( TRIAL - WEEK 5 )

[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, children. As the Dining Hall is still under reparations — today's trial will take place by the pool. 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 Outdoor Dining Area 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. Due the Kitchen and Dining Hall getting wrecked, lunch and dinner will mostly consist of grilled and barbecued menu items. Hamburgers, hotdogs, salads, and items that require little preparation — all the residents have to do is ask in order to receive. Similarly, all beverages will be retrieved from a hundred quart cooler that has been placed by the side of the pool. Not as fancy as usual, but at least the pool is clean now. Some inflatable pool toys lazily swim in the water, along with pool noodles. A single towel that still has sludge on it floats among the accessories in the pool. Looks like no one bothered to really clean it up from Friday. Every now and then, the waters will vibrate to the sound of buzz saws and assorted power tools. Looks like the Disposal Room, Dining Hall and Kitchen are under reparations still. A tent has been placed over the area to shield the residents from the sun, and to make up from the lack of transparencies everyone will receive a small booklet containing each resident's profile. They look a little bit like shitty PowerPoint presentation handouts, but maybe it's part of the charm. The profiles of the deceased are included, as always. A second tent has been set up in the parking lot, complete with an air conditioning on the inside. Its use will become rapidly apparent once the victims corpses have 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 their table; a trash bin is available outside of the tent for this purpose. Evidence found during the investigation, on the other hand, will be displayed in a table by the pool shed. Any items found by the residents on Friday will be displayed here for further examination. Finally — one of the grandfather clocks has been kidnapped from its respective floor to show the current hour. Please do remember you have until 9:00 PM to figure out whodunit and cast your vote. And if anyone tries to leave the area before the trial is over? They'll discover an invisible wall blocking their path. ( 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 Pool/Outdoor Dining Area (the pool shed will also be locked), 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]

...I'm willing to accept the deal.

[Just. Throwing that out there!!]

And, Akane-san... if you're willing to be executed, I... [Well.] I won't talk you out of it. It would be in accordance with Quer-san's wishes.

[disinterested]

You didn't win at rock-paper-scissors, though.

[nowyouseeit]

Nobody won rock, paper, scissors.

[HE'S JUST SAYING. . .]

[disinterested]

So back to arguing it is for the three of you.

[nowyouseeit]

[. . .]

I think people are getting a little tired of us fighting back and forth.

[willremember]

Unless you can solve this dispute, there's no way the rest of us can trust you to fucking decide and do it.

[nowyouseeit]

[OKAY. . . SHE HAS A POINT]

Fine, fine.

I'll concede.

[willremember]

That all it took?

[nowyouseeit]

[deep exhale]

To be fair, we've been arguing for a week over this.

I guess I'm kinda tired.

[willremember]

For what it's worth, I think it should be Andersen. I don't think the rest of you have what it takes to not fuck it up.

[ you're too nice and can't disassociate as well, is what she means. is that. praise? for anyone??? who knows ]

[nowyouseeit]

[WELL THEY DID SORTA. . . FUCK UP THEIR ROLE AS HUNTERS A BIT, SO. . .]

[he snorts]

He's more than eager to take it himself, and he sorta forbid me from doing the same already. So. . .

[you know]

[thawedheart]

[She opens her mouth and -

Kaito beats her to it.]

It's as Kaito-san said.

[nowyouseeit]

[waves a hand at her]

. . . I'll concede. Okay? Not happily, but--

[thawedheart]

[A considerable amount of tension goes out of her shoulders.

He'll be okay. He's going to be safe. Yukina smiles.]

...thank you, Kaito-san.

[nowyouseeit]

[:/ :/ :/!]

[reaches out to grasp her hands tightly]

. . . I still don't want you to be the one to take it. But then again, I don't want Andersen to take it, either. Or Jay.

[thawedheart]

...in a better world, no one would have to.

[But... they're not in a better world. They're in this one.]

All we can do is the best with what we have.

[nowyouseeit]

[leans forward to press his forehead against hers :( bluh]

You're brave. Still one of the bravest people I know here.

[thawedheart]

...I'm only able to be brave because of you. You and Jay-san... Ryou-san, Akira-san, Quer-san, Craftly-san... and everyone else here... you've given me courage and strength.

[Her breath catches a little, but she keeps smiling.]

I'm really very grateful... to all of you.

[nowyouseeit]

[nooooo don't cry]

Hey. . . are you okay?

[thawedheart]

I'm fine! I'm okay...

[She's not crying! She's. Almost crying. But no tears have been spilled yet, it's fine.]

Just... glad that I got to meet you.

[18x0]

Exactly. And since I'd be dying anyway, it doesn't make that much of a difference to me.

[thawedheart]

...you have my vote, Akane-san.

[Yeah she's all for avenging her roomie.]

[18x0]

[Just. Nods because what else is there to say?]

[18x0]

Likewise, Andersen. It's been an honour.