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

[scouserer]

[Zero seems to have touched a nerve with Constantine, because he instinctively freezes. A severe scowl appears on his face.]

Then what's the other option, then?! Stand here trying to goad a name out of a spirit that we hardly know the identity of? What else do you have to offer, huh?

[queceracera]

...... Hey! Hey, who knows what she's been regaining from the machine? If she's not regularly going all [He makes a noise that's suitably demonic.] then there must be something that keeps it in check.

[scouserer]

[Scott's words suddenly cause Constantine to pause. Some synapses firing, give him a second....]

Filbo, you said you got a book that belonged to her? Did you happen to read it? Any names that stuck out?

[Wait, no--]

The bell. The bell with the skull on it.

[queceracera]

Okay, who has the magic bell? Anybody? Anybody? Bueller? I really don't want to wrestle the ghost for a bell.

[scouserer]

I gave it--I gave it to Lorna! So that thing still must have it on her--

[He doesn't know what it'll do, but he knows that when he presented it to Lorna, she seemed frightened. It seems like the best option at the time....

Is the bell anywhere to be found????]

hey davy jones

[bonesorter]

[It is, actually! Not on Lorna, but there is someone else in this room that has it right now.]

[thekeyofsea]

...I suppose this counts, by now.

[ Jones reaches into his coat and pulls out... well, a bell. ]

The ringing of the bell commands you!

[ He says the words carefully, waits for them to take effect. ]

I think you've done quite enough for now, spirit. Put the girl back at the helm.

1/3

[bonesorter]

[That actually causes the spirit to gasp, eyes beginning to glow white]

That brat...

[Referring to Lorna, it seems, especially with her next words--]

2/3

[bonesorter]

I WILL MAKE SURE SHE PAYS DEARLY FOR THIS--

[But then the anger fades away, and then... there's no emotion in her voice, no more tonal overlap of two people talking and sounding more like the real Lorna.]

The ringing of the bell commands me... and thus I must obey...

[bonesorter]

[And then her features change, slowly going back to the normal, human looking Lorna. Her eyes are still glowing white, still no emotion in her tone and paying no attention to anyone in the room except for Davy Jones.]

Hello, Mr. Jones.

[Does he have anything else to ask of her before the effect wears off?]

[thekeyofsea]

[ Jones nods by way of greeting, then: ]

... As you were before this. I imagine some of your company will wish to speak with you.

cw: emeto

[bonesorter]

Yes, Mr. Jones...

[And then, her eyes stop glowing... Lorna blinks, taking in her surroundings...

... And that's when Lorna proceeds to collapse down on her knees, making an ugly retching sound here that sounds like she's both choking and crying at the same time.]

[ltcommandroid]

From what it has said, I believe it is typically held back by Lorna herself. It was clearly incapable of overpowering her when she was not weak with hunger.

[is he throwing shade, or]

[queceracera]

Pretty sure that's not true, since it was making her sick. [A beat.] Well, maybe here it's true, but not in general.

[ltcommandroid]

It said that it had previously been restrained by her care for us.

[like, literally it just said that]

[queceracera]

Yeah, I'm talking about back home in her creepy ghost woods though.

[bonesorter]

How rude. And incorrect.

As I said to the girl that Lorna loves so much, I am always hungry.

[Lorna being weak with hunger didn't help, no, but that's not the only method of what triggers her.]

[ltcommandroid]

Then why did you not act previously?

[bonesorter]

... Curiosity.

[The spirit regards everyone in the room now rather blankly]

I wanted to see... what would happen. This is the first time she's ever had anyone to care about her other than that blasted witch she lives with. Or that boy that promised to help her escape, but ultimately failed...

I wanted to see if she could do it this time... and then crush her hopes the moment she believed it could really happen this time.

[WHAT A DICK]

[paucipan]

You--you wretched hag--

[Gods, Plumeria's just been fucking vibrating at all of this the entire time, but somehow, this gets her anger to spike.]

[ltcommandroid]

...I see.

[Data raises his eyebrows, but that's about it. This is the wrong place for an emotional reaction!]

I suppose it is irrelevant now, then. Mr. Jones is experienced with matters of the dead. I am sure he will be able to protect his charges from you.

cw: language bc chloe is breaking out the c-word

[hellahighwater]

[ holy shit she's so fucking mad— ]

You miserable cunt, I'm gonna—

[ ..........stay right here because she doesn't want to actively be a hypocrite but. ]

Fuck off.

[scouserer]

[YEAH TELL THEM CHLOE]

[paucipan]

[she does not know what that means but go off chloe]

[leaveittomother]

So you feed on misery as well.

[Bleh.]

Oh well.