[ what a beautiful view, he can't help but wonder what it's like down there on the surface...well he doesn't have time to keep thinking about it, because here comes a beam of light and
ow. he gets knocked back as the ship is hit, fumbling to catch himself on something, anything. if/when he does, his eyes immediately go looking for the other two. ]
There has to be an emergency protocol in place for things like this, yes!?
[ are there alarms and things going off as they begin to crash?? he'll try and get himself over to estelle, reaching for her. ]
Sylvain try to prevent us from crashing head first into the earth...! [ sure?? he guesses?? IDK. ] Brace yourselves!!
[you get the sense that maybe there would be a way to stop the ship from crashing if you knew how to fly it - but none of you do. none of you are the captain of this vessel, and so you just watch, as the ship crashes to the ground, and you brace yourselves --
and then you are unconscious.
when you come to, your hands are bound behind your back, and you are on your knees on a hard, stone platform. wherever you are, it is extremely dusty in here. you’re breathing in this grit that’s clinging to your mouth with every breath.
this space you find yourself in is a large circular clearing. there’s a twenty-foot sandstone wall running around the perimeter of this place. there's no ceiling, but despite that, it's still very dark. the sky is exposed - it’s just a pale, sunless gray. and perhaps most notable above you are the forms of those statues from before, hundreds of feet tall, just looming over this area.
you get the impression that perhaps you are now in that marble city.
and as you are kneeling here, bound, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching. a shadowy figure stands in front of a podium, and faces you. you can't see their face clearly - it's covered by a veil, weirdly enough. there's a pause, and then they speak:]
[ the first thing sylvain does is to make sure estelle and diluc are still with him. he then struggles in his binds, trying to test if there's any give or way to break free.
the texture in his mouth is awful, but he ignores it best he can to make sense of their new surroundings. he'll shift himself closer to the other two as much as possible. ]
...
[ he doesn't say anything at first, waiting to see what information their captor might offer up. but he does exchange glances with diluc and estelle that read, are you okay? ]
[ his head hurts and the taste in his mouth is horrible, but he focuses his eyes. he looks for the others, relieved to see they're both okay. pretty sure they're all banged up from that crash, but that's not important right now.
diluc looks around the clearing, trying to seek out any detail or sign of where they might be, what kind of place this is.
upon hearing the voice, he looks to the others, struggling against the restraints and then looks to the podium. ]
Hello...[ his eyes focus on the figure, trying to take in their other features, aside from the veiled face. ] What is this place?
[the statues are vaguely humanoid. think just like one of those figure posing dolls artists use, but statues that are twenty to thirty feet tall.
the bindings are impossible to break free of - you try, but they almost seem to tighten a little in response. the veiled figure watches them impassively for a moment, and then clears their throat.]
I'm quite sure. [they say, dryly, in response to estelle. as for diluc's question:] You are at the Judgement Hall. The three of you are being tried for... let's see. [there's this sort of crunchy texture, to their voice? like a severely compressed file.] Interloping, malicious intent, and violation of a no-fly zone ordinance. Those are, of course, only the preliminary charges. The Justices will see what else must be done.
[they shuffle a few papers.] You are... Sylvain Jose Gautier, Estellise Sidos Heurassein, and Diluc Ragnvindr, yes? Do I have your names correct?
[ okay... so they're being charged for crimes... that he doesn't quite remember them doing... (or does he? does this have to do with the world-hopping?)
he finally speaks up. ]
Your... honor. [ not sure what the correct term is here ] There was no malicious intent involved. The captain of our vessel went missing after they'd already plotted a course. We weren't able to correct it ourselves.
[ he imagines his words will fall on deaf ears, but, he says them anyway. ]
[ yeah, diluc has no idea what this person is talking about, so he just kind of stares blankly at them. he does eventually nod though, heaving a heavy sigh. ]
Those are our names, yes. And what the other two said is correct, we were merely following what was laid out for us. We aren't even sure what this planet is or what it's called.
[ his brain feels fuzzy, caught between knowing and not...it's hard when you seem to have memories of something you've never experienced. not a fun or fresh feeling. ]
I have a feeling you know much more, than just our names.
[the figure says, tapping the files in front of them. and then they make this... motion. not that any of you would recognize it icly, necessarily.] No need to address me as Your Honor. I am not the Judge, here. You are not appealing to me. You are appealing to the Justices, and they know much more than just what is on paper.
[the figure takes a step back, and above you - you hear four voices. booming, thunderous voices, coming from the statues themselves.]
You’re a long way from home, from your journey’s beginning. And still a way from your journey’s end, aren’t you?
[and then another:] The truth of this matter is already known. Speak it openly.
[and then another:] Piety will be rewarded, corruption will be punished.
[and then a last:] None of your deeds will be kept from our divine providence. The measure of your words and deeds throughout the fullness of your lives will be considered and weighed.
[poor estelle and sylvain get ignored by the statues - they seem to brush past the questions like they're unimportant. beneath them.
there's the sound of marble grinding against itself, a horrible noise that rings through the little clearing. and then a voice speaks.]
Sylvain Jose Gautier. We will begin with you.
[and for the moment, the other two, estelle and diluc, will feel that grit in their mouth get... solid. like the stuff they put in your mouth to get a mold of your teeth in the dentist's office? it makes it very hard to speak. the voice continues, addressing sylvain with a voice loud enough to cause headaches.]
You have spent your life searching for real love when none was given to you. You have hurt countless people with your inability to offer commitment, and your easy dismissal of every woman who has shown interest you as Crest chasers has caused many a broken heart. Furthermore, that insatiable search cuts ties and loyalties with people you have known since you were children. You have allowed the rot of jealousy to overwhelm you, ignoring the sincerity of those who love you to wallow in your sorrows.
Your sins are Lust, Envy, and Despair. How do you plead?
[ he closes his eyes. the accusations are harsh, but it's not the first time he's heard them, and certainly won't be the last. whatever emotion there was on his face bleeds out into something grim. cold.
it doesn't even matter to him if estelle or diluc have to hear all this. it's all people believe of him, anyway. ]
[the figure off to the side makes a derisive noise.] Really? Not even going to fight the charge. Very well.
[the statues, however - there's just a small nod, from one of them. the grit in the room shifts - and now estelle's mouth is free, though sylvain and diluc cannot speak well through the chewy cement gags.
... and then a voice speaks to estelle.]
Estellise Sidos Heurassein.
You have spent most of your life in luxury, fed with a silver spoon. You have lived idle and ignorant of the suffering around you, and even still, you wanted more. Your circumstances were leaps and bounds better than every man, woman, and child who lived in squalor and despair below you, and you still found the audacity to long for something different, though you made no steps to reach for it. And despite your inability to choose, you are stubborn to a fault, refusing to bend even if it would make those around you breathe easier.
Your sins are Sloth, Envy, and Pride. How do you plead?
[It's hard, to hear some of the hateful things she's thought of herself articulated so plainly toward her. In an instant, some of the more abstract fears she's held in her mind have become something tangible. Something real and inescapable.
[ two very pissed looking gingers, on either side of estelle. their girl!! diluc is not happy with what he hears, his heart sinking when she pleads guilty. two down...one to go.
[the figure off to the side just laughs, this time.
and again - the gags shift. estelle and sylvain now are not allowed to speak plainly.]
Diluc Ragnvindr.
Ever have you been an angry man. The burning in your heart and the contrast of the the weakness of your mortal body led to the death of your father, his blood on your hands. Your grief led you to a path away from the law. Your fury and your ego have impeded justice, many times - the law itself cannot act because you have decided your judgement is superior to theirs. Who are you to decide who is good and who is evil? And furthermore... you have allowed for another to take your place, punished for a crime they did not commit.
Your sins are Wrath, Pride, and Despair. What do you plead?
[ this time, sylvain isn't half as indignant about the accusation. but there's definitely still a frown on his face, something conflicted in his expression. the last accusation may be true, but that had been the shadow's work, and not diluc's. (and yet...) ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
guestservices) wrote2022-07-10 03:36 pm
no subject
Oh, Lucretia, she's --
[Never mind, we're getting blasted out of the sky. She stumbles with a panicked yelp, and scrambles to find something solid to hold on to.]
I... I don't know! Are there... life boats? Can an airship have those?
no subject
ow. he gets knocked back as the ship is hit, fumbling to catch himself on something, anything. if/when he does, his eyes immediately go looking for the other two. ]
There has to be an emergency protocol in place for things like this, yes!?
[ are there alarms and things going off as they begin to crash?? he'll try and get himself over to estelle, reaching for her. ]
Sylvain try to prevent us from crashing head first into the earth...! [ sure?? he guesses?? IDK. ] Brace yourselves!!
no subject
and then you are unconscious.
when you come to, your hands are bound behind your back, and you are on your knees on a hard, stone platform. wherever you are, it is extremely dusty in here. you’re breathing in this grit that’s clinging to your mouth with every breath.
this space you find yourself in is a large circular clearing. there’s a twenty-foot sandstone wall running around the perimeter of this place. there's no ceiling, but despite that, it's still very dark. the sky is exposed - it’s just a pale, sunless gray. and perhaps most notable above you are the forms of those statues from before, hundreds of feet tall, just looming over this area.
you get the impression that perhaps you are now in that marble city.
and as you are kneeling here, bound, you hear the sound of footsteps approaching. a shadowy figure stands in front of a podium, and faces you. you can't see their face clearly - it's covered by a veil, weirdly enough. there's a pause, and then they speak:]
Hewwo.
no subject
the texture in his mouth is awful, but he ignores it best he can to make sense of their new surroundings. he'll shift himself closer to the other two as much as possible. ]
...
[ he doesn't say anything at first, waiting to see what information their captor might offer up. but he does exchange glances with diluc and estelle that read, are you okay? ]
no subject
She lifts her head to look up at the statues -- can she make anything out about them? -- before looking to the others, and then the veiled figure.]
... H, hello.
[She tries to reciprocate the greeting, though there's uncertainty in her voice.]
I'm sorry... The crash was an accident. We didn't mean any harm.
[She doesn't know what happened to their vessel. Did it crash into the city? Were people hurt? Is that why they've been taken prisoner?]
no subject
diluc looks around the clearing, trying to seek out any detail or sign of where they might be, what kind of place this is.
upon hearing the voice, he looks to the others, struggling against the restraints and then looks to the podium. ]
Hello...[ his eyes focus on the figure, trying to take in their other features, aside from the veiled face. ] What is this place?
no subject
the bindings are impossible to break free of - you try, but they almost seem to tighten a little in response. the veiled figure watches them impassively for a moment, and then clears their throat.]
I'm quite sure. [they say, dryly, in response to estelle. as for diluc's question:] You are at the Judgement Hall. The three of you are being tried for... let's see. [there's this sort of crunchy texture, to their voice? like a severely compressed file.] Interloping, malicious intent, and violation of a no-fly zone ordinance. Those are, of course, only the preliminary charges. The Justices will see what else must be done.
[they shuffle a few papers.] You are... Sylvain Jose Gautier, Estellise Sidos Heurassein, and Diluc Ragnvindr, yes? Do I have your names correct?
no subject
he finally speaks up. ]
Your... honor. [ not sure what the correct term is here ] There was no malicious intent involved. The captain of our vessel went missing after they'd already plotted a course. We weren't able to correct it ourselves.
[ he imagines his words will fall on deaf ears, but, he says them anyway. ]
...I'm Sylvain Jose Gautier, yes.
no subject
We didn't know about the ordinance... I know that may be no excuse, but I swear, we didn't mean to cause trouble.
... How do you know our names?
no subject
Those are our names, yes. And what the other two said is correct, we were merely following what was laid out for us. We aren't even sure what this planet is or what it's called.
[ his brain feels fuzzy, caught between knowing and not...it's hard when you seem to have memories of something you've never experienced. not a fun or fresh feeling. ]
I have a feeling you know much more, than just our names.
no subject
[the figure says, tapping the files in front of them. and then they make this... motion. not that any of you would recognize it icly, necessarily.] No need to address me as Your Honor. I am not the Judge, here. You are not appealing to me. You are appealing to the Justices, and they know much more than just what is on paper.
[the figure takes a step back, and above you - you hear four voices. booming, thunderous voices, coming from the statues themselves.]
You’re a long way from home, from your journey’s beginning. And still a way from your journey’s end, aren’t you?
[and then another:] The truth of this matter is already known. Speak it openly.
[and then another:] Piety will be rewarded, corruption will be punished.
[and then a last:] None of your deeds will be kept from our divine providence. The measure of your words and deeds throughout the fullness of your lives will be considered and weighed.
[a pause, and all four at once:]
Are you ready to begin?
no subject
Do we have a choice? Will you at least untie us first?
[ what the hell are they gonna be made to do?? ]
no subject
Our lives...? I-isn't this supposed to be about today's events?
no subject
Stay true to yourselves and do not waver.
[ he nods and looks forward. he believes in the three of them, they'll pass this test and make it out of here. they have to make it to the end... ]
Ready.
no subject
there's the sound of marble grinding against itself, a horrible noise that rings through the little clearing. and then a voice speaks.]
Sylvain Jose Gautier. We will begin with you.
[and for the moment, the other two, estelle and diluc, will feel that grit in their mouth get... solid. like the stuff they put in your mouth to get a mold of your teeth in the dentist's office? it makes it very hard to speak. the voice continues, addressing sylvain with a voice loud enough to cause headaches.]
You have spent your life searching for real love when none was given to you. You have hurt countless people with your inability to offer commitment, and your easy dismissal of every woman who has shown interest you as Crest chasers has caused many a broken heart. Furthermore, that insatiable search cuts ties and loyalties with people you have known since you were children. You have allowed the rot of jealousy to overwhelm you, ignoring the sincerity of those who love you to wallow in your sorrows.
Your sins are Lust, Envy, and Despair. How do you plead?
no subject
it doesn't even matter to him if estelle or diluc have to hear all this. it's all people believe of him, anyway. ]
...Guilty as charged.
no subject
Sylvain...
[There's dread in her eyes when she looks back up at the statues.]
no subject
he looks away and shakes his head, before glancing at estelle. who will be next...he looks up at the statues. ]
no subject
[the statues, however - there's just a small nod, from one of them. the grit in the room shifts - and now estelle's mouth is free, though sylvain and diluc cannot speak well through the chewy cement gags.
... and then a voice speaks to estelle.]
Estellise Sidos Heurassein.
You have spent most of your life in luxury, fed with a silver spoon. You have lived idle and ignorant of the suffering around you, and even still, you wanted more. Your circumstances were leaps and bounds better than every man, woman, and child who lived in squalor and despair below you, and you still found the audacity to long for something different, though you made no steps to reach for it. And despite your inability to choose, you are stubborn to a fault, refusing to bend even if it would make those around you breathe easier.
Your sins are Sloth, Envy, and Pride. How do you plead?
no subject
no subject
She hangs her head, and answers quietly.]
Guilty.
no subject
diluc steadies himself. ]
no subject
and again - the gags shift. estelle and sylvain now are not allowed to speak plainly.]
Diluc Ragnvindr.
Ever have you been an angry man. The burning in your heart and the contrast of the the weakness of your mortal body led to the death of your father, his blood on your hands. Your grief led you to a path away from the law. Your fury and your ego have impeded justice, many times - the law itself cannot act because you have decided your judgement is superior to theirs. Who are you to decide who is good and who is evil? And furthermore... you have allowed for another to take your place, punished for a crime they did not commit.
Your sins are Wrath, Pride, and Despair. What do you plead?
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)