[ 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

A thing

[impulsiveness]

... Felix said Chane was with him on Thursday, but she said she was alone in the hotel lobby. Seizaburo pointed out she could have been feeling "shy", but—

[Lying during a trail is... bad. And Jason looks unsure, making zero eye contact with Chane or Felix.

Ugh.]

[alcobrawlic]

... She said she was alone? You'd think saying that she was with her husband if he said that much would have been the thing to go with.

[impulsiveness]

That's what she told Milla. It's possible she was alone, but then why would Felix say he was with her? They... can't both be telling the truth.

[moraled]

[... He doesn't really like this either.

Yikes.]

The best course of action, I believe, would be to ask the source of this matter directly. There may yet be an explanation.

[Chane no :(]

[impulsiveness]

Yeah. Definitely.

[He looks so unsure, like he doesn't want to be the one to bring it up.]

I bet they'll clear it up if we ask.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . and they're back to the thing that bothered her at the beginning of the trial]

We need to ask them to clear up the discrepancy.

[impulsiveness]

... Yeah. Better to get it from the source than to theorize about it.

[It could be nothing. He hopes it's nothing.]

[thatsthespirit]

[Milla doesn't think it's nothing]

Of course.

[I mean she's straight up asking Felix why he lied over here]

[sweats]

[ -- oh! ]

If it helps, she did tell me she was going to be reading Thursday night. We spoke about a few books here, well. Not really spoke, but I mentioned how I read on Thursday's, after curfew since it's quiet and suggested she do it too and she said she would.

[tightly]

[ Nod nod nodding in corroboration! ]

[thatsthespirit]

[ah. . .]

If that's true, then it makes her whereabouts the night of the killing a bit more believable.

[assuming Chane wasn't purposefully setting up an alibi, ofc]

[sweats]

[ He glances to Chane then and back to Milla. ]

It's hard to sleep Thursday, isn't it? That's why I read. We know something is about to happen, so you take your mind off of it. You're not going to kill her for reading, are you?

[thatsthespirit]

Of course not. I can hardly blame someone for choosing to read to keep their mind off of what happens on kill nights.

[but. . .]

If her story is true, then that begs the question of why her husband lied.

[tightly]

[ Writing, slowly. ]

I was with Felix for a short while but left before the doors locked. I did not feel like sleeping, so I stayed downstairs and read.

[impulsiveness]

[He looks so guilty about grilling her, but...]

... Stay with him next time. Or read in our room. Not having anyone to confirm your alibi on Thursdays looks bad, Chane.

[tightly]

[ ... A nod. It's noted. ]

[generously]

[ Well. It's best to set things straight, so no grudges here, Jason. ]

That looks really bad when you put it like that. Well, it's out there now!

[thatsthespirit]

[she's gonna ask it point blank]

Why did you lie about being with Chane, then?

1/2

[generously]

That's a loaded question, isn't it? I'll tell you what I told Chane's little brother. We met up and we...

2/2

[generously]

[ murmurs something about the passion propellor ]

[thatsthespirit]

[it's a good thing she isn't flustered by this kind of stuff. although she is. . . distracted for a moment]

A "passion propeller?" I've never heard of that euphemism before.

[tightly]

[ ... wow. ]

[impulsiveness]

[F E L I X.]

And afterwards? What were you doing at midnight, Felix? And don't say your wife, or we're back to square one.

[stop.]

[ceded]

... Felix ...

[ The look on her face is a wonder to behold. ]

What were you doing Thursday night?

[generously]

[ aw man, that look. ]

I'm not guilty if that's what you think.