week 1 - trial; day 1

[vicedirector]

seven vices case 1 trial, day 1 ♫ saturday At 9AM, every television will go off, loud enough to wake anyone sleeping. The calm, apathetic voice will advise everyone to gather in the chapel for the trial. Static will continue to blare in the head of anyone dillydallying. Once all of the guests have gathered in the chapel, the doors will lock. Most of the pews have been moved aside to allow for more space, and a few tables have been set up on the altar. On the first, there is an additional copy of the rulebook, and the information cards of the victim and suspects laid out, with space for the suspects to provide their whereabouts, as well as an autopsy report. There is also a large wheeled chalkboard upon which you may write theories. On the second table is a pitcher of water and some glasses, as well as very simple sandwiches and pastries. The door behind the altar has finally been unlocked. It's a rather plain room with an area set off by a folding screen. Inside, you will find a table on which the victim's body has been laid out. Next to the table, two black and white photographs have been hung on the screen. they are close ups of the victim's body, as it was found when the body discovery announcement chimed. A few sticks of incense burn in the corner to avoid any smells. At 6PM, the trial will adjourn. Everyone will be escorted back to the hotel by Miata, after which everyone is allowed to head to either the kitchen to get dinner, or to their rooms. Attempting to wander off into the other areas of the hotel will trigger the static alarms in everyone's heads/televisions. >Discuss? victim suspects         cast setting rulebook

Comments

[princessantly]

You can... although my usual everyday life isn't quite what I've been handling lately. We'd just fought a dragon before I came here.

[hopefragment]

A dragon?!

[Really, he shouldn't be so surprised, considering Astrid's is wandering around being a dragon, not to mention Poland's little... whatever that's supposed to be. Dragon of Wawel Hill.]

I mean, I guess that makes sense, since you're... a knight, right? Did it attack your kingdom or kidnap, uh, someone?

[He was going to say a princess since that's what the usual trope is, but considering that she's the princess and the knight, he's not sure how to proceed.]

[princessantly]

Not exactly-- dragons, I've been told, are what become of Seraphim - spirits, or gods - that have taken on so much malevolence that they lose themselves completely. On a battlefield, where negative emotions trump all else, that's where one was born.

[hopefragment]

O-oh, I see.

So... you're at war, then? Back home?

[princessantly]

Yes... although I think it's entirely unnecessary.

[hopefragment]

...Do you want to talk about it? What cause the war, I mean. If you say it's unnecessary... is there a reason you can't stop it?

[?? She is a princess, after all.]

[princessantly]

Even as a princess, I'm very low in the succession line, and in matters of battles, I have to take orders from the generals.

I've been trying to cooperate with others from the Rolance Empire, though, to see if our combined efforts can put an end to this.

[hopefragment]

Oh... I see.

Well... once we get out of this, I'm sure you'll be able to think of a solution. You don't seem like the type to just accept what people decide for you.

[princessantly]

... If that's how I seem, then I'm very happy to hear that. You seem much the same way, Hajime.

[hopefragment]

Ah, you think so?

[He can't help but smile and sit up a little straighter. A compliment from a princess-! What a dork.]

I'll try, anyway. This kind of stuff... it's way outside what I'm used to as my everyday life. I've never been on a battlefield or anything like that. It used to be that the only thing I had to worry about was not falling asleep in class.

[princessantly]

Were the lessons very boring?

[ She didn't get to go to school, just... proper princess lessons. ]

[hopefragment]

I don't know that I'd call them boring, but you know, sometimes you'd stay up late the night before playing videogames or reading something. It was just... normal classes.

...Can I ask you something else, though? Is there... Do you think there's anything about home you think you've forgotten, before you came here? I don't mean how you got here, that's everybody, but... anything else? Weird gaps in your memory?

[SHSL ??? perpetually concerned about why he's the only one who can't remember something about himself.]

[princessantly]

That... no, I'm sorry. I remember everything up until just before I arrived.

[hopefragment]

...I see. Well, it was worth asking, anyway.

[he just closes his eyes and leans back against the wall again, breathing a quiet sigh before glancing toward her armor.]

Hey... last question, then I promise I'll stop interrogating you tonight.

[It's probably incredibly important having to do with the case or the trial-!]

...What's the black stuff on your armor? Gems?

[--Apparently not. This seems to be his way of trying to navigate the conversation to lighter topics.]

[princessantly]

Oh!

[ That actually surprises a laugh out of her, good job Hinata. ]

Crystal, actually. This armor has been passed down in my family, and the crystal came from a monster who created it from a single touch.

[hopefragment]

[Ah, he did it! He's a winner. He can't help but smile at her when she laughs, before turning his attention to the gems.]

Oh wow... so it's a family heirloom, then? That's really impressive.

[That's another question, he LIED ABOUT NOT ASKING HER ANYTHING ELSE.]

What kind of monster makes crystals?

[princessantly]

Not one I've been able to meet since then... I'd almost like to, though.