robowest | [ WEEK THREE

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

What about yourself? I'm not sure that I know anyone I'd peg for being suspicious, in this case.

[ Really... it's kind of a pain. This week, everyone seemed fairly normal. ]

I can speak only for what patterns I have noticed. Naturally, those who are eager to kill must be under suspicion--however, of those who are like that, the only who remains is Ash.

However, I do not know that he would have committed a murder in this fashion.

["This week"... Rin, you're not wrong.]

Nonetheless, the matter remains.

Someone killed those people this week, and they are in this room.

There's always the one from last week, too. [ a small pause. ] Though it seems needlessly risky for someone who got away to kill again.

[ Ash... she doesn't have much to say about him, so she'll just consider it. ]

[He won't deny that, though that brings up an interesting point.]

And if we were to find the murderer of last week's victim... what would we do? They are not the one on trial, but even so... they are guilty.

We wouldn't have to kill them, at least.

No, I suppose that justice could be left to our hands.

Yeah. Not gonna say he wouldn't do it at all—

[but noctis thinks that's true for most people at this point.] But I don't think he'd complicate it and make it that messy if he did kill someone.

[it just doesn't seem like ash at all, from what he knows in roomie hell.]

Indeed, that is my impression as well.

[He can't deny it.]

He does not seem the sort to needlessly complicate the situation.

Yeah, that's what I think. He doesn't like people much, [well, at all.] but...

This seems more like someone who wanted to make a mess of things instead of just getting "a job" done.

You already know me so well, Noctis.

[ so dry. ]

You're correct. I wouldn't be so... inefficient.

Thought so. Just doesn't seem like what I know about you.

[he's perfectly fine with that, too.]

[ there's a slight twitch in his brow at that comment. it's weird. it's weird having someone "know about him" in a sense other than "the enemy who wants to destroy the world." ]

Furthermore, I wouldn't kill another non-human like Nui.

[welcome to the life of having a roomie, roomie.]

Right, right. The reason doesn't really matter right now anyway. [don't give people reason to raise more eyebrows if you're innocent, man.] I think that settles it for now anyway.

[Who do we know here who would burn a girl-

...

well i was trying to write a serious tag but now i'm just staring at Zacharias "buuuurn the witch" Barnham because i hadn't made the connection until now]

And we have to figure out who they are, even if it feels like we're grasping at straws at first.

[okay there, salvaging this tag a little]

[

]

Indeed. Even if that is how it feels... if we examine every possible angle, we shall come closer to the truth.

"Eager." You people really are amusing.

[ a pause... then he quirks an eyebrow, gesturing towards Barnham. ]

You're right. I wouldn't kill like that. But if those wanted posters have any truth to them, I know someone who would.

[Well.... you know....]

I will no deny my previous crimes.

However, those burnings were by law and for a particular purpose. Such purpose does not exist here; thus, it would be pointless.

[Also he's trying to turn over a new leaf here, stop harshing his jam, man!!]

Would it? We've been told there are rewards for killing. There's no human alive who wouldn't kill another to help himself.

[ "law" whatever he doesn't buy it!! ]

[A soft snort.]

I shall not abide by such lawlessness, nor shall I engage in it.

[I AM THE LAWR AND THE LAWR IS NOT MOCKED]

To kill someone here, regardless of the reward... that would be unthinkable.

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

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.

Yet here you stand, attempting to decide on the correct person to execute.

[ a hum. ]

I don't believe you for a second.

[A snort.]

These trials are a pitiful farce, entirely unjust.

However... that does not mean I can allow for an innocent to simply be executed, either.

[...]

As for that, I do not care what you think of me.

(no subject)

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I share my room with Mr. Barnham, he wasn't out murdering that night.

Some humans do place their ideals above all else. I'd wager good money that he's among that small percentile.

Edited 2017-02-04 21:37 (UTC)

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... ]