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

[hopefragment]

[But is her head attached to her body, or is this some headless horseman shit???

Assuming she's still in one piece, though, he leans back gently against her, reaching to try to find her hand so he can take it with a small attempt at a smile.]

If that's a serious offer, I might not turn it down.

[He's Tired. Everything happens so much.

But the way he tenses slightly and pauses makes it seem like he has something else to say? Just give him a second to figure out how to put it into words. It's a quiet mumble, meant only for her ears, when he adds,] Could I... stay with you tonight?

[muties]

[ Yes, she is still in one piece surprisingly. See, the roomfriend thing (almost) works sometimes! ]

I could definitely carry you.

[ Maybe. 50/50 possibility of Roxy being able to lift the bagel up them stairs, really.

In a whisper, ] Of course. My door's always open. ... Uh, metaphorically. Not literally, literally it is always locked. Mooooost of the time.

[hopefragment]

I know you could.

[It would be a hilarious attempt. Probably need to float to keep his feet from dragging on the ground.

Some of the tension goes out of his shoulders when she agrees, though, and he just turns his head enough to press his nose against her hair.]

All of the time, Roxy... c'mon. [PLEASE DON'T JOKE ABOUT THAT. 8(

Ah but wait, that tension comes right back. He has to do it, doesn't he...?]

I... wanted to talk to you, too. About... my motive. Before... before it comes out at the trial tomorrow.

[muties]

[ Truly a pictureque scene it would be.

What, did you think she was going to say "no I like to sleep alone in my alone room, stemming from my childhood of being alone"??? Hinata.

She. May have not been joking about sometimes forgetting to lock her door but uh. She won't say that. Hinata has enough problems to worry about goddamn. ]

Ah... [ Roxy pauses, biting her lip. Look, she is goddamn curious about whatever it is, because she's a nosy piece of shit. But she knows it's upsetting to him, and ] You don't have to, if you don't want to. And if you need me to tackle whoever tries to put it into evidence, I will.

[hopefragment]

...No, it's... fine. I should have told you, anyway. You... deserve to know.

[Even though he's scared of how she'll react? No one else so far has hated him for it. It would be just his luck if Roxy were only into him for his mysterious SHSL talent, though.

He keeps his nose pressed against her hair for just another moment before pulling forward, trying to pull out of her arms.]

Let's... go back, first. I can get... I'll get it out of my room.

[muties]

[ Yes, clearly she only cares about some secret talent some elitist prep school gave him, this girl who has never been to a school and got magical powers for dying one time. U caught her, Hinata.

Really, she wouldn't be so worried if he didn't make it sound so... awful. It makes her think it's a file on his serial killings or some other Truly Awful thing. Surely it must be pretty bad for him to be so upset about it? Sometimes one's own imagination is far worse than the truth.

She will reluctantly release him. But not without a kiss to the top of his head. ]

Ok. Lead the way, my fair Hajime.

[hopefragment]

[Ugh when she calls him things like that, he can't help but huff a quiet laugh through his nose, taking her hand to lead her upstairs. He's... still really nervous, though? Like, incredibly so. Enough that his hand is probably sweaty and gross, as you do.

He's not going to spend long in his room, though, instead moving straight to the dresser to pull the folder out and meet back up with her.]

Let's... go to your room, okay?

[That way if she takes it badly, he can just... go back to his own room instead of wait for her to leave his. Also... his room is probably cursed or something. Ghost candy, failed sleepovers -- he's 100% Done with that room.

Once they're in her room, though, bless second floor roomfriends, he hands her the folder Inaba had found, though the note is no longer in it. It's just the file.]

It's... from Hope's Peak. It's... my student profile.

[The way he says it makes it seem like it's something totally awful, a marked contrast to how he'd spoken about Hope's Peak in the past. Once the folder's in her hands, he's going to try to move over to one of the beds and take a seat, not daring to look at her as she reads it.]

[muties]

[ She will hold your gross sweaty hand, it's ok. Boys are always sweaty and gross anyway, right?

And ugh just come live in her room, Hinata, you're going to end up murdered in your own room at this rate. ]

Okay.

[ An ok with an ay, a serious ok. What the fuck could be in a student profile? Did he get a B one time. She takes it gingerly, biting her lip. Opens it carefully, holding her breath.

And then just. Stares at it. She has to read it a couple times before her brain can fully make sense of it. Maybe because she was expecting "Hajime Hinata stabbed a student with a pencil. Three different times. Also, he got a B in history. His parents were So Ashamed" or "Hajime Hinata is a serial killer of 602125115 people, also he fucked a horse". Why would he be so upset over something like this...?

After a moment, it does click. She almost wants to laugh, not haha laugh but oh god laugh. Of course this is what he's been so upset about. Of course. She should have known it'd be something like this, something that only Hajime would see as shameful. Something that is solely a blow to his skills, something that had normal, average boy plastered all over it. She still remembers when the profiles were revealed and he reacted to "Skills: None".

She sighs through her nose. ]

Oh, Hajime...

[hopefragment]

...Yeah.

[His voice is quiet as he stares at the floor, his hands clasped between his knees. He... still doesn't want to look at her. He's afraid to look at her, because what if she really is disappointed that he's just... Hinata. Hajime Hinata, truly the skills: none.]

You... can see why I wouldn't want anyone to know about it, right...? Especially you, I mean...

[he really likes you, Roxy. :c And having to admit that he's a literal nobody in the eyes of the entire country of Japan (according to him) is really difficult.]

[muties]

[ She is disappointed... in your self-esteem. Who cares what Japan thinks anyway? Sounds like a fake country anyway. ]

Yeah. I mean, nah, but yeah.

[ Gently tosses the folder aside. Maybe in the trash. Ok not really, but it's tempting. She'll put it on a table.

It is time for a hug, just pulling him to her chest roughly.

How does she word this so he isn't upset, hm. ]

This Hope's Peak place sounds like literal trash and I'm going to be writing them a very strongly-worded letter about what dumb elitist, high-horsed assholes they are. You're too good for them, damn it. They don't even deserve you.

[ Mostly she's kind of pissed that they would make such a great guy upset for such stupid reasons. Like, how fucking dare?? Wow. This is not how a school should work?? ]

[hopefragment]

[His self-esteem is a disappointment, it's true.]

...?!

[He can only let out a soft noise of surprise at suddenly being tugged into a hug, but he isn't going to protest. Just turn his head so maybe he can breathe, and maybe turn himself so he can wrap his arms tightly around her. Yes, okay, this is fine. If he starts crying again he might be able to hide it, which is important.]

N-no, Roxy, that's not it... they're... it's the best school in the country. The whole world, probably. People... people who go there mean something. They're guaranteed success. Everyone looks up to them, and I...

[He just wanted to be a part of that. His voice might be getting a little choked up, so it's a good thing that she can't see his face right now.]

[muties]

[ Roxy would love to go on a rant at how stupid Hope's Peak really is, but that seems like the kind of revelation Hinata will have to come to on his own. Because "best school in the world" HER ASS, if they were the best they'd have begged Hinata to come there?? And they wouldn't treat children as if they're not awesome if they don't have some ~special talent~ goddamn. ]

You don't need some super duper special talent as Decreed from some schoolboard's ass to mean something, Hajime. 'Cause trust me, you mean something. If not to some stuffy dbags [ ok fine she needs to rag on the school ] then definitely to me. And Faize, and everyone here.

[ She can't give a meaningful speech like certain elfin wizards, but she can at least try to make her point. She is better at the hugging than the speeching. ]

I know you think they're all that and a bag of chips, but don't let their honestly, fragrantly incorrect opinion change the fact that you are just as good, if not better than all that and a bag of chips.

[hopefragment]

...

[He's just... going to bury his face in her chest. She doesn't need to be as good with words as certain space wizards, she's gotten her point across. His hands clutch tightly to the back of her shirt as he tries to just breathe and maybe not cry on her. He doesn't want to embarrass himself any more than he already has?]

T-that's... that's what Faize and Poland said, too. B-but I just...

[He wanted to be somebody important and Cool.

Just let him hug. He needs this.]

[muties]

[ Go ahead and cry on her, she doesn't mind. It's okay. It's impossible to embarrass yourself in front of her at this point, she just accepts it. She will let him hug forever. ]

See? Even they know what's up, it's not just me. Everyone knows you're cool beans.

[ Thank fuck, too. Everyone say nice things to Hinata, always. ]

And don't forget it, either. I can draw some stuff on your ceiling about how great you are, if that'll help.