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

EXECUTION - THE LAND OF NIGHTMARES

[bathymetric]

[ The votes come in, and eventually a majority is reached. Quicker than ever, with your numbers reduced so low. Jack’s face lights up the screens in the center of the podium circle. ]

Whoa, talk about a shocker! Looks like The Goddess of Love was the culprit all along! Who could’ve guessed? Not me. Because I already knew. Take her away, Jones.

[ And then, with a flash, the familiar process begins. The Dutchman raises. Freyja vanishes. While the executions have been… frequently interrupted, this part of the process is the same as ever. ]

Let no joyful voice be heard!

[ There he is. ]

Let no man look up to the sky with hope! And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake…

[ But the last of that… never comes. The thud echoes, but then the sea darkens.

When the screens turn on, there’s an explanation for that. Something is blotting out the sun, leaving just enough light that the deck is bathed in what almost seems like the orange glow of sunset, darkening to twilight.

Freyja stands alone on the deck of the Dutchman - no Jones, no Jack, no crew, and no familiar plank and waiting beast. A wind starts to pick up, gently blowing the seaweed of the deck about.

You all can see the seaweed behind Freyja rise and knit itself into the form of a woman with wings, already appearing injured and distressed, but Freyja doesn’t. Not until her eyes follow the wind and land on her. Needless to say, from the look on her face, it’s clear she recognizes whoever this is. ]

Lady Freyja!

[ The reaction from Freyja is quick, but… not quick enough, it seems. As she runs towards the woman, as she is nearly close enough to touch her, a tentacle whips out from over the side of the ship, far quicker than any of you have ever seen the kraken move.

It doesn’t do either woman the service of pulling away quite so quickly. There’s long enough for a scream, and another call of Freyja’s name, before… well, whatever happens over the side of the ship. Freyja runs to the rail, to look over, but it’s clear that whatever happened, there’s nothing left.

Behind her, Davy Jones rises up from the floor of the Dutchman. He stands tall, a stiffness to him you haven’t seen from him, hands behind his back. When he speaks, it’s quiet, though it somehow picks up over all the noise. ]

In the end, everyone fears death. Some just don’t fear their own.

[ He slams his crab claw shut, turning about on his heel, and two tentacles whip out to grab and pull Freyja back over the side of the ship. This one is quick, almost outwardly a mercy.

Freyja is dead.

The screens turn off, almost as unceremoniously. ]

Jones! What- Why- Aw, why didn’t you TELL me you could do that?

Hah… Alright, another one down. You can all go.

[leaveittomother]

[Another one down, indeed. Time to go.]

[jibunwo]

[Lelouch watched the execution without flinching or looking away, completely still and calm. This was the result of a closer call than any to date, but he couldn't say anything that had transpired was wrong.]

[The results were what mattered, ultimately. To take drastic and bloody action for noble ends was only natural. It was right, it was justified to do all in one's power to attain the ending they desired.]

[He wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing this time the entire ordeal had shaken him to his core, and instead simply turned to leave.]

[cethflayn]

[Uh

Hey

Hey is anyone going to notice the seaweed fairy

Anyone?]

[silentscout]

[Lalli tries to watch. He really does.

But when that woman starts to scream, he whimpers and covers his head with his arms. Even if she's an illusion to torment Freyja with, it sounds all too real to him.

He doesn't watch Freyja's last moments after all, and it isn't until they're dismissed that his fear is replaced by guilt.]

[sivard]

[The... the seaweed taking the form of someone Freyja clearly knew...

He watches in silence before leaving.]

[magycks]

[ This time, a week and a day ago, six more people were alive — seven, if you count the unfortunate one. And now there are a mere 13, and Magica is going to go back to a sleeping area where carving directly into the wall won't offend her roommate anymore, on account of the fact that she's already dead.

It doesn't matter to her. That's just what's happening, and this is just what she's watching. That's all. ]