SECOND TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Time's up, boys and girls. Please gather up your evidence and make your way to the vault door.

[ The process of heading to the elevator and crowding in remains the same as last week - Angel leads you all to the elevator car, then stays behind as you make your slow descent to the dome below. You might not even notice if you aren't paying attention, but... the cart is already less crowded than it was last week. You certainly won't be able to avoid noticing it if your numbers dwindle too much further than this.

When the doors open on the trial room, it's just as bleak a place as last week. ]

Take your places, won't you? And this time, you all know what's at stake. No more... funny business.

[The number of podiums displaying that red light is higher now - Damien, Lif, and Piers are all represented by blank spots now, no tasteful covers or anything normal to mark their passing, just a red glow and a gap in your number.

Cheery!

The screens raise up to the ceiling to give you all room to see, and the Professor's final words before the trial begins ring out: ]

Find the killer, leave alive. And killer? Try a little harder to stop them from doing that than the last one in your shoes. Call out for me if you require anything.

[ Welcome to your second trial. ]

Comments

[precognit]

[Alice is quiet in the elevator, and she seems a little dazed as they all get out and go to their places. Another death...how many more are there going to be? How many more people need to suffer in order for them to finally find a way free of this place?

Her fingers grip the podium tightly enough that if she had her usual strength, the metal would crumple beneath her fingertips. She has some small comfort in the orange-and-red shawl draped around her shoulders, at least. A reminder that not everything is awful.

She wasn't much use in the investigation, too late to the party, so to speak, but she can listen and think.]

[bolderfell]

[Therion's always quiet in the elevator--man, he really hates that thing, huh?--but he recovers a little easier once they reach the trial room and the floor's no longer moving under them. Alice is right next to him; she's the only one right next to him, now. He looks at her a moment.]

...Hey.

[He pulls out the bow tie she made him from under his cloak.]

You made this, right?

[precognit]

[Alice glances over at the soft call, and blinks.]

Yeah, I did. I...thought the knit fabric would be cozy, like your scarf.

[bolderfell]

[He. Uh. Has no idea how to respond to that, so he doesn't.]

You put it on my door yesterday, right? ...Around what time?

[precognit]

Oh, um—

[She has to pause to think. Time is weird in this place thanks to the artificial light!]

Seven or eight. Why do you ask?

[bolderfell]

This had to have happened sometime last night. I assume you were all out there at least till lights out, if not later. ...Did you make one of these for everyone?

[precognit]

Well, Zerinda came to my room right as I was finishing up, so I was pretty much in for the night after that.

[She smiles weakly, and nods.]

Yeah, I did. I thought we could all use...something nice, for a change.

[snackooed]

[ Ah, right! What with this whole confusion, she had almost completely forgotten about it-- ]

Mine was so cute! The baby pink with the white polka dots, I loved it! Next time I wear that suit, I'm absolutely wearing it. Thank you for the effort!

[precognit]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked it. [Alice manages a weak smile for Ema.] I thought it'd suit your coloring really well.

[snackooed]

It goes great with my glasses! Not that I wear these as a fashion statement or anything, but...

[ Yes she does-- ]

Well, sometime after this, we'll make sure there's a more pleasant occasion to make use of your hard work.

[precognit]

I'd love that. A proper party. Let's plan on it.

[bolderfell]

...Then only people who saw these before this morning could have killed him.

[No way to really check that, of course, but he did take a look this morning to see if anyone else's door had a present taped to it. Maybe he'll bring it up again later.]

[precognit]

Huh. I mean, you're not wrong...That's something to add to the timeline, at least.

[bogwife]

[Despite their awkward angle in courtroom seating, Zerinda leans over her podium enough to offer Alice a worried smile. If nothing else she's glad to see she's still wearing the shawl.]

[precognit]

[Alice catches the smile, and manages to send one right back, hugging her shawl a little closer around her shoulders. It's more comforting than she expected, honestly.]

[philoxenia]

[ Mira isn't feeling great either but... She's worried about Alice. ]

Alice... Thank you for the bowtie. It was sweet of you to make them.

[precognit]

[Mira you're too good for this....ocean. Alice manages a weak smile.]

Don't mention it, Mira. Thought it'd match your eyes.

[philoxenia]

[ Oh-- Yep, she's blushing. ]

You did?

[precognit]

[Alice nods, eyes twinkling.]

Mmhm. I was right, too.