FINAL TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

[Alice eventually in, her own stilted way, tells everyone they should head to the elevator. The Storyteller was waiting for them.

How the teacup actually gets to the court room this time is up to anyone's guess but there's a slight difference now. All of the podiums are blank. You can stand where you'd like.

Maybe she just thought you'd all die from the monsters. Nursery Rhyme doesn't look happy when you arrive, either.]

Just what were you doing in there?! Well, I suppose that can be this trial. Discuss what you found first. Then we can see what the outcome of this round is.

Comments

[nothingposh]

[Right. That excavation tool? Later is now, and Gavroche is just gonna straight up throw it like a javelin at the Storyteller.

We have pretty good aim and a lot of belief in impossible shit. It's fine.]

[twinverses]

[Okay that's a lot blood! You have hit the Storyteller in the chest.]

Oh! I'm having fun! So, so much fun!

[The Storyteller grabs the tool out of her chest and now is trying to stab Mizuki who's grappling her.]

[nothingposh]

[Rule number one of dodging: keep their eyes somewhere else while you're getting what you want.

So he's just gonna make a run for the book itself. Good luck, Mizuki!]

[imozon]

Mizuki!

[Dark Dream's brain cell flares to life, and she does not charge toward the Storyteller carrying the book.]

[octopups]

[Meanwhile the yeeted dogs are shaking themselves out of their radio cloaks and angrily butt-wiggling out of a sousaphone.]

[battlestations]

[putting down the BRASS to hopefully make that easier and just. yelling]

MIZUKI! IT'S NOT THAT SHARP! IT'S SUPER DULL!

[ballooncaged]

Nnnnnnnnngh!

[The fastest way to hurt a Mizuki? Literally any tool besides grappling. With moderate reflexes, her timely action is simply to cover her side with her forearm, which is cut distinctly. This hand retreats into her coat pocket.

She raises her other arm to pile-drive her elbow in a crushing blow down towards the Storyteller's face.]

[twinverses]

[It's direct hit! But while the tool is loosened it just looks like the Storyteller is preparing to change shape again.]

[battlestations]

[Oh thank god hearing those lines in Wally's Australian boy voice was so weird]

[ballooncaged]

GET HER LEGS!

[Mizuki leans down so that her forearm continues to crush, this time the Storyteller's throat. She takes out of her pocket, and raises, Veronica's knife. Unlike the meticulous murderer Nagisa, she did not compare objects from different rooms, so it never came to her attention that this was a generic picnic area knife. The layer of doll dust is still thick from where it was kept safe in Mizuki's pocket, and in her mind's eye it glistens like diamonds and snow.]

[imozon]

Get her!

[DARK DREAM YOU ARE HOLDING THE BOOK YOU COULD DO SOMETHING]

[twinverses]

[That. That angers the Storyteller. If she had been human that would been enough to stop her in her tracks.

Instead the throat Mizuki crushing is long and muscular. Something like a dog and yet not. A full grown Tine. That also, unfortunately, means four other members are around and jump on Mizuki's back and neck.

The angry vibrations encircle the air.]

Why did you keep it, you crazy child!

[octopups]

[And Amdi, who is now fully out of his cloaks and the sousaphone and has all his faculties back, looks at these Tines with an expression of desperate horror and love.]

Mister Steel!!

[twinverses]

[Only one of the members look at him with disdain before going back to bite at Mizuki.]

[golden_king]

[ He'll rush in and attempt to stab at each and every one of them with his golden dagger. ]

[octopups]

[Amdi is clearly hurt by this and shrinks back further. WHY DAD.]

[battlestations]

[Flashing back to the trial where the butter boys were threatening Amdi.]

What if everyone grabbed a dog!?

[if they separate them she'll revert to dog brain!! and maybe she won't think about transforming!!]

[imozon]

[SHE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE AN EVERYONE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?]

[imozon]

[PANIC PANIC PANIC OKAY THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT RIGHT MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING SHE CAN DO WITH IT

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A BOOK

YOU CAN

Um

look at it?

Is it still A Story for Someone's Sake? If she opens it up does it still start with the same prologue? She's obviously not reading in-depth now but does it look about the same?]

[twinverses]

[It's now a leather bound book with the Storyteller's crest on the front!

Unfortunately the book...

Is a book of nursery rhymes and fairy tales and other children stories. It's well written and has many colorful pictures. It's definitely different.]

[nothingposh]

Hey, you shifty witch! [Gavroche has popped up next to Dark Dream. Don't ask how.] Leave her alone or the book gets it!

[He's got a pen and he's holding it menacingly.]

[xxxx_me]

[Reading with--]

Try going to the end!

[ballooncaged]

Because... I... care! I'm not afraid to dive into criminals' minds!!

[Mizuki has been flopped on the floor, then, without an immediate compelling plan to move up. She gives an obviously-timed loose stab towards one member, then a second.]

This is for NATSUO and YOUJI!

[battlestations]

[well regardless of if he thinks his idea will work he'll try kicking some dogs off Mizuki because they need to not be on her]

[twinverses]

[There's a snarl as more blood drips onto her. Strangely, the Storyteller doesn't seem to be slowing down. Why would that be?

Instead one member skitters off and begins to transform even as the others vanish as the Storyteller bites into her leg.

It looks like the Storyteller is transforming into.. you? Mizuki?]