[ WEEK SIX – 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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THE SHERIFF

[sheriffexe]

[ Today, he is carving a pair of teeth. ]

Quick note, folks. Hannibal was the Deputy. Shinnosuke was a Bounty. Natalie was the Doctor. That's it.

[ Wait, why is he announcing Natalie's role? Huh. ]

[impulsiveness]

[BECAUSE THE SHERIFF IS A FUCKER, THAT'S WHY. Anyway, here's to asking questions you already kind of expect the answer to:]

Where the HELL is she

[thatsthespirit]

[well gosh with this few people, it's easy to notice two missing persons]

Why are you announcing her role? She was alive as of last night-- and where is Will?

[plz don't tell her this is exactly what it looks like]

[uraniumnumnum]

You. Now that the Deputy is dead, how is it that this game is going to end?

[flippity]

[ i can't believe we are in a timeline where papika is the least likely to attempt to punch the sheriff ]

Old man, can you explain the roles better? Like the Deputy.

[tightly]

[ This week, no one brings Hal a sandwich. ]

[hydrokinetics]

[Well, it wouldn't be a trial without Percy asking Hal a question. When he approaches this time though, the fight is 100% drained from him.]

Hey, Hal. If everybody's voted already, would you ever consider ending the trial early?

THE BODY

[sheriffexe]

[ Inside the small room, Hannibal, Xion, and Shinnosuke's bodies all sit in individual chairs to be inspected. The door is wide open today. ]

[hydrokinetics]

[Well...let's start here. He's going to start from smallest to largest, so he'll be starting with Xion first. Aside from the gunshot wound is there anything noticeable? He'll be checking for any signs of her defending herself, bruising, etc. He'll also be checking her person for anything in her pockets, etc. Sorry Squee.]

???

[sheriffexe]

[ Oh, and -- Will and Natalie are nowhere to be found. ]

[elemancy]

[well, they're down two people for mysterious reasons and they have three dead bodies here.]

...Where the hell do we even want to start today? [he's so tired and Done with things right now, why is everything like this?]

[glaring]

[ For real. ]

Two of them were shot. By the same person, if we're lucky.

Which we're not.

[hydrokinetics]

Could also start with the fact that the scene of our crimes all seem to be in one central location closer to the hotel. Whoever was behind the murders didn't want to stray too far from "home", apparently.

[This fucking sucks? Yeah. This sucks!]

[hydrokinetics]

[And so, Jason and Percy come out from looking at the bodies and he settles in to relay the results, casting Jason a look. He's also setting several items on the table in front of him. Tarvek's watch, Felix's whistle, Shinnosuke's phone and rule book, Hannibal's letter, and a separate letter he didn't pull off of Xion but that he had on his person.]

So. Xion was shot point-blank. No signs of struggle, nothing. Pretty sure she was caught off-guard...or...[She accepted it. Yikes.] She wasn't dragged or defending herself. It just was. Shinnosuke, on the other hand, had bullet wounds in his left arm, right leg, his stomach, and his head. He definitely put up a fight though. He put up a fight and then someone dragged his body from the looks of it.

From what I remember hearing, there was a bag, rope, and a knife found in front of the hotel and a puddle of blood. Dr. Lecter was shot multiple times in the chest and the bear trap was on his leg. He had some rope burn on his wrists, too, and his back was dirty like he was dragged like Shinnosuke.

[He holds up the notes as well.]

Shinnosuke and Dr. Lecter had these on them, but Xion...wanted me to read this first. [A pause.] All of these notes suck, so I'm just reading them.

From Xion. "If you somehow find this letter before my trial, please tell everyone... I'm sorry I couldn't make it till the end, and I'll miss them, but you guys have to do your best. I believe in each and every one of you (even you, Ash.), and I know you guys can do it. I'll be cheering for you all the way, no matter what. I guess I'm just sad that I can't be there with you all. But it's okay. We'll all see each other soon."

From Shinnosuke. "If you're reading this, then that means I'm dead and/or you looted my stuff. This is a long shot, but to anyone who would listen, I have a request. For those who survive to the end of this damn game, and if you can find a way to traverse through the worlds we come from (though that probably won't happen), then I'd ask that someone please go to mine. To Kichijōji, Japan. I have a little sister, Saki Arisu. It's a long story, but she's been in a bad situation for several years and I'm all she has left in the world — a world that'll only use her as a tool if I don't save her. That's the sole wish I've ever held onto, as her big brother. I know I'm a shitty person and that I don't have the right to ask for favors from anyone, let alone suicidal ones. But my sister is just a little girl who's done nothing wrong, so I beg of you, to anyone who'll listen: please help her. All I want is for her to finally live the life that she's been denied all this time."

Shinnosuke also knew there was a role who puts people in the stocks as of our third week here.

And...from Dr. Lecter. "Thank you for being thorough. If you are reading this, I was killed, though that is no surprise. I knew someone would be coming to kill me this week. So I will give you at least this : It was a woman that killed me. Good luck. Maybe this time, you might catch a killer without a confession."

So...that's what we've got. Two people who had wishes and ideals, and someone who's probably making fun of us. What do you guys think?

[A beat.] Pretty interesting that all of their fatal wounds were caused by a gun, actually.

[elemancy]

[even after percy finishes reading all of that, noct takes a second to contemplate.]

...It's different than other weeks. Everyone being hit with the same weapon. [he wonders if it means there's only one culprit? he's not sure, though. he's really, really not sure at this point what to make of it.]

Doesn't... seem like it's a coincidence.

[uraniumnumnum]

[ xion... he looks mildly annoyed at being called out specifically like that, but whether it's because he doesn't like being the center of attention or he's uncomfortable with someone thinking of him in a positive way isn't clear. Even to himself, probably. ]

Lecter was most likely killed by Natalie. Hopefully none of you are so blinded by your own emotions that you won't accept that.

[ other than that. ]

Guns are the one weapon that every person here has access to.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . .]

[she's still trying to wrap her mind around things. she's still not certain she understands the whole game board, but. . .]

Two out of three of them were roles, too.

[flippity]

[ you can tell papika just spoke to the sheriff cause she looks like she wants to hit something ]

Hi... I have an explanation for what the roles do. Since Hannibal was the Deputy, he put people in jail or in the stocks depending on if he wanted them to be more or less likely to die. He also did other stuff like setting up the bonfire, and helping the Sheriff with other stuff. And he had a master key. If he found the Deputy Leader, he could have ended the game.

Natalie is the one who was leaving us the items. She could have also brought someone back from the dead, but... [ obviously she did not use that ability. ]

There were five Bounties, but there's only three left now. The Bounty Leader had to figure out who the Deputy was and kill them, and then the Bounty Leader could have ended the game. The other Bounties were supposed to help them do that. They didn't know each other's identities at the start and had to figure them out.

Since the Deputy got killed, that means the only way we can beat the game now is by, um... killing each other until there's only one person left? Whoever's still alive can decide what happens to everyone after that.

[ a pause. ] Also the Sheriff is stupid.

[elemancy]

[what if noct just slams his head tiredly against the shoulder of the nearest person after hearing all that laid out so clearly?

because it sure seems appealing right now. this is exhausting and shitty and...

he doesn't even have words for it.]

LUNCH... BREAK...

[sheriffexe]

[ What the hell is happening this trial....... Why won't any of you talk about murder?? The Sheriff just looks pretty annoyed for a moment before sighing and slamming down his wood and standing up. ]

Alright. Do y'all want to go to the Saloon or stay here to eat? You can eat, get back to work when you have your energy again.

[ Like, what the hell. ]

And -- [ Pointed look at Percy and Jason. ] If we go to the Saloon, no exploring. It's just for food.

[thatsthespirit]

[is this real. there's no hesitation in her response]

Saloon. This room is stifling.

[also her stomach is. growling. GOOD JOB MILLA YOU FORGOT THE FOOD THIS WEEK]

[thatsthespirit]

[so shortly after the pizza lunch break is over and everyone presumably returns to the town hall, Milla speaks up. the food has seemed to revitalize her a bit]

Everyone! I know this is difficult, but please don't forget why we're here! Don't forget there are at least 29, perhaps 31, dead people counting on us. [god saying that number aloud is depressing] We owe it to them to give it our all. We owe it to them to do our best to bring an end to this game!

[and with that, she props a hand on her hip]

So far we've discerned that all three victims were shot. Shinnosuke and Dr. Lecter were shot multiple times, and Xion was only shot once. All wounds looked like they came from a pistol. Dr. Lecter also had a bear trap clamped onto his leg. Natalie was found lying next to Dr. Lecter's body, injured in the clinic.

Natalie was the Doctor, Shinnosuke was a Bounty, and Dr. Lecter was the Deputy. These roles were announced at the beginning of the trial.

Dr. Lecter wrote a note prior to his death stating that a woman was responsible for killing him. The only two people who could possibly know with certainty what happened to Dr. Lecter aren't here: Natalie and Will.

[and, speaking of--]

Their absence is noticeable, but we have yet to discuss it in depth. So far it seems as though everyone believes Natalie to be Dr. Lecter's killer, but. . .if Natalie was truly our culprit, then where is she? And where is Will?

[moraled]

[... He grimaces. This is why they haven't discussed this.]

The Sheriff's involvement in this concerns me. That he would not allow us to search for her makes me believe there is only one possibility.

[What does the Sheriff ever get involved in...

(spoilers, it's murder)]

[hydrokinetics]

[Well. He really fucking hates this, but he's listening to everything and calculating what he knows, so....]

Hal said that the Bounties had to kill the Bandits that didn't cooperate, didn't he? And we know that Shinnosuke was a Bounty. [There's a heavy pause.] I...hate to ask, but is it possible Xion was a Bandit and refused...?

[thatsthespirit]

[. . . AH. . .]

. . . Shinnosuke and Xion were friends, yes? [keeps using the f-word to spite Shinnosuke in the graveyard] That would explain why Xion didn't resist.

[sweats]

[ So, while everyone else discusses the logistics of a blind boy shooting a teenage girl, the door to the hall opens quietly. It's Will and he looks inside, tired bloodshot eyes glancing around the room very quickly before he steps in, closing the door behind him. Then he'll move to the first bench closest to the door and quietly take a seat.

Winston, of course, notices this and will approach him happily, tail wagging as he sniffs Will's hand and rests his head on his knee.

This is all kind of fine, except. Well. He's absolutely covered in blood. Both dried and wet. Mostly around his mouth and hands but down the front of his shirt in large amounts. His pants, hands, and shirt also have quite a bit of dirt on them and in general he just looks kind of... messy.

Whoops. ]

[moraled]

[Whoops is fucking right.

Barnham tenses immediately at the smell of blood, and immediately turns to see... Will. Will, covered in blood. Will's mouth, covered in blood. He grimaces, dragging in a sharp breath, but... it's better that Percy and Jason don't have to deal with this, out of everyone.

He drags in a slow breath and approaches, shoulders scared.]

Mister Graham. You are rather late.

[sup what up]

[moraled]

[The truth has to be found. They have to know it all, even if it's gruesome and hard, difficult to accept and face... they can't turn away from it.

Barnham's arms are crossed, his brow furrowed, but eventually he tiredly speaks up:]

For those who did not hear--Mister Will Graham killed and ate Mi-- Natalie. [She asked him of it. He has to respect that. Especially...now.]

He stated that...she killed Doctor Lecter, and thus he needed to eat her.

[(everything's fucking crazy here.)]

We are... not to find her body. That is Natalie's last request.

[A slow breath.]

...That is all.

[thatsthespirit]

[she's. sitting down now, because Jason knocked her in the bruised ribs and it's hard to breathe again. ow]

T-then. . . I suppose that is-- that.

[somehow, she manages to talk, but her voice is strained and quiet]

EXECUTION

[sheriffexe]

[ And off he goes, checking the box again and emptying it for the next vote. He looks up to them and well, looks pretty amused really. What a good trial. ]

So, the resolution was a little tasteless -- [ FUCKS SAKE!!! ] -- but here we are. Put in your votes and y'all can leave.

As for Will, you know where you need to go.

... Hah, what a good day.

[ He looks pretty pleased, honestly. Just. So dang pleased. Off he goes, lighting up his pipe in the process. ]

[moraled]

[... He just... pinches the bridge of his nose.]

Mister Graham stated that Natalie's last request was that Mister Todd not be the one to participate in this execution.

[That's all he's got.]

JAILBIRD BLUES

[sweats]

[ Okay! Here is Will in his cell, Winston seems to have joined him -- slipping right through the bars to jump up on the cot and rest in his lap.

He also, uh, hasn't really been able to clean up the blood, so there's that.

You're welcome to talk to him, but you might not really want to. Instead, he'll mostly be sitting here till morning, staring at a letter he has clutched in his hands.

Fuck Hannibal, honestly. ]

[moraled]

[in all honesty, no, he doesn't want to talk to him.

He's just here to deliver some bottles of water because it seems inhumane to not do so.

Even if... you know.

Terrifying cannibal. Everyone else seemed to have someone to care for them. Will... well, Will survived too long for that, didn't he. All of his friends and loved ones are dead.

But once he's left them in reach, he intends to leave Will to his pining.]