[And as the votes come in, the lights go out, and the room is once again plunged into darkness; the only light visible is that ambient dark blue that accompanies the electronic touchpads powering down.
Eventually, though, as before, the pit illuminates itself, and Caren is gone from the circle. Again, there was no sound, there was no outcry or indication of a struggle - Caren was there and then she simply was not, leaving nothing but traces of water on the floor where she'd transformed.
It seems that her arrival in the pit has left the dampness behind, however; when she enters from that door beneath her podium, rather than crawling, dragging a long tail behind her, she's walking under her own power, her usual bright clothes and hair standing in stark comparison to the empty white walls of the pit.
The walls don't remain white for long, however; there's a sudden shift in the tiles, as though they're being lit from behind, and the pit is soon bathed in a pale pink glow - there's a warmth to it, almost, nothing sharp or harsh to the color itself, but any comfort that may be taken in it is short-lived as the door beneath Podium 7 opens.
When Pearl steps out, her movements are graceful, deliberate; Caren steps back, her eyes narrowing. They've seen this before with Zagi, but actually seeing your victim - someone you've confirmed dead, someone whose soul you smashed with a weapon in your own hands - seeing that person standing directly in front of you is another thing. But the gem on Pearl's forehead is intact here, despite the fact that it's still very definitely on her podium above, where Bruce left it.
Pearl isn't smiling like Zagi, but there's nothing angry in her expression, either; it's strict, maybe, but not unhappy. It's just straightforward and a little severe in intensity, and as she approaches Caren she holds out her hand.
The gesture is fluid and calm; Caren doesn't seem to be wanting any of it. Instead she just...stares, like she's trying to figure out what the trick it. She steps back again.
Pearl doesn't give her a choice the second time, lunging forward and gripping Caren's bandaged hand with a grip so tight that Caren winces, and the sudden pain seems to catch her off-guard strongly enough that Pearl can jerk her forward into what isn't quite an embrace, but closer to a closed-waltz position.
Caren squirms against Pearl's grip; she freezes up as the music starts, the strains of it audible both within the pit and to those still standing at the podium circle outside. And when Pearl makes her move the motion is gentle enough to keep her from stumbling; it's gentle enough to ensure Caren moves with her, and she calmly paces her through a few bars of melody before pushing her lightly, twirling her out and away and releasing her hand.
And once Pearl's hand is no longer occupied, it moves to that gem on her head, pulling a long bright spear out of the center of it, letting it materialize in her hand; when she leaps at Caren it's quick, measured, and she lands just close enough to sweep Caren's legs out from under her, dropping her to the floor again. Her spear is just as quick when Pearl moves to bring it down on her, as though it's going to pierce her throat.]
Goodnight, Aqueous.
[The Kingmaker's voice sounds out as Pearl shifts direction with her spear; it's not much, but it's enough, and the head of the weapon pierces through the pendant Caren has been wearing. The pearl inside shatters; Pearl's spear doesn't stop once the pendant breaks, driving through Caren's body and impaling her completely through the chest, front-to-back.
Caren's body jerks, the motion shuddering but largely involuntary; she drops to the ground, unmoving.
Pearl doesn't retrieve her weapon; she just stands near the body, staring down at it with that same strange, severe expression as the lights in the pit go dark and the fluorescents above return to life.]
ACCOUNTABILITY.
Eventually, though, as before, the pit illuminates itself, and Caren is gone from the circle. Again, there was no sound, there was no outcry or indication of a struggle - Caren was there and then she simply was not, leaving nothing but traces of water on the floor where she'd transformed.
It seems that her arrival in the pit has left the dampness behind, however; when she enters from that door beneath her podium, rather than crawling, dragging a long tail behind her, she's walking under her own power, her usual bright clothes and hair standing in stark comparison to the empty white walls of the pit.
The walls don't remain white for long, however; there's a sudden shift in the tiles, as though they're being lit from behind, and the pit is soon bathed in a pale pink glow - there's a warmth to it, almost, nothing sharp or harsh to the color itself, but any comfort that may be taken in it is short-lived as the door beneath Podium 7 opens.
When Pearl steps out, her movements are graceful, deliberate; Caren steps back, her eyes narrowing. They've seen this before with Zagi, but actually seeing your victim - someone you've confirmed dead, someone whose soul you smashed with a weapon in your own hands - seeing that person standing directly in front of you is another thing. But the gem on Pearl's forehead is intact here, despite the fact that it's still very definitely on her podium above, where Bruce left it.
Pearl isn't smiling like Zagi, but there's nothing angry in her expression, either; it's strict, maybe, but not unhappy. It's just straightforward and a little severe in intensity, and as she approaches Caren she holds out her hand.
The gesture is fluid and calm; Caren doesn't seem to be wanting any of it. Instead she just...stares, like she's trying to figure out what the trick it. She steps back again.
Pearl doesn't give her a choice the second time, lunging forward and gripping Caren's bandaged hand with a grip so tight that Caren winces, and the sudden pain seems to catch her off-guard strongly enough that Pearl can jerk her forward into what isn't quite an embrace, but closer to a closed-waltz position.
Caren squirms against Pearl's grip; she freezes up as the music starts, the strains of it audible both within the pit and to those still standing at the podium circle outside. And when Pearl makes her move the motion is gentle enough to keep her from stumbling; it's gentle enough to ensure Caren moves with her, and she calmly paces her through a few bars of melody before pushing her lightly, twirling her out and away and releasing her hand.
And once Pearl's hand is no longer occupied, it moves to that gem on her head, pulling a long bright spear out of the center of it, letting it materialize in her hand; when she leaps at Caren it's quick, measured, and she lands just close enough to sweep Caren's legs out from under her, dropping her to the floor again. Her spear is just as quick when Pearl moves to bring it down on her, as though it's going to pierce her throat.]
Goodnight, Aqueous.
[The Kingmaker's voice sounds out as Pearl shifts direction with her spear; it's not much, but it's enough, and the head of the weapon pierces through the pendant Caren has been wearing. The pearl inside shatters; Pearl's spear doesn't stop once the pendant breaks, driving through Caren's body and impaling her completely through the chest, front-to-back.
Caren's body jerks, the motion shuddering but largely involuntary; she drops to the ground, unmoving.
Pearl doesn't retrieve her weapon; she just stands near the body, staring down at it with that same strange, severe expression as the lights in the pit go dark and the fluorescents above return to life.]