MOCK WEEK - WEEK 1 TRIAL

[foundationmods]

It was noon on Friday.

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...🗈

This new world looked like...the inside of an ornate courtroom, like something that wouldn't be too far from some kind of grand fantasy novel.

The Witch, Lambdadelta was there, sitting in the most important place, smiling brightly at everyone. 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.

As they looked around, they might have also been surprised to see that their forms had changed - perhaps only slightly, or a much more dramatic change. It seemed like this place demanded a different form in some way, even if it was just a change of clothing.

...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.

Yesterday had been the start of the game. But now, armed with all they knew...now, they had to truly go up against the Witch, and somehow.....win.

Right?

Comments

PUNISHMENT OF THE WITCH: SALMIAKKI

[strawberryshortcackle]

[After everyone is through talking, there's a loud clanking noise as the Goats appear and drag in a large machine.

Smiling at her new toy, Lambdadelta brings him over to it - and he's helpless, even though he attempts to thrash around and yell at her, trying to stop whatever it is she's going to do.]

...Hey, do you know what this is? Ah, well, of course you wouldn't. This....is a candy making machine for a certain kind of candy.

If you'd been anyone different, I might have been able to make some sugary-sweet Konpeitos....or maybe even make some savory rice crackers. Unfortunately, you're not sweet or savory enough to make most things....but you're perfect for this.

[Cackling, she lifts him up, up, towards the upper funnel of the large, metal container.]

Bye bye, Vanitas. See you Monday, okaaaaay~?

[And she drops him in.

Thankfully, there seems to be only a floor in there, as there's a loud thud, followed quickly by banging and yelling from Vanitas inside the large container.

Looking over to the Goats waiting for her command, she nods - and one of them flips the switch, turning it on with an ominous thrum.

The yelling inside suddenly increases, becoming more panicked as something happens - but it's not until the cries of pain start that it becomes obvious what this machine does.

The Witch remains silent, yet smiling cruelly as the cries turn into outright screams, and the dull reverberation of bones cracking can be heard. In a tube connected to the container, an incredibly dark liquid begins to flow out, filtering into another part of the machine, which also clicks to life with a whrrr.

The container Vanitas was put in now starts to contract, and the screams slowly choke away into nothingness. After that, it begins a noise that sounds like a million, thousand threshing machines going away all at once, with the occasional cracks of any bone pieces that were missed before...!

There's a ding from the other end, and Lambdadelta immediately flies over, where the goats have brought over a large collection bin. From the end of the machine...comes little black, salty candies, one of which Lambda immediately puts in her mouth and gives a little hum.]

Mmm...sweet things are delicious, but sometimes you want something so salty and bitter that it hurts your tongue....Ah, Vanitas really was perfect for this, wasn't he?

[More and more candy comes out of the machine, and most of the goats begin to put their hands into the bin and take out massive handfuls, shoving the candy skulls in their mouths with obvious delight.

Even like this, someone like Vanitas....could be enjoyed, slurped up, chewed, and eaten down to the very bone...!

As the world begins to shimmer around everyone, the feast doesn't stop - The Goats continue to eat, and Lambdadelta continues to laugh - but one Goat takes a plate and piles it high with the candies, bringing it forward...And sets it down on the table.

The table....in the dining room of the mansion, where they now all were, back in their normal forms.

Bowing to the guests, the Goat quickly leaves.

But in front of all of them, the candy skull licorice....stares at them with empty eyes.]

[helmdivide]

[ Yeah. Okay. This is fine. ]

[curryparty]

[Oh.

That happened.

Asuma actually falls to the ground here, hardly even noticing the way his uniform has returned to its usual brown instead of black, staring wide-eyed at that bowl.]

[ladyscarred]

[Disappointed but not surprised!

Scarred cringes at the noises but otherwise, this is fine. But there's a lot of things she'd consider fine that others wouldn't.

But she does stop to lift a hand when the shackle and chain reappear to stare at it. Oh, the cloaks back too. It's even more pointless now though...]

[artificialhighness]

[Luna just bows her head quietly while this is happening, like a solemn sort of tribute to the current candy crisis.

Once all the crushing and slurping is done with, she raises her head again -- steps up to the pile of candy and regards it somewhat dispassionately. For someone who doesn't need to eat, it's not like it would go anywhere. She'll heft up the plate in her arms (small and slender again), and turn to everyone else.]

We should clean this before Monday.

[curryparty]

Y-yeah...

[He did this.]

But... he'll probably be brought back just like Riku, right...?

[There's a bit of a plea in his voice.]

[artificialhighness]

I think that way may be more interesting for the witch.

[So that's a strict maybe.

She doesn't seem to have a preference either way, so that neutral judgment is all Asuma gets. She does pause for a moment before giving him a curious look.]

What will you do if they are?

[curryparty]

...

I owe Vanitas for this. So, if we really do get our powers back on Monday, I'd like to try to make it up to him... if he'll even accept it.

[He has his doubts. But he also has to try.]

[helmdivide]

She said something about seeing him on Monday.

[ Just staring at the candy thought. ]

Maybe we should bury it?

[curryparty]

The location of the... remains probably doesn't matter, right...?

[Because who the hell knows what happened to Riku, and they all clearly saw VaniCandi eaten by the goats.]

[overlordad]

[Takashi is still. Deadly still, staring down at the table and taking short breaths through his nose.

...before pulling the gun he still had and standing up. I'm sure he has no ill intentions what so ever]

[curryparty]

[Oh. Um, that's bad, probably.

Asuma's not really in any position to do anything but watch helplessly though.]

[artificialhighness]

Do you think the gun will work on the witch?

[Just idle curiosity while she's stood here holding the whole bowl of Vorenitas: Candy Crush Saga.]

[overlordad]

No way in hell.

[If his fists couldn't hit her he knows a weapon he doesn't really know how to use would be pointless. But that doesn't seem to be discouraging him]

[artificialhighness]

Then what will you do?

[She seems vaguely interested.]

[ladyscarred]

What are you going to do then?

[It's dull, there's not a lot she could add to all of this.]

[helmdivide]

Hey now... come on.

[ He'll gesture for him to come along. ]

[overlordad]

Touch me and I'll tear your head off.

[helmdivide]

Nooot touching. Got it. A walk or something then?

emeto

[iblistriggered]

[he thought everything was going to be ok

everything is most assuredly not ok.

and unfortunately this time, Silver has a full stomach from the lunch he had before the trial]

[overlordad]

...gross.

[Yet he does move to like, keep his front hair-spines out of the way]

i dont have a crying normal form icon

[iblistriggered]

[awww, are you holding his hair, dad.

you're a good dad.

He's empty, and he still feels awful, and when he looks up, there are tears in his eyes]

Too much. It's too much...

[overlordad]

Come on. If you stay around it the smell will make you sick again.

[Comforting is not really something he's great at, but he can at least ease Silver away]

[resealed]

[ raenef just stares at this, completely speechless because wow that sure was a thing...]

[accitio]

[ She listens closely to each scream, her lips thin and her eyes glued to the machine. She won't look away, nor will she flinch. Even as the candy comes out, she wishes she could have found a way to help Vanitas here.

When it's all over, she remains silent until it's time to leave. ]