[ 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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Comments

[uraniumnumnum]

You're overthinking it. Lecter was caught in a trap that was left out in front of the hotel. The other two were most likely going to check the stocks and were waylaid.

[ ash doesn't know why he's even interjecting at this point... he's going to be stuck here for hours, might as well not be completely bored?! ]

If you actually want to accomplish something, you should consider who might have wanted to kill those people and why. The rest is superfluous trivia.

[hydrokinetics]

[...he's tired enough that he's at least listening to Ash.]

Well okay. [He rubs at his face.] If somebody targeted Xion and Shinnosuke together, they probably thought they'd be an easy kill. Shinnosuke was blind and Xion was small. More than likely they weren't expecting them to put up a fight, so...maybe somebody who didn't know them that well?

[impulsiveness]

But who wouldn't know them that well? In a group this small, that could narrow it down a LOT.

[hydrokinetics]

That's kind of what I'm wondering, too. It's sort of why I brought it up. You knew that the two of them could fight too, didn't you?

[uraniumnumnum]

Or they targeted them because they suspected that they had roles, and they were partially correct. We don't know the Bandits' intentions, but I suspect they're trying to kill all of us before the Deputy and Bounties can kill one another. It would be in their favor to target people that have roles.

[thatsthespirit]

[she frowns]

Why? If anything, the Deputy and the Bounties are capable of ending this game. Why remove those pieces from the chessboard to take that away?

[uraniumnumnum]

[ he gives Milla a flat look. ]

You're spending too much time with the humans. Have you forgotten that the bandits are offered a reward? There are people who would continue the game to satisfy their greed.

[elemancy]

...It might not be this, but we can't rule it out.

[even if he wants to think the majority of who remains isn't like that, he knows he can't be sure about some people.]

[thatsthespirit]

[her expression doesn't waver, but she does look like she's contemplating something]

I won't rule it out.

But I don't think that's it.

[moraled]

... What if the killer was unaware of this?

[If they didn't know the Deputy and Bounties could end the game... then maybe...that would be why?]

[thatsthespirit]

It was revealed at trial last week.

[it's a good thought, but she doesn't think that's the case]

We're a much smaller group now than we were before. I believe everyone knew that the Deputy and the Bounties could end the game at this point.

[moraled]

[That doesn't mean everyone was paying attention... he leaves it alone though. It is a bit out there either way.]

... Then perhaps someone who did not wish to end the game at all, as baffling as that seems.

[thatsthespirit]

[. . .]

No.

I actually don't think that's it, either. And not just because I don't believe anyone in this group is that bloodthirsty.

[moraled]

[He quirks an eyebrow at her firm denial of that, but accepts it with a nod. Maybe Milla knows something.]

Very well then. In that case... I fear I do not know what possible reason the killer could have had.

[thatsthespirit]

It's--

[she just. frowns]

Difficult to explain when I don't know all of the answers, either. And I could be wrong. . . I certainly don't want to rule that out as a possibility entirely.

[she's speaking on a hunch, but a hunch she isn't 100% positive on just yet either]

[moraled]

[He shakes his head simply.]

For now, I am inclined to trust in your hunches. I shall keep the possibility in mind, but perhaps we should focus our efforts on another angle.

[thatsthespirit]

[gives him a grateful smile]

Thank you. Perhaps I'll bring it up again as the trial continues. For now, we can wait until Percy and Jason are finished with the bodies to see if that gives us another angle.

[uraniumnumnum]

[ he's got his arms crossed, staring at her. ]

You have something on your mind, don't you? Just say it.

[thatsthespirit]

I do.

[tilts her head towards him]

But I'm not certain about it yet. Thus, my silence.

[uraniumnumnum]

Drawing it out, are we? Have it your way. [ he seems resigned... ] You spend too much time amongst the humans.

[thatsthespirit]

[she laughs lightly, though it's a bit wry]

It's true. They've made me quite soft.

[uraniumnumnum]

You're a fool. You ally yourself with a race that makes you weaker... I truly don't understand you, or Rion.

[thatsthespirit]

[hn]

Perhaps if you had walked a bit in my shoes, Ash, you would think otherwise. Perhaps if you had been able to look at humans with a more open mind, you would have been able to learn that their weaknesses and imperfections are not all that bad after all.

[how does this make sense???]

[impulsiveness]

So they're either confident they can become the last man standing, or they're having the time of their lives in this game.
Charming.

[moraled]

Indeed. Miss Maxwell seems to believe that is not a possibility, however.

[Which... is probably good?? He doesn't know anymore, man.]