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

[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.]}