trial #2

[judgejudy]

DAY 4 (afternoon) Complex Population: 32 At noon, the same tone from the morning rings out, and Judy's voice filters out over the intercom. "Good afternoon, residents. As per Safety Protocol 6227-A, it is time to conduct a trial to bring justice for the victim. Please proceed to the courtroom on the first level." Just as at night, if you don't go to the courtroom, you'll be treated to an electric shock of increasing strength until you go to the courtroom or are unconscious. Though considering the ominous penalty for not participating in a trial, you should likely just go rather than risk not voting because you've been knocked out by your own stubbornness... Once you're in the courtroom, you'll find that bottled water and light snacks are provided, but otherwise you'll have to bring anything else you may need. As you come to your conclusions about who to vote for, you can step into the judgement theater to cast your vote at the terminal. You may change your vote as many times as you'd like, but at 7PM, your vote (or lack thereof) is locked in. You have until 7PM to discuss and vote for who you think the murderer is. — ic rulebook character statuses character profiles Voting will close at 9PM EST on 10/15. voting

Comments

[karmas]

I will not. I accuse the three of you for no personal reason, and therefore, your appeal to your own personal feelings do not matter to me. You think the fact that you've decided these two are your friends makes them immune to suspicion? Ridiculous.

In fact, I find you less suspicious for the reason that you occasionally disagreed with theories that were brought up accusing others. Most suspicious would be Luke Castellan, and it would be a mistake to discount Lara Croft.

[tearable]

They're not my friend, that's the thing you need to consider. If they'd like to defend themselves, so be it, but I'm the one who made the suggestion to do so. Evidence points to me as the source of what brought Diva to her death by interrogating her so carelessly. That was my mistake.

[ She definitely sounds honest with that. ]

If you plan to travel down the avenue, just know that Bigby and Luke's actions were based solely on my suggestion. I had no idea Luke would get involved and Bigby - his card said he's skilled at interrogating, which is why I pushed for him to.

[karmas]

It's not the interrogation I object to, Elizabeth. It was, in fact, a good idea to interrogate Diva. My intention here isn't to punish you for attempting to find a culprit. Why, if I choose wrongly today, I'm sure many will be angry with me as well, but that will not stop me.

Do you agree or disagree that one of the ones to first agree Diva's actions were likely suspicious is likely to be staff?

[tearable]

Don't worry, your reputation isn't on the line, miss.

[ No one's taking your license away! ]

I believe that when a woman is flaunting so proudly that she harmed another person and she seemed mentally unwell, people were latching onto that in a state of panic. I agree, it is likely, but there were far more people than three staking claim to Diva's unstable behavior.

[karmas]

Certainly. Any of the individuals weighing in on Diva are suspects. The more we narrow the pool of suspects, the better chance we have.

Who do you claim was involved who I failed to mention?

[tearable]

I'm not going to throw names around - we're in a closed room with ongoing occurring for every major conversation. Who the hell could ignore Diva writhing around like a madwoman and Luke's bloody nose?

[ It was... quite a scene. ]

We had nothing else and we're scared... it's human nature to latch onto something that seems valid.

[karmas]

Have I disputed any of that? No. All I have suggested is that one of those people was likely staff. If I have missed one of the individuals involved, I should like to know. It's likely staff would have weighed in, and early, before the bloody nose.

[selfdenying]

I also have to raise the point that Diva didn't really help herself at all. She was not denying the accusations and was more than happy to be violent. I didn't approve of going after her whatsoever, but she wasn't exactly trying to be a paragon of innocence in everyone else's eyes.

[tearable]

She... she didn't. [ Elizabeth says quietly. ] But, the woman needed a kind of help she could not receive here. It's unfortunate and that ... that weighs on me. I was the one who pushed for her to be interrogated.

[ And she clenches her fist when she thinks about it. ]

While she may not be innocent or she could be a blood-thirsty murderer....she wasn't here. She did not commit that crime and the person who did is still among us.

[selfdenying]

Yes, I agree. She may have done terrible things, but she was not guilty in any circumstance for Charles' murder.

[He shakes his head, his tone serious.]

It's alright, Elizabeth. You couldn't have known.

[tearable]

When women like that - frantic or otherwise - act out? It's straight to the asylum for them.

[ She says in a pitiful voice. ]

If I'm voted for my misjudgment, there's nothing I can do.

[antietam]

I'd have to disagree that Luke is the most suspicious. His actions clearly suggested that he thought he was doing the right thing, just like the others. He's been one of the most active people in trying to figure things out, even if it means putting himself in physical danger.

The staff have more self-preservation than he does.

[selfdenying]

Adam, actually, now that you're speaking up for Luke, may I ask a question?

I'd like to know, how did you and Luke get so close?

[antietam]

[ There's a pause and then... he goes red. He glances down to where Luke is leaning against him. ]

It's—it kind of happened fast, yeah, but we've talking a lot and then... things changed. To more than friends, I guess.

[selfdenying]

Oh? Finding love in a terrible place like this? How beautifully ironic.

[He smiles.]

It really is quite fast, though! I suppose it was love at first sight?

[antietam]

Definitely not. [ He's even more red somehow. ] I don't know why he would like me, but the other day he just...

[ He's going to nudge Luke. ] You explain it.

[chiseler]

[There's a disgruntled noise at the nudge but he opens his eyes anyway because right. Okay. Adam's being coy and Luke's better at explaining anyway. So he's looking at Alfendi and shrugging a tiny bit.]

"Love" might be a stretch since you're right, it's pretty fast. But it's just...sometimes you go through your whole life without people who really get it, but then one day you meet somebody who understands you and that's it, you know? You don't know what you really want but you know you don't want to let that person go and you want to be as close as possible because they get it. That's how it is for us. Even people at camp didn't understand everything but Adam does. It's weird, right? But I think if we're stuck here together and without knowing for how long...well, I'm selfish. I want to make the most out of it.

[karmas]

All right. I'll accept that argument, Adam Parrish. When did he put himself in physical danger?

[antietam]

Well, the first time I met him, he was jumping off a ledge. Then he tried to break through to the operation room to get to the body, multiple times to the point where he got a huge bruise on his stomach.

And obviously, Diva hit him and broke his nose. Those are just the events I've witnessed. He could have done more.

[karmas]

Do you suppose anyone in that group was more suspicious than others?

[antietam]

Yes. But I think pointing fingers is only going to lead to panic and incorrect votes. I don't want to cause that.

[karmas]

And yet, we have to vote for someone, or the person who dies will almost certainly not be staff.

[liven]

That's fine and all, since I like that guy, but very quickly will you vote to have that one [ alice? ] renamed Jefferey? The matter is very nearly settled. Luke already voted.

[antietam]

No. You're distracting the trial and making yourself more suspicious.

[liven]

You are of course free to vote for me if you like wasting votes.