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

[soverainty]

[She's still more or less in the outfit she wore to the party, possibly because picking out a new outfit is Difficult when trials are right after partying hardy.]

And what is it you're looking for?

[Her raised eyebrow says she's watching him back.

Sizing each other's clothes up, go?]

[golden_king]

Stains, obviously.

[ He'll let her check him too. He's got no stains at all here.

Gil will just be observing to see if there's any stains, etc. on her outfit as well. ]

[soverainty]

Well, you switched from stains to something, so it's better to be straightforward about these things.

[Given that half her outfit is, in fact, black -- ribbons, vest, stockings and so on -- he'll have put a little more effort in. Niko isn't about to let him get super close, either, but he can look.]

Any closer and I'd rather one of the girls do it. You understand.

[prescience]

[She'd be happy to.]

[strictura]

[ Nods at her. ]

[soverainty]

Have at it, then.

[She'll spread her hands a little -- as with most of her outfits, apart from the dark fabric she's wearing shorts, so there isn't too much to go through.

What's she looking at?]

[prescience]

Don't mind me. [Probably embedded dirt, clay, or playground-debris will show up on dark clothes pretty easily, but she'll do a quick dust-off check to look for any of it.]

Could I also see the soles of your shoes?

[soverainty]

[There isn't dirt or clay, but there is some sand between the folds.]

I wore these to the party yesterday. Didn't seem worth it to dress up again for this shit.

[There's also sand on her shoes, but the trace amounts you'd expect from someone who had to beat sand off their shoes yesterday.]

[prescience]

Did you have trouble sleeping last night? I'd at least have thought you'd have changed to get into bed.

Or maybe you did change?

[Is the sand wet at all, or any like, water indicators or places that suggest kneeling? Is her PSP soggy (this is a joke, maybe).

Actually as she gets closer to look at this, Oriko says, a little quietly,]

I do hope you'll deign to answer my question from earlier. Which part was the "pain in the ass"?

[soverainty]

Changed to get to bed, changed to get out of bed. What, you never recycle outfits in a murder castle?

[She has not carried her PSP into this hellhole, and while the sand is dry, as she gets closer she may notice something unusual about her hair ribbons. If she's looking very closely, that is.]

Mmm? All of it. I was really hoping this sector wasn't going to get caught up in the mess.

[prescience]

[She is like basically murmuring in her ear at this point so yes. The ribbons let's goooo.]

Indeed... You were really concerned about looking out for us. That's why you volunteered to lead. [We all know that everything Yuniko says is a lie! Even...]

I don't know...maybe it didn't make you angry at all. You might not mind being a playing piece.

[soverainty]

What is it with you guys and personal space? Huh??

[Niko does move back a half-step, eyeing Oriko but unwilling to back off totally -- but the way one hair-ribbon moves is a little stiff. If you look super closely: there is the smallest dark patch on it, near where the hair is bundled.]

I didn't volunteer. I just felt like playing house for a while -- but it's my game. I'm not here to be a playing piece for anybody else.

[ballooncaged]

That... makes sense to me...

[Is Niko avoiding something or is Mizuki!!]

Well, I'm in charge of this scent idea now, so why don't we handle each other?

[soverainty]

I don't know how I feel about being a substitute for the dogs (or the dogs in the first place), but sure. Why not.

[She'll hold out a hand delicately and wait for Mizuki to do the same.]

[whimsicalism]

[Hm. This smells a bit off, Mizuki.]

[ballooncaged]

Do we even know if his planet blows stuff up with the same chemicals?

[Are Niko's hands soft or callused from video games? Mizuki's are hard from punching, but only for a year. She takes the hand and leans in, head over the other girl's shoulder.

The water lingering in Mizuki's enormous ponytail is the only arguably suspicious scent.]

[whimsicalism]

[Her hands smell faintly of gunpowder.]

[soverainty]

Hell if I know? I didn't ask about the chemicals--

[Also she's not a chemist!! There's a little callousing around the thumb and side of the palm, probably from controller and buttons.

Niko jumps a little at the leaning in.]

Whoa, hey, I was fine with just a whiff, you know!

[Apparently startling her with sudden hair in her face is a go.]

[ballooncaged]

What, are you keeping your distance on purpose or something? [She retreats far enough that the ponytail's pressure is off from Niko's face at least.] I thought you were making this some kind of joke like at boarding schoo—

[Mizuki has been bringing their linked hands up higher, about to deliver the punchline of the joke. But in that moment she senses everything about Niko's presence.]

...

[soverainty]

[...]

What? Cat got your tongue?

[She doesn't seem like she has an issue with Mizuki's sudden change of demeanor. She also doesn't take back her hand.]

[ballooncaged]

H-hey, Niko?

[She should say something. Anything. She doesn't let go. There's got to be some kind of—ah, that actually makes sense! It should be enough.]

Just how long were you... firing cannonballs that day?

[xxxx_me]

[...? That's a weird question. Unless...]

Mizuki? Does she...?

[soverainty]

I tried out the cannons, then the fireworks. I figured there would be another dumb thing for Halloween, so I picked some out.

What, you didn't see the fireworks during the party?

[Her eyebrow is raised. If Mizuki wants excuses, she's got 'em. Maybe that's why she still hasn't budged, except for that one moment before.]

[imozon]

Mizuki?

[ballooncaged]

[Tears her gaze away from Niko. Not her hand.]

Dark Dream, how do you feel? Are you still feeling like last time...?