PROLOGUE : TRIAL

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... PROLOGUE - WEEK 037 Narrators Remain ; Wakey wakey, naughty murder children. It's a lovely Saturday, after all. Breakfast is served piping hot at its usual time and all of the evidence has been removed from the scenes of yesterday. No matter how you choose to spent your morning though, the clock will begin to chime the moment both hands reach the large, ornate twelve. Before your eyes materializes a door...but not just any door. Unlike the door leading to the festival, this door sits primly and properly right in front of the foyer. Whether you exit the castle on your own or you feel a friendly, invisible push, you begin to walk under an arc of wisterias. Behind you, the clock continues to chime with every step you take. By the time the time the clock strikes twelve, you've entered a beautiful garden. In front of you is a long table, 19 seats on each side. Around the garden are several glass cases containing evidence collected yesterday. As noon intensifies on the sun-shaped clock, you'll find Dragon at the head of the table, a glass-covered rose near her right hand. Tick tock, Narrators. You have nine hours to deliberate. Welcome to your first trial post! Please see here for the OOC summary of events from yesterday's investigation. In addition, please be sure to vote! Please see the voting page on how to vote, as we will have two special things to vote for. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Dana (decals), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[wantsitall]

[...you know.

...sometimes...you go in for an audition. Sharpay Evans has always been a star, the center of attention, the main attraction. But sometimes you don't make the cut. Sometimes...you have to admit defeat.

Wordlessly, she takes off her other shoe, dropping down to her height of 5'3" and holds it by the strap.

When Ann takes it, she'll notice that a.) it smells overwhelmingly of black ink up close, and b.) on the bottom under the heel, concealed when she stands, are flecks of purple ink.]

[varas]

[ Ann... doesn't really want to hold this, but she accepts it in the end, only briefly meeting Sharpay's eyes before examining the shoe its entirety. Every last lick of evidence hits her all at once -- both the smells and sights.

She starts to say thanks to Sharpay for her concession, and cuts off midway.

The shoe is held out for anyone else who wants to see it. ]

[spondulix]

And there we have it. The evidence of a cold-blooded killer.

[He laughs.]

Tell me, Sharpay, did you have the ability to make the armor dance, then?

[hairbrain]

Sharpay -- why? [ she just looks sad. ]

And how?

[wantsitall]

I can't explain right now. [It's not even that she doesn't want to, necessarily. She just. Can't.]

[hairbrain]

.... The rules. [ her voice hardens a little. ]

Okay, then answer me this. Why Gi-gan?

[wantsitall]

Rapunzel I can't. Not yet.

[londonstar]

[ well there’s no doubt about it. waver sees the purple ink and drags a hand down his face. ]

You idiot.

[wantsitall]

[She turns toward him.] Is it idiotic to go after something you want?

[londonstar]

Nothing is worth murder. Trust me.

[wantsitall]

And how would you know?

[disilluded]

... I believe we deserve some sort of explanation.

[After all of that. After everything that's to come. After their fates.]

Why her?

[wantsitall]

I can't explain that right now.

[disilluded]

[...A sigh.

He's just.

Going to walk away then.]

[wearys]

Should have just worn the tiger onesie.

[ it would have been a way better murder outfit ]

And also not murdered anyone.

[wantsitall]

Thanks for the tip. [It's a little sarcasm that falls flat.]

[wearys]

You're welcome.

[ honestly same. ]

[doublecrows]

[. . . he's almost disappointed]

I see.

A shame.

[wantsitall]

[She looks at him, calculative and unsure before she tips her chin up.]

I'm sorry I lied to you. But I think you saw right through me anyway, didn't you?

[doublecrows]

[he visibly droops, his downcast expression exaggerated]

I'm a detective, not a mind reader. I could sense ulterior movies, even if I didn't know what they were at the time. You did seem to be scheming something.

[wantsitall]

[There's another few moments.]

I don't know what happens next, but if there's time I'll uphold my end of our deal. 'kay?

[thesettingsun]

[Dazai had been the loudest about vouching for Sharpay's innocence, about how of course it couldn't have been her even when various piece of evidence seemed to point that way. So when Sharpay provides the damming evidence herself...

He approaches her, slowly.]

Sharpay...

[He's not angry. He's not even disappointed. He's just tired.]

[wantsitall]

[This is when she finally, actually looks like she has regrets.]

...thank you for trying. I meant what I said earlier. [About appreciating what he'd done for her, at least.]

[thesettingsun]

I'm sorry I couldn't do more.

[Even if that meant having someone else take the blame in her place.]

...do you want a hug?

[wantsitall]

[...there's a very pitiful nod. The only person she'd probably accept one from even if she absolutely doesn't deserve it.]