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

[ltcommandroid]

[You, on the other hand:]

That was helpful. Do you have any other thoughts?

[scythegun]

Seconding this, actually. It's been working out excellently so far, so if you have anyone else you'd like to point fingers at, Magica, please go ahead.

[He is so goddamn done with today! Let's just go full chaos, why the fuck not!!!!!]

[magycks]

[ Pressing her palm to her chest. ]

Ah, thought you'd never ask. What was the leader of the assassin's guild doing last night? Feel free to rat out Zaveid if he can't confirm your alibi, why not.

[scythegun]

As far as I'm aware, both of us were sleeping. I turned in early, because I was counting on someone else taking this motive.

So as usual, nothing that anyone can truly confirm.

[magycks]

Right, right. You were bothered by the motive, though? I don't care about this kind of thing enough to pry, but you were certainly bringing it up.

[scythegun]

That's correct, I was. The Captain felt the need to threaten both of my daughters. I did consider acting on this motive, I won't deny that. But I ultimately chose not to, because I was certain someone else would.

I don't have any solid proof for you that I wasn't involved in either of these deaths. But I'll answer any more questions any of you have - as I said to Lalli, I don't intend to die here.

[magycks]

Oh, you mean the statement that's indistinguishable from "I did it, I'm comfortable lying about it, and I'm taking you all down with me if I have to"?

[ SIGH... ]

You must realize I don't have anything to further my suspicions, and Reika's just about as shady as you are at this point. Do you at least have any ideas about what might have brought Risotto up to the top deck?

[scythegun]

[i mean. that's fair and absolutely what he would do at this point, BUT—]

None, unfortunately. Risotto was more than capable of taking care of himself - and with his gun, I doubt he expected a fight he couldn't handle. I imagine he must have been caught off-guard.

[magycks]

Oh, nothing groundbreaking. I was being serious when I named everyone else I thought might have done this, including you, so it's probably about time we drag out the emotional baggage and go through who had good reason to do this... plus a pocket check, all the standards.

Lelouch is looking real unhinged right now, though. If it weren't for his noodle arms we might want to look into him a little closer.

[ She says, right next to him. ]

[jibunwo]

Unhinged, really? You're one to talk.

[magycks]

Oh, but I'm always like this. What's your excuse?

[jibunwo]

My excuse?

I'm relieved. Relieved that someone else chose to kill before I took it upon myself to do the same.

[magycks]

Uh-huh, that seems to be everyone's excuse, and yet there's the second corpse.

[jibunwo]

You said yourself, I don't have the physical strength to contend with Scott in a fight. It's not possible for me to have killed him.

[magycks]

Yes, I know. Pity, really. You could certainly have sabotaged the coaster; everything else, not so much. So, who do you like for this one?

[ltcommandroid]

We cannot necessarily trust what anyone has to say about the incentive, or their feelings on the matter.

[as we all learned last week...]

Perhaps getting the pocket check out of the way will uncover something.

[leaveittomother]

Agreed. Who should do the honors? I'm not sure what we're looking for, though.

[ltcommandroid]

[Shrug. He doesn't know either, but Magica brought it up and they usually do one of these every trial anyway. May as well just do it and see if they find anything.]

I am willing, if there are no objections.

[leaveittomother]

I have known. Let's continue.

POCKET CHECK

[ltcommandroid]

Very well. Everyone, please turn out your pockets.

[It's decided, then! Data will empty out his own pockets first, placing his device and tricorder on his podium as per usual, before starting around the circle.]

[silentscout]

[He'll cooperate but all he has on him is his device. There's not even any trial cookies this time.]

[sivard]

[All Zaveid has on him is his device in his pockets, and the gun he's never taken out of the holster since last week's post-trial gathering.]

[jibunwo]

[There is nothing suspicious in Lelouch's pockets--notebook, pen, device, and taser as usual.]

[magycks]

[ Today, Magica's pockets and the various hiding spots within her cloak contain:

A GUN OH FUCK wait she took that out at the start of the trial, it's fine.
Her device.
The handkerchief chain Sara got from the vending machine.
A pack of cards taken from the casino.
Her raggedy-ass notebook.
A sharp pencil.
A pen.
A taser.

No essential oils today! Also, her amulet is on and she straight up has a spear with her which she occasionally leans on like a staff. Yes, she took this from Plumeria's stuff, and yes, it is taller than her. ]

[leaveittomother]

[Reika has her knife (which she flashed earlier in the trial), some vending machine coins, a pen, some crumpled pieces of paper and a thick stack of folded fancy homemade paper from the vending machine. Also her device, obviously.]

This seems rather useless.