THIRD TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

To the court room. Make it quick, alright? I don't really know about any of you but I don't want to waste more time on a couple of bratty teenagers.

[The Queen still is silent as you descend to the court room. There are ten less of you than when you began. The podiums look empty as you go to them. Even if the podiums are getting empty, though, there is a new jury box near the Alices that is rather full... of ghosts of all the participants of the previous round you've discovered and of your dead compatriots. They don't talk but they're there. Judging. Always judging.

There is someone who doesn't notice this addition, though. Queen Alice.

The Queen is quiet but she's next to the Cat. Her head is bowed to her chest as she seems to sleep quietly. Then as movement she jolts up, smiling vaguely as she nods.]

Yes, a tea party--that's what we...need...

[Her head drops back to her chest as she falls asleep again. The Cat glances at her then back at the crowd with agitation.]

Someone is responsible for Lena and Neku's deaths. Do something about it, will you? Why did you even bring one of those ghosts in with you, anyway?

Comments

1/2

[whimsicalism]

No... I think he thought killing her would end the game. Force me to stop. I don't know if he was planning on killing any of you at all. If he had, why partner with her at all?

[prescience]

He did seem receptive to the motive...however briefly. [But she really can't blame him for that one.] Were there any on the swimsuits themselves? You said it was just blood and sand, correct?

I don't want to discount him without merit, either, but I'm wondering about the gun...?

[Can dogs. Can dogs shoot.]

[whimsicalism]

How an idiot like him realized that, I don't know.

[strictura]

[ ... ]

[xxxx_me]

[...

Well, that answers enough of his questions. He's just going to be sad now.]

[prescience]

[If only cardboard aunt were real and could hurt us...it would be much easier to get information here.

Oriko clicks her tongue in the back of her mouth.] If the killer witnessed something, it might assist with understanding how they were able to act. But as for the aunt's presence...I suppose in the end all it did was make her target.

[whimsicalism]

Killing Alice is the one thing I will never forgive.

[strictura]

Not that I noticed, but with how dark it was, it's possible I could have missed something.

[prescience]

[Her expression is truly, legitimately baffled at that suggestion.]

Is that possible? I suppose anything might be.

Her writings make it sound as though she was more inclined to subterfuge, though...

[whimsicalism]

[The Cat sideyes her. Really?]

[imozon]

She could have died?!

[battlestations]

I've seen stuff like that happen all the time, actually.

[Like he's been turned into an adult himself.]

But if it wasn't that, it just means it had to have been the third party pinning Neku's arms. I really don't think the duck could have done that.

[imozon]

[Really!]

I know I might not be good at being friends, but I really want to be!

[strictura]

[ well since I just remembered the darkness in that other thread ]

...Allen said she was a sorceress of "shadows," right? It was a lot darker on the third floor than normal. Could that have increased her power somehow?

[nothingposh]

[Gavroche nods.]

Biggest difference between a real gun and the games here.

[battlestations]

I'm more surprised about Lena planning one than Neku. He admitted it, after all.

[Nigel is so annoyed. It wasn't like he wasn't watching him closely either, but he... actually started to believe he was a nice guy??? LAST TIME HE DOESN'T TRUST HIS INSTINCTS, HE'S NEVER BEEN WRONG THIS WHOLE GAME.]

I should have just drilled some metal plates on his doors.

[prescience]

[How do you live with yourself knowing that you, too, can be an adult?]

No, I don't think she could have either, barring other circumstances like the ones you mentioned.

If we were to consider who might have been able to overpower him [the list doesn't seem like it could be very long.] ... we should at least consider the line of inquiry Nagisa Shingetsu-san proposed. If Amdiranifani-san were to try...could he have made those marks?

[soverainty]

[Niko already beat up the cardboard not-aunt earlier, so alas. It is not a proper spooky cardboard.]

Witnessed something? You mean while Lena was going full freak-out in her room or whatever was happening in there?

I don't know about the target thing, though. Evil Auntie Duck seemed plenty active on her own.

[strictura]

Right. I think it's still possible that Lena -- or her aunt -- killed Sakuraba, and it was only Lena who was killed by the third party.

[prescience]

It was dark on that floor, wasn't it...?

We should pursue that theory until it yields more information or falls apart.

I wonder if he would have been able to restrain hard enough to cause that bruising. Of those of us who remain, the list of those who might have the strength is certainly shorter. Seven-san, myself, Mizuki Okiura-san, Dark Dream-san?

[Is she missing anyone?]

[battlestations]

[believe it or not the KND function on a 'being young at heart is fine' policy, and Nigel is uniquely Like This because of some literal offscreen torture!! it's fine he's not like them!!]

...Maybe if he'd already knocked him down and was doing it with his paws. His teeth are far too sharp for it to be a bite, but the bruises were light.

[prescience]

I doubt our magic is the same. But...if conditions like that were at play, then I think it's likely.

[soverainty]

Sounds like it wasn't exactly Lena, and none of us really know what the hell was going on there. But...

[Stares at the diagram and the knives again!!!!! Seriously, what kind of villain. She blinks and then snickers.]

That's one way of countering him. I have no idea whether I should call that powers canceling each other out or not.

[xxxx_me]

[Trying to think back to his conversation with Lena.]

The poem did say something about casting a spy from her shadow? Maybe that was Lena?

[prescience]

He's small, even all together, so it could feasibly leave a lighter bruise. He is uniquely able to be in multiple places at once.

[BUT THE GUN!!! CAN DOGS SHOOT????

Oriko still looks like she's thinking very intently about this.]

I had thought that the bruises would have to be caused by someone large or strong enough to fight back against him, but...