[ WEEK TWO – 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

[a_sin_for_him]

So we have the victim and another individual's whereabouts irrefutably set the night of the murder as not in the hotel. Obviously there's an immediate implication there, but it seems...a bit too neat and simple.

[Especially with the gift of the camera. How coincidental, that it was acquired just in time.]

[hitsitoff]

It does seem real damn convenient, doesn't it?

[Yeah, he's not sure if they should buy this or not either.]

[a_sin_for_him]

Entirely. What was it we were told...we'd see what was intended for us to see?

[God, if only they knew what the real purpose of this whole thing was, some framing, some context. Without it...]

So have we simply been so lucky as to discover the killer's identity immediately, or are we being given false leads?

[hitsitoff]

Either is a possibility. Usually, I'd think something this obvious is almost definitely a trick. In my experience, when something seems a little too perfect, that's usually because someone designed it that way.

But here... [With these circumstances...] I dunno. Could be exactly as it seems. Could be a trick. Could be a double bluff.

[a_sin_for_him]

In my experience, as well. But maybe we're simply supposed to think that. I doubt our hosts care if we come to the right conclusion or not, our lives mean nothing.

[hitsitoff]

Yeah, they're real caring like that. And this time they went and made it harder on us, keeping us away from the body.

It'd be nice if the answer is just clear cut and the killer just ain't a criminal mastermind, huh?

[Well, okay, nice isn't the right word to use considering what happens at the end of a trial, but... You know what he means.]

[a_sin_for_him]

I hate being a plaything.

[Lust sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose. This entire affair is a farce. This isn't a proper trial at all.]

We have two options to pursue, either we trust what was shown via the cameras, or we assume it's a false lead meant to send us in a specific direction. If we assume it's true...well, there we have it, we know the identity of the killer and it doesn't deserve much more attention anyway...

[hitsitoff]

...'Course, if we assume it's false, we don't really got much else to work off of.

[a_sin_for_him]

So we ignore the camera and act as though it doesn't exist for the moment, establish alibis or lack of for everyone else.

[hitsitoff]

Right. The basics.

Here's hoping that'll lead to something.

[a_sin_for_him]

Lacking any proper investigative equipment, I'm not sure what else we can do but employ the basics and hope we learn something useful.

Otherwise...well, I suppose at least we have an option.

[hitsitoff]

...Not sure that's how we should be looking at it.

[Geez, Lust.]

[a_sin_for_him]

I'm simply being practical. Someone is going to be put to death for this, and unless we can come up with any other possibility...

All the more reason to shift our focus from the camera findings and begin securing alibis and whereabouts for us all.

[ceded]

[ Xion's mouth twists. ]

I've been thinking about it a lot. If Higekiri left without a sword, then ... how did a sword get there? Mr. von Karma didn't have one, either.

[a_sin_for_him]

Perhaps one was provided outside of the hotel? Or left where it could be easily found?

And we've no proof of a sword, do we? Only a scabbard.

[ceded]

Oh yeah ... that's right. [ Despite her own desire not to immediately accuse Higekiri, she'd made an immediate mental connection between a sword and the fact that von Karma was stabbed.... she looks a little shamefaced. ]

We don't really know for sure what was used to kill him then, do we? Not without... [ Access to the body. Which they don't have. ]

[a_sin_for_him]

How very interesting, that what may easily clear up our doubts is unavailable.

[ceded]

[ Xion's mouth thins into a line. ]

... I wonder what would happen if we asked.

[a_sin_for_him]

....a very good question. Even a 'no' would indicate something...if only that there's some reason we can't view the body.

[ceded]

I'll do it. [ Nods decisively. ] You're right. At least we'll learn something!

[a_sin_for_him]

Any information at this point would be useful.

At least we have the day.

[Surely, with enough minds working at it, they can uncover the truth of last night in the allotted time.]