SEVENTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ After a while, Davy Jones comes and collects you all again. It's a much quicker trip than he's ever had to take for you all before. You all fit so easily into the elevator in the theatre now, don't you?

As he plays the song that takes you down, even Jones seems tired. But the elevator certainly isn't, moving just as dramatically into the depths of the ship as it ever has. You now know all the floors it passes on its trip down to the trial room, don't you?

And none of you even know that this is your last ride down. The end is coming. But that's for later, and not quite yet for all of you.

The crew of the Dutchman is... different, somehow, this week. There are more figures aboard, and they're all singing, well. Maybe Scott was right, that first week. ]

Ye know what to do, passengers.

[ Jones moves to the wall to look out at his ship, scowling.

The podiums are waiting.

Welcome to your seventh trial.

Comments

[scouserer]

[Constantine makes his way to his podium, a stony expression on his face. Everyone seems so spaced out....]

Right. Let's get this over with.

[He shoves his hands into his pockets, sighing.]

I went to the first aid room, and it looked like someone had opened the medicine cabinet. It looked like someone had been rummagin' through--a container of painkillers was removed and shoved back in. It looked like it'd be opened and closed. Dunno if it was tampered with, or what.

...Also, Data can probably talk more about it, himself, but he said he had been tased and experienced an electrical overload--probably 'cus his insulation was worn down by that fireball thrown at him the other day.

[A pause.]

I'm sorry, could we...could we maybe think of movin' a bit closer together? The space is weird.

[jibunwo]

I found a vending machine taser lying around on the fifth floor, after following some scraps of fabric that look like they were caught on parts of the stairs and paneling. [He'd pull a few of them out of his pocket and leave them on his podium; they match to Jasper's cloak.]

So that might have something to do with what happened to Data. As for our configuration, if you really want to be closer then by all means. But having spent six of these trials next to Magica, I can't really recommend it.

[scythegun]

[Ah. He sure is surrounded by podiums of dead people, huh... Well, it's not like that troubles Yeager all that much. Since he's only got one small thing with him this time, he's also brought his scythe. After last trial, he wants to be armed in case shit goes down again??]

I found Jasper in the back room of the photo lab. [The darkroom, he means.] He was slumped into a chair while wearing his armor; his cloak was torn as well. Said armor suffered quite a bit; it was banged up with dents of different sizes. I was unable to determine what could have caused them.

As for the state of his body... well, it was quite alarming, actually. His throat was slit with one slice, but it seems like it didn't bleed - regular blood, at least. He has a large bruise on his cheek and also had a frothy foam around his mouth and nose... but other signs of poison weren't present. No smell or discoloring, that sort of thing.

The strangest thing was the "blood" - it didn't seem to be blood at all. It looked like blood, but it smelled sweet. It stained my glove in a way blood wouldn't, but I'm really not sure what it was. I found no regular blood otherwise. I did find one of these, though.

[It's a vending machine knife! As you can see, it's also covered in "blood".]

It hasn't been damaged at all, so I doubt this was involved in whatever happened to Jasper's armor.

Finally, his hair was messed up, as though it was wet and then dried. I'm not sure what to make of that one either, but it does seem to have been water in his hair, nothing else.

[One more thing that Yeager didn't get - Jasper's pendant was missing. He can at least confirm that if anyone else knows about it!]

cw: stupidity

[cethflayn]

Oh, the blood is some kind of chocolate.

[Flayn. Flayn.]

[ahelpingpaw]

[After what happened last trial Filbo sure had thought he wouldn't be back here for a murder case. Alas, fate isn't so kind. Filbo puts on his podium the steel bowl with the evidence and clears his throat]

So, uh, looks like someone went to the kitchen to eat something, I guess? Corn flour, cocoa powder and...red food coloring, for some reason. It was all mixed here on this bowl -- it's clean but there's this towel here with coloring stains on it. That says it all.

[Seems Filbo is unaware of the things you can make with those particular ingredients]

But also I found this note in the sink. Someone tried to burn it and then change their mind, I guess, because even though it got somewhat burned it also is all wet! The problem is I can't tell what it says here. So I guess this is a good starting point as any.

[PL__ #--
B ∆ → A_T__L__E? → _ON__CT D___ → [????] ]

[scouserer]

[Constantine takes a closer look at the note....yeah, he doesn't know what this says, either.]

I'd assume the "B" part means Bermuda Triangle, but I can't quite make out the rest. But those are...rather specific ingredients, aren't they? Don't think they were lookin' for a midnight snack.

[jibunwo]

Red food coloring--wait, is that what was all over Jasper?

[sivard]

There was something strange going on in that water around the garden.

There were some puddles near the edge, which I know isn't that strange, really, but something was dragged away from it.

[ahelpingpaw]

So if Jasper's hair was wet, could he have been drowned or something?

[He didn't see the body, he has no idea if it showed signs of drowning]

cw: stupidity

[cethflayn]

[Ah...heavily surrounded by death. Feels about right.]

I found three things of note that I have brought along with me. [She indicates the three empty photo lab tubs stacked on her podium] The first were several cigarette stubs left by the door. They were cold and ashless, and there was no scent of smoke in the area, so I do not think they were utilized by the door. They might be about a day old at the least. Mister Constantine, I know you make a habit of smoking these, so if you could check them to see if they are like the ones you may have obtained before, I would appreciate it.

Secondly, I found some teal feathers under the table. I could not tell if they might have been roughly handled or pulled from anything. Magica, they are close in color to your plumage. Might I compare the color to you?

[Something to note here is that as Flayn goes through her evidence, if she addresses you? There's no accusatory tone. Looks like someone's using her noodle.]

Lastly, the trash bin in the photo lab contained a pair of thin disposable gloves covered in "blood". But it is important to note that it is not blood. It smells too sweet, and tastes of chocolate.

[Flayn. Flayn why do you know that. Honey.]

[magycks]

... Wait, what?

mods?

[scouserer]

[Constantine blinks. He glances at the tub with the cigarettes in it, then lets out a scoff.]

I guess someone here's been busy plantin' evidence, huh?

[He's gonna take the cigarettes and examine them a little more closely...what exactly can he tell from them as the Resident Smoker. Are they his brand of cigarette?]

[jibunwo]

...I see what you're getting at. For the record, the taser I found on the fifth floor is not mine.

[Lelouch pulled a second vending machine taser out of his pocket, just to illustrate that he was still carrying his own.]

[ltcommandroid]

While I was on patrol last night, I heard a loud metallic clunking sound making its way down the stairs, towards the fifth floor. I went to investigate, and that is where I was tased. Unfortunately, I do not recall seeing who did so. I am programmed to shut down in case of electrical overloads, in order to avoid damage to my positronic net - my brain.

I apologize that my patrolling was ineffective yet again. In this case, it seems likely that the perpetrator had prepared to meet me. Of all the weapons available, the taser would be the most effective.

[scythegun]

There's no need to apologize, Data. You were doing your best, and it seems someone was prepared for that.

Out of curiosity, how many people have you told about this? That an electrical overload will force you to shut down?

[ahelpingpaw]

Could it have been Jasper? I mean, he had all that armor on, apparently. That's gotta be noisy, especially if there's nobody around and nothing else is making noise.

[Also pieces of his cloak were found]

[cethflayn]

Oh no...we should have done something to better repair your body after what happened. Then you would not have been shocked so!

BRUISE CHECK

[ltcommandroid]

[Well, no objections were raised, so Data's just gonna start in on that bruise check of his! At least there's a lot fewer people to check in with this time, rip...]

Please show me your arms and torsos. You need not strip entirely if it will make you uncomfortable, yet.

[Yet. It'll be noted, though.]

[cethflayn]

[Warily looks at the amount of adult men around...........her father is going to Kool Aid Man into the trial room, she feels. But it must be done.]

Data, I do trust you, but if anyone decides to stare, please do not let them.

[Flayn's arms are unblemished, and she complies and pulls her dress over her head. Torso is unblemished as well, aside from like, a few ancient scars. They've healed enough that you can tell there's no chance they were made here.]

[sivard]

[A big part of Zaveid's torso is always visible so any bruising would probably be obvious from that alone, but he doesn't hesitate in taking his gloves and jacket off to show that he is injury-free.]

[jibunwo]

...Really.

[Reluctantly, Lelouch will go along with this--he's uninjured, but incredibly scrawny and noodly.]

CATHERD

[ahelpingpaw]

So...we checked for bruises and didn't find any, it seems. There's Magica and me, but there's no sure way of knowing if we got injured in a fight anyway? Uh...

[Filbo sighs. There must be something we're seeing]

L-Let's start from the top. We know Jasper was out there on Thursday night for some reason, wearing his armor. We dunno if the killer called him or send him the note I found in the kitchen sink -- note we still haven't solved yet. This note was partially burned and then extinguished for some reason.

We also know Jasper or...uh, Jasper's...corpse was battered a lot in a few ways. He may have drowned in the lazy river, or he may have been fallen down the stairs, we already know that definitely happened even though we don't know for sure what killed him. There were hints something wet was dragged from the river. In the end he was taken to the photo lab and smeared with fake blood? This was made in the kitchen, that part was already proven.

Data got attacked with a taser, and that taser was found lying around on that same floor, somewhat far away from Data, apparently.

John and Magica got some really blatant stuff pointing at them, which probably means the killer targeted them for a reason. Maybe because Magica is...well-- [An easy scapegoat for many reasons everyone knows] --and John is strong and maybe the killer thought he could drag Jasper in his armor around.

Also there may have been painkillers involved somehow? They're still kinda floating around.

I think that about covers the important points so far.

[cethflayn]

You know, before I retired for the night, I did see Jasper in the kitchen. He was trying to make sandwiches with fruit and cream inside. If there was a note in the kitchen, do you think that might be where he started out from?

[scouserer]

[With all the questions, eventually, Constantine just looks sharply up at the rest of the crowd. His eyes scan across the room, a hand leaning against his podium.

His expression exudes nothing but utter confidence.]

You wanna know what happened? I'll tell you what happened. I asked Jasper to meet with me, talk about a plan to really get off this damned ship. Talked about him about the glyphs, fed him some "information" that I had pulled from the Captain. The bastard bought into it, of course--fool should've known better than to trust a magician.

We planned for the entire week--I could keep my head relatively clear, so it was a breeze. Just had to get the bastard in place and get everything prepared.

[His smile tightens. Something's not right. Despite the smug expression on his face, it seems...very practiced. Even as he speaks, his eyes dart constantly--down towards the Dutchman at their feet.]

I picked the darkroom, 'cus the fake blood would be harder to make out. Of course, that meant havin' to drag his body all the way down. His armor got pretty banged up--nothin' I could do about that, of course.

[A pause.]

Also, for the record--Data just happened to be on the floor as I was transportin' Jasper. I knew he was gonna be out patrolling, so I tried my best--but he got the jump on me. Didn't know the taser was enough to put his lights out, but it was worth a shot. Sorry, mate.

[But of course, that leaves the question of why. His gaze is unfocused as he paces back and forth.]

Shall we get this over with, then?

[scythegun]

[Yeah, this is really not reading right...]

Not quite yet. Two things: first, where is Jasper's pendant?

And second... why did you choose to act now? You could have pulled off a plan like this earlier for a motive, but you waited until now.

Voting time

[heroantagonist]

I'll have order in this court now!

[The inhumanly reverberating tone of your captain cuts through whatever talk is still happening. It looks like this has caught his interest.]

So, ye believe that you've found the correct culprit, eh? Well, let's see it then.

[The podiums, as they always do, light up for everyone to input the name of the culprit.]

Cast yer votes now.

[ltcommandroid]

> John Constantine

[looks like spot and parker have the room to themselves now]

EXECUTION - HELLBLAZE OF GLORY

[bathymetric]

[ The votes roll in, as they do each week. It’s quick, isn’t it? You can only hope whatever comes next is just as fast… ]

The Hell-Blazer has been found guilty! It does me proud to see ye all still sending your friends to yer deaths… not that you have much choice in the matter. Just as well! This would hardly be a pirate court without an execution, hahaha!

[ It’s familiar by now, isn’t it? The flash of darkness, the vanishing of one of your own, the rising of the Dutchman outside… one last time, eh? ]

Let no joyful voice be heard!

[ Jones still manages to give the call to his pet with gusto, and you can see stirring in the depths below. ]

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

[ John and Jones stand on the deck of the Dutchman. Behind them, the population of the crew seems to have suddenly increased, the crew of half-fish-half-men supplemented by… a number of strange ghostly human shapes. That’s probably fine. ]

Mister Constantine. Will you fight?

[ Jones seems… reluctant, weary as he asks. But his hand remains on the pommel of his blade, eyes still locked on John.

John, like so many before him, decides to fight. Also like so many before him, he decides to fight someone who absolutely isn’t Davy Jones.

He goes for The Captain, whoever’s piloting the body right now. ]

Well, if you insist!

[ It becomes apparent very quickly, though, that it is much harder to tussle with a floating possessed businessman who can shoot fire than it is to go after a normal businessman in a lounge chair made of his own hubris.

But John Constantine gives it his best effort, and though the most he seems to get to show for it is a fire burning at his feet, he does his best. One of his swings even almost connects! ]

Nobody’s ever drawn blood from me! And nobody ever will.

[ John staggers back, right into Davy Jones, who was apparently standing behind him, waiting. With his good hand, Jones drives his sword through the man’s chest.

It’s enough to distract most anyone from his claw slipping something into John’s coat pocket. It certainly distracts The Captain. ]

It’s over now.

[ It’s not long before John Constantine is over the edge of the ship, into the Kraken’s waiting maw. John Constantine is dead.

The screens flick off. ]

Ah… bit of fun before the end. Just as well. You’re all free to go about your business, however long it lasts. Your captain has business to attend to!

[magycks]

[ Magica watches this whole production with rapt attention, but once it's done she dusts her hands off and shrugs, apparently not impacted in the slightest. ]

Bit underwhelming, actually, especially compared to the ominous finisher there. So! Afterparty in the pub?