First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[As the investigation ends, you'll hear Hester's voice inviting you to the auditorium. As this happens, the twin doors on either side of the concession stand, across from the gym, will click open. You can enter on either side; both go to the same place.

When you enter the auditorium, it's dark. There's only the small lights along the walkway behind all the seats, just enough to illuminate where you're going. There's a central path between the seats, down towards where you know the stage must be. That's where you must be going, right? As you pass each row of seats, the lights at their ends flick on, marking your procession and slowly making more and more of the room visible. Shortly, you can see your destination: a circle of podiums stationed in the orchestra pit, below the lip of the darkened, curtained stage. They're all identical, labeled with a cast member's name, save for Mumble's, which is draped in black crepe and has a framed monochrome photo of him - Elijah Wood him - on top.

When you reach the podiums, the lights above the stage finally come on. It's time to meet the Wizard.

The mechanical head, with glowing green eyes, is installed above the stage and the still-closed curtain. Even if you were standing on the stage, it'd be well out of reach. It peers down at all of you, its motions fluid, and speaks with a booming, artificial-sounding voice:]

Welcome to your first trial, everyone. I am the Wizard. It's time to determine who was responsible for the murder of Mumble. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and work together - you'll have to show teamwork if you want to leave this room alive.

Comments

[mcfife]

There are many reasons why we could have killed. My photo was my own death. Family and friends were threatened. Mumble had to console me after I received my own envelope. His killer never believed there was another choice.

[violentenvies]

[that'll cause another frown]

If it was the motive, the picture was burnt. So whomever's it was would no longer have their picture, correct?

[mcfife]

[...Oh. Angus's eyes widen.]

And if it belonged to Mumble?

[violentenvies]

Did anyone see what was in Mumble's picture? Knowing if it was his could also illuminate.

[disharmonizes]

...Please say you're not suggesting a show-and-tell.

[alchemistake]

Yeah, I-

[He should keep his mouth shut, but.]

I still have my photo, but I really would rather not show anyone.

[violentenvies]

[eyebrow arch at Discord because he sure bets you wouldn't buddy but to Varian, his expression turns kinder]

I'm not saying that we should show what it is necessarily, only that we have it.

[tellthestory]

I don't have mine anymore.

[.....]

But, um...some other people saw it, before I threw it away.

[employeeoftheyear]

I-it's okay if I show you guys my picture.

[He grabs it from his pocket, unfolds it, and places it on his podium.

It is a picture of a town, or, what used to be a town. It is drowning in lava and there is no sign of life anywhere.]

[employeeoftheyear]

But I don't get it. We all knew our pictures were of something horrible, but I thought we were all gonna stick together! I thought we would find a way out of here together, even if we had to make sacrifices along the way.

H-how could anyone think that killing a friend would be worth it? Even if something terrible is gonna happen it's not worth it. It's just not worth it!

[Spongebob is now openly sobbing.]

cw: suicidal ideation maybe yikes srry yall

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah's shoulder's droop. Normally watching Spongebob cry is funny. This sucks.]

It's not worth it.

[violentenvies]

[Farrah is close enough, being half in Varian's space, that he hears that, glancing over]

Farrah. [gently, but with a sense of urgency to get her attention, low]

[tellthestory]

[Peregrine's all the way over there, but Farrah's right next to him. The Balladeer...is not really accustomed to physical affection in general, much less initiating it. But after a moment of uncertainty he imitates what he can see happening on the other side of the circle and offers her an arm for a hug.]

[brokeforgood]

[You know what? She'll take it. It's been a real long day.]

[sugarlumps]

...gross, you're leaking, like everywhere, Bobsponge. Stop that.

[Just kind of. Shoving a hanky over.]

[wanderlusttitania]

[Seeing Spongebob like this, Sissi cannot help it. She has to do something. This is wrong, and no matter how shocked, no matter how confused she feels-

She is an empress. She must give aid somehow, and something in her cracks.



Can...can she try to hug you, Spongebob?]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Somehow, for whatever reason, this is what gets Cassandra to snap.]

Even if those photos were real, it doesn't mean anyone had to die!

I saw my own death in my photo, but you don't see me trying to hurt anyone over it!

[alchemistake]

Cass...

[Holy shit. Varian wishes he weren't all the way across the room right now, because what the hell...]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Sorry, friend!! At least you're not the only one "going through it" as it were...!]

[sugarlumps]

...well that's obviously super fake, then. You're definitely alive, unless you're some kind of zombie.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

That--

[you know what]

...Yeah. Sure. You're right.

[sugarlumps]

I've seen zombies, they're super gross. You're too hot to be one.

[defyingfrigidity]

Cassandra...?

[Oh. Oh no. Once she's done hugging Peregrine, Elsa reaches out to Cassandra, placing a hand on her shoulder.]

Hey... don't forget, we can't be certain that what's in those pictures will come to pass.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Elsa's hand is cool, comforting. Like that moment near a week ago where Elsa used her magic to sooth the pain in her hand. Only now, it's like Elsa's trying to do the same for her entire self.

She wants it to help, really, she does... her worry is too great. Nobody know what she knows about Varian, what he might do...]

...Yeah. You're right.

[She hopes. But how far has hope gotten her?]

[defyingfrigidity]

[The irony is that Elsa's trying not to spread the cool touch of her magic through Cassandra this time. Honestly, she wishes her touch was warmer so it could be more comforting. Maybe then she'll be able to feel the other woman's shoulder relax, instead of tense up further.]

I know how hard it can be to be optimistic about the future, but whether these things are true or not... just seeing those pictures means we can figure out a way to avoid them, right?