FOURTH TRIAL

[beautifultomorrow]

[The usual scene plays of everyone going into the elevator after they finish up investigation. But when the elevator starts moving, they will hear John’s voice instead of The Narrator’s. It clearly sounds like he’s reading from some sort of script.]

Picture of Belle, a book lover born well before her time. She desperately wanted society to treat her like a human being, and to respect her love of books. Belle had made many friends and many enemies because of her personality, and now… Her final resting place will be in a book simply titled… The Twilight Zone.

[... Strangely, however, the elevator doesn’t drop this time, the doors instead open as soon as John finishes his speech, leading once again to The Tip Top Club. Now Reyna and Belle’s pictures are in grayscale and, instead of Rod sitting on stage, John is there, looking at some papers. He offers the guests a comforting smile when they enter.]

I shouldn’t complain that Rod’s doing something creative with his time, but I have to admit, I don’t get what he sees appealing about writing something like this. Don’t know why he had the elevator set to “ride” mode either.

I, uh...made some old fashioned lemonade for you guys. [He motions to the lemonade pitcher and cups on the counter.] Feel free to help yourself.

[He’s… really trying to attempt to lighten the mood of this situation. Please humor him.]

Comments

[darthfanboy]

[he has to breathe in. think of belle. restrain himself. for her. for her legacy.]

How dare you, shrew.

You would honestly accuse me of murderering the only godforsaken person in this hellhole that I had anything even resembling affection for? No. Of course I wanted to be with her. But I wouldn’t go out of my way to damn the girl if I were to be rejected!

[coulombslaw]

[Virgil watches Kylo's surprisingly calm reaction]

Dunno, I think I believe him. [Although...] 'If I were to be rejected'? You mean you really were planning to woo her?

[darthfanboy]

Her scenario seems to suggest that I would.

[anasty]

[ She just laughs at him. ]

[nocasetoobig]

This isn't funny, Ursula!

[lusito]

[it kind of is, actually, but Joshua for once is not gonna say anything yet]

[anasty]

But he is. I'll give him credit where it's due - he's a better actor than I would have thought.

I suppose the threat of death is quite the motivator to find one's hidden talents.

[nocasetoobig]

What if someone else was acting, huh?! What if- what if they stole his helmet!

[hallotween]

[gently] He's like seven feet tall.

[anasty]

You're going to be popular when you come of age.

[ That over-estimation tho. ]

[theduck]

Stilts. Or really tall high heels.

[anasty]

He's wearing it now, isn't he?

[theduck]

...Belle did try and write out his name before she died. What if she really did think it was him because it looked like him?

[hallotween]

But all of us look so dramatically different than each other! How could you manage that?

[nocasetoobig]

Maybe Satan did it. He looked like an old man before he turned in to a ghost!

[hallotween]

It can't; it's never any of the non-players. Just because Rod is gone doesn't mean the rules change. It still has to be one of us.

[nocasetoobig]

Well, Mister Narrator said he knew who it was...

[he looks at John]

Do you know?

[beautifultomorrow]

Well, uh...no, I don't. But Rod wouldn't have held a trial if it wasn't one of you guys.

[nocasetoobig]

...so is he still running this?

[theduck]

Magic?

[at this point he's just throwing out every possible idea but like. that's... a thing. they had Merlin here at one point, for crying out loud]

[hallotween]

... I mean, I guess. You can use magic to disguise yourself; I've seen it myself. And it wouldn't even need to be very powerful magic, to work for a little while and fool only one person.

So, that leaves... Three suspects.

[nocasetoobig]

Who?

[hallotween]

Me, Ursula, and... Blonde Girl?

[theduck]

Cornelia said she was friends with Belle, and I don't think you had any reason to kill her. But... how close was she to Ursula?

[forgottenfounder]

Don't bother. This is what she does.