WEEK 11 - TRIAL

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (11)

saturday TRIAL DAY ONE (13) survivors At 9 AM, a klaxon alarm begins blaring in every area of the ship. The alarm will continue to go off until everyone has gathered in the conference room. Should anyone be running late or avoiding the trial for whatever reason, a robot guide will appear wherever they are and gently but firmly escort them into the room. Once all the living players are present, the conference room doors will lock shut; anyone who wishes to leave for whatever reason will need to ask AL-2955 or one of the robots. Anyone leaving for non-investigative purposes, such as bathroom breaks, will be accompanied by a robot escort. The large round table in the center of the conference room has been set up to help the trial run as smoothly as possible. Three holographic screens hover above the center hollow of the table, visible from every angle. The first screen displays the pictures and profiles of the suspects and victim; the second displays the autopsy report; the third displays a blank word processor. Each of the chairs comes equipped with a virtual keyboard which can be used to type information directly into the third screen, such as theories and updated information; they can also be set into privacy mode, which will transfer whatever notes someone writes directly into their datapad instead of on screen. There's also a tablet function for those who wish to draw charts or pictures on screen. The keyboards will detect the DNA of whoever's using them and record who's typed what - simply press an area of text and the name of whoever wrote it will pop up. The area to the right of the table has been temporarily sectioned off with a glass partition and sliding door for hygienic issues. Inside, the victim's body has been laid out on a metal autopsy table, covered by a plastic sheet. Above it is a holographic screen that displays a close-up color photograph of the body when it was found. A hand sanitizer dispenser has been considerately attached to the wall nearby for anyone getting up close and personal to the body. To the left of the conference table is a display case. Any evidence found during the investigation will be carefully collected by the robots at some point the previous day and placed here before the trial starts. Beneath each piece of evidence is a small tablet where players can type up information, such as a short description or where it was found. There are also empty areas left over for any evidence that may be found during the trial. The shelf at the very bottom of the case has been reserved for an extra rulebook in case anyone needs it. Food will be served throughout the day by the robots, who will take individual orders whenever you're feeling hungry. The trial will end at 9:00 PM, at which point all players will have been expected to cast their vote.

victim



suspects



Character Statuses
Setting
Rulebook
Voting

Comments

[tevinteriscoming]

A. 6:30-ish

[As soon as they get to the parlor, he's pulling out some of the alcohol that they apparently still have in bottles in here.]

I'd say choose your poison, but, well...

B. Later.

[On the other hand, much later, he can be found sitting at the foot of one of the couches with a bottle of brandy in one hand, talking to no one in particular.]

Not too impressive, really. I've been on the end from more scathing remarks for using the wrong dinner fork. [Cool Dorian, you're going a great job convincing all of us.]

b

[antietam]

[ Adam has been worried about Dorian since he saw his reaction, but hasn't really wanted to bring it up. When he hears him talking to himself... might as well. ]

Don't tell me you've seen this all before? [ An awkward smile. ] That was awful brave of you.

[tevinteriscoming]

Oh, near enough. Demons are always the same. [He's a little too drunk to realize Adam isn't actually buying it.] You can't give them the satisfaction of letting it affect you, it only gives them more power.

[As for bravery, he doesn't have much to say to that.] You don't listen to them. You don't let them talk. You just. Kill them.

[antietam]

[ He isn't buying it, but he listens. He's sure it wasn't just a demon and he's sure that it did affect Dorian, but there's no need for his opinions right now. ]

I can't say I know how we'd kill something like that. When we thought the queen had a human host, it seemed a lot easier, but now...

Are we just supposed to ignore it?

[tevinteriscoming]

We can't ignore it. We'll either have to find a way to destroy it, or she'll find a way to get the ship moving again and we'll have to destroy ourselves. [Bleak, Dorian.] Either way, we cannot allow ourselves to be used as its hosts.

[antietam]

[ He smiles softly at that. Dorian is strong and truly Adam can't help but admire that still. Now that the person he loves is being threatened with death, it's been hard for Adam to not imagine how Dorian must be feeling every day. And still, he's moving forward. ]

No. We said before, she's getting desperate. Why would she show herself like this now? It's almost the end. [ Of the aliens, at least. ]

But I... didn't talk to her. I don't know what happened to people. [ It's a tentative question, if Dorian wants to explain. If not, he won't push. ]

[tevinteriscoming]

Ah. Your typical visions, meant to tempt and to frighten. For example, she might offer me absolute power and then show me what shall become of me if I don't take it. The latter to tempt, the former to frighten, so craftier than your typical desire demon, at least. They can never manage to keep straight what it is you actually want and what you're afraid of. [He's rambling, a little, partially due to the drink and partially because it's easier to be academic in his explanation.] Higher demons are another species entirely, they can be quite clever. I met a very old Nightmare once, in the Fade. It had her talents for getting under one's skin, but perhaps less vividly.

Not that I think she's a Higher Demon, exactly. More like a God, I'd suspect. But when you get down to it, is there much difference? [Taking another swig from the bottle.] Either way, we must kill it.

[antietam]

[ That makes sense. He's dealt with things like that, or at least something to show you your worst nightmare. It's nothing to scoff at. ]

That they're omnipotent and omniscient? [ He sighs deeply and he'll finally let himself relax into a seat like he's ready for a real conversation. ]

I've been thinking that I kind of wish we'd gone with your plan. Watching over everyone, no killing, being purged. We're dangerous like this, anyone able to become possessed, using their powers...

[tevinteriscoming]

Not necessarily. When I say God, I mean something like the Old Gods, or something similar. Something old and very, very powerful. To an ordinary human, difficult to distinguish that much power from omnipotence and omniscience, but that doesn't mean that's what they are. Doesn't mean they can't be killed.

[He listens to what Adam is saying, but he laughs, a little caught off guard and a little bitter.] I can't say that's much of a plan. I don't know what to think. I thought the message from the dead was their way of telling us that we're lost, that we may as well end this. But they're still there, helping. Now I'm not sure what they want.

b

[douchemag]

Right? I've had worse visions from a twelve year old kid than from her.

[No, he's clearly bullshitting, this is definitely not the finest acting he's ever done here.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[That's fine, Judar. He's happy to have another participant in the too cool for school club. Sloppily pouring him out a glass, then.]

I've had worse visions from taking the wrong tonic at a party.

[douchemag]

[Taking the glass and raising it to him. A toast to pretending that visions are stupid and a total waste of time!]

I've had worse visions from eating bad fish for dinner! [He tosses the drink back with a grin, but his face goes a little more serious when he's done.] Seriously though, you ever come up against something like that before?

[tevinteriscoming]

[Raising his glass and knocking it back.]

A little like it. Higher demon, called a Nightmare. Tries to get in your head in a similar fashion. Dies when you hit it enough, however.

[douchemag]

[This shouldn't make him look absolutely delighted, and yet that's the best description for his current expression anyway. It's been eleven weeks of pure torture for him, he wants to finally fight something.]

Here's hoping this asshole's the same breed then. It's been ages, I'm looking forward to going all-out on something without having to worry about getting executed later. [Then he makes a face.] I mean, as all out as I can get on this dumb ship anyway.

[tevinteriscoming]

Agreed. Now, the key up in the core doesn't respond to magic or weapons; I think it may be that it isn't her true physical self. But if we have a chance to fight her and find her vulnerability, I think it shall be quite satisfying.

Have you noticed any change to your magic, since Alice vanished? I haven't. I find it strange, don't you, that it hasn't all come back.

[douchemag]

So what are we waiting for then? Let's find the bitch and take her out. [he says even though he has no idea how...]

Not even a little. I take my magic from outside sources, so I just figured this ship didn't have enough for my spells to be at their usual strength, but...if you're still limited too, maybe it really wasn't Ass Lice behind it all. It'd be great if we could find a way to get it all back though.

[tevinteriscoming]

I'm at least waiting for the drinks to wear off. Can we agree to wait until the drinks wear off?

[He says, pouring another shot.]

Mm. I suspected as much. The notes said they'd found a way to replicate the Fade here. Perhaps the way they replicated the Fade is causing my difficulties, except - it hardly makes sense. I have one of my more complex fire spells, but I haven't the ability to conjure a simple flame. It feels calculated - the magic I have would be excellent for killing someone, but poor for defending myself without trying to kill. That's exactly what a game like this would want.

B

[monsieurchatastrophe]

I always hated learning the differences for those. A fork's a fork, it shouldn't matter so long as I'm not shoving my face in the plate.

[is... that an attempt at a joke, adrien... because it's Bad. he doesn't really want to talk about the Queen-- you know your life sucks when even the evil alien entities try to parent you-- and yet he's still curious what everyone else went through. curiosity killing the cat etc]

[tevinteriscoming]

[You're all right, Adrien.]

Quite right. Also rude to poison your dinnermate's wine, but no one ever got dragged off by the ear before dessert for that.

[monsieurchatastrophe]

... I feel like there's a story there, but I'm also not sure I want to know. [because wtf is wrong with tevinter is what he has learned so far at space camp] Still, no dessert for messing up a fork? That's harsh.

[tevinteriscoming]

Less a story, more that in Tevinter, parties are considered a rather dull affair if there's only a failed assassination attempt. [He's joking but. How much. A lot is wrong with Tevinter.] Then again, I may be underreporting my own lapses in manners. The fork, I'm sure, was a final straw.

[Smiling at Adrien fondly, a little drunkenly.]

As you know by now, I'm sure, I enjoy making a scene.

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[he probably shouldn't find that funny, honestly, and part of him is just "@ tevinter what the actual fuck", but considering everything else in this place, he can't help but huff out a laugh.]

Yeah, well. Don't tell anyone, but I'm kinda fond of dramatics myself. [he wouldn't call his own things making a scene, but there's a reason he readily agreed to teen marriage and does stupid shit like bow down and call his wife "my lady"]

[tevinteriscoming]

[It's supposed to be funny. One of the first ways he learned to defend himself from "@ tevinter what the actual fuck" was in learning that if you make it a joke, everyone has to laugh on your own terms. Alluding to some intense psychological manipulation shockingly reminiscent of an emotionally damaging upbringing? Yes, he is, but only because it's funny.]

What? No. Color me shocked. The young man in the cat costume defending Paris with a little roguish wit is fond of dramatics. [Laughing a little. Come now.] All the best heroes are dramatists, really. It's more charming that way.

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[he laughs back, a little sheepishly-- he'd meant it as a joke himself, but he's been called out on his flair as Chat too much to not feel a little bit self-conscious about it when it's pointed out]

Well... Charming's what I aim for, at least, so that's good to know. [tho he can't help but add] But wouldn't that make you one of the best heroes yourself?

[things adrien should regret joking about, and yet]

[tevinteriscoming]

[No, probably not. But he just shakes his finger at him in a teasingly professorial fashion.]

Ah, ah, you're affirming the consequent. That the best heroes are dramatists does not imply that the best dramatists are heroes.