FIRST TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

Honestly, if all you're going to do now is try to smoke out the castle I think it's time for a trial.

A trial, yes, a trial, Alice! Let's find out who it is. Come to the stairwell, everyone. I'm feeling better so I'll even be able to meet you there.

[The wall at the top of the stairwell is gone by the time everyone arrives. In it's place is a giant teacup being held by a doll's hand. For some reason it has a hinged door that swings out and closes shut once everyone gets in. It's big enough to hold everyone inside comfortably. Well, at least, as comfortable as you can get with a possible murderer in your midst.

While there are buttons for various other 'floors' in the castle none of them currently work. It takes a moment before the giant doll arm begins lowering. The visible area around you is just a dirt hole. It's as if you're descending down a rabbit hole as the teacup starts to descend quickly.

Eventually the teacup lands with a thunk in a room that's definitely more suitable as a place for a party than a park. It's a large outdoor room with great hedges surrounding the entire area. White roses dripping red paint (blood?) stand out among the green foliage. In an elevated area, safe from any potential angry 'friends, the Alices can be seen behind a desk emblazoned with a familiar symbol.

Down on ground level, though, there's a circle of podiums with a copy of your portrait to tell you where to stand. Both Ib and Violet's portraits are currently crossed out in red.]

Welcome to the trial room! Well, trial court? Mm... doesn't matter, I guess. I'm feeling better today so I'm glad that I can at least make sure that someone doesn't mess everything up for everyone.

[The cat, in Alice form, looks away.]

That said, time to find out who killed Violet. Trial, begin!

Comments

So take it off the shelf, and go defend yourself...

[rhododendronhoney]

[Well then, someone's revealed a secret side of themselves, haven't they? Cori smiles, a pained and fake smile.]

You're really smart, you know, Neku? You had it almost all figured out, why I decided to do that. We met at midnight, and it was almost a pleasant conversation at first-and then she showed me that weapon of hers.

...I was worried about my safety, so I had that brick with me. She had her back turned, so it was easy to bring it down. I...I thought she was planning to kill with it, to do something horrible. I couldn't let that happen.

It...it was really harmless after all, wasn't it? It couldn't have killed anyone even if it did misfire somehow...

[There are tears rolling down her cheeks now, but she's still smiling, bitter laughter welling up in her throat.]

Ah...I suppose this is farewell, then.

Bargaining.

[seventhlittlemonster]

It... it was a misunderstanding... a mis-misunderstanding-

[The tears rolled from his eyes.]

This isn't fair, this isn't right- This shouldn't be- this is wrong- THIS IS WRONG!!! [He turned and yelled out to Alice] DO YOU HEAR ME?! WRONG!!!

[strictura]

They didn't care about that last round, you know.

[whimsicalism]

[Queen Alice looks... sad but she shakes her head.]

She still hit her. I didn't tell her to.

[littlebratziska]

Even if it is she still murdered her, Seven! She chose to do that, instead of trying to do anything else, like disarm her!

[Not that she agrees she should die but. Jail, maybe.]

[seventhlittlemonster]

B-But- But... but... [He can't refute. He can't even keep himself from seeming strong.]

[rhododendronhoney]

[She slowly takes the water drop necklace off her neck, before holding it out to him.] ...hey Seven, could you...look after this for me?

[seventhlittlemonster]

...why should I...? It... It will only be a burden upon my own shoulders.

...and besides... it looks prettier on you.

[byzer0]

...you killed her over a green cigarette? You really are Miss Killjoy.

[ That's all he has to say because like, wow. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

SHUT UP!!!!! [Uncharacteristically, he shouted them down for once.] Shut up! This- this isn't a joking matter at all!

[byzer0]

[ Well his ears pivot, but he doesn't look frazzled or swayed in any way. ]

If it's a joke, it's her fault. Killing someone for such a stupid reason is pretty funny and sad.

[scratchitti]

...stop making yourself smile. There's no point forcing yourself to play customer service to the end, you know.

[His face is tucked into his collar to hide his own miserable expression. He hates that he was right- Oriko was too tall. The moment he saw that it was a teen he knew it was her. But... he had hoped still...]

i don't have a teary smile icon this is the closest okay

[rhododendronhoney]

...heh. You know, there's part of me that's glad you understood my intentions, even before you knew it was me. Isn't that odd?

[Thank you for seeing her heart.]

[scratchitti]

No one likes people thinking they're a killer.

[He pulls his headphones on, hiding even more of his features]

It's happening again. I hate this.

[ballooncaged]

[Mizuki has been following the investigation and keeping her emotions in check as best she can but it all bursts out at once:]

Your idea of self-defense is a brick to the skull?

[rhododendronhoney]

...I wouldn't call it self-defense. But there's only one way to definitely stop a killer.

[That smile is getting faker and faker.]

[imozon]

[imozon]

I guess so.

[Dark Dream's reaction is pretty subdued.]

It sounds like she trusted you.

[rhododendronhoney]

Hah...enough to show me what she was working on, at least.

Re: So take it off the shelf, and go defend yourself...

[xxxx_me]

...

Why did you hide the brick? And make the branch look like she fell?

Is there someone you want the Alices to get rid of?

1/2

[rhododendronhoney]

No. The rules said...if anyone won, everyone's memories would be returned. I had almost thought I might try for that, and I even offered to stay myself so I wouldn't be getting anything at your expenses...

2/2

[rhododendronhoney]

But ah...she said she'd have to kill you all first, anyways. And that seemed far too cruel to allow, whatever the result.

[soverainty]

You know, we should probably thank you -- it's a great lesson in the fact that at the end of the day, everyone here is an enemy in this game. That's the way it's been set up. It doesn't really matter what your motivations are, does it?

Though I really wonder if that was the only thing running through your head.

[undershadow]

Oh my god, it was even dumber than the other tree one?!

[battlestations]

And I thought I was paranoid.

[just. what do you even say to this bullshit.]