SECOND TRIAL

[bathymetric]

[ After sufficient time has passed, and you're all as ready to avenge dear Obi as you've ever been, Mayor Fontaine speaks. ]

Alright, that oughta do it. Pack up the evidence and head to the bathyspheres, same as last week.

[ There's yet again a line of spherical submersibles back there, ready to take off as the citizens of New Rapture climb aboard one or two at a time. And one at a time the bathyspheres descend into the abyss below New Rapture, deeper and deeper, once again to the dome on the seafloor, lit all around by bio-luminescent... slugs, of some kind? They're a little closer today.

The ring of podiums still sits in the center, just like last week. Two more podiums are going to stand empty. Two more dead. By the end of the day, best case scenario? It'll be three.

The projector clicks on. Mayor Fontaine is as here as he's gonna be. ]

You all know why you're here. Night Knight is dead. And I know plenty of you liked him alright, so don't let him down, hm? Or do. I'm here if you have questions.

[ Welcome to your second trial. ]

Comments

[prompocalypse]

[This is the first time she's been hugged in a year and a half. But then again, who's counting? It feels like so much more than that, stuck in the fire with no company but those that she damned.

Is this the first time she's been hugged in a year and a half? Or is this the first time someone has shown her kindness? Even the slightest bit of sympathy, pitiful and misguided though it is?

Does it matter?

Penelope already knew. Affection makes you weak. Caring makes you weak. Kindness makes you weakest of all. But she takes it and asks a question, barely a whisper.]

Are you going to kill me, Zinda?

[specialyellthing]

No. I'm not. [The answer comes too quickly. She gives her another squeeze.]

But-- I haven't figured out... [A way around this. The other girls. Jonathan. Everyone else.

She'd asked Obi to help her protect this girl. Tears dribble down her face, but she can't avoid the truth.]

... I don't think I can save ya either, Queenie. You're probably about to die.

1/2

[prompocalypse]

[She lets go of the hug, her shoulders shaking as her head does the same.

She tugs her way out, her posture slumped. There wasn't anything Zinda could have done to prevent this, was there? She was fucked from the start. But of course, Penelope Everpetal was always born rotten. It's only right that she be punished for it.

She raises her hands to her face, covering it as she shakes. Behind her hands you can faintly hear the sounds of her cries...] It was a long shot anyway...

Sorry to disappoint you.

[She removes her hands from her face...]

2/2

[prompocalypse]

...ahaha...ahaha...AHAHAHAHAHA!!

[And laughs.

Vicious and bitter and angry and hateful, with all the malice of a demon, her "sobs" turn into a cackle.]

One. Fucking. Mistake.

One little mistake and it all went out the fucking window.

God... Sorry, give me a moment. I'll do a whole like, confession or whatever... Since I guess I'm going to die again, I figure I owe Fontaine one last performance.

[specialyellthing]

[Zinda... barely moves. Just enough to release Penelope, then to step back and wipe her tears away.

How does she keep ending up in this situation, with teenage murderers? How do they keep worming into her heart?]

Go on, Queenie. Put on your show. [And she stands, ready to take on anyone who tries to go for Penelope.]

[giddyundertaker]

[ Oh, he is watching her like a hawk. ]

Don't try anything funny. I know how to use this.

[ He may be wearing a blobfish kigu halfway, but he got a spear and is not afraid to use it... But he isn't moving from his spot. Not unless she forced his hand. ]

[hotpaprika]

[The tone immediately changes him

He is enraged and running towards the sound.]

What did you do?!

[specialyellthing]

Stop.

[hotpaprika]

Listen to her, Zinda! Does she sound like she has any remorse for what she did to my Obi?!

[specialyellthing]

Let her say what she was gonna say.

She's already a dead girl walkin. Leave her alone.

[hotpaprika]

She killed my Obi, Zinda! She killed him without regret!

[He's crying in sorrow and anger.]

[bootyhunter]

Jonathan!

[Dandy's tone is stern.]

I get that you're pissed, so am I!

But fightin' her won't change anything!

[sastruga]

..."Yours", now, is that so?

[bootyhunter]

That's not gonna help, girly.

[It's Dandy's time to be short, although he's clearly exhausted. Also because he is currently attempting to restrain Jonathan from across the way!]

Save it for later.

[inaclearing]

[He can’t really stop this, but:]

Jonathan!

[giddyundertaker]

[ Sir, you are being collared before you get too far. ]

[bootyhunter]

[He's gonna catch Jonathan!!! And attempt... To restrain him.]

Hey, d-don't...!

[giddyundertaker]

[ So that's two people restraining him. Good. ]

[bootyhunter]

[this means they are bros now!]

[hotpaprika]

[Between The Undertaker and Dandy, he is effectively restrain.

That doesn't stop him from flailing and screaming, however.]

You wretched demon! I hope you rot in Hell for what you've done!

[bootyhunter]

[Undie and Dandy tag-team, baby!]

[giddyundertaker]

Patience, Harker...

[ His tone is stern, his face unreadable. ]

She'll be dealt with very soon...

[fuckingguy]

Hey hey hey hey hey!

[ HE'S HERE, HE'S SIMPING, HE'S GETTING IN THE WAY and so is everyone else so idk maybe he just runs directly into dandy or some shit who can say ]

Get back there, Jonathan! Shoo!

[specialyellthing]

[She can't muster a smile right now but she at least saw him help.]

[buriedstar]

[ . . . ]

That's all it takes.