[ WEEK THREE – 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

[insincerely]

[... Huh.

Yeah, this interests Shinnosuke too.]

It's possible, but not necessarily a guarantee. Depending on how much Mr. Sheriff acts as a go-between, all the bandit leader might be told is, "Hey, these guys failed, kill them."

[hydrokinetics]

Then I guess that's all I have about that part.

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah. [Sadly this doesn't surprise him.] Unless the killers don't talk to the stock-picker at all. Then we've got an even bigger problem.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . suddenly, everything Higekiri said last week-- about his choices being to kill, be killed, or help cover up a murder-- make sense. her brows furrow]

That adds an entirely new level to this trial. We were assuming the killers were Bandits. But. . .

[brings a hand up to her chin]

What if Riku and Annabeth were the Bandits chosen for this week, and both of them rejected their roles?

[impulsiveness]

[He shakes his head.]

Sorry, it's up to them if they want to spill the beans. But I've already been targeted before. I don't want anyone to try and be cute just because they're connected to me.

[thatsthespirit]

What is. . . "the sacred ritual of the high-five?"

[uraniumnumnum]

Precisely. [ a pause. ] In actuality, it doesn't need to be someone that spoke to you - merely someone that knew of both of you would be enough. But viewing it from that angle wouldn't be particularly helpful.

[bittybat]

Yes. I'm speaking for everyone else. Killing murderers isn't the way it should be done.

[dmails]

Hold your hand up right here-- [He demonstrates.]

[impulsiveness]

The problem being that they saw an opportunity and took it, right? Or are you thinking of something else?

[ceded]

... I don't. [ She looks vaguely apologetic. ] All I know is that there is a leader.

[dubiousalignment]

Then what happened to Nui could be the Bandit leader murdering someone besides those two?

[It's a possibility, that's for sure, but unfortunately there's nothing that could prove it]

[hydrokinetics]

[...] It would explain the fire. [He's keeping this to himself, mostly talking only so Jason can hear him but he's logically thinking this through.] Because of who Annabeth is she's pretty capable with just about any weapon possible. And hand to hand. She's judoflipped me before, and I'm her boyfriend.

Locking her in a stock and attacking her with a "weapon" she can't hold would make sense.

And you were spared by our murderers but that doesn't change that someone probably viewed you as a threat.

[uraniumnumnum]

And what if that someone was someone that had already committed a crime? One of the murderers?

[ceded]

[ Sorry, Harry. She looks uncertain for a moment, but once it's clear he's not going to press her on how she came by her knowledge, she relaxes slightly. ]

I'm not sure. I guess there must, be, but I didn't learn anything about that. But ... maybe it's possible that whoever is leading the bandits is like, a mastermind of this whole thing.

[uraniumnumnum]

Hmph. I strongly doubt that. [ but if his roommate says he was at home, he supposes he doesn't have the evidence to refute it. too bad that camera's locked up... ]

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, no, the first. Two individually thinking parties is more dangerous than a unit.

[ceded]

[ With a deeply apologetic look, she shrugs. ]

I know. I'm sorry. But at least we know now.

[moraled]

Should I find one of those who committed one of these crimes, I should endeavor to capture them, and bring them to justice--properly. Vigilanteism is not justice. A system cannot be lawless, or it shall become corrupt and untenable.

[... I mean his became that anyway but whatever.]

That is what I believe.

[sating]

[ He holds up a hand lightly as if to stop Jason, but it's with an understanding smile. ]

Of course. Considering why I was curious at all, I still think it's fair to keep them a secret. [ Though on that note... ] Though I doubt that is the connection between you and Annabeth, as such. That would be a strange thread of connection regardless.

[hydrokinetics]

[...he's not going to say anything but he's definitely sinking further into his chair because goddamn does that make so much sense. PLEASE BE WRONG BUT. Yeah. That's totally possible.]

...the Sheriff told me there's a failsafe in place if the Bandits don't kill. You can imagine what that means.

[ceded]

... that's true. [ Xion folds an arm over her chest, hugging herself as ... best she can using only one arm. ]

Couldn't we ask, though? If the Sheriff helps them communicate. That way, we'd know for sure.

[hydrokinetics]

Maybe not by yourself, but I get your point. [He'll let that slide for now.] Thanks, Tarvek. I think that's it for now.

[thatsthespirit]

It's possible. Or. . .

[Tarvek can practically see the gears in her mind working, clicking, putting puzzle pieces into place]

Nui was the Bandit leader.

[expelliarmed]

Quite possibly. [ IF they were the assigned leader and didn't want the role, maybe they would give themselves up. But if that were the case and it was the same person every week, wouldn't they have done so by now? ]

Do you think they're the ones who pick the bandits each week? Or do those come directly from the sheriff?

[ ...They just can't trust anyone. ]