WEEK 3 TRIAL

[foundationmods]

It was noon on Saturday.

No matter where they were, no matter what they were doing...the moment the chimes rang out through the hall, they felt a change.

The world...began to expand, as they felt themselves leaving the world they were on, and towards another, much larger world...🗈

...As always, the courtroom was there - along with the audience, watching, waiting for the entertainment before them.

The Witch - Nirrti - was there, sitting in the most important place, watching all of them with a sharp, cruel gaze, a smile of pure delight on her face.

Watanuki was also there, but he merely lounged in the back behind them, smoking a kiseru pipe in silence.
...It seemed as if he was content to watch - that he had to watch - as part of the rules of the game.

There was no music to be heard, but... perhaps on another plane, in another place, someone else heard music as they gazed upon the proceedings.

Again, their forms had changed - perhaps into something different than last time, but...still a change, no matter how dramatic or inconsequential it was.

...There was a deep silence in the room, one that no one wanted to break. It was the faint tension in the air, like the moments before a race or a competition begins.

They had found the truth last time....but now, two people had died.
Was it possible for them to find the culprit this time?
A culprit that....had...

No, it had to be.

For the sake of the dead...and the sake of them all.

Comments

[sotoshini]

[ ty for the floof tbh. ]

Of course not, that's how humans are. [ Sighing and taking a moment to gather his thoughts. ] This is what she wants, and they're giving it to her. But I don't feel like trying to argue with them about it.

[anonnomnomnom]

You'd think humans would be better at changing and learning, you know? [Short lifespans, live fast, live dangerously, and apparently with a tendency to jump into danger and impale themselves on things like Blue Truths or whatever.] Remember when I said Feathers would have to learn on their own? Same goes for them. If they never do, well... that's a whole other problem!

[sotoshini]

[ Nodding along to this, their viscous feedback cycle continues. He knows quite well how humans are even if he was an outlier, and it's just tiring.

Looking up at Anon he tilts his head and quips before thinking better of it. ]

Is that why you're fluffier now?

[anonnomnomnom]

Hmm? Am I? [The skeleton head tiiiilts back a bit at a vertical angle -- there's only eyesockets so who knows where he's looking, but he's probably looking for his backside which is way the hell over there behind his wings. It's a completely futile endeavor but at least he tried.] I noticed I was a little bigger, but it's hard to see the rest of it without a mirror. [And sadly there are no mirrors in this courtroom unless one of them wants to remember they're in the meta and conjure one up.]

[sotoshini]

Yeah, pointier too. [ Unfortunately Natsuno will not remember such a thing, but he does helpfully (or not so helpfully) pat the floof for emphasis. ]

I thought it was just a normal part of your... [ Tries to gesture at everything but winds up just hitting more floof instead. ] power.

[anonnomnomnom]

[He makes an amused noise, both at himself and the general state of Natsuno vs. floof. Maybe one of these days he'll explore the meta a bit more, really get his piñata life going. For now:] No wonder I kept sticking to things when I ran into them. Next time I'll have to see if it makes my Blue Truths a bit more interesting, too. [He'd been especially cautious with those this time around, given what Nirrti was pulling. But strategies for next round? Fair game. One skeleton finger taps against the ground, thoughtful.] But I don't think it has anything to do with my powers. This form... I guess some things changed lately. And I thought a little more about what I want to do. Isn't that why we change here?

[sotoshini]

[ Nodding, he'd like to see that next time. Also just ignoring that he's engaged in a losing battle with floof. No one has to know but them. Tilting his head, he looks thoughtful before looking down at his outfit. ]

I need to do something about this next week. [ Grumbling because it took him all of two seconds to realize why he's in leopard print now that he thought about it. Augh. Moving on, his expression becomes more serious. ]

Looks like it'll be fun. [ There's curiosity here, but that's definitely something better saved for when they're not surrounded by a bunch of judgemental eyes and ears. ]

[anonnomnomnom]

I wonder if it's that easy? Maybe I should try that sometime, too. [He hasn't paid as much attention to his trial form because he's overall fine with it, because he is himself; but now that Natsuno brings up all his own grumbling with his Unlimited Highlighter Works, Anon is thinking it over too. He stretches a little bit, and there's something wry when he responds.] Maybe! Once I have things totally figured out, I guess it'll be way easier to see. [That is to say, Natsuno will probably know regardless when the time comes, but for now he's just sort of resigned to being a confusing and changeable pompom.]

[sotoshini]

[ Natsuno's determined to try at least, which means he'll probably end up looking like someone else he hates but it's the effort that counts.

At the infernal's reply, Natsuno smiles. It's a curious expression for him and it has shades of light and dark, but it is genuine amongst other things. Then he pats the floof, purposely this time. Like that time on the dock, there are many things he's looking forward to, if his uncharacteristic response is any indication. ]

Can't wait to see, Anon.

[anonnomnomnom]

[It's briefly quiet, and then the skeleton head lowers a little. It's a good thing it's a skeleton head, so it only looks like it's a silly skeleton movement rather than Anon ducking his head, but there's a vaguely embarrassed quality to it all the same. Never mind that, just focus on the floof, he's going to clack out a reply that is probably both rote and actually meant.] ... You, too.