THIRD TRIAL

[neverhadafriend]

[Once again, you make your way to the lobby of the Adventurers Club. Once again, you make you way down the stairs to the trial room that awaits you below the surface. Today, however, the birds seem to be occupied by something other than the excitement of murder. Whispers are exchanged, and although no sentences can be made out, you might hear the occasional word--enough to know that they're talking about wishes.

Before the weight of the conversation begins to settle in, Genie appears in the center of the stage, glancing around at the podiums.]

Wow, the crowd's really starting to thin out, huh? [He lets out a nervous chuckle.] Y'know, I don't...think I've asked my master what happens if this keeps happening until nobody's left.

[He looks like he's about to add something else, but glances towards the birds on the ceiling and decides against it. Third times the charm, right?]

Comments

[madmadam]

[Mim has pilfered an entire box of ice cream and she's not sharing any of it.]

All right, you lot better make this worth my time!

[primafacie]

Must you constantly make a mockery of everything and everyone?

[madmadam]

I've got to do something to keep myself entertained!

[feudalladyshandmaid]

You had the time to grab ice cream?

[madmadam]

I was already in the kitchen, my dear, it's not as if I made a trip on purpose!

[primafacie]

Can't you just play nice for once instead of being awful?

[madmadam]

Now why in the world would I ever want to do that?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Then you should ask your master about it.

[Cass has no time or need for this bullshit. Another person is dead and they're no closer to their escape now than they were four weeks prior.

Though, something about what those birds were whispering was... interesting. But she could hardly focus on that right now.]

It looks like there was a real fight this time. Jessica's was trashed, clothes racks knocked over, and things were smashed. In the middle of it all... was Daisy.

[She looks to Raps. She's got this.]

There were bruises around her neck, not to mention a few bruises and cuts on her arms. It definitely looked like she'd been strangled.

...Oh, and her clothes looked... straightened out? Her hair too.

[So, you know. Normal murder case.]

[primafacie]

Because this is awful enough without your useless contributions! Honestly, you'd be better off as one of the awful birds.

[primafacie]

I think Daisy was in the laundry building beforehand. I found her clothes, which were being washed, and these books. [She holds up the stack of archaeology books she brought with her.] I haven't the slightest idea whether or not they have anything to do with what happened, but I felt it better to bring them in case they prove to be helpful.

[She's still, uh. Fine. It's fine. This smile isn't forced at all.]

[redloxy]

So...someone was feeding the walruses Cheetos. They just kept chanting "chee-to" over and over again when I tried to ask them who it was. [She holds up one of the empty bags.]

...I figure we could check to see if anyone's got orange powder stuck to their hands?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Doesn't mean you had to bring it in here.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[It's Fine, yeah. But Cass isn't smiling.]

'Archaeology'? [Huh.] Not sure what those would have to do with anything.

You think you found her clothes in the laundromat, though? Could they have been someone else's?

[diebartdie]

I should be free of suspicion by default. My diet is far more refined than that overly-processed garbage.

[diebartdie]

Not many others here who would fit into her outfit, I imagine.

[primafacie]

I suppose they could have been anyone's, really, but I also found knocked over bins and possible blood outside. [She hesitates.] And this.

[Carefully, Sugarplum sets a knife on her podium.]

[primafacie]

This isn't about your diet, though. The walruses like the cheesy puffs and lettuce.

[diebartdie]

I respect their diet as much as I do my own.

Even so, a walrus eating cheese puffs sounds like a PETA campaign just waiting to happen, and I would want no part in it.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

That might be a bit of stretch, someone could be wearing gloves... [Hm.] But I guess we could give it a try?

[C-cheeto check...?]

[primafacie]

[Her hands are free of cheeto dust!]

[redloxy]

[Foxy's just got a bit from picking up one of the cheeto bags!]

[tadaishi]

[Tadashi's hands are free of orange dust but they smell strongly of vinegar.]

[nobodylikesyouwhen]

[ Not a speck of cheeto dust to be found! ]

[halloteen]

[cheeto-free, surprisingly]

[halloteen]

Not everyone here is some kind of walrus doctor that knows what walruses are supposed to eat... [look she had to guess okay and who doesn't like cheese puffs]