robowest | [ WEEK FIVE

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

Felix....

[ did y'all think I was kidding ]

I... I'll do it. Let me do it.

[ she already failed him once. ]

[ ........ ]

I allow it.

Like HELL I'm letting you do it. An adult can handle it, Xion.

So can I! I can do this, Jason, just--!

It's not about whether you're CAPABLE. I'm not letting you cross the line.

[ ... !

She tries, she does, but despite her resolve she dissolves into tears. Angrily, nonetheless: ]

Why not? I don't need your permission...!

Not permission. Concern. I'm worried about you as your friend.

[About... what doing this will do to her emotional health, honestly.]

(no subject)

ceded - 2017-02-19 03:49 (UTC) - Expand

Why? [A simple question, really.]

... because I owe it to him. I said I'd do something for him, and... I didn't. This is the least I can do for him.

Xion. [It's said firmly with little room for argument for once.]

Do you remember what you told me? Do you remember what you told me about you and the Sheriff and how you couldn't understand because you ran away? Do you remember what we talked about about choices? Look at me. Look at me and tell me what kind of person you think you'll be if you make this choice.

[He'll address the rest in a moment, but he needs her to think about that, first.]

A despicable one.

[ she says it without hesitation ]

I know what I'm asking to do, Percy.

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[ Trailing Xion's answer-- ]

She's sick of being treated like a fragile child.

[ just

glances at him, and the shape of her is a little hollow.

she doesn't say anything ]

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You?

[ he seems mildly surprised by this. ]

Yes.

... Perhaps you're not as gutless as I thought you were.

[ a small smile. he seems... impressed? pleased with her forwardness, anyway. Ash takes a step towards her. ]

Don't let the others dissuade you. They're scared to face this new reality. But you... If you end things with your own two hands, that means that you control it. This is how you grow.

[ despite her opinion of Not Hating Ash, she isn't sure how to feel about the fact that he's smiling at her over something like this. ]

Control...

[ That's the word she echoes. She stares down at the floor, and then nods, just once, resolute. ]

I dont know ... if this is the right thing. But this is what I have to do.

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Xion.

[looking at her from over where she's standing, near the voting box]

[she doesn't say anything else, just watches her, brows furrowed and mouth turned downward into a frown]

.... Milla ... I know. I know, I...

[. . . a small sigh, and she approaches, head bowed]

I'm not going to withdraw my name from consideration, but I'm not going to tell you that you can't do this, either. But I will say this.

[when she's close enough, she places another hand on Xion's shoulders]

I've told you time and time again that you must keep moving forward, but there's another part to that I haven't mentioned yet. Games like this will twist you from the inside out, mold you into something you don't want to be, if you let it.

Stay true to yourself, Xion.

[squeezes her shoulder lightly]

Don't feel like you have to volunteer for something like this to prove that you're strong. Don't feel like you need to volunteer because you made promises, because you want to show others that you're capable.

. . . follow your heart, as it was before this game began.

[ She isn't sure what to say. To any of that. She's quiet for a long, long moment, her mouth opening and closing as she tries to form words. Finally, her expression twists up, and she looks down. She does not, however, cry. ]

I'm not doing this to prove that I'm strong. I'm doing it because... I owe it to Felix. But, Milla...

[ ... ]

Thank you.

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[...]

So this is what you've decided on, huh?

Yes, [ she says, and this time it's a whisper. ]

... I have to say, I'm a little surprised. [...] But thinking about it, maybe I shouldn't be.

I--

[ ...... ]

Maybe not.

insincerely - 2017-02-19 03:42 (UTC) - Expand

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