Season 2 / Suzune Gikou - "Love & Justice are Blind" [Second Trial Projection]

MILGRAM

Sie finds Suzune futzing with the bandaging around her shoulder, tightening and re-finishing it as it’s gotten a little looser over the day.

“Ah…! Is this a bad time?” they ask, despite the fact their task remains the same whether she says yes or no.

Suzune glances up at Sie in surprise, initially not having expected the visit. The meaning of the house call sinks in shortly after, and her frown shifts into a smile. “Not at all! I’m free right now.”

“…Okay. Well, as long as you’re sure. It shouldn’t be too strenuous for you sat in the chair, at least. Well, physically. Prisoner 003, Suzune Gikou - is there anything else you’d like to go over before we go to your projection?”

Suzune taps her cheek in thought. “Mmm… Actually, is it alright if I grab my friend, Kuro-chan, before the harder part starts? It’d be nice to have her with me, if that’s alright.” Though it’d been awhile, Suzune still remembers that exchange with Akemi a month back.

While walking into the projection room, trotting beside Akemi, Suzune doesn’t particularly stop anyone else from coming along as they gather. Shiori and Bow-Wow are fine companions to have around, and she respects them both greatly.

What’s weirder is the specific person she notices as she’s actively being strapped into the chair for the projection, a mess of white and black hair in the corner. “Ummm… is that Churchwell-san? Is… he ok? Wait, I don’t think I want–” But her own consciousness fades before she can finish her thought.

Chula - Suzune

As your sights adjust to the sudden sunlight flittering through the open windows, the scent of ocean air and flowers hits your nostrils. You find yourself inside a powder blue oceanside event building, largely empty of decorations, leaving an almost lonely atmosphere. However, what IS here are a clutter of tables of varying types, arranged in sections and equipped with chairs. Additionally, there’s what seems to be a hot table for serving food, but it is presently devoid of anything to eat. A section of the floor has been fully cleared, presumably to act as a dance floor, given the makeshift DJ stand adjacent to it. The only form of decoration set up is a large mirror on the back wall, tucked away in an ornate alcove leading to a door to the outside.

Ah… but the next thing you notice is your outfits. The group of you seem to be dressed in fashionable and expensive-looking formal wear, all in matching shades of blues and greens. Regardless of whether you’re wearing pants or a dress, all the outfits contain some amount of cohesion: a splash of glitter, a singular bell somewhere sewn onto it or as a piece of jewelry, some tulle, and satins. Everyone is also in the heels type of your choice, with a minimum of 2 inches on the height of those (heeled boots, wedges, heeled sandals, etc etc).

((I have created a playlist for this projection!! There’s a base set of songs, but I’ll be adding more songs to the playlist as you discover more within the projection wehehe. That can be found here!))

Emmy | Akemi

Knowing that the projections were up and running again, Akemi had been trying to keep herself somewhat findable, recalling her promise to Suzune. And, true to her word, Suzune approached her with Sie, inviting her to act as a support. Just how supportive she could be was anyone’s guess, but she would keep her word regardless.

As they walked, Akemi remained quiet, but as close by as she was allowed by the wardens. Her thoughts focused on what they would likely see, in there. Knowing what she knew about Suzune’s situation, she certainly had some ideas. Ideally, there wouldn’t be an arduous hike, this time around.

Just what was she about to say, before they started? Something about Vincent? Curious.

As her eyes adjusted to the new scene, she immediately took note of her outfit and set aside a few moments to simply assess it. Much better than the last outfit change, that much was for certain. Greens and blues weren’t exactly her color, but beggars can’t be choosers, and this is the best-dressed she’s felt in far too long.

Wasting little time, Akemi makes her way toward the mirror.

Chula - Suzune

Emmy | Akemi Wasting little time, Akemi makes her way toward the mirror.

It’s an ornate mirror, but as soon as you glance into the reflection itself, things look… starkly different. Rather than the beautiful powder blue paint of the event venue, everything’s taken on a sickly green color.

Akemi also sees herself and the others, looking perfectly normal. At least for now.

Erin | Vincent Churchwell

Vincent had been tired lately. Utterly exhausted, even. And despite his best efforts to actually try to rest at appropriate times, the voices, injury pain, and his own inner guilt were doing a fantastic job at making that extremely hard to do.

He really hadn’t meant to fall asleep here, and what had happened was much more akin to him passing out on the cold ground than deciding to take a nap. The mistake he had probably personally made, however, was entering the Projection Room at all, even if no one had actually been there when he had. And so, a very much unconscious Vincent had been to the side of the room as Suzune was brought in, sprawled on the ground.

And very much more unfortunately, his presence had not been noticed until it was Too Late to do anything about it, his form only stirring slightly at the sound of people talking just before everything begins. Ah.

…

Vincent wakes up in a place he’s never seen before, wearing… CLOTHING he’s never seen before either- A fancy, glittery suit, with blues and greens??? When was the last time he’d even WORN something other than black and white??????? Groggily, he lifts his head from the floor of the room, the bell very much attached to a now glittery collar around his neck jingling slightly.

“H…. whaa?” Very intelligible, thank you Vincent. He looks around him at first with confusion, and then a bit more stress as his senses come to him. He pulls at the bell around his neck and glances anxiously around, spotting at least the others who came in with him now. He gets up with a bit of a wobble at the realization he’s wearing HEELS, which he’s very much never worn before. “Where… am I???????????”

Shiori Yoshida

Though Shiori is normally just fine being attached at the hip to her sister, being handcuffed to her again after the first round certainly became a hindrance on top of being further restrained. So when the wardens finally reemerged, they were quick to have their connecting clasps undone, and though she’s still more restrained than usual, at least she’s able to walk around on her own.

Hence why now that more projections are up and running, she finds herself wandering along with the group heading towards the projection room. Suzune certainly seems like a safe enough option to view, what with how nice she’s been to everyone. It’d certainly be good to know more about what she did to end up imprisoned with the rest of them.

When the room changes for the projection, Shiori seems to adjust almost immediately, the formality of the event space being quite the familiar setup for her, so much so that she doesn’t even realize her outfit changed until she looks down at herself. She hums absently, the suit she’s now wearing of a rather similar design to her sister’s butler uniform, albeit much more glittery and accessorized with taller heels than usual. The loss of her hat is a bit of a shame though, her hands instinctively moving up to fidget with it only for her to brush her fingers through her bangs instead. Oh well. She’ll get it back once they’re done here.

And seeing as the projection won’t end until they’ve interacted with all it has to offer, she quietly approaches the tables, looking them over with the usual blank expression. She does spare a moment to glance over at Vincent, and noting his disorientation, she speaks up. “We’re in a projection, sir. Gikuo-san’s projection, to be specific. Are you alright?”

Chula - Suzune

Shiori Yoshida And seeing as the projection won’t end until they’ve interacted with all it has to offer, she quietly approaches the tables, looking them over with the usual blank expression.

Peering over the tables, one sticks out as being the only one to have a clear sign taped to it. A long rectangular table with no chairs pushed into it has a white plastic place card with ornate gold foil reading “Gifts” in a cursive font. There’s one other long rectangular table with chairs pushed under it, with two other place cards set atop it. Name tags, it seems, one reading “Chiyu Otsuka” and “Tetsuya Otsuka”.

The third and final category of table is a round table, with a total of six of them, each about to seat up to 8 people. The table at the center of the room is a set of papers and books. Notably, none of the tables here have any kind of decoration, tablecloth, or plates to look at.

Bow-wow

The least Bow-Wow could do was follow Suzune into her own projection, after he had attended hers… and yet, he kind of regretted it immediately.

The… suit felt way too nice. He looked cute though! He was adorable. Like a teenager at prom! His face is red and he looks rather awkward…. but he’s gonna get used to it! That is… until the heels. For a guy who wears a mascot suit as a hobby, he wobbles like a newborn deer as he jingles his way toward Akemi.

“Miss Akemi! Please, can I hold onto you?” He stares at her with big eyes, leaning into the mirror to closer examine the reflections. Does he look super cute and handsome….

Chula - Suzune

Bow-wow e stares at her with big eyes, leaning into the mirror to closer examine the reflections. Does he look super cute and handsome….

He looks like he normally does, but with a suit!! So, the handsomest boy! At least for now.

Erin | Vincent Churchwell Okayyyyyyy… he takes a peek at the hot table, that would probably be fine and normal.

It’s a hot table for catering! Presently, it’s turned off, but there’s a knob in front of each dip in the table to control the temperature of the water within it. On the second half of the hot table, however, is a chilled area for keeping things like desserts and salads properly cooled. Every place to put food is presently empty, though! Including the adjacent table and the cakestand atop it.

Erin | Vincent Churchwell

Shiori answers him and…

“…Oh.” Ok, he at least wasn’t hallucinating, probably, or at least not any more than the projections already forced them to, but Suzune’s… For all that he’s been able to get along with her amicably for tasks that needed to be done, being in something THIS personal for her and without her say in the matter was a lot more stressful, and the anxious feeling he has about him does not go away. “I’m… fine, but is there really no way to leave this early…? I really don’t think Suzu- that Ms. Gikou would want me here in particular. I… if need be I can try to look away from anything private, but I’m not sure if I can… look at nothing either, if I have to for us to progress.”

That said, he flicks his eyes towards Akemi after having said that, knowing her own opinion already on the matter of looking or not, but still innerly conflicted. But… Vincent takes a slow, deep breath, and schools himself outwardly at least a little, even if he still looks a bit too tense in the shoulders and, occasionally, twitchy. It’s fine, he’s normal.

Okayyyyyyy… he takes a peek at the hot table, that would probably be fine and normal.

Shiori Yoshida

She’s quiet for a moment, thinking, then shakes her head at Vincent’s question. “As far as I know, there’s no way to leave early. Though I can’t say that for certain. I’ve never tried to do that or witnessed anyone do that. If there’s anything you don’t want to see, I’ll try my best to prevent you from doing so, if you wish.”

Going back to the tables, Shiori finds her attention grabbed by the set of papers and books, cautiously going over to the particular table they’re on to examine their contents.

Chula - Suzune

Shiori Yoshida Going back to the tables, Shiori finds her attention grabbed by the set of papers and books, cautiously going over to the particular table they’re on to examine their contents.

The stack of papers seem to contain a to-do list, printed out ornate name cards, and oddly, a photo album and a sketchbook. The to-do list is out in the open and easy enough to read, as well as the guest name cards. The names are simple, only three of them: Haruki Gikou, Suzune Gikou, and Hazuki Gikou.

The to-do list reads as follows:

- Arrange guest seating assignments
- Pick out catering
- Design the cake
- Decorate
- Fill gifts table

Emmy | Akemi

Akemi hadn’t even registered that everyone else was wearing heels, until she notices how awkwardly everyone else is walking and how they are suddenly even taller than usual, to her. She offers an arm to Bow-wow, with a faint nod. If there was one way she could be of use, here, it was her ability to walk confidently in heels.

“…try to watch how I walk, if you are uncertain. The last thing we need is for all of you to roll your ankles.”

She walks a little more slowly and deliberately, so the others can at least observe her posture. She feels awkward as hell, doing so, but she’s been in heels for well over a month by this point so she isn’t exactly out of practice.

“Well, you are here regardless. How much you choose to view is up to you, and you will simply need to apologize to Gikou-chan later.” She calls over to Vincent. Just what was Suzune’s problem with Vincent? This was news to her, at least.

She approaches the table Shiori is looking at, and finds herself immediately drawn to open the sketchbook and look inside.

Chula - Suzune

Emmy | Akemi She approaches the table Shiori is looking at, and finds herself immediately drawn to open the sketchbook and look inside.

The sketchbook only has the first page filled out, revealing a handwritten note in a clean and neat handwriting. A pair of scissors, a glue stick, and a pack of colored pencils sit snugly in-between the sketchbook and the photo album. The sketchbook note reads:

“Hi, Suzune!! Thanks again for offering to help with the reception room’s planning so last minute, you’re the best friend a gal could ask for! I know it’s pretty late, so I thought I would leave you this sketchbook and photo album to help you. If you draw something or paste in a part of a photo and tear out the page, it’ll become real! Be creative, darling, I know you’re good at that (no matter what you say about yourself in that regard). Don’t worry about the stuff on the beach, I’ve already finished up with that. See you soon! - Chiyu”

Erin | Vincent Churchwell

Vincent continues with his measured breathing, and though Akemi was actually talking to Bow-Wow with that first part, probably, he is also very much trying to watch how she’s walking in the heals after hearing that, also trying to figure this out on his end. At least he’s not in a tiny thin heel but a bit more of a chunky one, but his center of balance is still a bit off as he walks over to look at the Tasks as she calls out to him.

“You’re… right. I think I’ll need to regardless just for being here, but I’ll… try to help.” He is just Barely not tripping as he reaches the task list. “….Okay. We need to draw what we need, then….??”

Or paste a photo, silly! His gaze lingers on the photo album, though he is hesitant to open it. Photos were personal, weren’t they???

“ ……..This sort of planning is something Gracie would have been great at,” he mumbles under his breath with a sigh, looking a little distracted, but he will look at the album at least a BIT.

Chula - Suzune

Erin | Vincent Churchwell he mumbles under his breath with a sigh, looking a little distracted, but he will look at the album at least a BIT.

The photo album is unlabeled as such, but features a white cover with gold and blue detailings, forming a lattice pattern on the front. Opening it up reveals printed photos of Suzune, specifically doing what appears to be modeling shoots in studios or in scenic locations. One photo towards the end of the album shows a photo of Suzune and a much taller woman with platinum blonde, near white, hair and blue eyes, wrapping their arms around each other’s shoulders and smiling. A lipstick kiss mark has been left on the surface of the photo.

Shiori Yoshida

Oh boy, specific instructions telling her what to do! Shiori visibly perks up a bit at the sight, scanning over the list and nodding to herself. She reaches for the name cards, intending to get the first task done, but then pauses, opting instead to open the sketchbook and draw a basic white three-tiered wedding cake without any toppers. The note did say that whatever they drew would become real, right? Hopefully that’s meant to be used in tandem with getting these tasks done.

Chula - Suzune

Shiori Yoshida She reaches for the name cards, intending to get the first task done, but then pauses, opting to open the sketchbook and draw a basic white three-tiered wedding cake without any toppers.

After tearing out the page from the sketchbook, the paper floats into the air and crumples into a ball, floating to the cake stand by the hot table! Before your eyes, the paper reforms into an extremely basic wedding cake with minimal decoration.

Wow! That was satisfying to get done, but a little tiring. You can keep going, though.

Emmy | Akemi

“Drawing…?”

She looks at the sketchbook and hesitates a little. But, looking over the remainder of the group, she sighs after a few moments of inner conflict. She will allow Shiori to do the drawings, it is likely better that way. She can simply do her job as a critical eye for the design.

“I suppose we will be in need of several things from the sketchbook. Tablecloths, place settings, flowers, that should ideally complete the decorating task. Yoshida-san, would you prefer to draw, or would you prefer to handle another task on the list?”

She glances toward Vincent, “Perhaps you can handle the seating, Churchwell-san. I assume matching people by surname will suffice.”

Then, toward Bow-wow, “Should the sketchbook not place things on the tables, I will likely need assistance in placing things.”

Erin | Vincent Churchwell

Vincent is relieved that the pictures are actually entirely normal, except for the last one which makes him pause a moment, certain things that he’s heard from Suzune coming back to mind. Well. That’s enough looking at that for nowwww….

Then he looks over at Shiori’s… extremely undecorated cake and has to actively surpress a grimace to not make her feel bad. Oh god they’re going to get such a bad grade in wedding planning, the bride will Never be happy with this- …..Wait… who’s even getting married, here???

“Right, I’ll get on that… I’m also willing to draw anything needed, if required.” Vincent nods to Akemi, and reaches for the printed out Name Cards next… with a bit of confusion at the fact there’s only three names. Are there really no other guests, or are there just more blank cards?? “Ah… Haruki is Suzune’s husband, I believe, but who is Hazuki…?”

He Does Not Know Yet….!!

Chula - Suzune

Erin | Vincent Churchwell Are there really no other guests, or are there just more blank cards??

There doesn’t appear to be any name cards to place outside of Haruki, Suzune, and Hazuki! should be an easy enough placement job.