[ 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

[saurloser]

I suppose someone could just volunteer and save everyone else the trauma of voting.

[athenite]

Was that your way of volunteering, or asking for volunteers?

[saurloser]

It was my way of stating an observation.

I am not opposed to doing it if that's how we decide to proceed. I don't even particularly know the accused; surely none of her friends want to be the one to kill her.

[athenite]

Someone saying it like you might not be a bad idea to vote for.

[ HOWEVER, GESTURES TO NUI. ]

But some people might be a little too willing.

[saurloser]

[ He laughs, a little bit ]

Of course. I agree some people shouldn't be encouraged.

[athenite]

There's no reason to drag this thing out.

[ and she's not convinced anyone eager to kill wouldn't. ]

[saurloser]

Mm. And so it seems better to choose someone via discussion, rather than secret vote. We could end up with either someone too soft or much too hard to give her a good death.

After all, someone inexperienced in any kind of killing -- hunting included -- has no idea how much effort and strength it takes to cleanly take a life.

[hydrokinetics]

And is that someone going to be you? [Excuse him for being incredibly frustrated by all of this.]

[saurloser]

[ Shrugs! ]

It certainly could be. I'm not sure why that would be an issue, unless someone closer to her wants to see her end, specifically..?

[hydrokinetics]

...someone did just suggest asking her who she'd want, but I'm sure Tiara would say she doesn't want any of us doing this either. So we're back to the beginning. [He frowns a little.] We'll keep that in mind if we can't reach a good decision otherwise. [And since Annabeth's also speaking to him he'll fall silent to let her handle it and listen to everyone else in the room.]

[saurloser]

I suppose we could give her a weapon and let her do it herself.

[hydrokinetics]

I'm willing to bet the Sheriff won't let us do that either.

[saurloser]

Likely. It depends on what his goal is--to cause the most despair among those of us still living, or to give a good show to whoever's watching.

[uraniumnumnum]

If you're all still paralyzed with worthless indecision, then I have no qualms getting this over with myself.

[ he states this coolly. Ash seems wholly unaffected by the goings-on and Tiara's predicament. ]

[saurloser]

Well, dragging it out helps neither her nor us.

[sidearmofthelaw]

Glad to see at least some people approaching this with a level head.

[saurloser]

We're not getting out of this, so we may as well be practical.

[ He eyes her badge, her hat, her...general...outfitness ]

You could be a good choice as well, Sheriff.

[sidearmofthelaw]

I'd throw my name in the hat, sure. Sounds like people want it to be as painless a death as possible, though, which I don't guarantee.

[saurloser]

Heh.

I'm sure they'll thank you for your honesty.

[sidearmofthelaw]

Getting picked would definitely be more exciting, but it'd be pretty inconvenient for me if they picked me based on wrong assumptions and then got upset afterwards. There's plenty more of this game left, and she won't be the last to die.

[saurloser]

Mm, and I have completely faith that some people here will quickly turn to voting simply for those they dislike.

[robitussin]

If we're supposed to take that as you volunteering, would you make it quick?

[saurloser]

If I were given a weapon that allowed me to do so, of course.

[ He spreads his hands, indicating their emptiness and also his outfit's lack of hiding spot for a weapon ]

As it is, I'd have only my hands.

[robitussin]

Guess it would be too much to ask him to let anyone go grab the pistols we were so mercifully given, huh.

[A sigh.]

This is fucked.

[saurloser]

I'm sure he has something in mind, for the method. This is the climactic moment of this act.