( TRIAL - WEEK 3 )

[abhoth]

At exactly 11:30 am, all residents who are still asleep will be jolted awake by a sharp, burning pain that spreads across their whole body. A simple look will reveal no visible injuries, oddly enough, and the pain will fade away as soon as they're properly awake. Those early birds who are already up and about will feel nothing — except maybe a strange, mysterious sense of relief as they go on about their business. Lucky them. Moments later, an announcement will come through the static-filled PA system: "This is Craftly speaking. My apologies for the rude awakening [not really], but your presence is required in the Dining Hall. Our second trial is about to begin. Please do try to be there before noon. My staff members have simply too many duties to tend to, to be escorting each and every one of you out of your quarters. Good day." And true to his words, anyone who doesn't make their way to the Dining Hall before noon will be dragged kicking and screaming regardless of where they've sequestered themselves. Sucks to be you, huh? Upon arriving there, however, residents will be given the menu, one copy of the rulebook, one pencil, one notepad, and a cheque folder. Lunch and dinner will be served at the appropriate times, and appetizers, desserts and beverages (of the non-alcoholic variety) will be available throughout the trial. All you have to do is ask one of the faceless men, and your food will be delivered to you in ten minutes or less depending on what it is. The Dining Room itself looks about the same as it does any other day — save for the fact that the lights have been dimmed. Why this, you ask? Because the projector is now in use. Transparencies containing each resident's profile will be displayed on the pull-down screen, with one of the staff members rotating through the images every minute. The profiles of the deceased are included, and if current discussion deems it necessary to focus on one particular resident, anyone is free to ask the faceless man to pause on the appropriate profile for a while. A small area has been sectioned off with a transparent, plastic curtain right next to the pull-down screen. Its use will become rapidly apparent once the victim's corpse has been wheeled in. Anyone who wishes to step into this area will be asked to wash their hands, and will be given a pair of latex-free gloves and a hairnet by a staff members who is stationed nearby. Residents are required to dispose of both items before returning to the dinner table; a trash bin is available outside of the curtains for this purpose. Evidence found during the investigation, on the other hand, will be displayed in the back of the room. Two, long tables have been taken out of storage for this occasion, and any items found by the residents on Friday will be displayed here for further examination. Finally — a clock above the pull-down screen displays the current hour. Please do remember you have until 9:00 PM to figure out whodunit and cast your vote. ( victims ) Characters will be given nine (9) hours to discuss everything related to the investigation to hopefully solve the mystery behind this week's murder. No one will be allowed to leave the Dining Hall, and all characters must cast their vote before 9PM EST. You may do so on this week's voting page. If you have any questions or doubts, shoot us a PM or a PP over at yuggoth. ( quick navigation ) voting | profiles | menu | locations | ic rulebook

Comments

[thawedheart]

...so you think that Craftly-san's life is a more acceptable sacrifice than Mira-san's, simply because she is human. The actions she has taken are more demonic than anything he's done - and yet, you would sooner see his life taken than hers...?

[Yukina's hands are trembling.]

There are some truly awful human beings in the world. Not everything is as simple as "human" against "demon," or "good" against "evil". I hope you're able to learn that before you come to regret it, Princess.

[And speaking of, Yukina's leaving this conversation before she says anything else she might regret. She's pretty sure she's already said too much.]

[curedham]

[UM YUKINA IS NOT GETTING THE LAST WORD, L'ARACHEL IS TOO PETTY, HERE SHE COMES]

I will not have you speak to me as though I am some child, capable of dealing solely in absolutes. Do you think I cannot recognize a human wretch when they stand before me? Do you think this is the first time I have met a human who has sacrificed their soul to the darkness?

I would see them both felled, if I had my way—a demon held upright by the very forces trapping us here, and a human who has offered them her very being and taken the lives of innocents to do so. I have helped lead the charge against the Demon King and his scourges, and I have brought his vile servants, monsters and humans alike, to the ground. I have slain soldiers and bandits. I know well that there are awful beings in this world.

Just as well, our army brought on someone as much monster as she was girl, and she lived to banish that same darkness. I have seen a man offer all he had to the darkness in an attempt to bring the world light. I have fought against an army where a general who wished for nothing but to see her country and continent restored and was willing to offer everything for it fought alongside a man who enacted suffering for its very sake.

[She stands up straight, placing her hands on her hips.]

You will not speak to me of regrets. You will not speak to me of good and evil. I am L'Arachel, legendary demon-slayer, Rausten's divine light, and defender of her very world! This light is what I have sworn my life to! Here is the decision I have made: if a child is forced to take a life, I would rather it be one that is not a life at all, a cursed existence belonging to a wretched marionette, than that of a human who knows exactly the burden they are forcing upon their hearts.

If you cannot see that, if you will not accept it, perhaps the light and darkness in your own heart is worth reexamining, Yukina.

[thawedheart]

[OH BOY

Yukina is, at least, polite enough to keep from interrupting her - though her expression becomes more and more disturbed the longer L'Arachel talks. By the time she's finished, the trembling in her hands has become full-blown shaking, and she laces her fingers together - ignoring the pain of the burns on her palm - to try and stop it.]

If you don't wish to be treated as a child dealing in absolutes, then perhaps you should not act like one.

[She raises her gaze to meet L'Arachel's eyes, then shakes her head.]

I know where the light and darkness in my own heart stands. And I know that you believe your intentions are good. But I think perhaps you have been blinded by the light you defend so fiercely.

I speak to you of regrets because I am certain that if you continue on the path you have chosen, you will have them. You've said that you have fought alongside others who have been born monsters, who embraced the darkness for the sake of defeating it - why, then, are you so quick to condemn Craftly-san before you've truly gotten to know him, on the say-so of a murderer?

...I don't want an answer from you. Just... think about it.

[She turns to go again. L'Arachel is welcome to continue the dialogue, if she wants to get the last word - but Yukina will not respond.]