[ WEEK FOUR – 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

[combattente]

Because I assumed someone would do so for me? I'm used to being accused of crimes I didn't commit, if you remember that. At the same time, most people wouldn't want to accuse themselves...

I'm only doing so now because it seems no one else will and we need to reconsider the way we're going about this.

[feminitis]

...did you do it? Because getting us to reconsider things is fine, but if people take you too seriously and suspect you when you didn't kill anyone, that's no good either...

[combattente]

I did not kill Lust or Simon. It would take a considerably long time to cut up a body with the blades I possess.

[feminitis]

...then we'll move on from that.

[But she gives him a slightly uneasy look before glancing away.]

From your experiences, though, do you have any insight on who here might have had the strength to be able to cut her up the way she was...?

[combattente]

It isn't a question of strength usually, but the weapon used. You'd need something capable of cutting through bone and flesh.

[moraled]

[...]

I suppose it is irrelevant to the trial at hand, but I cannot help but note how...exact that was.

[....did you kill someone else, ezio...]

[combattente]

Would you prefer a list of the men I've killed over the last 12 years?

[moraled]

[...]

No, only those who you have killed here, sir.

[... Still.]

Nonetheless, your point has been proven.

[combattente]

I paint portraits to remember those who have... passed.

[That's a nicer way to say killed, right?]

The only portrait I've painted here is Tiara's.

[moraled]

[...]

I see. Thank you for your honesty in this matter.

[It's the best they can do, after all.]

[dmails]

Wait. So if not combat blades, what blades would be sufficient to cut up a body in a pinch?

[combattente]

Perhaps something a butcher would use...? Signor Lecter said it wasn't done as if a butcher had done it, but you could still use the same tool.

[sating]

That's correct. And the tools necessary are in the kitchen.

[ Hannibal could probably tell you everything in the kitchen, considering it's basically where he lives... ]

The apparent roughness of the cuts we've seen would make sense if someone had grabbed them but was not necessarily familiar with how to use them. Even with better tools, it takes steady and strong hand to cut cleanly. It's much more likely that someone grabbed the knives they needed and quite literally were hacking away.

[dmails]

Ah, yes, the good doctor arrives just in the nick of time. ["The good doctor" is Hannibal's name now. That's just his name. Hope he likes it?!] So we're looking for an idiot with a meat cleaver - or a sloppy sadist with a meat cleaver, either way.

[sating]

[ The nickname does get him to purse his lips into a small smile briefly, but it passes, considering the serious nature of what they're talking about. It's just definitely a colorful descriptor, and he finds it a bit funny. ]

That's what I would guess, at least. I think a cleaver or saw would be the most likely options. Without having looked at the bodies, I would guess a manual saw, though. It would be more likely to be quite rough and messy.

[hitsitoff]

Saws or cleavers would be the best options.

[dmails]

Thank you, good sir. [That's not suspicious at all, but Okabe appreciates the input nevertheless.]

So we have a few possible weapons to contend with: either it's something a butcher would use, or... You say a saw? A surgical saw, maybe, from the clinic?

[hitsitoff]

If it's a strong enough one, then yeah, for instance. A hacksaw would do too.

Lesser tools could be used in a pinch, but it'd take longer. Cutting a body up that much is already gonna take time, I wouldn't wanna make things even harder on myself if I were the killer.

[hydrokinetics]

And also at the same time a lot of us don't actually know you, man. This isn't home. Just because I'm used to people wanting me dead doesn't mean I'm going to assume everything will play out the same way.

I do remember that. Just like I remember you hate being falsely accused in the first place so again, why now? Is it because you can confidently say this knowing it wasn't you?

[combattente]

There is a difference between assuming circumstances, and assuming that when people see a grown man kill a young girl and seem quite skilled at it, they will suspect he has killed before and would do so again. And that is something I knew when I volunteered.

I can say so confidently, sí, but also because I've grown tired of these trials and executions.

[hydrokinetics]

People are scared. Why would they suspect someone who volunteered to put a young girl out of her misery in the most humane way possible? Why would they choose to follow the path of "he's killed so he's definitely responsible this time even if it doesn't match up with his personality"? They wouldn't. And it's only now that you bring it up that I find it suspicious.

I'll say to you what I said to Ash. You don't have to vote if you don't want to keep playing or stay alive, but so long as you are you could stand to be more helpful! [And because he's already fired up:] You can confidently say that you didn't kill Simon or Lust, but what about one of the others? What about Manfred, Nui, Riku or Annabeth? Can you stand by that and say the same thing?

[combattente]

I did not kill them. Is that what you want?

It doesn't make much of a difference if I say it, does it?

[A sigh.]

Either way, mi dispiace for assuming you would suspect me as you now decide to suspect me.

[hydrokinetics]

And the others who were found in the mines? What about them?

[He shakes his head.] It was a stupid move and at the same time it was a clever way to throw us off from what we should be focusing on. It still seems strange to me you're so willing to throw yourself in now as things get worse and worse.

[combattente]

I didn't kill them either.

That wasn't my intention so I apologize. Is that all or would you like to interrogate me further on behalf of all the past trials?

[hydrokinetics]

I'd like you to be smarter about what you're doing, Ezio. That's it.