week 4 - trial; day 1

[vicedirector]

seven vices case 4 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

[symbologic]

[Immediately after the trial, Faize will seek out Astrid because she requested a darkness symbology demonstration, so she's gonna get that.]

[Afterwards, Faize can be found in the kitchen with a cup of tea, looking a little exhausted. Is that from the trial or the symbology demonstration? Probably a little of both. This suspect thing is more than a little wearing.]

[Or, you can find him even later, standing outside the open door to his room and staring inside. He expected he'd find the beds torn apart like this. Actually, the half-hearted attempt at remaking them is better than what he was expecting. So that's fine. But why is his uniform in the trash? Who ate his snacks? And again, because he can't stress this part enough: why is his uniform in the trash, what the fuck Poland and Sadie.]

[hopefragment]

Hey, Faize.

[Just... takes a seat nearby with his own tea, using the teacup more as a handwarmer than anything else.]

...Are you alright?

[symbologic]

[Faize smiles faintly as Hinata takes a seat. But it fades quickly.]

I would be better had we accomplished more today. There was plenty of discussion and yet...I feel as though we haven't really made any progress at all.

[hopefragment]

...Yeah. I think that's how it always goes the first day, though. We have to put all the evidence together and throw out the theories that don't make sense.

At least there's... more time, still. To think it over before we have to reach a decision.

[Unlike his situation, where investigation -> trial -> voting was ALL IN A MATTER OF HOURS.]

[symbologic]

[He sighs.]

Yes, of course, we still have all of tomorrow. But...it still seems as though any one of us could have done it, really. It doesn't seem like we've managed to narrow or explain much of anything.

[hopefragment]

I already know you had nothing to do with it.

[Said with maybe surprising firmness, considering that earlier Hinata had been unsure.gif about saying anything without the evidence to back it up. But then,]

I just need to find the proof to show everyone else. I'm not... going to let us make a mistake like last week's again. We'll figure it out, Faize. I'm sure of it.

[symbologic]

[Faize is...touched, honestly. He smiles a little, raising a hand to cover his heart.]

Truly, I am fortunate to have a friend like you at my side, Hajime. You and Alisha both, and even Bill to a...certain degree. [Bill tried. It was not the best attempt, but Faize appreciates it all the same.] The fact that you believe in me so strongly is a comfort I am grateful to have.

Kitchen

[dhaosu]

[ The kitchen is across from the lobby. So naturally, Dhaos has entered into the kitchen at some point. ]

...Today's events from the trial is likely still weighing on your mind, is it not?

[ An obvious question, but it is his awkward way of being a bit concerned. ]

[symbologic]

[He chuckles hollowly.]

Is it really so obvious? [WHO WOULDN'T BE, FAIZE? Really, it's a good thing you're not just stoic-ing your way through this.] I admit, I can't help but find myself feeling vaguely frustrated over today's proceedings.

[dhaosu]

[ Yep, who wouldn't be...it is a trial in every sense of the word. ]

I do believe some of what occurred today at the trial could have been done without.

[ He begins to make some tea now. ]

I feel as if there are a few who do not take this seriously enough. Or perhaps, that is just how it appears to be.

[symbologic]

Yes, but that happens every week, does it not? Some of us are a bit...lacking in focus. But I suppose that could be their way of coping with the grim reality of the situation.

[He takes a sip of tea.]

So I cannot hold it against them too much, so long as we are still able to have logical discussions and work towards finding the truth.

[dhaosu]

Hn.

[ He is just too serious for shenanigans, especially since it was Selena who died. ]

We did discover a bit, although it feels as if we haven't truly stepped closer into pointing out a culprit. Yet, I think we shall be enlightened as to the truth, tomorrow...

Do you believe the same?

[symbologic]

I...certainly hope so. The second day is always when we have our biggest breakthroughs, I know this. Yet...a day seems so much shorter, from this side of things. It is much harder to relax, knowing there is a one in five chance that I may not make it past this trial.

[Please don't scapegoat him. He cannot stress enough how much he really does not want to die here.]

[sobowtor]

You seem distressed.

[She has no idea why he would be. She didn't find anything incriminating.]

[symbologic]

[Thank god she didn't find anything. Now no one will ever know that he's actually Kaoru in disguise.]

[He points to the trash can.]

I am merely trying to fathom what possible explanation there could be for that. Perhaps you would like to explain it for me?

[This is the only problem here, apparently. Take his booze? Fine. Eat his sweets? Slightly less fine, but still okay. Rip apart his bed? Eh, whatever. But the uniform.]

[sobowtor]

Oh.

[Right. That was hours ago she'd pretty much forgotten.]

Sadie and I decided to give you a make over.

[symbologic]

[Faize looks a little affronted.]

That will be unnecessary. [He's fine? He's fine. He sighs, moving into the room and leaving the door open as he crosses over to the trash to retrieve his uniform. He's just going to hang this back up in the closet. And probably start wearing it to trials from now on so this doesn't happen again.] In the future, please do not throw people's possessions away while investigating their rooms. I would have thought that should have gone without saying...

[sobowtor]

[Poland looks very disappointed.]

Aw.

[It's not like she's the one who even threw it out.]

Do you wanna dress hella cute though? [She's sure all alien elf boys do.]

[symbologic]

[He pauses on his way over to the closet, uniform still in his hands and looking confused.]

Why?

[#NotAllAlienElfBoys]

[princessantly]

[ Yeah, Alisha will catch him outside of his room-- and trying to peer around him. ]

Faize? What's wrong?

[ Besides being under suspicion for murder. ]

[symbologic]

Just...looking over Poland and Sadie's handiwork. [He shakes his head a little.] I suppose it could have been worse, however. At least I was spared a glitter dousing.

[Also the being under suspicion for murder thing? That is pretty awful.]

[princessantly]

[ ... She still has faint gold sparkles in her hair, honestly-- ]

I see. Would you like help setting things straight?

[symbologic]

[Somehow, Faize has managed to avoid being glitterbombed. And if that never changes, you won't hear him complaining.]

Fortunately, Hajime was kind enough to offer to let me stay in his room tonight. So I think I will just...allow it to stay like this for the night.

[He is so tired and fuck putting the sheets back on his bed properly, tbqh.]

But thank you for the offer, ALisha.

[princessantly]

...

All right. But if you intend to tackle this tomorrow, please let me know. It'll go faster with more than one person, after all.

[ And he's probably going to be even more tired by then. ]

[symbologic]

[Faize looks a little confused. You paused, friend. Why did you pause like that?]

Of course. But is everything alright?