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

[seventhlittlemonster]

....it should go without saying, do we swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

[scratchitti]

... I doubt the killer will do that. Or else they'd just confess now.

[seventhlittlemonster]

I'm just getting formalities out of the way, breaking the ice if you will.

[littlebratziska]

What a foolish question. We know the guilty party will hardly admit their guilt. Saying this in present circumstances serves no purpose at all!

[seventhlittlemonster]

I hear it all the time on crime TV... [he. wanted to be cool.]

[littlebratziska]

[hMMMMMMMM]

Perhaps instead you can call order to the court.

[seventhlittlemonster]

...I would love to do that yes.

[rhododendronhoney]

Yeah, you'd definitely be good at that. [Cori's just relieved Franziska's not criticizing him further.]

[immaculacies]

Well, I do.

[ She's helping. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

Aw... [VALIDATIONNNN]

[soverainty]

[She's been fairly quiet and not terribly around in the aftermath of their first ever investigation; presumably after seeing The Body she fled somewhere to deal with it? Maybe. Maybe she just went to change into something more appropriate to their ever-so-funereal times.

That being said, there's something different about her once they all traipse their way into the bizarre teacup-Alice trial. Maybe it's the eyes, maybe it's the tone, but there's something flat in it:]

... You've got to be kidding me, right?

[seventhlittlemonster]

[wHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDSSS WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS]
...does that mean you're not going to?

1/2

[soverainty]

[Oh, we're friends all right. We're all in a circle holding hands here, hmm? Or maybe not-so-holding hands. Either way, Niko raises an eloquent eyebrow here, expression still somewhat restrained.]

If I weren't going to, would there be a point in asking that question, you giant lump? Honestly.

2/2

[soverainty]

But you know, there is a way you can make sure everyone tells the truth. But that'll require a little more effort from you than talking loud, you know.

[Suddenly her voice is just as sweet as it always was, as is her expression. But here's the real question: do you want the answer here?]

Re: 2/2

[seventhlittlemonster]

...why am I afraid of you all of a sudden?

[byzer0]

Youji, I think I found the stupidest person here!

[seventhlittlemonster]

[I AM GOING TO CRY ALL OVER YOU IF YOU DO NOT STOP]

[byzer0]

[ Crying does not deter gremlins. ]

[seventhlittlemonster]

[TRY ME MOTHERFUCKER HE WILL LOOM AND CRY ALL OVER YOU]

[rhododendronhoney]

Hey, you two leave him alone!

[byzer0]

Leave him alone? We were just answering his question, that's all.

[rhododendronhoney]

You weren't and you know it.

[bizer0]

Maybe you should leave us alone. Butting into other people’s conversations is rude.

[bizer0]

Aha! I think you did Natsuo!

[byzer0]

Do you think it's like Yuiko, where the nutrition can't get to his brain because he's so big?