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

[blackstache]

Hook didn't lay a finger nor a hook on a single hair of their heads!

[solomonjihad]

I already mentioned the arsenic
Means you wouldn't even have to touch them.
But if you really want to do this
What about on any other part of their body?

[blackstache]

Hook didn't "touch" either of them!

[solomonjihad]

By hand or hook?
And you didn't poison them?

[Jesus Hook if you are innocent you are the WORST TAKE THE HINT IF YOU'RE INNOCENT--

wait a moment]

Or hit them with ceramic items?

[blackstache]

...Hook never promised that.

[solomonjihad]

...Because you can't, can you?

[blackstache]

Hook didn't harm a single hair upon either of their heads.

[solomonjihad]

You keep saying that. But you can't promise that you didn't kill them by poison, or with the ceramic. So you didn't have to touch them to harm them. Or harm their hair.

Can you promise that you didn't kill them with poison or use the ceramic?

[blackstache]

[Hook stares at her, completely deadpan. He reaches into his pocket and places something down in front of him.

Two differently-colored strands of hair, very obviously sliced via hook.]

These are the hairs I did not harm.

[sunshineprincess]

[Okay that is creepy.]

So you cut off the hair but harmed the ones the hair came from?

[blackstache]

[IGNORING THAT]

...Let the record show that Captain Hook hasn't told a single lie during this interrogation.

[solomonjihad]

...of course. You never...make promises you can't keep.

[Eliza had done nothing. For her sins, Darla was still young. And she...the girl who was to purify the world...

There's a moment where her eyes harden as they narrow. There's a moment where this is Astarte. But...not the other her.

Or just the goddess Astarte. A goddes' voice doesn't shake angrily like a teenager's.]

My Mother is Lilith. She was the consort of Adam. She is what you would call a demon because Adam tricked her. She tasked me with protecting the Undead. The monsters of the world.

[She's...Sailor Astarte. The goddess reborn, that carries this power of a sailor soldier. A power of the moon.]

But I guess...there are some monsters that shouldn't be protected. Some monsters that do attack humans and monsters alike and don't care that they do that.

[For however long she lives. Whether the other her kills her, or she dies in battle, or old.

She points one last time.]

And for doing that...I'll punish you!

[Tonight, she will be laying the finger down to harm.

And the world would be better for it.]

[inforapenny]

[This is right next to him.

He stares at the sun-blonde, impeccably curled hair.]

You... You Monster!

[yes he's genuinely pissed off here. Even if she was a shitty child SHE WAS A FUCKING CHILD]

[blackstache]

Hook needed that cash, boy! Surely you can understand that.

[inforapenny]

NO! No, I can't! There are so many other ways to get money besides TRYING TO KILL 15 PEOPLE!

[blackstache]

Oh, yes. I'm certain it rains down from the sky where you come from. How else was I supposed to hire Mr. Flynn without an immediate payment?

[inforapenny]

[His voice is low and dangerous.]

You did this. So that you could hire Mr. Flynn to prove that Balladeer and I are the same person.

You are sick. You are sick, and you deserve what's coming to you.

[blackstache]

You're still moving fairly fast.

[he turns his head to the balladeer, then back to billy.]

[inforapenny]

I'VE BEEN RIGHT HERE THE WHOLE TIME, YOU SYPHILITIC CODFISH.

[blackstache]

Prove it, boy! Hook calls you a liar!

[inforapenny]

Fine, if it'll make you feel worse for being wrong.

[Balladeer he's coming over to the stage can you come out and say hi pls]

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer does indeed duck out from behind the curtain, and drops down into a crouch to talk to Billy.]

You know, I was going to wait until the execution, but I think he still wouldn't realize.

[inforapenny]

[Billy's not slouching today. He has a confidence to him that almost does make them look like twins.]

It's the syphilis, I'm telling you.

[blackstache]

[...looks at the balladeer

looks at billy

looks at the balladeer

looks at billy

looks at the balladeer

looks at billy

looks at the balladeer

looks at billy

...]

Bloody sorcery!

[tellthestory]

[Looks at Hook

Aaaaaand back to Billy]

I guess it must be. There's no other explanation.