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]

[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.

[scouserer]

If I'm being honest, I don't rightly know.

[He seems truthful about that part, at least.]

And, hell, we're down to only a few people. This is going to end, sooner rather than later, and I figured I'd finally act instead of sitting on my ass all day. Besides--I believe Zaveid said something about trust, yes?

[ahelpingpaw]

You can't be serious!

[scouserer]

Do I look like I'm joking, Filbo?

[Constantine looks distracted.]

[ahelpingpaw]

But it...just...

[Doesn't make sense, he tried to say but couldn't bring himself to. He's having a really hard time reconciling this with everything he knows and thinks of Constantine]

[scythegun]

[Hmm...]

I suppose I can understand the feeling of needing to do something. You don't think we'll manage to win, then?

[scouserer]

Perhaps not from our current position, no.

[His smirk grows wider. But...needless to say, there doesn't seem like there's anything obvious that Constantine could gain from doing this, huh?]

[scythegun]

[He's got a plan in mind, then. Constantine's not an idiot; surely that's what he means by this.]

It really is unfortunate that this is how things have turned out. I really wanted to see this through to the end with you.

But I trust you had your reasons. And I trust you know what you're doing. Don't let me down, ja?

[sivard]

[Zaveid looks so, so disappointed in you.]

[magycks]

Oh, sod off, you absolute divvy.

[ Callbacks! ]

[scouserer]

Sod off yourself, you wanker.

[Wow!! Language!!!!]

[magycks]

Sorry, so busy, can't quite carve out the time right now. Would you like to check back in after the Kraken devours your very soul?

[scouserer]

Shame you couldn't be the one to take action. I was so looking forward to my entrails bein' used for your dark magyks.

[magycks]

Mmhmm, can't say I wouldn't still very much like to claw your heart out of your chest and flush it down the toilet, but here's the thing: I'm not going to make an attempt on the life of anyone in this room, including you, no matter what happens. Filbo was right. I don't plan on sacrificing myself for you losers.

[ This does, maybe, imply that a tiny bit of awareness is percolating through the overwhelming Disney villain rage! Reika was just last week, after all. ]

That's what sentimental fools are for.

[ltcommandroid]

That is the portion you are choosing to apologize for? Why?

[scouserer]

[Wow you ever completely miss a tag while eating dinner]

If...I'm being honest, mate, thought you were dead. You were never my target, and I'm not exactly one to take people's lives willy-nilly.

[The mask is slipping, ever so slightly.]

[ltcommandroid]

[Well, he really meant it along the lines of "you literally did kill a guy", and he still kinda does mean that. But as conversations have progressed, it's pretty clear that Constantine's got a plan here. Not that it makes Jasper's murder right, but...]

...no permanent harm was done.

[cethflayn]

...

[That tightness to his expression...not to mention the things he's not said, back when we opened up his carton of cigarettes...]

You said the motive didn't affect you. And you keep insisting the "why" to be because you are selfish. But your actions before now have seemed to be anything but. So tell us, truthfully - why?

[scouserer]

[Constantine still does not--he cannot look at Flayn. His grip tightens on the edge of the podium.]

It was an act--and I fooled you all in the end. The ultimate magic trick, wouldn't you say?

[A pause. A thought seems to occur to him. Slowly, Constantine turns, still not quite meeting Flayn's eyes.]

Have you heard of the trick of the disappearing woman? A stage magician's helper gets into a box, and the magician waves his hands, makes it dramatic, and poof--she's gone, only to show up later in the crowd.

[jibunwo]

Why don't you tell us the story of the terrible liar, John? Because you're acting that one out pretty well.

[scouserer]

Sorry, 'fraid I don't know that one. Try again, maybe.

[cethflayn]

[...

Hm.]

I am afraid magic is not often used for entertainment in Fodlan, at least not to such a manner.

[But she steps out from behind her podium, walking with purpose towards Constantine's. She wants him to look her in the eye.]

But such a thing would be easy to do. Warp is an advanced spell of Faith.

[You have a plan, don't you Constantine.]

[scouserer]

[Constantine meets Flayn's eyes. His expression is that of conviction, one who has long since accepted his fate.]

Oh, no. It's not actual teleportation. See, the best tricks happen when you know it's not real, but you're still left guessin' how they did it. The audience know this--so they're gonna be lookin' out for it.

So, the best way to misdirect? You've got to put on a show.

[cethflayn]

[...There's a shimmer of sadness in her own. It ought not have to be like this.]

...Then the show must not yet be over.

[There's still the execution, and after what Reika did? Flayn's not too foolish to think someone won't try something.]