CHAPTER SEVEN ; TRIAL

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 7 - WEEK 711 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. The garden is strangely silent and there are no snacks today...it seems as though you'll be left to your own devices. 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 or sooner if the game ICly elects so. 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

[melancoffeea]

[Whereas the others find shiny valuables and trinkets, Sandalphon comes upon an animal pelt that's in much better shape compared to the corpse from which he retrieves it. He positions himself at the back of the group, in case anyone should fall behind.]

That body won't delay the hunter for much longer. Let's go.

[londonstar]

[ do you know how fucking difficult it is for waver to not complain when 2b's moving around with him over his shoulder like that?

either way, they're running now and as they reach the exit, the back of a man becomes more visible.

waver taps 2b's arm to get her attention. when he speaks, it's in a hushed tone to not alert the man keeping watch. ]

Let me down. I'll barter with the man.

[function]

Don't blow it.

[ with that, she easily acquiesces and sets waver on the ground, then gives him the assortment of things she found (nothing too big—a couple of pearl earrings and a gold wristwatch). it's not like she wants to talk with the guy anyway—she's too busy immediately attending to monika, pulling her former partner into a hug to try and calm her down. ]

[unromanceable]

[ god yeah she'll hand what she has to Waver, though her eyes slide to Sandalphon and his pelt...

and then 2B is hugging her and monika will just casually start to cry from fear and press into her because holy shit this is terrifying

but she'll be ready to move whenever they need to go! which will probably be soon... ]

[melancoffeea]

[And there goes the pelt. At least they've a variety of items with which to barter.

Sandalphon glances over his shoulder. There are no signs of the hunter yet. That's not bound to last, so Waver had better hurry.]

[londonstar]

[ ok he's taking everything and, with a confident gait, he'll walk up to the hunter, who turns around, crossbow raised.

waver stops. ]

Don't shoot. None of us are here to attack you.

[ the hunter looks at the goods on waver's hands, and then back at him. he doesn't lower the bow. "then what is it that you want?" ]

We wish to leave this place safely. Due to reasons unknown to us, we've found ourselves here while your friend chases us like a raging bull. However, you seem more reasonable. [ he glances at the hands on the crossbow, and then back at the hunter. ] You have a wife, no? Possibly a family? It must be difficult to take care of them. Your face says it all.

[ waver motions at the assortment of goods in his hands, tilting his head. ]

We'll trade these goods, which you can later sell for food or clothing or whatever you like, for our safety. That means you let us leave freely and neither you or your idiot partner hunt us.

[ the hunter is silent for a while, before nodding. "on one condition" ]

What is it?

[ "you give me your coat along with all of that other shit."

waver stops, and raises an eyebrow but in the end, he hands all of the things to the man, including his coat. the hunter smiles. "now run along, i'll pretend i never saw any of ya'll."

waver stays, but he glances at the rest of the group. he is now in just a suit. ]

Let's go. I'm sick of this.

[function]

[ this time, monika is the one 2b decides to carry; her partner gets the honor of resting comfortably in her arms (sorry waver, she doesn't know you like that). but away they go, with 2b visibly surprised at waver's gesture of, uh, goodwill toward the other hunter. it's probably something to mention later.

she leads the group into the graveyard, where she spots the headstone that marks their exit without much difficulty. as they near it, four shiny silver keys lie at the stone's base with a rusty shovel sticking out of the ground next to it. it's not hard to figure out what to do next. ]

Time to get digging.

[unromanceable]

[ oh my god 2B WHY??? MONIKA WILL PROTEST IN A HIGH VOICE THAT SHE'S FINE but okay alright guess her robot girlfriend is just carrying her now. in a princess carry. she feels. like a princess.

she's pretty pink in the face.

besides, being out of the mausoleum helps her calm down, too. not being chased by a terrifying murderous monster is pretty great! so she'll motion to be let down for real once they reach the headstone. ]

2B, Sandalphon, one of you two should probably handle this! Lord El Melloi and I would probably just slow you down...

[ So.

Hey Waver what's up. To him, quiet but warm: ]

Good job back there!

[melancoffeea]

[Given that they're no longer on the run and can afford to move more leisurely, Waver should be fine. But if he needs help, Sandalphon will offer to take 2B's place for the duration of their graveyard exploration.

Anyway, he has no qualms with digging. He nods at Monika and picks up a shovel. Dig, dig, dig.]

[londonstar]

[ waver's also going to stay behind as he watching the two of them dig. he looks at monika, and nods to her. ]

Thank you. You did well, too. I'm proud of how strong you are.

[function]

[ while sandalphon digs, 2b keeps a careful eye out for what they're looking for... and as soon as she sees a glint of metal of the chest, she doesn't hesitate to lift it from the hole. as expected, four locks for the four keys. she bends down to pick them up with the intent of distributing them amongst the group... ]

One for each of us.

[ only then does she notice their names engraved onto the headstone, too. hm. ]

[unromanceable]

[ Waver gets a sweet smile, and she'll press her fingers to his hand, very briefly.

And then the chest is free! And that will send them back. ]