FIFTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ It's not terribly long, once everything has been found, before Davy Jones heads out to round you all up once more and take you into the theatre. At least plenty of you are around the same area, so it probably doesn't take terribly long.

The ride down to the trial room is the same as ever - a blast of the organ, a slow descent. It's really starting to become clear, though, just how your numbers are decreasing. You're already down three, counting the absence of Chloe, potentially more when you come back up.

The crew of the Dutchman is singing as Jones lets you out into the trial room. ]

To business, passengers. I am about if you need guidance.

[ The circle of podiums is less populated than ever. So many of you are islands now, so to speak.

The song dies down, the waters quiet.

Welcome to your fifth trial.. ]

Comments

[scouserer]

What would be the point in jamming in the knives afterwards? Just an attempt to lead to further confusion?

[He pauses. The gears in his brain are grinding....]

Freyja--when was the last time you spoke to Plumeria or saw her? I'd expect you to at least know what her plans were.

[dokkalfheimr]

I - ...Why would you assume I knew what her plans were? I... I had some idea that she was upset, but she never discussed murder methods or anything with me.

I last spoke to her at length on Tuesday. Again, she was very upset. She was contemplating the motive, but she was ashamed about it. If she acted on it, she would kill me and she knew it.

[magycks]

Sorry, what was that last bit?

[ LIKE, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE TO HER, BUT... ]

[dokkalfheimr]

...If she acted on the motive and got away with it, I would die in the trial? Not - I did not volunteer to have Plumeria kill me.

[magycks]

Ohhhh, I thought it was a "kill to avoid having to see you here and now while avoiding detection" thing. Because what you said doesn't really prove anything, does it?

[dokkalfheimr]

...What do you mean, it doesn't prove anything?

[magycks]

Well, in her ideal future, there you were. We've all gotten so hung up on alternate timelines that everyone's been taking it for granted that those images couldn't possibly include anyone from here, hence Decus not being willing to kill Alice this time two weeks ago, but this incentive wasn't to change something that happened in the past. Who says it wouldn't involve resurrecting the you who's here right now?

Just spitballing, you know.

[dokkalfheimr]

[That's...]

...Perhaps so. But that just means she may have acted on her own, doesn't it? This doesn't necessarily involve me.

[magycks]

Oh, that's all Constantine. I don't necessarily think it does!

But I also don't care if any of you get angry at me for wild and offensive speculation, so, might as well.

[dokkalfheimr]

If Constantine has an accusation to level against me, then I would certainly like to hear it so we can get it out of the way. Those sorts of meandering half-questions don't suit him.

[ahelpingpaw]

Jack wouldn't allow that. He wants us dead, it's...it's really unlikely he'd just undo it for a motive, even if it's one person.

[That guy is as untrustworthy as it gets, really]

[magycks]

The motive itself is a promise he never intended to keep, Filbo. Do catch up.

[ahelpingpaw]

Exactly! We all know that. Plumeria probably would have known that. I...I really doubt she'd have trusted anything her motive showed, that's--that's what I'm trying to say.

[If Plumeria for some reason believed Jack would do it, she probably wouldn't hope it was the Freyja standing here, he thinks. Possibly]

[scouserer]

I was just hoping she might've given some insight on our current situation.

[He eyes Freyja carefully, rubbing the back of his neck. It looks like he wants to say something, but...he decides against it.]

Nevermind, it's not important.

[dokkalfheimr]

[...Is there something on your mind, Constantine, or.]

[scouserer]

[He's got thoughts. He doesn't like any of them, though. After some hesitation, he says in a tentative tone--]

But she would give up her own life for you, wouldn't she?

[dokkalfheimr]

She's already done so once before. I recall her falling in battle, immediately before I came here.

[scouserer]

[A pause.]

If she wanted to, she could've let you give her the poison and put her out of her misery. Make sure her death wasn't in vain, and make sure you get something out of it, too.

[dokkalfheimr]

Perhaps so. That isn't what happened, but I suppose she could have.

[scouserer]

[Hmmmmm. Fair enough! Constantine nods, frowning.]

[scythegun]

[Hmmmmm. He's been watching this and there's something about it that's been bugging him.]

Assuming that whatever poison was used was mixed in a drink... it seems unlikely Plumeria would accept that from anyone, ja?

[ahelpingpaw]

So if she drank something it must have been from somebody she trusted?

[Not terribly unlikely, if horrible to think. Especially because the number of people Plumeria trusted is somewhat limited]

[dokkalfheimr]

It...does, yes.

[jibunwo]

'I know that doing so heedlessly could hurt Lady Freyja, in the long run. And maybe there's a few of you mortals here who I don't want to disappoint either.'

She said that to me after the last trial. I was worried that Jack would target the one thing I would kill for without question, and she said that acting heedlessly here 'wouldn't accomplish anything close to what you want, and the Captain's probably going to enjoy it.'

This doesn't add up to me. Even for a price like that...would she really have gone back on her word?

[dokkalfheimr]

I cannot answer for what she did or did not decide to do, and why. All I can clearly tell you about that is what I was told.