CHAPTER 2: TRIAL

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 2 - WEEK 232 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. Throughout today's trial, the sound of flapping wings can be heard as a strong wind occasionally blows through the garden knocking everything disarray. Narrators may even begin to find themselves floating above their seats, airborne and flowing. Instead of s'mores, today's snack bar includes...happy meals? That's right. Several red boxes with yellow arches will line the tables filled with either a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets, french fries, and apple slices. Inside every box will be a bobblehead with a likeness of either Dragon or Tiger. Welcome to your 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

[spondulix]

...

[He's uncharacteristically solemn. The pegasus in his arms whines and tries to lick his face.]

Damn this game. [He mutters, under his breath. And then, a little more loudly:] I have information about the roles we had. If you want to know, I'll tell you.

[He just feels sick to his stomach.]

[axilium]

... That's surprisingly cooperative of you—though it'd be much appreciated.

[spondulix]

I don't like being controlled. It would be one thing if I had decided this on my own, but...

[Yeah.]

[axilium]

Mind explaining exactly how your murder went down?

[spondulix]

[A thin smile.]

I don't want to share all the details. But anyways, it was supposed to be quick, but the stab wound didn't hit its mark. Natsuo ran to the ballroom and was trying to fight Sandalphon when he swung too hard and his sword went into the contraption that lowered the chandelier.

He died by his own hand.

[alchemenace]

[ yes hi ]

What did you mean by "bringing your daughter back"?

[spondulix]

...

If we completed the murder successfully, we would be given information and a wish.

You can assume what I would do with the wish.

[alchemenace]

What, from the well?

[ he's a widdle dubious. but. also. ]

What kind of information?

[spondulix]

Information about our situation.

[concasse]

Just explain it from the top, if ya could.

[...]

I'm assuming you were called to kill, and this was the plan you two came up with? Did Natsuo know?

[spondulix]

No, he didn't. Why would he? A murder isn't a murder if the victim is in on it.

[hairbrain]

Yes. Tell us.

[ she looks more miserable than angry though. ]

[discardia]

Please.

[ she's so tired. ]

[doublecrows]

Blotters, correct?

[spondulix]

...

Absolutely correct.

[A pause.]

Let me guess. Are you a Historian?

[doublecrows]

I was a Blotter last week. Takamaki was as well.

[spondulix]

...Ah.

[Yes, that would make sense.]

Did you get what they promised you, then?

[function]

...

Because of the ink...

[doublecrows]

Presumably. They're hitting the storytelling themes quite hard, aren't they?

[unromanceable]

... I've said this before, but it seems that everything about this war is just one big narrative the Crafters want us to help them write.

[function]

As if they haven't from the very beginning.

[ beat ]

What was your wish?

[fonlines]

[ ion is. breathing a little shakily, though he's working to calm it. (on account of not the best health, it takes more effort than he would like.)

is this how eichi felt when akechi got off the hook... ]

What would you have lost, if you had not complied?

[spondulix]

I would've died, most likely. Or something worse. They made that very clear that not following them would lead to regret.

[A pause.]

If I died, there would've been no guarantee that you would've stayed alive as my partner.

listen. is this a late tag? absolutely. do i care? absolutely not

[fonlines]

... You don't need to tell me that, partner.

[ it comes out thinly, near-icily. his gaze is elsewhere, and there's something wan in the thin-pressed line of his mouth. ]

I know, all too well... that we are in this together.

i don't care either so it's okay

[spondulix]

Look, Ion...

[He starts, and then stops. He doesn't know what to say, for the moment. And then, finally:]

I'm not a man who makes promises easily. And the ones I do make are...ones I would never break. [He sniffs.] So, even if we're controlled, at least something like that is in my power. As much as I can make it, anyways.