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 ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico) robowest. |
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sheriffexe) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
robowest2017-01-21 12:00 pm
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[Sei manages a small, hopefully reassuring smile.]
I spent the first couple of days here confused out of my mind. It makes sense that you wouldn't be able to pick out any one thing as odd.
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[She nods, simply.]
I had hoped, in a way, to find a way out though...naturally if there was one, you already would have found it.
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[Maybe the fact that she didn't just means she's unlucky.]
Miss Tiara, I'm sorry to have to say this, but... there's a possibility that you may have been kept here to take the fall for Miss Ao's death. Is there anything you can think of, anything at all, that might help to clear your name once and for all?
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What would you have me say, Sir?
There was no one else about... there is no one who can confirm my alibi. Miss Ao is... she is dead, and she cannot confirm my story either.
I do not know...what to say.
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...wait.
A messy death.]
...Miss Tiara, are you wearing the same clothes now that you were the night Miss Ao was killed?
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[She tilts her head, frowning a little.]
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[Sei brightens up a little, clearly relieved.]
I'm sorry for any impropriety, but may we examine your clothing? The saloon was such a mess, there's - if there's no blood, then you couldn't have been the one to kill her, right? We'd know for a fact that you're innocent.
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[She nods, simply.]
If... if that will help... of course you may.
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[She leans in and whispers something to her. "I'm a girl"? "I'm gay"? Nobody but Tiara will ever know, unless she blabs about it, but she can at least rest assured that Sei is not using the opportunity to creep on her.
Once that reassurance is given, Sei kneels down to get a better look at Tiara's clothing - she's looking for any sign of dirt or blood, as well as any damage to the outfit that goes beyond normal wear and tear.]
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Ahem.
Tiara lets Sei inspect her without complaint--and she's pristine. No blood! Some dirt on the hem of her dress, but it's hard to tell if that's graveyard dirt or just dirt and dust from being in a jail cell for days.
All the same, otherwise!]
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But Sei comes away from the inspection with a small smile. As long as Tiara isn't lying about not having changed clothes, then this has to mean she's innocent, right? What a relief.]
...you're completely clean. If anyone tries to point the finger at you, I'll gladly testify to your innocence.
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Thank you. You are...so very kind. I'm truly grateful for your care, and... I will put myself in your hands.
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Miss Tiara, I'm - I'm so sorry to have to ask this, but just so I can definitely prove your innocence, may I take a look at your shoes?
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[FEEL FREE TO CHECK 'EM OUT they're clean and bloodless.]
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Miss Tiara... these are the same shoes you're wearing as that night, too, right? And the saloon was already bloody when you arrived?
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[uh oh]
Though I certainly would have avoided...such a mess.
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...I'm sorry you've had to go through this, Miss Tiara.
{And she's sorry she doesn't feel 100% convinced of her innocence anymore, either. It's just too much of a coincidence to think that she could walk through somewhere as bloody as the saloon and not get a single trace of blood on her.]
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Thank you.
I am...sorry as well, that this must be as it is.
[It's... all just a mess.]
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[She wants to believe. Tiara. Don't let her down.
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It doesn't seem like she has anything left to say to that.]
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Sei bites her lip and turns away, not wanting anyone to see how her eyes are filling with tears - because at this rate, it really seems like she's not going to get what she wants, here.]