week 7 - trial; day 1

[vicedirector]

seven vices case 7 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? victims suspects cast setting rulebook

Comments

[dereban]

...

[ She pauses for a second before sighing. ]

I did. It doesn't matter. Hinata Hajime is Hinata Hajime regardless. It does not change my current impression of him now, nor does it change the fact that I do not believe that he committed this crime. I do not plan on telling anybody about the motive myself; that's for him to share when he's ready to share it, and only if it becomes extremely relevant. I can at least confirm it if it comes down to that.

[ Inaba "actually cares more than you'd think" Himeko. That's her. She pauses, thinking hard before looking down, speaking in a gentle voice. There's clear affection in it, but it's also sad. ]

You're not wrong, by the way. About Hinata. He's just... a person who needs self confidence, I think. When I first met him, I was jealous of him, you know. He was... an ordinary person, who wanted to be something more. But that "something more" wasn't necessary at all. His personality might not be perfect, but then again who's personality is? But Hinata? He-- he's likable, by many people.

And while he may have his own share of problems that I probably don't know about, I'm sure - I was jealous of him being "ordinary". For a while, I've wished that I could have had an ordinary life, but clearly, I can't. And I'm still jealous that he has such great friends. You... and Roxy, too. You're a great friend to him, you know that?

That's why I think that you have to be strong, too. Everyone's worried about you. Even I'm concerned that you might go off the deep end. But we're going to find the killer. And we're going to find a way to get everyone back. And we're going to stop this game for good by beating the shit out of Katerina and go home.

[symbologic]

[Faize visibly relaxes when she says she's not going to tell anybody. Apparently that was his biggest concern here. Because he had front row seats to just how damaging that motive had been to Hinata, and he really doesn't want to have to deal with some kind of spin off. So he's really hoping they can get through the trial without anybody asking Hinata about his motive.]

.......

[It's hard to tell exactly what Faize is thinking, but it's clear that he is at least processing Inaba's words. If for no other reason than the fact that he's just plain not saying anything. His stoicism abilities grew three sizes yesterday and now it's harder than ever to read his impassive face.]

Thank you. I have spent much of today's trial hoping that the topic of motives would not be brought up in regards to Hajime. The last thing I want is for his secret to be shared before he is ready to do so of his own accord. To that end, I had hoped he might hide it a bit better, but...it seems I was mistaken. So it is fortunate that he had someone so understanding search his room. I have little doubt that he will eventually do so, but....he needs more time. As strong as he is, this news was a very heavy blow to him.

[You really have no idea how hard it was to watch. Nobody does.]

As for the matter of myself... [He shakes his head a little.] There is no reason to be concerned. I assure you that I am quite alright and have no intention of "going off the deep end."

[That last bit would probably be a hell of a lot more convincing if it was said with SOME kind of emotion in his words or in his expression.]

...on a similar note. There is no reason for you to be jealous of my friendship with Hajime. Forgive me if it is presumptuous to say so, but I believe at this point, you and I can be considered friends as well, can we not? I, at least, think of you as such. And I believe Roxy thinks of you in much the same way, as well.

[Oh, there we go. There's an emotion...sort of. A small, forced smile counts as an emotion, right?]

[dereban]

Just consider it as a favor from last time. Besides, I don't want to implicate him more than I have to, so I'm hoping that the motives don't become a major factor in solving this case. I feel that if I did say anything about it now, he'd freeze up, expecting people to laugh at him or make fun of him or... something. I didn't want to bring this up, but, since I don't think that Hinata's from the same world as I am - and if he is, he's most definitely from my world's future - but if his world's Japan is the same as mine, then revealing that motive right now, when I'm sure that he didn't do it is bad news. Japan's bullying at schools is harsh. If he openly spoke about his admiration of Hope Peak's Academy at his old high school, [ since Hinata told her how the process of going into the school goes ] and then found out that he was going there as a Reserve Course student, rather than a proper one, then, it's possible that he was made fun of before he transferred out.

Things like that are kind of the reason why I thought his school was stupid. It seems to be a prestigious school for those with "talent", and only those select few can get in. But what about everyone else? It isn't fair to them that only this select few can get themselves in and just because they're special. [ There's dripping sarcasm in her tone as she rolls her eyes. ] I just think that school's problematic for the society as a whole.

And you're an idiot. [ Just going to jab a finger at him because really, really? She's not buying it. ] I'm going to be worried about everyone, alright? It doesn't matter if you try to write it off, it's still going to be there nevertheless. It's okay to be upset. It's okay to cry, goddamn it. Hiding your emotions until you burst isn't good - but hah, as if I'm one to talk, I'm a goddamn hypocrite!

[ It's official: boys are stupid. ]

But... thanks. Really. All I want is to return to my normal life, but I already know that if I go back home, I still won't have that 'normalcy' that I'm so envious of.

[symbologic]

......

[Conceal, don't feel. Don't let her know that Eldar employs similar methods as Hope's Peak because discussing that wouldn't really be relevant to anything. So Faize just nods and hums thoughtfully in the right places as she speaks about Japan's bullying problems, showing that he's listening and comprehending what she's saying. That part, at least, does sound like bullshit. Even if he thinks that a school for fostering talent isn't, in and of itself, a bad thing.]

[...admittedly, the reserve course part he's still a little MMMMMMM about but...the rest of it. He sees no problem with it?]

[He backs up a little at the finger jab, eyes going wide. Why does this keep happening to him?? Why do Earth girls want to poke him with their fingers? His silence continues as she goes off. All these things make sense, and yet...he still can't bring himself to actually start expressing all the feelings buried so deeply. He's better off if he's disconnected from them.]

Of course. I will...keep all that in mind. [He had the chance to cry, but he didn't let the tears fall. And now he can't bring himself to do it at all.]

I...admittedly know nothing of your situation back home. However...are you really so certain that you will never have that normalcy ever again? Is there really nothing you can do to change things?

[The answer should be no. There's gotta be something you can do, he's sure.]

[dereban]

[ Don't you go Elsa on me, Faize Sheifa Beleth. But she doesn't say anything about his silence, but at the very least, he's listening. Or seems to be. Maybe she should pop quiz him at a later point in time.

Nevertheless, she sighs, straightening herself out as she lowers her hand. ]

Good. [ As for her situation? She shakes her head. ] I don't know. Because I'm not certain that my friends aren't suffering still. Or if they think that I've abandoned them... that I ran away, because I couldn't deal with the experiments, leaving only the four of them to deal with it. I wish there was something that I could do, really. But there's only so much that I can do, you see? I don't have powers, or abilities, or any of that crap. So when faced with a supernatural ordeal?

Let's just say that I don't stand a chance.

[ So while the answer should be no? Inaba isn't sure if there is something she can do about her situation back at home. ]