robowest | [ WEEK ONE

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Xion shakes her head quickly. ]

It's not! I was just curious about the timing. Thank you again!

[ A beat. ]

Actually, one more thing, sorry. Does the curfew lock apply to the hotel's windows, too?

Oh, should we start suspecting Seizaburo now?

[everyone just ignore him]

Shinnosuke!

[ YOU STOP THAT ]

[He's just.

Laughing.

SORRY.]

[ YOU'RE NOT FUNNY YOUNG MAN huff puff indignation ]

E-excuse you!

[UGH]

That's ridiculous to start with, but I broke a window - I wouldn't need to wait for curfew to be over if I was going to do that!

I'm just joking, I'm just joking. As funny as this is, you really should calm down.

...how am I supposed to calm down?! It's been hours, and we're still no closer to finding Miss Ao's killer than we were at the start!

This is so frustrating!

[She doesn't handle it very well when she feels powerless.]

[...]

Take in a deep breath. Go over the facts—it's not like we've been completely unproductive so far.

Even if we don't come to the right answer, losses happen. Accept that. Pick yourself up and keep going. Crying out, "It's frustrating!" doesn't do anything.

...right. R-right. You're absolutely... right.

[God, Okita would be ashamed of her if he saw how she was acting right now.

She wipes furiously at her eyes and nods firmly, trying to get herself back on track.]

(no subject)

insincerely - 2017-01-21 21:11 (UTC) - Expand

No, it does not. S'why I specified doors.

Wait— So anyone can just hop out a window after curfew, and then slide back in through it?

Probably, yeah.

[ oh ]

Oh. .... then ... what's the point of curfew if someone can just leave anyway? [ cONFUSED ]

You gonna jump two stories out a window to maybe catch a killer in the act?

If it would stop someone from dying, of course we would!

[ okay, this was a mistake. so he's going to clarify, loudly, for the room: ]

Before anyone gets any ideas, you aren't gonna see what you ain't meant to see. That's how this works. That's why only the doors lock and not the windows. You may see something but it's what you're meant to and how it happens is what's meant to happen. It just is what it is, alright!

[ god damn lunatics ]

dmails - 2017-01-21 20:38 (UTC) - Expand

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feminitis - 2017-01-21 21:34 (UTC) - Expand

Not like two stories is that... high...

[...No, he's gonna stop himself there, because right that actually is a little much for most people, isn't it?]

...damn it, I've been around Parker too long.

Especially if you don't go for just a straight jump.

hitsitoff - 2017-01-21 20:40 (UTC) - Expand

athenite - 2017-01-21 20:41 (UTC) - Expand

[ GLANCES AT PERCY, WHO DEFINITELY WOULD DO THAT. annabeth would also definitely do that. she's pretty sure harry would do that.

sO MANY PEOPLE WOULD DO THAT ]

[DON'T??? STOP LOOKING AT HIM???

...but there's a tiiiiny shrug of his shoulders like "well, yeah." Sorry about him.]

athenite - 2017-01-21 20:43 (UTC) - Expand

... actually, I was thinking about someone using that escape route to commit the murder. I mean ... nothing would be stopping them, right? Aside from, um, the drop.

Suppose there isn't, no.

sheriffexe - 2017-01-21 20:53 (UTC) - Expand

[Yeah, he's pretty sure there are enough people who'd do that.

Him included, maybe.]

I'll jump two stories if I'm really hungry and it's the only way to get food?

[ meals are important? ]