fifth trial

[stagemanagers]

[When the investigation finishes, the lights begin to flicker on and off as that low, gentle rumble echoes through the opera house.

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

The court room looks just as it always has for you: the grand chandelier glittering above your heads, the dusty red velvet seats. In the orchestra pit your circle of wooden podiums are waiting. Jeremy and Steven's podiums are draped in black crepe with their grey scale 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. His tone is even, with none of the distraction or terse notes in the weeks before. He almost sounds curious for how this all will play out.]

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

[Gather your evidence and let's begin.]

Comments

[garbageface]

[ Santana’s back at it again, looking disgusted that she even has to be here and that someone murdered a very nice dude who wasn’t even like five feet tall!

Whatever, time to get started. She sets a bottle of medicinal ether on her podium. ]

Stephen and I found this in the infirmary, and knowing you people, I’m guessing this stuff wasn’t poured down the drain where it belongs. Apparently it causes asphyxiation. Gross.

[musacal]

[ Nana's got two little clear plastic baggies with her, because sorry Steven your pieces are too sharp and she can't just carry you in her hands forever. She places them both down on the podium, so hopefully everyone can see them. ]

In... in the trashcan in the kitchen I found... pieces of a pink gem that was previously Steven's. Like Spinel-san... Whoever did this learned from her murder and made sure to smash it...

[ The fucking trashcan though... just throwing him away... she can't forgive that. ]

But I also found a weird rag in there too. It has pink dust on it and a... strange chemical smell. I bagged it for safety and I don't think it's safe to smell it too closely.

[madgiganticfeelings]

[Christine was mostly out of commission the whole investigation, so she doesn't have much to offer besides grief and anger. She narrows her eyes in the Phantom's direction.]

You don't sound too upset this time around. Are you seriously just watching this like it's a game? These are people we love! Why can't we just end this?

cw overdose description

[heathencall]

[Mephisto is here, and he has collected RiRi. As much as he doesn't want the cat to witness death, we need therapy.]

We found him in the kitchen. He was sitting at the table, as if nothing was wrong. He was cold, dead for awhile which only makes sense, considering the kitchen hours. There were no signs of struggle

His lips and nails were blue, and flecks of foam on his lips. There was also blood beneath his nails, but nowhere on his person that might indicate that it was from himself.

[and now for the weird part.]

His stomach was completely smooth. I know most of you humans usually have a navel, so this was... odd. Odder still is that Christine mentioned there was meant to be some sort of gem there. It was missing.

[But the others can get into that.]

[garbageface]

Maybe the Phantom could smell it for us? If he dies, no big deal, and if he doesn’t, that’s cool too.

[37773972]

Blood? [That catches Stephen's attention] So- that means he fought back against whoever did this, right?

[heathencall]

According to him, it's all a necessary evil. One he intends to rectify in the end.

[But maybe more on that later?]

[37773972]

[softly, but with feeling;] Bullshit.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Do you think that was used to knock him out so they could... smash his gem?

[37773972]

The trashcan? [That's...not okay.] So were they trying to hide evidence?

[likemypicture]

[Anne's just kindof looking at all the portraits. Then she sighs, giving Richard's a little pat.]

Does anyone else think these portraits are a little off?


[ANNE THIS IS A MURDER TRIAL. She's got a hammer here- she drops it on the podium]

This was in the storage closet, not where it belongs. Did... [She looks at the people around her. Nana, who had been so brave during the motive, standing up to the phantom, and made sure that they were provided with enough baked goods. Santana, who is everything Anne wishes she had been as a young woman-- and may just be the coolest person in the opera house. Christine, dear, sweet Christine, who has a heart bursting with emotion and a passion for theater. Stephen, who worried so much, but wanted to believe-- who still had laughter and smiles behind that tired exterior. And Mephisto, a demon who had befriended a Catholic, and promised her a better life at the end of this all-- This could only mean.... one thing]

Did The Phantom use it to smash the gem?

[heathencall]

It would sound that way.

[He's already rolling up his sleeves.]

[heathencall]

What?

[37773972]

[...glancing...up...towards...the Phantom...]

[heathencall]

[From beside him]

Agreed.

[madgiganticfeelings]

The Phantom did it? I-I thought the...

[You know what? Anne has the right idea. Christine clenches her fists and nods.]

Yeah! Maybe someone knocked Steven out but the Phantom was the actual killer!

[likemypicture]

I want it to be him that did it this time! Steven was a sweet kid, fuck this! [She throws her hands up in the air. Anna's done!]

[musacal]

[ looooool ]

Something tells me he'd probably say no.

[ --wait, idea ]

But maybe he could at least confirm to us if smelling it is dangerous or not?

[musacal]

I think so, I mean... you see it on TV all the time, right? Rags like this, with a chemical smell... my first thought was chloroform.

[madgiganticfeelings]

Oh, are we going to look for injuries?

[She's untucking her hands from her cloak.]

[inside_yourmind]

I am not enjoying this.

[Just because he's not rending his clothes in grief doesn't mean he's having a fun time - and indeed, his affect generally seems pretty neutral.]

[garbageface]

Could be this stuff.

[ Santana holds up the ether. ]

[madgiganticfeelings]

He didn't deserve this at all! The Phantom is... is an Oedipus!

[you mean motherfucker, Christine.]

[37773972]

I'm pretty sure it used to be used to knock people out, so that makes sense.

[musacal]

I think so... though they didn't do that good a job: it was knocked over, which was why I went to inspect it.

[ ... ]

I tried... to make sure I got all of him...