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

[xxxx_me]

[Ah. There it is.]

...What really happened?

[soverainty]

Real simple, Alice-kun.

[Yeah, that's his nickname. RIP.]

Found some cackling duck in the cove, she found Spikes, they had at it and I just took advantage of that. If you're going to laugh that loud about baby's first knife pit plan, you deserve to get it shot full of holes.

[xxxx_me]

[Frowning!]

I'm not Alice. We already have two of those.

[Struck a nerve there.]

So he killed her and you killed him?

[soverainty]

You seem to be close enough. In all senses of the word. That's going to come back to bite you, you know.

[Hits the nerve again with unsolicited advice!!!!! Or something.]

I killed both of them.

[xxxx_me]

[...Okay that's just confusing actually.]

Why would it?

[Though his expression does fall again at the confirmation that she was behind both deaths.]

[soverainty]

Look around you, Alice-kun. Look at us. You think everything's going to go dandy with this shit just because you sucked up to the people in charge a little?

Or is it just that you think all this is worth it?

[She doesn't really react to his change of expression -- all things considered, she's come a little far for that.]

[xxxx_me]

...

I'm not Alice. And just because I get along with her doesn't mean I think she'll save us. She already told me she won't.

[soverainty]

I'll stop callin' you Alice when you stop acting like one.

[She just shrugs. There's casual disagreeableness to it, more casual than malice.]

And actions speak louder than words. We'll just see where those get you.

[xxxx_me]

How am I acting like one?