SIXTH TRIAL

[splitaseam]

[The whole trial thing must feel like the norm to everyone right now, and one can't help but wonder if this will keep happening until everyone has died.

There are three new epitaphs for Star Butterfly, Maui, and Fiddleford.

Here lies Star Butterfly
One of our most toughest girls
Went out with a pretty twirl

Here lies Maui
Claimed to be a great demigod
But it turns out he was a fraud

Here lies Fiddleford McGucket
He tried to wipe his mind
And ended up getting left behind

Well you all know what to do by now, huh?]

Don't spare any of the gory details.

Comments

[sixfingeredstan]

That's right. He didn't. But we did, Lefou, and we know he was anything but dumb. He was a good, brave man.

[He rubs soothingly at Lefou's back, trying to keep down his own emotions for his friend's sake.]

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou's head drops forward and his shoulders crumble in and he just.

Cries.

There's nothing loud or theatrical about it, but he's shaking to pieces underneath the comforting motion of Ford's hand.]

[sixfingeredstan]

I know.

[Ford knows precisely how he feels. Precisely the same sense of loss. But he's trying as hard as he can to hold it together, until this trial is over and he can grieve properly.]

[chainbroke]

[ She is so glad Ford is here--otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to stop Lefou. If she lost him, too...

She kneels down, arms still around him. ]

W-we've got you, Papa.

[toogoodforhim]

[His breath hitches and he lifts his head, barely, staring at her for a long moment.

And then he pulls her close to him in a hug, crying on her. The only words that escape him are in his native tongue.]

[chainbroke]

[ It's the hug that gets her. She holds onto him tightly, shoulders shaking. She's crying, but it's quiet. It hurts--she's never experienced so much loss. But even more than that...

Seeing someone she loves so utterly distraught is a destructive thing. ]