[ 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

up for execution: me

[sating]

[ Hannibal seems to get a bit flustered by the direct question, but with a deep intake of breath like a sigh, he at least considers what Sei asks him. It takes him a moment, but he elaborates quite sincerely: ]

A soulmate. The word has gained a bit more meaning the original, but I mean it as Plato spoke of it. One soul split in two as mirror images. We look at each other and see ourselves reflected, and so we understand each others hearts as no one else could.

[ His eyes almost start to get glassy as he describes this because Hannibal is. A fucking embarrassment. I'm so goddamn sorry. Hannibal just sighs lightly, still a bit embarrassed from saying that so publicly, but he nods. ]

'Love' does not feel like it's an adequate word for us. So I hope you'll pardon the extended imagery.

[ceded]

[ At some point, she'll meet his eyes.

Objective, right? Weave through the misinformation.

But she doesn't look for long, and she won't talk to him at all today, unless circumstances dictate she must. ]

[insincerely]

[Not eating anything...]

In my room.

[court_chesster]

Thanks, roomie.

[hydrokinetics]

[...given the fact he doesn't respond immediately, it's obvious he's thinking the same thing. Whoever did this deserves whatever pain everyone's willing to dish out. But at least he thinks before he speaks.]

Can't even tell how many killers were involved. You think it was maybe just bandits this week?

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . oh!]

That would make sense, considering Yuna, Natalie and I only heard one gunshot on the night of the murders.

Can you tell me more about the firearm? I'm afraid I know very little about them.

[feminitis]

Yeah. That's why I...

[She brings up a hand to wipe at her eyes, though she keeps her head bowed.]

I don't have anyone to blame for what happened to me but myself and I know it didn't have anything to do with the murders... s-so I don't want to waste time we could be using to catch Miss Annabeth's killer worrying about me. There's so much we still have to figure out...

I'm sorry, Mister Jackson. It was really kind of you to ask.

[hydrokinetics]

[If anything he's surprised by Will and it shows in his face, blips of surprise and uncertainty in his emotions that cut through the absolute sadness and anger. But...]

...thanks. [It's just as quiet, and also the only person he'll say thank you to. It means something from Will, it seems, seeing what kind of person Will is.]

[ceded]

[ There's a flicker of something there, when Hannibal places a hand on her shoulder. Something, some brief flash of grief or awful pain. But it's gone quickly, leaving her face just as blank as before. ]

I'll be okay.

[ will she?

she lowers her chin. ]

I'll see Riku again someday.

[sating]

[ oh my GOD ]

...I'm not familiar with the series, but I can say with some certainty that it is nothing like Will and I's relationship.

[thatsthespirit]

[glancing her way!! it's cool Chane, Milla has long since forgiven you, she doesn't hold grudges]

Chane?

[thatsthespirit]

[#HELPING]

That's all right. Considering your circumstances, I don't think anyone here would suspect you.

. . . I'm glad to see that you're alive, Seizaburo.

[and that's sincere]

[tightly]

[ Oh right, alibi time! Somehow - through the person next to her reading it or a piece of paper being passed along - Chane gets this message across: ]

I was in the hotel lounge area, reading a book.

[thatsthespirit]

[she nods, because she heard Xion's explanation about the stolen camera]

And I assume neither of you heard the other wake up in the middle of the night?

[thatsthespirit]

[ASH IS A SPECIAL ONE]

I'll ask him for confirmation, then. Thank you for answering.

[feminitis]

[Sei is very quiet as Hannibal explains - and she remains quiet for a few long moments after she's done. And then, she manages what's probably her first smile since crawling out from under the church floorboards.]

That's amazing... I'm so glad the two of you were able to find each other, then. Some people search for their soulmates their whole lives and never find them. You're very lucky!

[she ships it]

[hydrokinetics]

Maybe we should ask everybody at large if they have any ideas. We only caught one last week because Higekiri was too obvious. We still don't entirely know how the bandit role works.

[thatsthespirit]

[she'll try every week. mostly because she needs the sustenance, tbh. . .]

Thank you for answering. I'll ask Harry for confirmation.

[although considering one of the victims was Annabeth, she doesn't really feel like she needs to. but! she's gotta be thorough]

[thatsthespirit]

[ah. . . that's right. Okabe's roommate was Higekiri]

Thank you for answering, anyway. Do you remember what time you fell asleep?

[bittybat]

It's fashioned after an Western American style of rifle, but it wasn't an archaic one. It had a scope on the top, providing accuracy from a distance. It shoots one bullet at a time, and you have to pump the lever to remove the cartridge and engage another bullet.

[sating]

[ For a moment, he's tempted to draw her into a hug, but he refrains. She's doing her best to be strong today and to find the person that had done this. That much is obvious to him. And it's important, he thinks. Her emotion will come like a raging river, and for now, it can be dammed. When it breaks, he hopes he can be there to help.

He gives another squeeze of her shoulder, then draws his hand away. ]

Until then, I hope we can find the one that did this. For his sake. And for yours.

[ And the other dead people, but. He's comforting Xion right now. He can give Percy verbal hugs too later?? ]

[thatsthespirit]

[gestures towards the fruit juice! she's got apple and cranberry and grapefruit and orange juice. . . basically a lot of breakfast juices]

What time did you turn in for the night?

[thatsthespirit]

[poor Simon, being called a pansy]

That's wise. I assume you were in your room at midnight on the night the murders occurred?

[impulsiveness]

[giving

her a glance but




...]

[hydrokinetics]

[A shake of the head.] It's okay, I get it. Don't worry.

But it's not just her killer. [Despite that being what he cares about most.] Somebody killed three of us. There's absolutely no way we can let them get away.]