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

[chiseler]

Early in the evening

[Earlier in the evening once everybody's been settled in the parlor and he's done a headcount (and a second one, and a third count to be sure) he eventually finds a bottle and a couple of shot glasses. He uses just a little bit of light from the tablet to see what he's doing, pouring a few shots before turning to whoever's closest.]

To a shitty kind of victory?

[Don't mind him if he's already downing his. Hope you're ready to catch up.]

Later

[He's propped up against a wall mostly by himself, somehow losing Adam in the dark and he's staring straight ahead with a different bottle in his hand. He's quiet, occasionally taking a drink straight from the bottle as he ponders to himself.]

...I didn't think it would be like this. [Please feel free to ask what he's talking about.]

Etc.

[Luke's an irresponsible adult, please assume he's full of even worse ideas and regret this evening.]

[antietam]

[ At some point, they migrate to a more secluded part of the parlor like they're readying for bed but not quite. He's been letting Luke do what he needs to in order to make himself feel better while Adam watches the others drown their sorrows. He can't really judge them even if he doesn't partake.

When they settle down, Adam sits close and leans against him. ]

Hey. [ He's not sure if he wants to talk, so it's an offer to sit in amicable silence or not. ]

[chiseler]

[It's been a long evening. It's been a long evening in the dark watching the shitchildren run around and him monitoring everyone and mingling a bit. It's getting close to settling for the evening and he recognizes this routine. However, when he hears Adam more than sees him he pauses and tilts his head for the time be. A hand moves, touching the side of Adam's head to make sure Luke's sitting on Adam's right before he hums a little.

He shifts a little when Adam leans, the hand from before moving to drape around his shoulders and pull him closer. This isn't unusual at this rate. Things are a little too terrible to think clearly in this case.]

Hi. [It's all he says at first.] Can't believe you were completely down to blow stuff up this time.

[antietam]

It's not that weird. [ A little huffily. He really isn't stuffy, but he just kind of seems that way when everyone manages to act like five year olds with scissors. He's a Cool Teen too. ]

I don't like it when you're blowing yourself up. Other things are fine. [ Those are the rules. There's a pause. ] Are you saying I should put you on a leash, though?

[ It's a weird way of asking if he's OK. Is he going to try to hurt himself at some point? ]

[chiseler]

Heh. If you say so. [Adam's the best, honestly and even when he's talking Luke's already shifting to make himself comfortable and lean against him harder. He considers that for a moment, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand while he stalls.]

I think you've got a thing for power, don't you. [But he huffs lightly.] ...I don't know where I'm going to do or what will happen this week, Parrish. I need to stay ahead. [So no. He's not sure what he's thinking.]

[antietam]

[ Adam doesn't mind the leaning, his hand going up to card through Luke's hair. He smells like alcohol and Adam wrinkles his nose, but it's not like he isn't used to it. ]

No. [ Pretty simply. Like that's all that needs to be said. But he'll explain since Luke isn't in his right mind: ] You're not doing anything without me. You promised. And if you don't want me doing it, I'm not letting you do it either. Alright?

[ He'll pull at his hair lightly until he responds. ]

early

[tevinteriscoming]

The shitty kind is the only kind of victory worth drinking to, frankly. The good victory parties are always such dull affairs. The speeches are too serious and everyone crawls out of the woodwork to start writing their memoirs.

[He'll keep up, don't worry. Doing a shot, too. Kind of an acknowledgement, he'd rather bury the hatchet here. If he'd seemed angry yesterday or this morning, well, a lot has happened since and it's hard to care.]

[chiseler]

I'll have to agree with that. Laurels aren't worth it after a while and all of the heroics can get boring once they all start sounding the same. It's sort of like saying "hey, congratulations for something practically handed to you." What's the point?

[But there's a short grin because...yeah. They need to work together now more than ever and he takes the glass once dorian's done to refill both of them for them.] Maybe we should consider trying for real victories next time though now that she's finally revealed herself.

[tevinteriscoming]

I suppose if we must endure a few laurels, it's a small price to pay for the chance to fucking kill that thing.

[Good on him for prompt refills.]

[chiseler]

[Sometimes he actually can be a decent person. It's just unusual at this rate.]

Yeah, about that. Any ideas so far? It didn't seem to be reacting to any of the attacks from anybody and that's probably our main concern.

[tevinteriscoming]

It's not reacting to attacks because it isn't actually there. It's managed to plant itself in the core somehow, but the source of its power lies elsewhere. Without being able to attack it there, we're helpless, but I should be surprised if it were actually, physically, anywhere on the ship.

[He thinks for a moment. The great thing about him is, he spent most of his academic days drunk, so he thinks pretty well a few shots in.]

There's that terminal, with the coordinates. I wonder if we couldn't somehow find where she came from? If we could get that information to the Nuwa...

early in the evening

[bloodteller]

[ yeah not even gonna pretend here, yuno's grabbing a shot glass, pinching her nose (just like hancock taught her), and downing that shot like no one's business.

once she's done, she holds up a fist. pound it, castellan. ]

Is it a victory? I don't know, but the fire was nice to set off.

[chiseler]

[Yuno's officially back to being one of his favorites and he almost laughs in delight, but it's a little too flat to be amused despite the fact he's absolutely meeting her for a fistbump.]

The fact that we're still alive counts as a victory. Trust me. We used to count that as the greatest victory back home. [Give him a moment to refill their glasses. Whatever, fifteen's clearly old enough.] Nice call on the fire by the way.

[bloodteller]

[ chugging that glass immediately. whatever the fuck they're drinking is going down like water now. maybe she's just a lightweight and is already drunk. ]

I had those things since week... four, maybe. I'm not sure. I kept making more and more. [ she's placing the glass down to fold her arms. ] I can get you some if you can get me into my room. Think we're gonna need them at this point, at least so we know where to go if someone's in danger.

...But it wouldn't have worked without you and Adam. If we're not dead in the morning and the stove's working, I'll make you guys breakfast.

[chiseler]

[Nobody ever said he was a responsible parent. He listens to her and even when she puts the glass down he finishes draining his before he says anything.]

I wanna say "I can't believe you were prepared" but I never thought you were stupid. We've all been gearing up for this probably longer than we've realized. [But he eyes her carefully.] You really think I can get into your room?

[Curious. There's a short grin though.] He's good that way. People don't seem to notice that about him, but Adam's one of those people that's a good secret weapon. I couldn't do anything here without him anymore. [Adam Parrish is Good and Pure.] Don't remember if the stove's electric or not but I'm pretty sure we won't be dead tomorrow? Pancakes would be awesome. [There's a pause.] ...man, we need to come up with a new strategy for tomorrow when we're not-dead about how we're surviving for the next couple of days. Pancakes seems like a good start though.

[bloodteller]

You've got the lock breaking thing, right? Without the electronic aspect, it's just a door, but... Well, maybe we can pry it open either way. [ she laughs a little because. well, this is ridiculous. she doesn't answer when he says she's not stupid, though; mostly because she's stupid levels of prepared. ]

If it's electric, we need to figure out food. The stove's not electric, is it? [ with a frown, she's going to get something from the liquor cabinet. ] I guess non-perishables are all we got now... I'll owe you pancakes, if that's the case. The fact we had three pairs of hands throwing them into the orb at the same time probably helped. ...Definitely helped.

early

[douchemag]

[He laughs, somewhere between hysteria and just completely drained, and raises his glass.]

I'll drink to living. Even though we're probably all fucked now.

[chiseler]

[Cheers to being alive and saying fuck fate tbh]

Probably! [He sounds a little too cheerful.] But at least that's tomorrow. We're alive for tonight and we can figure out the rest later, you know? [A sharp grin.] Congrats on escaping your execution.

[douchemag]

[fuck fate is definitely the best toast there is]

You got a point there! [Another laugh, though this one actually seems genuine. Not like anyone can probably blame him for being relieved as hell right now, even with their imminent alien possession death.] Man, can't say I saw that one coming, but I'll take it. And at least we finally have a target other than each other now.

[chiseler]

[If anybody's going to blame him it certainly won't be Luke. This whole weekend has been a strange and crazy chain of events and he shakes his head in almost disbelief.]

Between you and me I'm pretty sure none of us did. Let's just hope that we really can focus on this target and not worry about her turning us against each other again. But without Alice...the game's done, isn't it? No more motives, nothing. What's left?

[douchemag]

Considering the stakes, even I have to say it'd be pretty damn stupid if we tried to kill anyone for any reason other than them being an alien. [Not...that their track record is great here....]

Thank fuck. [Yeah, some people might be sad or worried Alice is gone. He is not one of them.] No dumb rules, no shitty motives, no boring ass trials. The only thing left is clear - we take out whatever aliens come at us.

later

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[like any good cat, Adrien shows up quietly when you least expect him]

What would be like this?

[chiseler]

[To his credit, he doesn't jump. He just slides his gaze over to Adrien with a lopsided, unhappy grin.]

The end, I guess. Or the test. It wasn't supposed to cause all of…[He just waves his free hand around to encompass "all of this."] Pretty messed up, isn't it?

[monsieurchatastrophe]

It's not the end. We're still here, aren't we? Most of us are even in one piece. [that's the first thing he says, because He Wants To Believe, but it takes him a second to understand what Luke means by "the test", at which point the look he gives him is disbelieving.] You think all this [he gestures vaguely with his one hand at the room] is because of your blood test?

[chiseler]

Most of us. [Adrien…but he reaches up to gently push at his head as usual. He probably winds up missing and pokes him in the face instead. Sorry. But he gives him a calm look in response before he shakes his head.] I'm not just talkin' about the blood test, but that just sped things up. I meant some other things that I didn't know about. How the aliens got into Alice's core, all that? I understand now.