[thisaroma]

It'd be killing you too, though, right?

[ So like... yeah? ]

[bonesorter]

Really? But how do you kill... what is already dead?

[ltcommandroid]

I believe that is, as they say, the Captain's problem.

[queceracera]

That? That's super easy, Ghostface. You delete them.

[thisaroma]

[ ??? ]

I mean... it's not like Ghosts are hard to kill?

[scouserer]

Oh, so you wanna do things the hard way? Fine. We'll do things the hard way.

[Constantine scowls, crossing his arms.]

If you're a spirit, surely you can switch hosts, can't you?

[bonesorter]

I could, yes. Maybe it'll be you, or you... or... no one at all.

Perhaps I'll just drift among your number, here to remind you for the rest of your days about your failures... and devour the next one when I hunger again...

[scouserer]

Then if you're gonna leave her body, at least possess me. I'll be able to offer you more souls than you've ever been able to devour in your life.

[In all honesty, he has no idea what he's doing. He's hoping this flagrant overconfidence will at least work in his favor.]

[dokkalfheimr]

[She's just gotten Filbo over here, shouting at it is a bad idea, but-]

...Or perhaps Lord Davy will confine you to the Dutchman.

[ahelpingpaw]

[Filbo's paw emerges from behind his podium]

Seconded!