week three: trial

[cyclists]

Week Three: Trial
22 in Competition

It may be difficult to sleep with the light shining so brightly throughout the night, but the participants can rest easy knowing they will not be plagued by unwanted, disturbing dreams. Early the next day, a bell chimes and all will feel compelled to enter the main meeting hall.

The hall looks mostly the same as it always has, the two thrones for Lune and Sol at the head of the room and scrolls hanging from the walls. The metal box sits on a table near the front, along with the glass boxes perfectly centered before the benches in the room. Now that the trial is in session, Swift Wind and Hisoka's coffins are open, and their bodies will be available for examination.

Lune and Sol are seated in their thrones, patiently waiting for the last participant to settle. It's only when everyone has gathered that Sol speaks first.

"We've got a lot of ground to cover today. Don't give up."

They stop, glancing at Lune and gesturing for them to say their piece.

"Face the truth directly, and don't turn away from what you may find."

✩★✩

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the fourth trial!

We'll go over a few notes briefly as we will be playing this trial a bit differently than other games.

As noted, there was no investigation period on Friday. However, today participants will have the chance to investigate areas in the game setting as they see fit! This can be done by providing the name of the location you want to visit to the host header comment. To help with the ease of the trial and for IC mechanics, only one location may be visited at a time. In addition, these locations can be manipulated and adjusted upon request to test theories and solve puzzles, so please feel free to ask if you're searching for clues! Your host will also be accompanying you on these visits.

Most importantly, before the trial is over, please place your character's vote over on the voting page. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST, and will serve as our activity check for the week, so please be sure you get your vote in before it ends unless you have contacted us previously.

If you have any questions at any time, please let do us know by pinging us on Discord! Dana and Ty will be in the chat and available for all questions. Thank you, and have fun!

main navigation.

locations ✧ powers ✧ profiles
private conversations ✧ audiences ✧ faq

Comments

[wagashis]

[WELL. Under most circumstances, he would probably do something very different.

These are, evidently, not most circumstances. Milla's sword may be against his neck, but he's actually still trying to scramble back and get away from her. Not to act, though; his grip on his weapon is still tight as he holds it to himself, but his eyes are wide, and Four will very quickly be able to feel how fearful he suddenly is.

Good job, whoever did that one.]

Don't--

[forefall]

[ Four, somewhere a few feet away, screams and drops to her knees and holds her head. ]

No!

[nonbelligerent]

[SINCE NO ONE IS HELPING FOUR??

shess just. tries to very gently place a hand on her shoulder while using his other hand to write in his tablet.]

Four. Breathe.

[forefall]

[ She would've shied away from his hand, but instead, she screams again because Saix just broke Shirasu's legs. She's shaking uncontrollably underneath his hand. ]

N-No! I'm... I'm.... Why is this happening? Please....

[nonbelligerent]

The fear you feel is not your own, Four. Please try to remember that.

[forefall]

[ She takes a shaky breath. ]

But it's so hard... It's so hard to know what's real and what isn't.

[nonbelligerent]

I know. But remember that you're not the one who has done anything. No one is upset with you.

[forefall]

A... Are you sure? Is no one really upset with me?

[ She doesn't sound like she believes it. ]

[nonbelligerent]

You've only tried to help, haven't you? Your efforts have always been appreciated.

[forefall]

[ Oh, Shess is saying some magic words. She's shaking a little less. ]

You're... You're right. I've only ever wanted to help... I've always been afraid that...

[nonbelligerent]

Yes. So stay strong, Four.

[forefall]

[ She nods. Slowly, but she nods. ]

A-All right. I'll do my best.

[ She's getting up? Amazing. ]

[tothemaxwell]

[ah.

she recognizes this one.]

Well done.

[She says it out loud to no one in particular.

But the pressure of her blade does not ease up—on the contrary, Shirasu's attempt at evasion succeeds in driving it in, drawing a small cut.]

[specialdog]

[ Akane is? Trembling a bit? But it's fine, she's fine, whatever, don't worry about it.

Her voice is even, at least. ]

Isn't this going to make it harder to get information from him?

[tothemaxwell]

[Milla is also trembling, with........ well, it might be rage.

Be a shame if her sword were to

slip suddenly eh]

If we know he is the guilty party, that will suffice for now.

[Answer, yes.]

[liversandhyenas]

He's lucky killing him here and now's only going to cause his partner trouble.

[If it wasn't for Four possibly suffering for it and maybe dying, she'd be all for killing Shirasu in the middle of the trial]

[tothemaxwell]

Precisely.

[THIS SUCKS SHIT]

[wagashis]

[He shuts his eyes briefly at the pressure of that blade, at the sting of that cut; he wants to get away, but he doesn't want to die, he doesn't want to--

So it does get him to hold still, his breath a shaky exhale. He's still clinging to his dagger, though he doesn't dare to use it; it just drips blood onto the floor.]

Let me go.

[It is nowhere near as forceful as he'd usually like it to be-- more a plea than anything.]

[tothemaxwell]

No.

Stay in your thrall, Shirasu. It will be useful for keeping you under control until we need you no further.

[Her blade is trembling—not from lack of control, but apparently just pure, unbridled rage. That she's holding it steady at all seems to be quite the feat.]

Move again, and I assure you, the cut will not be quite as shallow.

[wagashis]

[Honestly, he's barely listening to the threats. He's just focused on not dying for the moment, though of course there's a part of him occupied with searching for a way out, for an escape, to get away from all of this and all of them; he's a little shaky himself.

It's not an unfamiliar feeling, despite everything. Being stuck, afraid--

It's all too easy to picture a dark box all over again.

As long as she keeps the sword there, he isn't going to move.]

[tothemaxwell]

[the sword remains in place, cutty cutty as it is.

and so, milla cucks herself out of murder, hating it every step of the way, for the rest of the trial.]