TRIAL I

[lesmodsalouette]

Trial

Today is going to be a loooong day. You knew that pretty shortly after waking up, didn't you? On the plus side, it means you've had some time to process the death of one of your own, or leisure time at the very least. But come midnight, the clocks in the castle all strike out in unison again. This time though, you barely have time to clutch your head before you're transported elsewhere.

Yes, you're coming in your pajamas if you were already in bed.

The place where you find yourself is obviously not the castle, that much is obvious from an immediate look alone. The look is very circus fair meets hell, minus any actual fire (for now). The walls, the lighting, the atmosphere is different, reds and purples and exposed rock face all together with furniture that should belong in a courtroom, and a carnival, not a caldera. It's a stylistic choice, for sure.

Seating consists of various stools on the outer ring, the layout suggesting that the preferred way to conduct trial is to free mingle towards the center, unless you're partaking in food and refreshments. A veritable bounty of a spread is available for you to partake as you like. There's even an entire table's worth of chocolate, cut out in various animal shapes for you to enjoy. And yes, alcohol too, because a banquet without the finest wines isn't a feast at all.

Even with all the food there's plenty of space for all of you, but do be careful around the pit in the center of this room. How deep does it go? Where does it lead? There are other unanswered questions to answer, and you've been tasked with finding out who murdered Tia. The Witch of Ruin demands a show and unfortunately you are his captive actors. He presides over all of this from a balcony above, the best seat in the house.

(( OOC: Welcome to your first trial! You'll have 7 hours (until 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT) to vote one (1) person guilty of murder. As this is scapegoat style, a correct vote is not necessary. Please remember to vote unless otherwise discussed with the mods, as that is our AC for this game ))

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[spotsalone]

[ As the results are announced, Hickey watches the group instead of Ish. ]

Well, at least we've chosen the right man.

[ He'll hang around a minute or two before taking his leave. Bye! ]

[the_obedient_servant]

[They scoff.]

We'll see.

There is a lot that can be done with the power of DETERMINATION.

[antline]

Bugs aren't bad. And you're right...no malice.

[dumbface]

[ ... ]

It isn't like I want to die. [ far from it. wasn't that the point of running around like he did? ] But if I have final words, I'd like them to be for my family or Mr. Ou.

[dumbface]

[ hey now ]

[arbalestrier]

[is it wrong!!!]

[the_obedient_servant]

I see.

[They don't.]

I cannot understand these feelings anymore. But I wish you luck regardless.

[the_obedient_servant]

[They nod gravely.]

[dumbface]

[ no!!!! but don't gotta out them like that, gosh

have fun enjoying the bed sans one bedpost, sousuke! ]

[dumbface]

[ a gentle nod. he'll answer any questions people might have, but remain otherwise silent to sit with his thoughts. ]

[arbalestrier]

[meh, what does a post matter when you sleep under the bed]

1/????

[distain]

[ It seems like a few people remained here in the ballroom to contemplate life and the universe, Andrew included, as she crouched down on the floor for quite a few minutes in silence.

But time is one thing they don't have very much of in this place, despite the clocks.

Andrew eventually stands up. Be more useful, next time, she thinks. There is so much riding on this, and too many mistakes.]

What a circus. I -

[arbalestrier]

So it's possible for the culprit to survive?

[stygiomedusa]

[...So, that's it? It seems a bit anticlimactic, in a way, but Hamel's not really sure what to make of all this. She'll still go find Ish to speak with him later, but for the moment her fingers twist in the fabric of her clothes as she stares at a spot to his left.

After a few moments as everyone else chatters and begins leaving, she leaves the ballroom as if drifting along with a current only she can feel.]

2/????

[distain]

[Cough.]

[coldseep]

... Why?

( He'd been teary about her death, but not so much talking to the person who killed her. He still doesn't look great, though. )

[fourtuity]

...I don't know why you gave me that stick.

[ Other people are probably handling the other questions, just let her have this. ]

3/????

[distain]

[Cough. COUGH.

Her hand flies to her mouth, bracing itself against the coughing fit.

Which lasts for quite a while, wheezing and tight-aired since it's difficult to catch her breath in between each rasp.

Then there is a much wetter sound.

It's blood, seeping through her fingers.]

all done!

[distain]

Ah...

[She looks at her palm for a moment, forehead damp with sweat. It took about as long as she thought. Strangely, she appears to smile.

She hits the floor again, unconscious.]

[dumbface]

I didn't set out to kill her—and she didn't set out to kill me. I think... [ slowly, as if he's still collecting his thoughts. ]

She wanted me to fight her fairly, with the sword.

[simulacres]

[ ayaka stares at andrew when she starts coughing, frozen in place. she has that bad feeling that something's about to happen and...

then she sees the blood.

and then when she collapses. ]

ANDREW!

[ without realizing it, she's running to her side. she can't pick her up but at the very least she can hold her. ]

[dumbface]

[ rubbing the back of his head. isn't it obvious? ]

It was because of your confession.

[siffriend]

[ Andrew's... cou--

(no, you recognize that sound, because you've heard it in your ears before she isnt coughing shes choking on

her own)

blood, Siffrin can tell, from the same shade that'd marked her cheek, that he's seen on his own person more times than he can count now, and

Ayaka'll find him beside her surprisingly quick, eerily quiet in approach, almost like a ghost. ]

Keep her head lifted and to the side, [ soft but a small tremor (memories flooding in your mind then disappearing over and over and over how many times did you hear this same sound did you feel that pain you've lost cou) in his voice. ] She'll choke otherwise.

[remainsilent]

I can carry her.

[ once they are done fussing over her ]

[thesharpestroy]

[The sight of somebody collapsing leaves Shiv with a deep sense of disorientation and...is that fear? Is that what she's feeling?]

Wh-what the fuck--are any of you fucking doctors?

[Shiv's breath is erratic, as much as she tries to subdue that unease. You never know when someone might collapse and die, right?]