Third Trial

[stagemanagers]

[Once again, the sound of opening doors echoes through the opera house as the investigation draws to a close.

Time for your third trial.

The courtroom looks the same as ever, save that Darla and Eliza's podiums are now arranged in the same funerary fashion as the other deceased cast members. The lights from the bulbs standing in their places seem to cast the rest of the house even more in shadow, even as the crystal chandeliers still glitter dimly above. The Balladeer is hidden backstage once more, somewhere behind the red curtain drawn shut across the stage. Once everyone's taken their places, he speaks up.]

Alright. Let's do this.

Comments

[solomonjihad]

Well, there was a sun, a book...a guitar and an unfinished ukelele.

...And...a candlestick. That one was bordered in black.

[sunshineprincess]

[Hmmm...]

I don't know who the sun is.... but maybe the book is Natalie, the guitar... could be Gabe? He looks like the guitar type. The ukelele has gotta be the Balladeer.

[The last one is sad...] Valjean... They use black for funerals...

[solomonjihad]

Yeah.

...I...I don't know if she had notes or anything, but I put it all in my room. I'm...I don't want the quilt to be unfinished.

[sunshineprincess]

[Astarte...]

I know how to embroider. We could finish it together?

[solomonjihad]

...Yeah...yeah! I'm not very good at sewing myself...I'd appreciate the help.

[sunshineprincess]

I don't know how to use the sewing machine, but I can teach you how to sew by hand really well.

[It's the least she could do for Eliza now.]

[blackstache]

She made one for Billy?

[solomonjihad]

The Balladeer.

[sunshineprincess]

Don't confused my Billy for the Balladeer! They are not the same person!

[blackstache]

Your Billy.

[sunshineprincess]

Yes. My boyfriend. So he's my Billy.

[dechagny]

[Oh dang he'd congratulate the two of them but now is not the time]

[sunshineprincess]

[Maybe later. Over a spot of tea and cake.]

[blackstache]

Ah, young love. So precious! So fleeting. Hook sheds a tear for ye.

[sunshineprincess]

You're really rude, you know that. Are you even capable of being in love?

[blackstache]

I would certainly hope so, my dear. Hook is not entirely heartless.

[tellthestory]

Jesus Christ, can you not do this right now?

[blackstache]

I am awaiting my rum, Billy.

[tellthestory]

You'll be waiting a while.

[blackstache]

I hope it'll be quality then, Harris.

[inforapenny]

Do you ever have anything useful to say, or has the syphilis just totally eaten away at your brain?

[blackstache]

[he turns back to billy at his podium]

How do you keep doing that, boy?

[tellthestory]

It'll be great.

[You can practically taste the sarcasm]

[robitussin]

...I talked about it with her earlier. I don't know about the book, guitar or ukelele, though, or where she got those ideas.

The sun was for you. She was going to use piano keys for me.

[sunshineprincess]

[Oh gosh. Anna as the sun? How sweet.]

So if you're not the book, then... oh! Billy the Lawyer! He was in the library a lot.