SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ It's the same as the other weeks. Two bodies, some time to look, and then Davy Jones comes around to take those of you who are left into the theatre and into the elevator. His expression is dark, difficult to read.

The trip down feels slower than ever. The elevator has gotten so empty, don't you think?

As it reaches its usual destination, the crew of the Dutchman is performing once again. The clouds above have started to darken the once clear tropical waters.

The podiums await you. ]

At yer places! Find who is responsible for all of this!

[ Your numbers can't support many more weeks of this, can they?

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

3/3

[silentscout]

[It's the confirmation Lalli didn't want, but it's what he needed to hear.

Fora moment, Lalli is in too much shock to move, speak, or even think. It's like a roar of eternity in his ears, deafening him to everything else.

And then he sinks down to his knees as he grabs onto his head, fingers digging in tightly around his hair. A watchful eye might notice that his breathing has gone ragged, like he's fighting back tears.]

Ah-

[Whatever he had tried to say there, it comes out as a sharp sob instead.]

[cethflayn]

[Okay she's cursed out Lelouch Flayn is coming over now]

Lalli - Lalli, I...

[leaveittomother]

[Flayn das cute.]

[silentscout]

[Well since she's right there she'll definitely be able to see that he's crying now. Which is a first, even when he's been terrified during the executions he hasn't cried. But it seems like that dam has broken now.]

I- I don't want to die-

[cethflayn]

I-

[She can't say she can protect him. She can't protect anyone.]

...I do not want you to die, either...!

[Does. Hold on. Does she have tissues. Let's...no, no tissues. Well, fuck it, Flayn tugs one of the gold ribbons on her sleeves off to give it to Lalli.]

[silentscout]

[Well. Instead of drying his tears with it, he's actually going to take it and hold onto it like it's a lifeline.]

[cethflayn]

[Oh honey

Her heart's just a pile of crest shards in her chest, isn't it. That's what it feels like.]

...Take it with you. I - I will have the other one, [She yanks the gold bow off her other sleeve and wraps it around her wrist, ties it,] and then...and...

[A hitch in her breathing, eyes squeezed shut]

...This is not fair...! I...why did I not understand until now...?

[silentscout]

[He takes it, and he's carefully tying it around his wrist too. The same wrist that has the friendship bracelet she made for him.

It makes his chest hurt even worse. But he's still trying to swallow it down.]

I'll take care of it.

[But that last bit, it's what gets him to finally look up to her. His eyes are red and his face is wet, but he's searching her face for an answer. What didn't she understand?]

[cethflayn]

[Scrubbing at her eyes. She's crying, she's crying and she can't stop it.]

Why couldn't I see...? Lalli, I-

[Does it even matter? He's about to die.

...

It absolutely matters.]

I really like you, Lalli...

[silentscout]

You...like me?

[Time for another shock of the day! Lalli furrows his eyebrows in thought, like he's trying to figure something out. Because he is trying to figure something out.

But then the concentration is gone, and his eyes go wide.]

...is that what it's been this whole time?

[And suddenly he's realizing that the butterflies in his stomach and the way he'd feel embarrassed around Flayn sometimes actually means something. It's just too bad he's realizing it after being outed as a murderer.]

[cethflayn]

Uh-huh...

[She didn't even realize it. The feeling sort of nestled in and warmed her up slowly, softly, gently. Not at all like she expected to fall in love some day.]

And I - I still do, and this is...not how I thought...

[Love really never is like those books in the library, huh? Maybe Seteth had a good reason to keep them from her after all.]

[silentscout]

I thought it wouldn't happen to me. That I'm too different for anyone to like in that way.

[Still, he's not smiling. Because there's stuff going on in the trial room and he can already tell it's about to come to an end. That fear of deep water, it's creeping up on him again.]

...Thank you. And I'm sorry.

[cethflayn]

...You did not act with anger in your heart. Only a desire to end his suffering. There is no need to apologize.

[Lalli's own gods will take care of him, yes, but. Sothis would welcome him, if he came to her door for shelter.]

No one is too different to be loved. Do not think such a thing.

[silentscout]

Mmm.

[There's so much he wishes they could have talked about before now. Unfortunately, both of them are bad at feelings, so.]

Take care of Kissa for me?

[cethflayn]

[She nods.]

I will. I promise.

[A pause.]

...You said, once...that it is your job to guide those who pass to the afterlife. How do I help you?

[silentscout]

[Part of him wants to say 'you can't, only mages can help', but that doesn't feel quite right here.]

...Find Onni for me? He's...he won't be happy. And he'll probably do something stupid. But I don't want him to be alone.

[He takes out his phone and shows her a picture.]

I think I'll rest easier, if I know someone is keeping an eye on him.

[cethflayn]

[Excuse you she's a bishop and a saint and her grandma's a goddess living in her professor, surely she can work something out.]

...Then I shall find him.

[Onni's gonna be Pissed.]

[silentscout]

Thank you.

[Onni is going to be so pissed. But maybe he'll take the message better if it's from someone Lalli genuinely cared about.]

Tell him "good luck with Grandma." That's how he'll know I sent you.

[cethflayn]

[Nods again.]

Should I bring Kissa to him as well? So she can be home?

[silentscout]

Mhmm. You'll need her, she can detect trolls, and she knows to warn humans about them.

...

"The first rule for surviving outside the safe areas: If you come across a Beast, Troll, or Giant, do not run or call for help. Stand still and stay silent. It might go away."

[cethflayn]

I did not forget.

[But she appreciates the reminder regardless. Watch her go looking for the one book about Lalli's universe to read and become informed and then object to whenever they call Finns heathens.]

[heroantagonist]

[There's just.... laughter from the monitors.]

Oh man, I-I'm surprised someone didn't figure that out sooner!

[silentscout]

[It's hard to make out exactly what Lalli is suddenly yelling at the monitors, but it's probably curse words.]

[cethflayn]

[Hey so Ancient Fodlanese isn't spoken by anyone here except Flayn

So Jack has no idea how nastily she's just cursed him out]