SECOND TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

How are we ever going to get the pond clean? It'll stink like lawyer for forever, Alice!

Be nice... We shouldn't say things like that, Alice.

Weren't you the one who were calling Franziska a wicked witch?

I'm sorry about it now, aren't I?! Just--it's time for a trial, everyone!

[As you climb back into the teacup to descend to the court room once more, the tea cup doesn't respond if anyone tries to go to any other floors. As you walk up to the podiums the amount of crossed out portraits has increased. How many more will die before the tricky game the Alices want is over?

At least the Alices seem relatively calm. The Queen, anyway. The Cat is in her Alice form, watching over the proceedings with a hungry look in her eyes.]

Franziska von Karma is dead. Do try to find out who did it but not too quickly. I'll get bored~

Comments

EXECUTION: The Given Tree (tw: body horror)

[whimsicalism]

[As the final vote is cast, the Queen Alice stands up. She turns her back and leaves without a word as the Cat takes out the book again.]

Sleeping Beauty was taken. Cinderella? Something with a prince in it... oh, I know. Snow White! I have the perfect idea. Let's end your tale... slowly.

[With a snap of her fingers Manaka disappears from her podium. The screen appears on the hedge once more. This time it's a lovely looking field. A handsome man is next to Manaka's side, holding her arm like a perfect gentleman. Never mind the fact that he has ball joints or just doesn't quite look right. Manaka either doesn't notice or just doesn't care. The sun is shining bright over them. It's like a happy ending.

He holds out a shiny apple to her as a gift. She takes it and--whether it is from knowledge of what will likely happen or unwittingly is up to the viewer--takes a large bite of it.

As she begins to eat, the Cat begins to narrate.]

There once was a girl without a curl on her head.

[Her voice is even and steady as Manaka continues to eat the apple. She looks delighted even as she begins to cough.]

When she was good, she was very good indeed.

[Time seems to fast forward around Manaka and the man. Day turns to night. Night to day. Over and over. After a couple of these 'cycles' she begins to cough up leaves. The man just keeps standing there as she clings to him. Even through the persistant coughing Manaka is smiling up at him.]

But when she was bad...

[As the video starts going faster Manaka leans against the man more as she clings. Her coughing also brings up blood as well as small twigs. One hand goes to her heart as she looks up at the man.

The 'camera' suddenly swings to the sky.]

She was horrid.

[At first it doesn't seem like anything changes as the Cat finishes speaking. Then the coughing stops. A few bloody branches suddenly come into the shot of the sky. Then more and more until a blooming apple tree is blocking the view of the sun.

The camera pans down and we see the rest of the bloodied tree. Manaka's clothes are ripped around it. The doll of the man can barely be seen except for a plastic-like arm sticking out of the trunk.

Manaka Sajyou is dead.]

You are dismissed.

[seventhlittlemonster]

[He breathes through his nose, and out his mouth...]

...You know, Mizuki... You were right. It'd be better for me if I just didn't care about you... In fact... It'll be better for me if I just don't care about anyone else here.

And... judging by the reactions I still get for what I did last week... Good news! None of you have to care about me either! I'll just be in my room if you need me. Not that you should need me. After all, what's the point when we'll all fall down anyway?

[scratchitti]

[He knows he's not talking to him, but his words are so damn familiar that-]

Yeah, tried that. It just makes you miserable. Would make these trials easier though.

[Is that a for or against? he has no gd idea]

[seventhlittlemonster]

[...he just shook his head.]

I'll just be miserable anyway. First Cori. Then both Franziska and Manaka at once.

Everyone I care about here dies.

[scratchitti]

... there's a chance I won't even remember that it happened before too long. So might as well share it. I lost my best friend suddenly when I was younger. Decided that if I never let myself get close to anyone again I'd never have to feel like that again.

So if you go that way you're gonna grow up into me. You don't want that.

[seventhlittlemonster]

[...Hm. He can't actually argue against that.]

...I still care about my family, I still have friends where I live, they... They aren't here. They're safe... [are they...?]

[scratchitti]

Just keep it in mind.

[seventhlittlemonster]

[He opened his mouth to say something, but... he choked up.

He WANTED to care about the people here. But... it wasn't safe... for anyone...]

[ballooncaged]

W... N...

[As she turns away after watching the execution, Mizuki's throat is starting to work again! But not in time for her to interrupt him, to object to... her ow words that she didn't... The one thing he asked—]

...she got what she... wanted in her sick mind, for a while, and now she'll never see him again, even in Lion Land! Never! There was no good reason!

1/2

[seventhlittlemonster]

...unfortunate, yes. [imma be real with u chief he's trying his hardest to give a shit but. no.]

2/2

[seventhlittlemonster]

[...but...]

If it makes you feel any better... please take these. [He handed her both Adorabbit and the Dream Collet.] I don't know what either of these are, but... I might as well.

[ballooncaged]

A... do... rab... bit???

[The collet can just go on the podium for now, though she's pretty sure from the hue that it belongs to Dark Dream. Great, she's got a hook for later. For now she can scoop up the big toy rabbit in her arms.]

I'd started to think... that stupid machine wasn't going to give me anything familiar... [before Nagisa got her the trident] And there's more... important things... This is still nice... Ugh... [She!! Misses!! Home!!]

[seventhlittlemonster]

[...he didn't want to do this to her.]

...Whoever the other object belongs to, tell them I said I'm sorry I hadn't realized it was theirs sooner. [sEVEN IS SO. STUPID EVEN IN THE MOST DRAMATIC MOMENTS]

[ballooncaged]

It's... [Okay she has both hands full of Adorabbit so making sure he has a clear line of sight to the podium is gonna take a moment but wait he's a million feet tall.] It's literally dark pink plastic. I'm seriously worried about you, Seven.

[seventhlittlemonster]

I'm worried about myself too but to be fair... I don't think any of us are thinking straight. [He takes it to go give it to the actual owner because NOW he realizes.]

[ballooncaged]

You CAN'T do everything on your own! [Her hand sweeps out to object, leaving Adorabbit's arm flopping down.] You thought of Franziska von Karma as a friend and you can't understand there are peaceful days and violent days? I know your life was happy before, so if you really can't handle it, then stop taking on so much responsibility!

[seventhlittlemonster]

[.....

He couldn't retort... He'd just repeat the same "everyone I care about dies" crap that Neku just destroyed with fax and logistics.]

...I'm sorry... _{[his voice grew smaller...]}

[ballooncaged]

Just... [God. What is the leader even supposed to do.] Just think before you say you hate someone, or love someone, or don't love someone. It's really important. Okay?

[seventhlittlemonster]

....okay... _{[He tried not to cry but it was kinda hard when. Nobody gives up on you. When they actually... care.]}

Re: EXECUTION: The Given Tree (tw: body horror)

[xxxx_me]

[The instant he sees the apple, his eyes go wide and he hurriedly looks away, gaze on the floor instead.]

[imozon]

[...

Dark Dream turns and leaves without a word.]

[seventhlittlemonster]

Dream? [He reached out to her, holding out her Dream Collet.]

...here... [Ok time for him to be. reclusive the rest of the day after giving it to her.]

[undershadow]

[ Well, at least this one's not personally triggering and just horrifying beyond all reason?? At least there's that? ]

[octopups]

[Amdi doesn't break down this time, but he also is clearly trying not to watch. Yet, always, there is at least one of him, with one eye in view of the screen.]

... King Arthur...