Mary giggled at Shaun's blushing and embarrassment. "I was just joking around. You're a sweet herbivore, so I know you would never do that~" She put a finger to her chin. "So the culprit struck during the time you were gone from your room. How long was it?" She then gave a surprised reaction, putting a hand to her mouth at Daimyon; she felt conflicted with what she learned. "D-Daimy-Doo? Geez, you make me feel jealous!"
The Infinite Streamer's cute pout turned into a an annoyed scowl when she caught Alice staring at her. "Excuse me, I didn't quite catch that," she spoke in a slightly heightened voice, her own eyes staring back in anger. "It's rude to gossip about others behind their back, you know." She listened to Cyrus, and brought out her own note. "You mean these papers? I still don't get what their point is! Mine talks about the cyclops for some reason." She rubbed her brow. "Uhh...Hey, Bliss. I think your note's not about Jezzy. Call it a girl's intuition."
@t2wave She does have that relationship with Lily that could be explored by learning about the kidnapping; would she care enough to go after her?
?@Majoras End You gonna get assassinated But real talk, I support the unification of Penrose. As for time, it's going to be conveniently dramatic, so as long as everybody's feeling pressured it's fine,@Shifter_Master
Mary hated the roller coaster ride, as it only reminded her of the first time they got on it, for Mondatta's murder. She despised the idea that Monokuma treated the whole ordeal like a sick game show, and that they were simply contestants, and not prisoners in an abandoned hospital. Still, she had to keep her head on straight if she were to get to the truth behind Marianne's death. And so she took her place, and gave a courteous smile to Caora next to her before she turned serious.
"The buzzer?" Mary reacted in bewilderment. So, could the kil-eh, blackened have set the fire outside the room? That's a scary thought." She held her sides and shivered...Until Krista made one of her infamous puns. "And I'm beary ashamed to hear that." She bit her lips when Monokuma decided to add more rules, and gave an annoyed gasp. "Indecent exposure? When did anyone do that?" She asked, and then blinked in surprise when everyone stared at her. She reflexively wrapped her arms around her chest; her cheeks blushed as she remembered the last trial. "...Point taken."
The discussion on the arrows threw the Infinite Streamer out of the loop, so she took her video camera and rewound the footage tape. She didn't immediately answer Bliss when she tried to get her attention, until she averted her eyes upon seeing Marianne's lifeless eyes again. "Ugh...Oh, sorry Bliss, I was just thinking about the whole deal in that room. Like, why was Marianne even in Shaun's room?" She pondered about it, until something hit her. She gave a sly little smile to Shaun, and leaned on the podium with her elbow, facing the Infinite Web Designer. "Ah, could it be? You two...My, didn't expect that you would cheat on your girlfriend~"
For a long time, Mary had closed herself off. Even when she hung out with the ventriloquist and clown, she gave out her standard streaming act: try to be cute, try to be funny, don't let them see a frown on your face. Ever since Mondatta died, she had to cope with the loss, and did so on her own way, which was pursuing Cookie and keeping her mask on at all times. But even that lost it's luster over time, and now she just stayed in her room. She kept re-recording and deleting snippets of film, taking new cuts over the smallest of things. Something was always wrong...Or maybe, she was right, and she had become a nobody, a complete void of popularity. It was what she feared, and she knew in her heart it had come to pass. Thinking such heavy thoughts, she went to sleep.
Mary was in her room, sleeping, when the alarm struck. She ran right to Shaun's room, which was the scene of the crime. She gasped when she saw the victim.
"Marianne! Oh my god, no!" She looked away, lest she be traumatized by the sight. But she had a feeling it was too late. "We were just getting to know each other...Why!" She bit her lip, trembling. "Marianne..." Ice showed his frustration again, just like the time when he asked everyone to help him beat Alexandria. Of course, Mary said nothing then. After all, what was a dainty woman like her going to do against a killer robot? As always, Cyrus was the one who brought the group together, and Mary gave a faint hint of a smile upon hearing him speak. He was always so dashing and refined, even during times of crisis. She nodded, her will resolute on the matter; Marianne was a friend of hers, and friends don't abandon each other.
"Yeah...Marianne deserves it. I'll see what I can do."
Mary learned a bit about how investigating worked from the previous case, but she was still very clueless on what to actually focus on. So she tried to be useful in her own way; she took the video camera from her room, and began filming the crime scene and the investigators there, making sure their conversations were caught on tape so they could quickly review them during the trial; instead of having to rely completely on the memory of possible witnesses, they also had tangible clues on hand.
Justine was sipping on a cup of blood-red tea as she sat in the throne room, her legs crossed in a refined fashion.
"Big sister...It hurts..."
Justine turned her head, and looked to the right side of her throne; Caroline was in the shadow, holding her knees to her chest as she rocked in place.
"I want to...play with my dolls, big sister..." She whispered, and scratched a mark on the stone floor; the floor around her was filled with them. Justine sighed. "I understand how you feel, my dear sister...But you will have to be patient for just a bit longer. Soon, I have enacted my vengeance, and we can be happy together, like we used to be. Wouldn't that be nice, Caroline?" Caroline floated up to look at Justine, her face mere inches from hers. "...That would be wonderful..." Then, the door was opened, and Janet walked in. Justine slapped Caroline away, with her smiling as she hit a wall. "Ah, Janet! My precious apprentice~" She stood up, and slowly walked towards her. "Did you succeed? Please, spare me no details~"
Disgarding a disguise that had been provided to her, Janet returned to her gothic appearance. Tossing aside the disguise artifact she smiled widely. "I only wish you could have been there to see it My Lady." Approaching Justine she bowed slightly before her head snapped back up. Red eyes glowing intensely she had fed well from the attack. "There was much pain and suffering. My favorite were the ones that tried to stop me at the end." Clasping her hands together she seemed more like she was fantasizing about a boy rather than death and destruction.
"I gave them a front row seat to thair own demise. You could see the fear in their eyes." Walking around Justine she gestured as she told of the destruction and disarray the Beacon HQ had been left in. She probably could have gone on forever dancing about like and singing of the chaos.
Justine smiled, and two sharp teeth could be glimpsed from between her beautiful lips. "Marvellous...Simply perfect~ I knew I could rely on you. And now, with the Beacon out of the picture, and Mariette dealt with, nobody can stop me! Haahaahaa!" She laughed elegantly.
Shivering with excitement Janet could hardly contain herself. While she had only recently been turned to Justine's side, the level of control that Justine had over the magical girl was palpable. "Yes, we are nearly there." She had opened her mouth again to speak when an inturruption arrived.
Sonia suddenly teleported in, and held Lily the exact same way as they left from Penrose. "My Lady, I have brought the last sacrifice, as per your request. I humbly offer it to you." Lily still struggled, and aimed her staff at Justine. "Hey, what's going on? If you don't answer me, I'll shock you!" In response, Justine simply giggled. "Go ahead. Maybe it will make your pure heart bloom even more with the power of resolve." Lily was taken aback by her words, and that is when Caroline swooped in; she hovered upside down in front of her, and spooked her. "Ahhh, no!"
"Hee hee...A short-haired doll...I like long-haired dolls more..."
"She is not for you, Caroline. She has a greater purpose." Justine approached her, and before Lily could say anything more, a single finger touched her forehead.
"Boop~"
"Huh? What did you do that for...Wait, I think I'm-"
Lily was consumed by light, and was back to her untransformed state. She loooked at herself in a panic as Sonia released her. "Wait, how? How did you make me turn to normal? Well, I'll just have to turn ba-" "That is impossible," Sonia spoke, her hands clasped before her like a proper maid as she took her place next to Justine. "Lady Justine has blessed you with her power of Purity, and your mind has been cleansed of the method."
Lily looked at her hands, and then tightened them into fists as she took a stance. "Purity? That sounds like brainwashing! That's how you made Stephanie do such horrible things! I thought she was bad for killing Victoria, but I was wrong..." Tears trickled down her eyes upon remembering her. "You used her, caused so much pain...You're nothing but a despicable monster!" Sonia drew a knife from her thigh holster. "My Lady, she has spoken against you. May I punish her for her insolence?" Justine swept her hand dismissively. "Oh, no no. That would be unnecessary. After all, she is simply venting her frustrations, and I would like to not make a mess of my throne room. Isn't that right, Janet?" She asked with a smile, while Caroline giggled loudly. "Or perhaps...You would like to punish her yourself, hmhm?"
Lily gasped, unable to believe her eyes. "...Janet? Is it really you? You look...different."
Twirling around as if to show off. "Look... Feel... Am." Drawing near to Lily she placed a hand gently against the depowered girl's chin before grabbing it harshly. "My Lady has opened my eyes to the truth. And we've just made steps to ensure her will will come about." She let go and playfully patted Lily's cheek before moving back again. "You will play a part as well my dear. You may not understand but this is all for the best."
Lily winced from Janet's rough touch, and bit her lip. "This isn't like you, Janet! Snap out of it!" Her desperate plea was only met by further giggling from Caroline and a smug look from Justine. "It seems you misunderstood my power. I do not take over minds. I simply opened her eyes to the truth. She was forced to be the Beacon's lapdog, to be used until she was deemed worthless, and then discarded. But now, she has a far greater goal in serving me." Justine went to Janet, and softly caressed her cheek. "It is such a shame that you are so pure of heart, as I would have liked to make you my maid as well~" Sonia blinked, and then cast a look of suppressed anger at Lily before returning back to her neutral expression. "Well, I suppose we are done here. Sonia, could you escort her to the dungeon? I reserved a guest room exclusively for her." She returned back to sit on her throne.
The maid nodded, and suggested for Lily to follow her. The green-haired girl clenched her fists so hard they drew blood. "You won't get away with this! Whatever sick thing you're planning, I'll stop you!"
"Boring..." Caroline mumbled, and went back to sit in the throne's shadow. Justine scoffed, and sipped on her cup of tea.
"Sick? How ignorant of you. It is the world that is sick; sick with obsessions and desires that run rampant. As long as depraved humans feel such, they won't stop to hurt others. That is why I will create a pure paradise, where such sins have been cleansed."
Justine smiled like never before; her fangs were once again visible.
"I shall destroy...Love itself."
Lily put her hand to her mouth, suppressing a gasp.
"You're crazy...That's nuts! But I know you're serious about this, so I'll take it seriously too!" Lily made a stance of defiance. "I have friends, and they will come and rescue me! Alex...Amber...Helga...M...M-Mariette too! They will rescue me, I just know it!"
"What a ludicrous assumption. But I suppose hope is a component in a pure heart. Now, take her away, Sonia. I want to enjoy my afternoon tea, with Janet~" She gave one last glance in Lily's direction when she was led out of the chamber, before she turned to Janet; she gestured to the black-dressed girl with a hooked finger and a seductive look in her eyes.
Having heard her name she looks back to Justine. Seeing that she was being called she wasted no time going to her Lady. Rather than sitting in another chair she sat across her mistress' lap. "Are you pleased My Lady?" Head resting on Justine's shoulder.
Justine giggled. "Hmhm~" She curled a strand of Janet's hair around her finger. "I am. Everything is going according to plan. It has been far too long...after centuries, I can finally meet with Father."
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