First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[Just as everyone is starting to finish their investigations, there's a slow ominous sound from the lobby.

The gilded doors on the northern wall have opened.

This time, the space behind them is lit; you're free to enter. There's one more set of doors to pass through, and then you're all, finally, in the House. There's one grand chandelier above, glittering crystal, and the seats around you are made of fine red velvet. Those don't seem to be for you, though - all the way down in front of the stage, where the orchestra might sit, there's a circle of wooden podiums. They're arranged so that everyone can face each other, and are fixed into place. Each one bears a metal plaque with a cast member's name engraved on it. There's also a metal panel on top, with twenty ivory buttons paired to everyone's name.

Among these, only Jean Valjean's podium is different - that one is draped in black crepe, with a larger greyscale version of his headshot from the playbill framed and sitting at its foot like a funerary portrait. Standing where he might have stood, a bare lightbulb glows faintly atop a metal pole.

Right here, you're very close to the stage. But the curtain is closed, and it's a little too high to easily clamber up. You may not want to try. You've got more important business right now, after all.

As everyone is finding their places, the Balladeer's voice suddenly sounds loud and clear throughout the space.]

Okay, guys, here's how we do trial. I've...never actually been involved in something like this before, but you can do it. Just take all the time you need to talk it out - I'll be right here the whole time. You don't need a unanimous vote, we go by majority rule.

Oh, and don't mess with those buttons until you're really ready to vote. You won't be able to take it back.

...good luck.

Comments

[bestof]

[With D-ne's help Eliza is dressed again and wound-free so she's stepping up to her podium (and shielding her eyes in case the menfolk are still getting dressed) so it's time for a Come to Jesus meeting.]

If everyone is clothed again, I feel we need to get back to the evidence. Is anyone on the men's side of the courtroom injured?

[rockthistown]

If that doesn't work, how are we going to do eye charts? Just with the paper and pen?

[robitussin]

Yeah. We should get started on that.

[bestof]

So we need everyone from after a certain time period to test. [Time to corral everyone from after 1950 I guess.]

[robitussin]

For fairness' sake, let's have someone who's from before that point do the testing. I'm cool with getting checked first.

[bestof]

I can do the testing if need be.

[robitussin]

[finger guns]

Let's get it done.

[bestof]

[She is ready whenever ya'll are.]

[dontfeedplants]

[After his kind of freak out there...]

Um... do I need to take it?

[Not that he's overly against taking it, but it feels like a moot point here to have him take an eye test.]

[rockthistown]

[Hime takes a breath and wrings her hands.] I'm ready if you have it.

[robitussin]

Okay, so... Hold up a piece of paper with some words on it and stand a couple of feet away, I guess? Does that work?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[After Hime and Natalie, she'll go, sure. D-ne blinks a few times to prepare.] Alright, show me them...

[solomonjihad]

[She'll wait for her turn, once everyone's ready.]

[inforapenny]

[Here he is, ready for his turn.]

[aflatouttahell]

[THOSE PHRASES YOU'RE PICKING MAKE HER A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE, MRS HAMILTON, BUT JEZ APPROACHES ANYWAY]

Um... I'm ready!

[onthebusagain]

I'm ready! [Whenever it's her turn.]

[inforapenny]

We should have different people make eye charts, so that nobody can trick the test.

[rockthistown]

Um, okay. Should we all make them, or just the people from the past, since we're going to be the ones getting them?

[inforapenny]

...

[People asking and caring about his opinion is still so new to him]

I think if, um, if everyone not being tested just makes one or two that should be fine. There's...how many of us being tested? Six? Seven?

[rockthistown]

Me, you, Krelborn-san, Astarte... although she's being a little weird right now... um, Goodman-san and that guy with her last name, the bird mask guy, D-ne, and does Jezebel count? I'm not really sure when she's from. I think.

[dieformymusic]

["I only have one working eye."]

[rockthistown]

Gk-- sorry...

[inforapenny]

That means you'd only need one contact lens.

[bestof]

Mr. Leach, may I borrow your clipboard for a moment? Just for the test.

[aflatouttahell]

I don't know if my eyesight can get bad, but... you only have my word for that. It's 2015, I'll take it.