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

You realize that two or more people could be working together, so abilis don't account for anything.

Jason said the same thing. [ Well ... not the same thing. But similar. Lying and all that. ] But ... it's better that we ask, and try to find out if someone is lying, right?

It's useless. Even if you find out someone is lying, are you going to volunteer to kill them with little evidence?

That makes you no better than they are. You'll be a murderer.

[ flinch. ]

I never said that! But ... we should do our best to find out what really happened, right? What would you suggest we do instead?!

To stay calm and not make idiotic, rash decisions out of fear until there's more information.

... how is that different from what we were already doing?

I didn't say you weren't doing it, just it's best if it doesn't start.

... yeah. Okay. I ... feel the same way.

[ a beat. ]

You're that boy that was on the horse. What were you doing?

Riding. [Obviously...!!]

I went to check the homestead after the hotel opened. Ocelot came afterward. His dog didn't smell anyone else around the homestead, so we decided to split up to search other places.

I was trying to get back to the town.

Most of us don't know each other well yet, though. Why would anyone work with a stranger on something as risky as committing murder?

[OKAY THIS TIME SHINNOSUKE SWEARS HE'S NOT DOING THIS TO BUG SEI]

... What about the roles mentioned in the rulebook?

... "Certain participants have been given duties." That's what the rule book said, right? [Furrowing his brow.] You think working together to kill people is one of those "duties"?

[The sheriff said he had a way to keep the game rolling if no one killed, now that he thinks about it.]

With our luck? Probably.

[ like. just saying. ]

Great. So might have our own little local club of psychos.

...it's not a good thing. But.

[But.]

This at least means... if we guess wrong... there's still a chance we might choose someone who could have been a threat to us, instead of just... choosing someone totally innocent.

[He's quiet for a moment, letting it sink in.]

... Let's focus on finding our perp instead of thinking about what ifs. If there's no other choice, it—

[Swallows, disgusted.]

It has to be someone who deserves it.

...yeah.

[The ideal thing here would be finding the killer. Sei's allowed herself to get distracted a few times already, but - they need to get back on track.]

[He shrugs.]

The rulebook's pretty vague. We've got no idea how many roles there are or what they are at all, do we? But it's a thought.

Five bucks says the Sheriff wouldn't confirm or deny it. It's not "relevant" or we're not "meant" to know.

Yeah, I'm not taking you up on that bet. You're welcome to try, though, unless you're still feeling traumatized.

[MAKES

A FACE.]

Could you stop bringing that up? I don't want to think about it. Period.

[But YEAH. He'll bite the bullet.]

Or confirm why there are "wanted posters" on the board. There's only three picked out. Is it a pool of potential killers or potential victims?

If it's a pool of potential killers, then that implies Chane and Xion did it. And sure as hell didn't see Chane climb out a window to deep six a girl.

That you know of. [He's not sure whether to be convinced about alibis.] The girl's hands were clean. She said it had been dark when she was wandering around, and the saloon was already compromised when she got there. But she wouldn't answer directly whether or not the other girl attacked her. Only "she did nothing wrong." And she wouldn't say whether or not she buried her. She said she didn't see her again after they parted ways. She may not have just seen her alive.

But, so far, it seems as if she may be innocent.

(no subject)

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 21:23 (UTC) - Expand

bittybat - 2017-01-21 21:28 (UTC) - Expand

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 21:53 (UTC) - Expand

lord they bout to find each others hands

bittybat - 2017-01-21 21:55 (UTC) - Expand

NOT HERE CHILDREN

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 22:01 (UTC) - Expand

bittybat - 2017-01-21 22:10 (UTC) - Expand

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 22:21 (UTC) - Expand

bittybat - 2017-01-21 22:34 (UTC) - Expand

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 22:43 (UTC) - Expand

bittybat - 2017-01-21 22:55 (UTC) - Expand

impulsiveness - 2017-01-21 23:00 (UTC) - Expand

bittybat - 2017-01-21 23:13 (UTC) - Expand

It doesn't matter. This is a "game." There could be any number of murderers, and they would obviously work together. They would also lie together. If not, both of them may be killed.