robowest | [ WEEK THREE

Entry tags:

murder: trial

[ WEEK THREE – TRIAL ]

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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[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.

Your human "justice" is weak. That's all it is. You want to feel righteous when you get their blood on your hands.

[ ash is salty and likes to instigate fights... i'm sorry ]

[sib we'll never have positive murder cr]

... Think of it what you will.

[He's gonna go try to figure out who actually did it now??? Thanks Ash]

Can we, you know.

Not right now? [save your waxing poetic for later, ash. STOP PICKING FIGHTS EVERY DAMN TRIAL]

[ YOU'RE NOT MY MOM NOCT!! ]

What? [ he rounds on Noctis, looking annoyed - and confused. ] Just who do you think you are?

Someone who wants to get this done and sorted out. You can pick a fight later if it's that important to you.

[suddenly, he knows what it's like to be the mom friend. he never asked for this life, why can't ignis be here to do it for him?]

I find him suspicious. Is that not "sorting it out?"

[ not when you're being an asshole about it ash. ashhole. After a pause, he continues. ]

When will you stop trying to interfere with me? I don't need your protection or your pity.

Didn't say not to find him suspicious. Picking fights about human justice isn't helping, though.

[that's just general morality bullshit that can apply to pretty much anyone in the room.]

Anyway, I'll stop when you do. [it's not even about pity or protection.] The more time we spend arguing about crap like this is less time to actually figure out who did it.

[he sighs, and adds:] For whatever it's worth, don't think either of you would be behind this one.

Everything we're arguing is crap. There's nothing in the way of concrete evidence. This entire trial is based on suspicions and worthless sentiment, and my contributions are hardly on a lesser level. It's a matter of fact, Noctis - historically, these types of men can be made to kill for any number of reasons, as long as they can be convinced it's "just."

[ he's studied a lot!! he sounds more heated about his roommate's interference than about the actual trial or his own suspicions, though. ]

It's almost a guarantee that he'd consider Nui someone that deserved killing, isn't it?

[ You know, there's actually something sensible in there, so Hannibal pipes up ]

...We have been proceeding under the assumption that Nui herself was guilty, and you make a point we may not have considered. Assuming someone is put into a position where they must kill, but do not want to... Perhaps they considered killing Nui to be just. She had made no secret of her enthusiasm for killing. Our killer may instead be guided by a sense of purpose.

[ thank you mr. cannibal man. ash seems marginally surprised that someone is actually agreeing with him. ]

Yes. Exactly. Multiple people have made no secret of their dislike for her, as well as their suspicion towards her.

Vigilantism.

[ He nods, though it does come with a slight furrow of his brow. ]

That would make sense. But unfortunately, it does not narrow the pool of suspects. Those who were suspicious or concerned about her far outweighed the opposite.

[ team nui, population ash ]

[ he's so lonely now!! ]

It's easy to paint her as the villain, but I know what it's like to have everyone turned against you. I merely want people to consider otherwise.

[ He nods, since that actually makes a bit more sense considering the character of the people here so far as he's seen them. And he'll just. Believe that even more when they find out it's three gOD ]

At the very least, I certainly am.

[ A pause, and then he adds quite sincerely: ]

Thank you, Ash. I may not have considered this angle if you had not defender her.

(no subject)

uraniumnumnum - 2017-02-04 23:28 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

sating - 2017-02-04 23:32 (UTC) - Expand

...Could make that case for just about anyone, with the way Nui treated people, though. Pretty sure she didn't make too many friends with how happily she was always going on about getting a chance to kill.

[honestly. she was an asshole all the time and always seemed like she was out for blood.]

Talking about what's right or just isn't going to help anyone right now. Not him, not you. Nothing about what we're doing at all here is just. It's screwed up—killing people for a game and then trying to blindly guess who did it.

[he hates it.] He had a confirmed alibi of not being out, just like us. We're just gonna keep going in circles like this.

[SIGHS. he does understand where ash is coming from, it's just... not really helping, he doesn't think.]

I don't care about right or wrong. But it's simple fact that most of you do. Some of you more than others.

[ she could have made friends with ash... if she wasn't dead :( miss u nooey. ]

Have it your way. You can all go in your own circles. In the end, it doesn't matter to me who lives and who dies.

The point's that I'm trying to not go in circles.

[but whatever!!!] I know it doesn't matter to you, but let's just stop instigating when we don't actually need to.

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... ]

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