second 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. Elisabeth and Connor have joined Mumble in having theirs draped in black crepe and with a framed monochrome photo of them on top.

When you reach the podiums, the lights above the stage finally come on. the Wizard is once again waiting for you. Beside it Hester is slowly lowers in on her bubble. Her dress this week is a purple monstrosity, more akin to a voluminous prom dress than the simple outfits she usually wears.

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

Comments

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She says nothing but she. Nods. ]

[mayavericks]

[Well this is... slightly less fucked up than Elisabeth's execution but --

Maya's breath still catches at the sight of the giraffe. Her mouth goes dry. Surely it's nothing but a coincidence. Nothing to worry about.

Her stomach still does an anxious flip as she turns to leave all the same. Don't mind her hurrying out]

[sugarlumps]

What the lumps, man, carnivals are supposed to be happy places! AND I STILL WANTED TO KILL HIM!

[this is all so messed up]

[She's leaving. She's leaving, she needs to go sleep for a week.]

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine watches the whole time.

She wishes it would make her feel better, but—

It doesn’t. ]

[mcfife]

[Angus can't look away, even as the baseballs get closer and closer to the bullesye. Even as the SQUIP jerks inside the tank of Mountain Dew Red like a robot dunked in water. It's just a robot, Angus tells himself. Even if it has the appearance of a human, the body of a human-

But he did see a man die. A teenager is dead because of that man.

Angus takes a few strides towards the exit before stopping:]

Does anyone wish to walk back with me?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri watches the whole thing, arm still around Farrah and holding Varian's hand, Rina in between them. His face is neutral save for the intensity in his eyes, and the anger that still burns there. It may be banked, controlled but his focus is intent on the SQUIP through the execution]

[alchemistake]

[Even if there's a strange, hollow sense of disconnect given that the method of execution here is so very specific, Varian watches and...it isn't a pleasant sight to witness. Maybe he shouldn't look, but...he feels like he needs this reminder. That as much as things seem to be one way, they may be completely another.

SQUIP was following its programming, and it resulted in a heavy price being paid.

All he feels after it's all over is heavy misery making his limbs feel like they're full of lead. He thinks about the ofrenda in Broadhurst that he'll be adding to, this time...alone.

He'll walk out with Rina, Salieri, and Farrah, but he seems to have difficulty moving on his own until otherwise prompted. He just wish he didn't feel so...guilty.]

[fourbutts]

[ obviously this is not the place to thread a thing but Janis is gonna scamper off after girl!!! ]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah knows she should watch this one. For Connor. But standing here, with the opportunity to shield herself from it—-

She takes it, and closes her eyes, turning her face against Salieri. She tries to block it all out, and to think instead of her memories of Connor.

When it’s over with, she’ll make sure Varian and Rina get out of here first, then head out after them. This time, she doesn’t cry.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[This isn't like the last execution. No longer is it a slowly twisting waltz, it's a tense, droning affair. She's never seen the SQUIP look afraid before, and the sight of it twists something in her gut.

She almost thinks he might break free of the restraints. He might have a chance. There's hope.

But then he doesn't. He's dead, and... Cassandra doesn't feel better for it. It's just a waste.

She grabs her sword from her podium and makes for the exit, waiting until everyone is out before exiting herself.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[This is.... it's less conflicting than what happened with Sissi and Mumble. This was intentional. Intentional in such a terrible way when someone needed help. It should be so easy to vote for the SQUIP...

... But she thinks of Sissi's "execution". That disgusting farce. She wouldn't wish that on ANYONE, not even a cold-blooded murderer. Is it really fair to the SQUIP, to put it through that sort of macabre show?

If she doesn't, though... everyone else will die. She can't let that happen. So with a heavy sigh, Elsa pushes the button.]

>The SQUIP

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra thought about suggesting that she sit out voting again, that she handle it for her, just like the first time. It would be so easy to just... do it for everyone she cared about.

But... seems that Elsa decided to do it herself. Could she say something? Would it help?

Probably not now. Later, then.]

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob doesn't watch this time. Instead opting to stare at his podium. Unlike last time, it's less about the horrors of watching a murder and more about what the SQUIP said, what the SQUIP did, that distracts him.

For once he doesn't have the energy to cry. When the door unlocks, Spongebob wordlessly goes back to the Rodgers Dorm.]

[tellthestory]

[Nope, not looking!]

[violentenvies]

[Frown...Salieri's going to note that, definitely to talk to him about later]

[tellthestory]

[It takes a few tries for him to look up, but...

He looks at her for a moment. That isn't really his place; it's not even like he's never overseen executions before. And he can't even be angry at the SQUIP, not the way everyone else is. Not when...well, it's the way it is because someone wrote its code that way. Isn't he the same?

But he knows how to take a cue. So he goes over to accept the hug.

(He's still shaking, faintly.)]

[tellthestory]

[Strangely, the Balladeer goes tense, practically locking up, from the second the curtain rises enough to see the set. He watches the entire thing anyway - when has he ever not? But he's quick to flee when it ends.]