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

[violentenvies]

[Salieri's still has a narrow-eyed gaze on the SQUIP]

In fact, I was hoping you might illuminate. You have yet to answer my question of what is under your nails. Furthermore, you were quick to show some irritation at that so-called program for not closing properly.

If anyone should be explaining, I believe it is you.

[voicerights]

Prove to me you do not require me to hold your hand in this.

[violentenvies]

The only one who needs to prove something here is you. [there's an anger that starts to gather in his voice as he steps away from his podium, rounding the others, towards the SQUIP]

You have nothing but deflect and decry this entire time, and yet you cannot answer a simple question!

[by that point, he's reached it, and reaches out to grab it's wrist, turning it over so he can take a look under those fingernails, then, to the group]

Who here can identify dried blood?

[voicerights]

I can.

[Oh, look, it answered a simple question.]

[violentenvies]

Then in that case, I'll ask you directly, and I expect a truthful answer.

Is this dried blood under your fingernails, and if so, where did it come from?

[voicerights]

You are not my human. But you may assume it is Connor's blood.

[violentenvies]

I may assume. Then fine, I shall.

Shall I also assume, that, seeing Madame Elisabeth's situation last week, you sought to recreate the same kind of situation? It would be an easy way to cause several of us to make an assumption that it was Mademoiselle Peregrine that performed the act, and then forgot it due to the--ah, forgive me, I'm not quite as current on my terms, what did you call it? The trauma of it all?

[voicerights]

Dissociative shock.

And were that the case, why would I have confirmed her innocence?

[violentenvies]

[arches an eyebrow] "Programming," I believe you called it? Mademoiselle Peregrine has been in quite some distress--Madame Elisabeth was the same. There was no need to tell us what exactly was happening to her, and yet you could not help yourself, could you?

Are you designed in this way?

cw; suicidal imagrey

[voicerights]

Connor had...spoken of Evan. When I was there with him, as he was holding the knife. And his title...

'Most Likely To Befriend Evan Hansen'.

I acted as my programming dictated.

[employeeoftheyear]

...

Connor had the knife?

[voicerights]

Yes. He was contemplating taking action on his own.

[violentenvies]

And what did your programming dictate?

[voicerights]

That I act in Jeremy's best interest. And we were out of time.

So I slit his wrists for him.

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob just

Stares at SQUIP for a solid minute, in pure shock.

When he finally spits out the words, he looks like he's about to pass out.]

You

You killed him

You killed him on purpose.

[violentenvies]

[there's a rage that immediately takes over Salieri's face and he

releases the SQUIP's wrist and forcibly reaches out to shove it backwards]

Murderer!

[mayavericks]

You are disgusting.

[sugarlumps]

[Yeah, she's just. Gonna scream and try to fucking dive across the podiums and deck him. Someone might wanna get on that.]

[disharmonizes]

[fucking go girl]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice’s eyes grow wide, and she immediately moves to stand between Orpheus and wherever the SQUIP is. ]

[alchemistake]

No!

[Varian shouts, sorry Rina.]

How could you!? How dare you!?

Connor was our FRIEND!!

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa is just. Shaking. As much as her powers have been suppressed, there's still a slight chill around her that Cassandra and Peregrine might feel.]

You... you weren't helping him. You made it worse. He needed help, but you just...

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine looks in shock.

She stares, eyes wide.

And then she screams, pulling from Maya’s grasp. She’s almost completely across from the SQUIP but she wants to— She wants to hurt it. ]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

You-!

[Congratulations, you've stunned Cassandra into silence, Squip.

...Almost.]

You didn't have to do that! Connor didn't have to die!

[brokeforgood]

The titles aren’t fucking real, John Wick!