??? (Round 3)

[foundationmods]

[Once the trial begins, all of the dead will feel themselves being lifted out of their bodies. For a short while, they are able to watch the proceedings, including their own bodies as they continue to move and act on their own. But eventually the area starts to grow dim, fading into an inky black nothingness.

Then glowing sakura petals will start to trail by. A path in the darkness, perhaps?

If the dead follow the petals to their source, they will eventually find an enormous sakura tree, it's large branches hanging over the area and providing shelter from the darkness outside. Here, under the sakura tree's branches, the dead will feel 'whole' again. It is as if this is where they need to be to be themselves, with no influences from the witch outside. And indeed, the very air feels heavy with magic, a single point of calm in the storm of the void.

And there, at the base of the tree, sits someone familiar.]

Comments

[foundationmods]

[...also a new guest is here too.]

[chaoscontrol]

....


WATANUKI.

[it is a loud guest]

[foundfate]

[Someone is tossing a cherry down from high up in the cherry tree.

Don't ask how he got a cherry from a blossoming cherry tree.]

[chaoscontrol]

[bonk.

He looks up.

He points]

YOU! I... I'm not dead...!

[foundfate]

Correct. You're not.

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow is just gonna climb this tree, YOU STAY RIGHT THERE]

You could have killed me and turned me into your slave! Why didn't you?

[foundfate]

[He's too exhausted to move much, he's pretty much just laying on one of the branches. Though he does shift a little to give Shadow an incredulous look.]

I don't want to kill people! I don't want to turn someone into a slave! You think I like all the things these witches do? Well news flash: I don't!

The only reason I became a Witch is because the power of Dimensions is too great to leave in the hands of a madwoman! Especially one that already has the power of Misfortune!

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow manages to get up to a reasonable height so he's not having to yell UP at Watanuki, at least]

Oh, so you can finally give me some straight answers! Great, we only had to all almost die!! Or worse! [he huffs, banging his fist on the branch and sending a bunch of blossoms raining down] ..... [but then he sighs. It seems like he really did wear himself out emotionally during the trial] .... I want you to know, I still don't believe you. But... you weren't lying about that one thing.... so now I can't just throw EVERYTHING you say in the trash. Why must you make everything so difficult?

[foundfate]

Yes, I can. You are my furniture now, I can tell you anything I want. I'm not bound by rules of 'the pieces can't know these specific things or else it's a violation of game rules, and we have to call the game a wash and start over' when it comes to you. Or them either, since they're not in the game anymore.

[He says as he indicates to the three other girls here.]

...I'm going to try not to call you 'furniture' though, except when I'm required to as part of the game. Because it's a demeaning title.

[chaoscontrol]

.... W... well... I appreciate that.

[he clears his throat. There's so many things he wants to ask, so many questions he needs answered... but he did see everything Watanuki just went through.

And what Shadow himself had put him through....

The hedgehog can be merciless, but he isn't heartless. ]

... Hmph. You're exhausted now though, aren't you? Maybe now isn't the best time for me to give you the third degree. We'll have time later. For now... just tell me how to get back to the others.

[foundfate]

Since you are still alive, you won't get lost in 'this place'. Just walk out the front gate, and it will take you there. And should you want to come back here, find a quiet spot and either sleep or meditate. This place exists in the realm of dreams, so traveling in your sleep should be easiest.

...but I must caution you: this place is only safe as long as the Witch of Misfortune does not know about it. If you breathe a word of this to anyone while in the world of the living, you jeopardize the very souls of everyone staying here.

[very_good_end]

Yes you are! Welcome to the after life.

[chaoscontrol]

Actually, I'm not. I was never executed. I was.... thumped. On the head.

[it was embarrassing]

But that doesn't explain how I'm here.

[very_good_end]

...And? People die from being thumped on the head all the time. I'm not sure you have room to argue.

[chaoscontrol]

[he grumbles and shakes his head]

You're as pleasant as ever. What a shame it would be if that shining personality of yours had escaped.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Shadow-san!

[A blue-eyed Karen waves from the front doorway to the shop.]

[chaoscontrol]

Karen? Is that you?

[oceanicbutterfly]

It's me! No demons here.

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow runs up to her, and grabs her hands. He touches her arms... sorry for getting a little up close and personal, but--]

... You're safe. Your soul is safe... thank goodness...

[oceanicbutterfly]

[YEAH MAYBE NEXT TIME GIVE HER A LITTLE MORE WARNING FIRST???]

--yes. Yes, I...

I'm sorry about the rain.

[chaoscontrol]

[he backs off immediately]

A little water never hurt anyone. I'm sorry. I'm sorry we weren't able to find the real killer.

1/2

[oceanicbutterfly]

It isn't as if there was any better evidence pointing to Matou-san or Kino-san. We all tried our best.

2/2

[oceanicbutterfly]

And honestly, after talking with Furudo-san here, I almost wish I had done it.

[chaoscontrol]

We tried our best, but someone innocent still died for it. It was an unacceptable failure...

[a pause, but then he leans in conspiratorially;] She is completely ridiculous, isn't she!

[oceanicbutterfly]

I failed as much as the rest of you did.

She just... lives in an entirely different reality from everyone else. I almost want to say literally.