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

[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?

[thisaroma]

"Lorna and the thing possessing her"?

[bonesorter]

That's not my name.

[This is the heart of what she's getting at here: that the Captain is the type of jerk who might consider your vote a wrong one if you write Lorna's name instead of the spirit's name.]

[thisaroma]

[ Well he isn't reading into this enough to get that implication!! ]

Yeah, but if we don't know it and you're not going to tell us, that seems like a pretty clear way of explaining who we mean.

[scouserer]

[Checks the profiles real quick.......]

The Unfortunate One, then?

[bonesorter]

An apt description for the girl, indeed... but merely a title your Captain chose.

[jibunwo]

I hate repeating myself. Lorna's body was used to kill Sara and Albedo. Therefore, just as with Allenby, it's 'Lorna' who is technically responsible.

[bonesorter]

I cannot say... I know the circumstances of this "Allenby"... but...

The girl and I are not the same person. I may be in her body, but I have my own identity.

Is there not a rule for what happens if you write the wrong name down when casting your little votes?

[jibunwo]

Do you really expect me to believe even Jack's stupid enough to throw the entire game on a technicality? Or do you expect us to act out Rumplestiltskin with you for the next hour or so?

[scouserer]

You think Jack wouldn't? Besides, names have power when it comes to entities like this. We find out what its name is--it's true name--we can also ensure it doesn't kill again.

[queceracera]

I don't really think it falls under weapon rules if you're possessing a body you used to do the murder.

[bonesorter]

[That actually gets a laugh.]

Well, I guess you could say she is nothing but a tool to me, but that's a rather cruel thing for her so-called friends to say of her too. I'm impressed.

[deathmagnetic]

And your identity is what, exactly?

[ ... like asking directly will work. ]

[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!

[bonesorter]

[There is a pause, as the spirit does seem to be considering the object in her hands with interest.]

I am quite grateful to her for giving me such easy access to her weakened body, after all. The least I can do, I suppose... is make sure she KNOWS that she is dying for something she didn't even do.

[cethflayn]

[Holding that staff very tightly. She - she tried so hard to help Lorna get better, and all this time...]

I will not let you harm anyone else here. Not another one of my friends will suffer by your hand...! By the will of the Goddess, begone!

[Her voice is very solid and strong when she says it - without magic, it may not mean anything, but Flayn believes with all of her heart that it might do something.]

[bonesorter]

[...................

And then, the spirit laughs.]

Cute, but no. I bow to no Goddess in any realm.

[cethflayn]

[She thought you might say that.

Flayn is quiet for a moment, hands still shaking, and the tremor moves to her voice as well when she finally speaks.]

...You are hungry still, are you not? Though you bow to no Goddess...surely you would not refuse the flesh of the divine if offered to you?

[Flayn. Flayn what are you doing.]

[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.