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

[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.]

[cethflayn]

Lorna-

[Hi guess what no one can stop Flayn from running over to her roommate and trying to help her.]

Are you alright?!

[bonesorter]

F... Flayn... hic...

[Oh no, she is definitely is crying now, hands coming up to her face in shame.]

I'm... I'm so sorry, I...

[cethflayn]

[Flayn wastes no time in reaching up, gently lowering Lorna's hands and wiping her tears.]

It - it was not your fault. It was not.

[She's been crying, too, so it's like. Two crying girls sitting on the floor.]

You are still my friend, no matter what.

[ltcommandroid]

[Well, Data's standing right here since he tried to stop Lalli from doing his whole thing - he'll try to catch her and help her lower down a little more safely, at any rate.

Though. He'll step aside pretty quick once someone more emotionally suited for this inevitably shows up!]

[scouserer]

[While Flayn and everyone else is dealing with Lorna, Constantine turns to face Davy Jones. A quiet fury coarses through his words as he growls--]

Mr. Jones--you can't seriously make us kill this girl over the entity that possessed her. You saw clear as day--these things are separate beings! A spirit is not the same as the host!

[Why didn't he say the same for Allenby? Good question...I was kind of Out Of It that trial.]

[scythegun]

I don't think Mr. Jones has much of a choice in the matter. The Captain likely found this all very entertaining - and why would he want to stop there? Someone has to take responsibility for those deaths.

[This is probably exactly what the Captain's been hoping for since the very beginning.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine swallows. Yeager is right, of course, but that doesn't mean Constantine will accept it.]

[silentscout]

Lorna can tell us its name.

[That seems like the most straightforward answer to him. Vote for the curse, not Lorna.]

[bonesorter]

[About that, unfortunately...]

I don't know it's name... I've never been able to learn that, about it.

[Which, in hindsight, it probably prevented out of self-preservation for this exact sort of scenario.]

[sivard]

...It didn't matter with Allenby.

[hellahighwater]

This is so fucked.

[scouserer]

[That's not the answer Constantine wanted to hear--but even as Zaveid says it, he knows it's true. He grimaces and looks away, hands balled into fists.]

[ahelpingpaw]

Nothing's right in this place.

[Things just aren't fair, are they? This trial room and everything that happens in it is like concentrated wrongness]

[thekeyofsea]

[ There's a moment of genuine mixed emotion on Jones's face - and an unpleasant noise as his claw grips shut and grinds. ]

They share the body. It is... hardly fortunate, but such is the judgement.

[bonesorter]

[At that, Lorna... actually nods, reaching up to wipe her face with the back of her arm.]

I... I understand. I should have tried harder to keep it from taking over... it's my fault what happened.

[It isn't fair, but Lorna will take responsibility for this if it has to be done.]

[magycks]

And if one of the self-sacrificing morons who just volunteered their bodies and souls to the entity gave it a new home? Just wondering.

[ COME ON PROTAGS GO FOR IT!!! ]