FIFTH TRIAL

[stagemanagers]

[The sound of the courtroom doors opening is louder and deeper than the stairwell doors were, as if they understand their dramatic importance.

It's time for yet another trial.

Natalie's podium has joined the other somberly-decorated ones in pretty short order. Unfortunately, the other ones are left entirely as they were - no pillows, food, or coffee provided by the Opera staff. You'll just have to try and make this quick. The Balladeer sounds like he'd like to get this over with as well when he speaks up.]

I'm sorry, Heather. I really didn't think... [He sighs.] Okay, go ahead.

Comments

[dontfeedplants]

[Wait a minute.]

She was shot? But who here even has a gun?

[allicareabout]

That's what I want to know.

[aflatouttahell]

I got a gun from the booth in the lobby a while ago, but it was empty. So guns can come out of there, but I don't know about bullets.

[trettende]

You mean the merchandise booth was handing out weapons?

[ Jesus christ ]

[aflatouttahell]

A gun on its own can't do much. It was a weird gun, though, it had little owls on it? I'd think gun people wouldn't want cute birds on their pistols.

[tellthestory]

.......what?

[aflatouttahell]

It had owls on it? The handle is made out of rubber, too, which is weird. If... the guns I've seen are anything to go by.

[tellthestory]

[There's a long moment of silence.]

Yeah, uh, that's...yeah.

[aflatouttahell]

... do... do you want it? It sounds like you know it, I could bring it to your office.

[tellthestory]

I would really rather you didn't do that!

[aflatouttahell]

Okay! Sorry, I just... sorry. I didn't mean to, you know...

[tellthestory]

No, no, don't apologize. It's fine.

[trettende]

That's... weird. But distinctive, at least.

Is it possible the merchandise booth could hand out bullets too?

[aflatouttahell]

Maybe, but I haven't gone there as much as some other people here. I know they have some weird stuff in there... and my diary, which is still creepy.

[trettende]

Yeah, I haven't been there much, myself.

[ Maybe if he'd known they were handing out guns he would have, dang! ]

Were a lot of the items that were handed out personal things? All I seemed to get were posters and hair gel.

[ And a Tony, and flowers... junk. ]

[dontfeedplants]

I wouldn't say that it was all personal, but I remember getting a couple of things that I recognized from home.

[trettende]

Oh? I didn't get anything familiar. What kind of things did you get, Seymour?

[dontfeedplants]

There was a botany book that I got a few weeks ago, and...

[...Huh.]

Come to think of it, I think I got Mr. Mushnik's gun from the Merchandise booth last week.

[trettende]

[ THAT'S. KIND OF A BIGGY, SEYMOUR. ]

You didn't think to mention that sooner? Does that gun match the one Winslow found?

[ And, because they're friends..... ]

Where did you last leave the gun, as far as you knew? Was it in your room?

[ You weren't carrying a gun, were you, Seymour?? ]

[allicareabout]

Apparently it saw fit to hand our resident pirate royalty my legal fees.

Immediately after the incident with Hook.

[trettende]

That's... wow.

Is the Merchandise Booth random or does the Management get to decide what we get? Because that sounds pretty deliberate.

[inforapenny]

I-I got. Something of mine, yeah.

[trettende]

What was it?

[ I mean, he's apparently asking everyone now. ]

[inforapenny]

Just- just an outfit. It, uh. I recognized it because it had my name on the tag.

[That's a fucking lie, but Anna's the only one who knows different.]

[trettende]

So just clothes from home? None of your inventions?

[ He knows you better now, Billy, this may have been a mistake on your part. ]