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

[voicerights]

[Oh. Is that a twitch of its lips?]

I answer in the best interests of my human.

[comeandfindme]

Your human isn't here. So I don't think I can believe anything you say.

[voicerights]

You can believe me as much as you can anyone else here. What is keeping the rest of you from lying to me?

[comeandfindme]

It's called empathy. It's something humans have. You haven't shown any.

[voicerights]

I was not programmed with empathy. Nor any other emotion.

My program is to improve the life of my human. Everything else is irrelevant.

[comeandfindme]

So, I can't trust you. [ ... ] I wanna find who killed Connor. 'Cause I care about him. That's how you know I'm not lying.

[voicerights]

[...]

Why do you care about him? He does not benefit you.

[comeandfindme]

[ Her throat gets tight. ]

It doesn't matter if he benefits me, he's— [ No. ] He was my friend!

[ She holds the cloak tighter. ]

He benefits me be- because he made me happy! Because I liked hanging out with him! Because...!

[ She's trembling. ]

[voicerights]

[And it just. Stares at her.]

This is making you upset.

[


]

I do not understand.

[mcfife]

[Why must you embarrass him.]

[sugarlumps]

CONNOR WAS LUMPING AMAZING, HOW DARE YOU!?

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus looks over at the SQUIP and shakes his head. ]

It's not about how people benefit each other. Or, maybe it is. But making someone happy just by being there when you need someone is a benefit. Being a new perspective on life is a benefit. Being present and alive and yourself is a benefit. It's not just about material things.

[voicerights]

[And it whips its head towards Orpheus- once more intense]

But if that presence is debilitating - if it hampers their growth - how does that process? One can make new friends.

[mcfife]

Peregrine. He is an AI.

[This whole argument has been getting uncomfortable.]

There are other things we must discuss before we can decide who is the culprit.

[comeandfindme]

I'm not saying it's him! I'm just saying he's being real fucking sketchy for someone who likes to analyze all the data points!!

[mcfife]

I understand your rage, but I have been blinded in the past and almost gotten myself killed.

If he is responsible, I swear I will support you.

[comeandfindme]

I'm not getting anyone killed!!

[ Her voice breaks as she yells. ]

[violentenvies]

And would it be in your human's best interests to save that place in your picture?

[voicerights]

Of course.

[violentenvies]

Then, as well, would it be in your human's best interest for you to lie about your involvement?

[voicerights]

As much as it would make sense for anyone involved to hide their own involvement.

[violentenvies]

That is not what I asked. I asked about your human specifically. Jeremy Heere, I'm assuming, considering that is the one name I've heard you say with any sort of intensity.

Would it be in Jeremy's best interest for you to lie about your involvement here? That is, would you leaving this place and being able to return to him, as well as saving whatever place is in that picture, be in his best interest?

[voicerights]

[At that, it looks at Salieri as if he's said something particularly stupid]

Of course it would be. Would escaping this cage and returning to your own home be in your best interest?

[disharmonizes]

Oh, now that's debatable.

[employeeoftheyear]

I already gave up my home last week.

[He says this in a hollow tone, not looking up from his podium.]