[ WEEK ONE – TRIAL ]

[sheriffexe]

TRIAL

In the morning, the town comes back to life. Birds crow overhead, a snake nearby hisses, a lingering coyote dips behind a shop before disappearing into the wild. It's a frightening contrast to the stillness of yesterday but it doesn't mean it's over yet. After all, today is the trial. The Sheriff stands on the porch of the Town Hall and brings his hand up to his mouth to let out a whistle. He'll thumb back to the Hall behind him and very clearly state -- "Trial time, folks. Get in here and figure out who did it." And then he'll turn to leave before pausing and adding on, "Bring a snack or somethin' too. The Town Hall is set up more like a court house, a Judge's bench at the front but instead of at center, it's off to the side as if more for observation than participation. There's a table at the front of the room already holding a small box and a pad of papers and pen, for voting apparently. A side room containing only a metal gurney is next and today it's obvious why there's a gurney there at all with the corpse, resting right on top of it. Aside from that, there are rows for everyone to take a seat and it's only after everyone is inside and settled, that the doors close and the Sheriff speaks. "Well, have at it. You've got till nine." And then, he points to a clock on the wall that reads 12:00. Good luck. Welcome to the trial post! Characters are free to discuss everything related to the trial here. They won't be let out of the room until 9PM when voting ends. Every character must vote and the voting post can be found here. If there are any questions, please shoot a message to this journal or to robowest.

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Comments

[hydrokinetics]

[It's way too early for this, but...they should start brainstorming what's going on. It happened already. There's no going backwards. Alibis are important and relevant clues are important, but there's one other thing bothering him.]

Any guesses on how our jailbirds were set free? I don't think any of us knew where the keys would be to unlock their cells. Who spoke to them in the last week?

[impulsiveness]

I didn't really speak to them, but the cell doors didn't look like they were forced open when Ana and I checked them. No scratches. No weird dents. I think the Sheriff might have been the one to let them out.

[hydrokinetics]

Which means our murderer was probably working with the Sheriff. [Which is even better, great.] He did say that we needed to consult with him or whatever before we killed people, which means that they would have had to find time to sneak out before lockdown and catch him at the station.

So what happened with Tiara? She wasn't bloody or anything, was she?

[thatsthespirit]

No, she wasn't. We found her in a room in the second floor of the saloon, unharmed physically.

The Sheriff didn't allow us to question her about the events of Thursday night, as he said she was resting. But he did let her stay at the hotel with Yuna and I.

[hydrokinetics]

Resting from what? [But okay, sure. He pauses for a moment.] Did she say anything to you and Yuna after that?

[thatsthespirit]

No.

And we didn't ask.

[for. obvious reasons]

We brought her food and books to give her a chance to relax. She seemed frazzled.

[hydrokinetics]

[There's a grumble like "Yeah, I'd be frazzled, too." But he doesn't elaborate on that.]

...at least you guys took care of her. [That's important, but it also means they're kind of at a dead end so far.] Makes you wonder why the Sheriff said yes.

[elemancy]

[noct will share what he knows with the class:]

Talked to Tiara the other day. Said the Sheriff was the one who locked her up there and that he told her she "had a purpose."

[so. take that as you will, everyone.]

[ceded]

A ... purpose?

[ Xion breathes out hard through her nose. She knows Yuna really cares for Tiara, but... ]

The ... same purpose as Ao, maybe? To ... demonstrate to us. How this is all supposed to work.

[ ... implicating some troubling things about Tiara's own role. ]

[elemancy]

We can't rule it out.

[implications and all. he hates it. he really really hates the idea of a sacrificial lamb, but he can't shrug it off, either.]

[coudre]

Maybe her "purpose" was just to be a victim. You know, to get the ball rolling!

[ceded]

Shut up!

[ haha immediately losing her temper and getting emotional thanks nui ]

[elemancy]

...She's not wrong.

[loath as he is to admit it, and noct is clenching his jaw a bit.] Getting mad at each other now's not gonna help.

[coudre]

[ she giggles. ]

Just 'cause you don't want to think about it, doesn't mean that it might not be true! We can't leave anything out, right?

[impulsiveness]

Could you not?

[coudre]

Why not? It's possible, isn't it?

[feminitis]

I'm guessing she wasn't able to elaborate on what that purpose was, was she...

[Either because she didn't want to, or because the Sheriff didn't tell her. Sei glances in the direction of the Sheriff and purses her lips.]

Do you think he might be any more forthcoming about it now, if we ask?

[flippity]

When I spoke to Ao, she had no idea why she was here or why she was different than the rest of us.

[ she at least definitely acted super nervous as well... ]

I guess Tiara was probably the same?

[feminitis]

Probably. If that's the case, it's a little disturbing. He told us why we were here - it would only be fair for him to tell them the same thing.

...I'm gonna go have a chat with him.

[flippity]

Hmmm, maybe he didn't want them to cry escaping harder?

[ if their purpose for being sent here was specifically for this, then they might have made more of an attempt to get out of the cells. ]

[hydrokinetics]

[He nods.]

She said the same thing to me, too, so I don't think she was lying about that.

[flippity]

She said that she didn't do anything bad to deserve to be put into jail, and I suggested that maybe something happened that she didn't remember? Like how we all don't remember getting on the train!

[ she slumps down in her seat. ]

But she seemed like a nice girl.

[athenite]

Saying the same thing to people isn't really indicative of not lying so much as being consistent, but since we can't prove that...we may as well believe it.

[elemancy]

She said he would only say she has a purpose. No idea if he told her what it was.

[he wants to give her the benefit of the doubt, but noct shrugs, frown deep on his lips.]

Guess it can't hurt to try. I'm... not sure he'd be willing, though.

[feminitis]

There's only one way to find out. I'll give it a try!