( 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

[perceptions]

Not particularly. [She says with a small sip, looking at him.] I don't mind either way.

[potentite]

[He takes that as a good enough answer to come in, then and sits next to her, propping his crutches up against the counter.] So, um. [He feels like he has a lot to ask her, so it's hard settling on just one thing.] You said you've been murdering for a long time, right? How... did that start?

[perceptions]

Well... I was killing small animals when I was a kid, and killed my first person when I was 10. It started when my mother told me about where emotions come from. I don't have any of my own, so I wanted to find out.

[potentite]

Oh. [That's so much younger than he expected.] You don't have any emotions? Ever?

[perceptions]

Most of my emotions are faked. I had to learn to blend into society. [She shifts, leaning back into her seat and staring ahead instead of looking to Jake.] The way I'm talking to you right now is how I usually am. Even all the stuff back at the trial was mostly for show.

[potentite]

So... you weren't even having fun? [Not that he really wants an insane murderer who loves it but not feeling anything at all is just baffling.]

[perceptions]

[She shakes her head.]

Ever since Week 1, I've been public enemy number one. I acted my part today. That's all I could do once I was caught - I did promise to confess after all.

[potentite]

I never thought you were an enemy. But I guess I... didn't really know you at all, either. Do you think you'll feel scared tomorrow? Would that... make you happy?

[perceptions]

Nobody did. [She always kept close to herself, only showing the cracks every so often.] Tomorrow... it's strange. I'm anxious because I don't know what will happen to me, but I also don't care. Like I said before, this body is just a vessel. It's going to hurt, but afterward I'll be fine.

[potentite]

[He tilts his head slightly. It could just be how she views her body but he's not really sure.] What does that mean exactly? Is it related to all this ritual mumbo jumbo?

[perceptions]

It is. I said this before, but I actually came here of my own free will. In order to become a facilitator though, I had to give something away.

[potentite]

I see. I did hear the freewill part... [As much as it shocks him; then again it sounds like this is old hat for her.] So you traded your body to ensure a role that would help you?

[perceptions]

Not my body. [She shakes her head.] Dirk said that he would destroy my soul... but he can't do that.

[potentite]

Your soul is gone...? Honestly, I just thought that was a dramatic answer when I heard it, um, you know, like a movie villain.

[perceptions]

Heh, guess so. But it's true. That was the price I made to come here as a facilitator.

[potentite]

That's terrible. What will even happen when you die? I mean, I never really, um, believed in metaphysical matters but... I do know a soul is required for them.

[perceptions]

I don't know. Doesn't matter now. I knew this was a possibility when I killed Marty and Rachel. From the moment I did that, I accepted any fate that would come to me.

[potentite]

Were they going to out you? I don't know if people would have, um, swarmed you the way they did at the trial if the situation had been different.

[perceptions]

...Some secrets are mine Jake. [She turns her drink a little.] "Three can keep a secret if two are dead." I put that anagram there for you to solve for a reason. Honestly, I'm pretty impressed you figured it out. It's why I chose to confess.

[potentite]

That really was clever. I liked to do puzzles growing up, to pass the time, and I thought it was nifty. [It's much more subdued than he would usually be but there's something softer in it.] Even the people who were suspicious about it couldn't understand it until we received the clue. That time before this you told me about, assuming it did happen, did you do well?

[perceptions]

I got out from the last game I was in, so I think it was good. I actually got the anagram idea from there. The person who ran that game, Zero, wrote one on the walls. It was a lot less sloppy than mine though - took me almost all of Thursday to figure out how to make the anagram work. I wanted to make sure it was solvable, as part of my game.

[potentite]

I don't think yours was sloppy. Coming up with it the day of is especially impressive. And if this Zero person's were even better, well, that shows your skills card wasn't bluffing. [He frowns down at the bar.] What was your reward anyway? Um, if you want to share it, obviously.

[perceptions]

Hm. You'll find out when the disposal room opens up. I think I'll keep that one close to the chest. I've horrified you all enough for one day, right?

[potentite]

[He's kind of curious still but he agrees. He doesn't know who will be chosen tomorrow yet, so he might have to go through more tomorrow. Speaking of.]

Did you really pick us?

[perceptions]

Jake. Would I lie to you?