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

... Apparently, Russell's killer did it to avenge Annabeth—and Percy, in a sense. It wouldn't be surprising that they wanted bystanders like you and Jason somewhere you wouldn't be hurt.

[yikes]

. . . if we know the motive behind the killing, then I think we need to focus on Percy's closest contacts. Those who would be willing to use the mechanics of the game to enact their vengeance.

[Yikes is about right. He didn't ask for this???]

So what, now I should be making a list of people I trust to see if one of them might have thought they were "helping"?

[she. gives him a sympathetic look, because damn. this trial started off with a bang. DON'T HALF ASS TWO THINGS, WHOLE ASS ONE THING, ETC ETC]

I think that's a good place to start to narrow down our search. Would you be willing to lend your assistance?

[Thanks, Whole Ass!!!]

Of course I would. [He almost looks surprised Milla's asking.] I...get it, I think? Why they would want to help me, but this wasn't the right way. I'd like to find out who did this, too.

What do you need from me first?

[she nods]

Let's start off with a list of those you spoke to about Annabeth's death. Those who offered you comfort. Do you recall if any of those people said anything that stood out to you in those conversations?

[she knows this was weeks ago by now so he might not remember, but! it's worth a try]

[He's trying to think, but:]

...I wasn't exactly my best after I found her. [Ugh. But...]

Everyone said a lot of really nice things and all, but I don't know what we'd consider standing out. [A small frown.] After we found her, I talked to Harry, Mr. Barnham, Sara, Jason, Natalie, Xion and Nisha. And after the trial Harry and I went to punch the stocks, Jason and I hung out for a while, and I talked to Natalie and Dr. Lecter. And after the execution I helped Sei train a little, but Xion and I went to the graveyard. I talked to Noctis a bit too, I think? Damian and Papika and I all spoke right after because they found the camera at the Sheriff's station and I was still under his porch but nothing that really stood out.

I'm sorry, Milla. I'm trying to remember.

[a hand rests on his shoulder]

It's all right, Percy. That gives us a place to start. Harry, Barnham, Sara, Jason, Natalie, Xion, Nisha, Dr. Lecter, Seizaburo, Noctis, Damian, Papika.

We can obviously rule out Seizaburo-- [considering she is DEAD] -- but we can focus our attention on that list of people.

May as well rule out Nisha, too, since she's pretty dead. [What with her corpse and all? Yikes.] But that's still a really big list. How are we supposed to narrow that down?

(no subject)

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... Indeed. Miss Yuna's body, too, was placed under the porch as if in an attempt to hide or protect her, not to harm her.

That is how it seemed, anyway.

I'd like to know how the killer found out that Russell was her murderer.

If they had enough "merit", think the Sheriff would have told them if they asked?

...maybe. But then it's likely that they were already a killer.

We can just ask if that's how they found out or not.

[ she points over at the sheriff. ]

[ she doesn't want to walk around the bodies to go ask— ]

I think that's the best course of action we can take. My next thought would be, if he denies it, is that it's due to a role someone might have.

I can go do it.

[ BUT NOW SHE DOESN'T WANT PAPIKA TO HAVE TO, EITHER— ]

I'll go with you.

[ #problemsolved ]

flippity - 2017-02-18 17:59 (UTC) - Expand

glaring - 2017-02-18 18:01 (UTC) - Expand

Don't bother. [He speaks up.]

Hal just told me they asked for the name of her killer. He gave them Russell's name.

flippity - 2017-02-18 17:57 (UTC) - Expand

hydrokinetics - 2017-02-18 18:01 (UTC) - Expand

flippity - 2017-02-18 18:09 (UTC) - Expand

Or someone who's gotten their ass in a whole lot of trouble. Murder isn't the only way to earn merit, remember?

Like yourself?

And several others. I think it's safe to say everyone in this room has been "doing their part" according to the rules of this game.

[THOUGH, YOU KNOW. FUCK YOU, HAL.]

[ "doing their part" you mean murder. ]

It'd be nice if we could just use this merit from you trouble-makers to find someone now.

... Jason, I know you're probably mad that I smacked you, but please stop trying to get me killed.

[pats him on the head

because he knows he hates it.]

[????

SMACKING HIS HAND AWAY.]