fourth trial

[stagemanagers]

[When the investigation finishes, the lights begin to flicker on and off as that low, gentle rumble echoes through the opera house. Again for those investigating the grounds the outdoor lights illuminating the still night flicker to get their attention.

Your intermission is ending. Please return to your trial room.

The court room looks just as it did before: the grand chandelier glittering above your heads, the dusty red velvet seats. In the orchestra pit your circle of wooden podiums are waiting. Angus, Riley and Shilo's podiums are draped in black crepe with their greyscale funerary portraits, just like your friends before them. The ghost light glows softly behind the podiums.

The curtain is closed, waiting to open when a decision has been reached and the execution can commence.

When everyone is in their places, the Phantom's voice echoes loud and clear through the theatre from his place in box 5. He still sounds distracted, just as he was for his other public appearance this week, like there are other things weighing on his mind.]

You must now determine who was responsible for the death of Shilo Wallace. Submit your vote on the podiums when you are certain of your choice.

[Gather your evidence and let's begin.]

Comments

[37773972]

[And he raises his head]

...what do you mean, you don't know?

cw: panic attack

[justmeheere]

I. There was. There was so much blood - the horse, I just. She was going to. She was -

[He's just straight up hyperventilating.]

[37773972]

['scuze me Nana he has to go hold a Jeremy's shoulders now]

Jeremy. Look at me. Look at me, okay? Did you-

[fuckfuckfuck]

-is your SQUIP active, again?

[musacal]

[ IS OK YOU DO THAT, HIS PODIUM IS RIGHT NEXT TO HERS ANYWAY ]

[justmeheere]

I-i-i-i-i! [He jerks out of Stephen's grip.] Stop it, stop it, stop it!

[37773972]

[Stephen tries, but he's still unsteady from earlier; Jeremy slips out of his grip, and he just stares down at him, face twisting.]

I'm- fuck, no, please. Please tell me I'm wrong again.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Jeremy!

[Well, out of one pair of arms and into another. Christine tries to free herself from Mephisto's grip and run to Jeremy.]

Jeremy no! We turned it off! It's gone! Stop, stop tricking me like this!

[heathencall]

Or was it a ruse?

[justmeheere]

Y-y-y-you didn't really think it would s-s-s-stay -

[holyspit]

I DID! That's what happens when you turn a computer off!

[37773972]

But you can turn it back on again.

[holyspit]

He wouldn't just- just drink more of that weird stuff though, right?!

[justmeheere]

N-n-not when it's planned.

[37773972]

...that whole series of events. The Red. You planned that?

[justmeheere]

W-w-w-why would I plan it?

[37773972]

[LOOKS UP AT THE PHANTOM]

[madgiganticfeelings]

It... it wanted me to...

I was willing to... to save you...

And you let me...

[The world is suddenly spinning far too fast for her. She's back on her knees for the second trial in a row.

Probably where she belongs. On the ground. Helpless to protect anyone. Just a pawn for Jeremy's SQUIP to use, once again.]

[musacal]

...Planned?

Did... did it let you turn it off or...?

[holyspit]

...that's dumb. That's dumb and I hate you. And you're supposed to help Jeremy, aren't you!? How does setting him up to-

[Be killed.]

-for all this HELP? You're a bad computer and you should feel bad! Let Jeremy go!

[justmeheere]

[Jeremy opens his mouth to respond and his body straightens, head tilting to the side slightly unnaturally.]

Did you not understand? I know his stuttering can be difficult, so let me make it clear: it was an accident. The choices were cover it up or die.

[holyspit]

If we'd known we could have figured something out finally! Third option! This isn't your stupid thought problem and you're not the good guy here!

[37773972]

What. Happened.

[musacal]

...Shilo had a coughing fit in the stable you said.

Did that spook the horse and cause this to happen?

[madgiganticfeelings]

Yes, I did! You know that I did!

[She's reached his podium, but she isn't sure whether to reach out or not.]

I... you told me before we were friends. Before anyone even died, you told me that. And I, I know we've gone back and forth since then but I've never stopped believing you were my friend!

[Her first friend. Her only friend. God, don't let her lose this fight with him for good.]

Friends protect each other, and that's all I wanted to do! Protect you until you were home safe. From all this, and from that voice in your head...

[likemypicture]

[Nuh uh. Anne's stepping in-- she's going for Jeremy's podium too.]

Let the kid breathe a minute, he isn't going anywhere, and we aren't going to get any answers with him like this.

Jeremy. Breathe.