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 ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico) robowest. |
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robowest2017-02-25 12:00 pm
JAILBIRD BLUES
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. ]
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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.]
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But here, he did something wrong. Something unforgivable. And he isn't Hannibal, he can't just shrug it off. So, he expects the worst and doesn't flinch from it.
Still, at the water, he will murmur a thank you in gratitude. ]
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[but sometime after Barnham stops by, Milla enters the station with pillows and blankets tucked underneath her arms. it's an offer she's made to everyone who was voted guilty up until now, and regardless of Will's actions, she's doing the same for him]
[she slips the material through the bars without a word. but even as she turns to leave, she. . . hesitates]
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He notices the hesitation, of course, but he won't pry. Instead he will do the same thing he did for Barnham and murmur a thank you as he takes the pillows back to his cot and spreads them out to rest in. ]
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[. . .]
[she asks something else entirely instead]
What do you feel right now?
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From you? Or from me.
[ After all, he's not a stranger to people wanting to borrow his empathy. ]
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From yourself. Do you read your own emotions the same way you read others. . .?
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Then, slowly, he finds his voice again. ]
I feel what I feel just the same as anyone else. Maybe a little more accurately though.
[ ... ]
Guilt. Grief. Loneliness. Weariness. Resignation. I could go on but it sounds pitiful to even me.
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[but she is Maxwell, isn't she? the Lord of Spirits, dedicated protector of humans and spirits alike. she wishes to understand humanity. all parts of humanity, including the bad and the ugly]
[she turns around. takes a step towards the cell, and folds her arms. looks like she's lingering for a bit longer]
You once said killing doesn't make someone less human. I agreed with you. I still do.
[and now she asks one of the questions that had been tickling the front of her mind. she's angry-- he'll be able to feel it. but it's a more personal anger. . . anger that Natalie was his victim]
Why? You could have killed her any number of ways. So. . . why?
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But, he supposes he should give an answer. ]
I didn't kill her like that. I gave her a quick death, I didn't want her to suffer.
[ And then he pauses and how, how, how. How does he explain? God, he never wanted to explain. ]
... After, I had to. Hannibal wouldn't have it any other way and if I didn't -- I couldn't face him again after that.
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Thank you for that level of compassion.
[buuuut as for the rest. . . she opens her eyes again]
So it was all out of a sense of devotion? Because Dr. Lecter would have wanted it that way?
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But, to say more would be folly so he just nods. ]
Yes.
[ It's not enough, it's not enough. ]
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[but she isn't quite sure she's ever seen a relationship like this. it's why her questions don't stop]
If that devotion drives you to do something that makes you feel guilt, then. . .
[she shakes her head]
I don't understand.
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It's -- it's almost like worship, Milla. You shouldn't try to understand it. You'll be better for that, in the long run.
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I want to understand.
[she reiterates firmly]
I am the Lord of Spirits. It is my duty to protect humanity-- all of it. How can I protect it when there are parts of it I've yet to understand?
[she shakes her head]
. . . but I believe I'm beginning to see it. Worship. He has. . . immense power over you, doesn't he?
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So, he shrugs and smiles grimly. ]
I suppose you have a point. If it's any added consolation, I feel you've done a good job of it. Aside from -- [ The smile leaves for a moment. ] Me.
[ He's the monster that people can't protect themselves from, huh? God, what has he become.
For her question about Hannibal, all Will can do is rub at his face, unsure of how to answer. ]
It's a zero-sum game, he and I. I just try to limit the... damage. I can't leave, so I guess you could call it that.
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[she always has. and she would continue to do so]
But even I'm not perfect.
[and there will always be people she can't help, no matter how hard to tries.]
Are you prepared to face the consequences for your worship tomorrow? If Percy is the executioner, I can't imagine he'll go easy on you.
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Her question can't help but amuse him and he smiles, soft and sad. ]
I asked him the other day to be my executioner. I'm only grateful that he still decided to, even after seeing what I've done. I'll accept his punishment, he has every right to give it.
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Then. . . that acceptance is all the rest of us can ask for. The rest will be in Percy's hands.
[she props a hand on her hip]
Do you think you will ever break free of his hold? [a pause, and though she doesn't clarify who "he" is, conversation context probably makes it obvious] Or should the question I be asking is, "do you even want to?"
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So, all Will can do is smile sadly and lift his shoulders in a slow shrug. ]
Where else would I go?
[ Because really -- where? After this game is over, he returns with Hannibal. Who else would take him, would love him, someone as much of a monster as Will is? Because isn't that just what he is, a monster? There's nothing else for him, anywhere. ]
Don't worry about me, Milla. I've paid my dues and this is the fate handed to me. There's no fighting that.
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so she shows up at the jail, with a few cans of the fancy dog food in hand since she has no idea how much winston eats?? she... has a wrapped up slice of pizza for will, even though she. doesn't think he'll eat it???? for fucking obvious reasons? it just seems weird to bring something for his dog and not for him. she hands it all over through the bars. ]
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He'll also take the pizza from her, quickly and with as little interaction as possible. He doesn't want to bother her with more than that and, just like with Barnham and Milla, murmurs a thank you in gratitude. ]
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I'll make sure he's taken care of. [ winston, she means.
they do not need another diamond dog incident. ]