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

[catliketread]

Can you prove it, then?

[blackstache]

[He's very clearly wearing some sort of eyeshadow or liner or...something around his eyes. He begins to sweat under the pressure, and keeps it from getting into his eyes with a wipe.]

In what regard?

[catliketread]

Your makeup. Allow someone to test it on that handkerchief.

[hmmmmm...]

All of it.

[you know, just in case you're wearing more than one kind?? how the hell does makeup work, he doesn't wear it]

[blackstache]

[...]

Fine.

[catliketread]

[So after obtaining the handkerchief from Natalie...!!

ALRIGHT LET'S DO THIS. Does the makeup match the smear on the bottle?]

[blackstache]

[The eyeshadow and other assorted girly things do not.

...But there's definitely some makeup here that does, and wiping it away reveals a very, very distinct black eye underneath all of it.]

[catliketread]

[!!!!!!]

Well, that looks like quite the mark. Would you care to try to explain that away or are we ready to vote?

[blackstache]

...Face me now, Pirate King. One-on-one, for your title.

[boi]

Give Hook one last duel.

[catliketread]

...I don't have a sword.

[how anti-climactic]

Also my title is not up for grabs, especially not for one such as yourself! I would never harm anyone here - to compare yourself to me is laughable at best, Captain!

You'll have your duel soon enough, won't you?

[blackstache]

Don't disrespect me, King! I want my war!

[catliketread]

Any respect I may have once given you is long gone! You killed two innocent people - a woman and a child! For what? Money! You'll die a Captain, a rank far above any you deserve!

[blackstache]

I simply wanted to hire Mr. Flynn! Is that not reason enough?

[catliketread]

[ ]

That was why you killed two people?

[blackstache]

I only targeted the child.

[...]

Besides, it's not like it's entirely my fault! One of you just had to leave your poison out in the library!

[catliketread]

...Wait. The poison was not yours? Someone left it out?

[blackstache]

I've never even visited the merch booth, lad.

[catliketread]

Tell us exactly what happened last night. There's no point in keeping secrets any longer.

[blackstache]

I had found that delightful poison well before I had ever targeted the child. When the mother attacked me for this, I smashed a teapot over her head and left her to die in cold storage.

Now, imagine ol' Hook's surprise when I found out that she has an apparent sleepwalking habit!

[catliketread]

Eliza or Darla?

[blackstache]

Mrs. Hamilton. The girl stayed right where she was.

[catliketread]

So she was out because she was sleepwalking? But you said she attacked you...?

[blackstache]

No, no, you idjit! The woman attacked me, I knocked her out. But somehow, her body was moved from the cold storage room where I left it.

[catliketread]

Oh. That is pretty impressive.

[Damn, Eliza, you were such a badass.]

Well, is there anything else or are we done here?

[blackstache]

Forget the talk of moving bodies and hidden poisons. I am awaiting our duel.