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

[socloverit]

earlyish
[so that was

wow

and she's right back into her usual cycle of throwing out all her energy at once and now she's exhausted herself again, one bout of maniacally cackling while causing rampant destruction later. There are a few people she wants to see and she'll find them if they don't find her first, but right now, she's got her head rested where her arms are folded on a table, every now and again moving to swirl a small glass of something she picked because the bottle was pretty without actually drinking it. She wants to push past the freshly-relived trauma, to prove the queen wrong, but she can't even find it in her to stand, can't find it in her to think herself pathetic for this.]


later
[With their numbers dwindled like this, it probably won't take long to realize someone's missing from the shitty parlor sleepover. Given that most places have been locked up, it probably won't take especially long for the especially curious to find Clover in the conference room, sunk low in the chair she's sitting in, occasionally bringing up her datapad before remembering she ought to conserve the battery and setting it aside again. Just about anyone who comes in gets the closest thing to a glare she can manage, which, unfortunately, is actually pretty far off.]

early

[bloodteller]

[ yuno and clover don't really have any kind of friendship and with judar alive and well, really, there's not much here. but yuno sets down her glass next to clover's, and slides into a seat next to her, still, her face blank but she's aware.

and then, slowly, she raises a fist, turning to clover. it's a dumb movement but dave's done it enough that she knows that people can connect with it. ]

We did it.

[socloverit]

[She needs a moment—it's more effort than she thinks it might be worth, and they don't really have anything left between them without a goal in mind, do they?]

...We did.

[And she lightly bumps Yuno's fist with her own, sounding just as tired but maybe a little less miserable. In the end, they'd had the same ideas; set aside everything else if it meant they could keep their friend safe, do whatever it took. If nothing else at all, Clover can respect that.]

...Mind if I keep that knife? It's neat. ["neat" god clover DON'T YOU HAVE ENOUGH WEAPONS??????]

[bloodteller]

It was there for anyone to take, so it's your's if you want it. I don't mind. [ i mean her bag full of knives and god knows what else is by the parlor door. hopefully no one steps...on it... HAHAHAHA... ]

You're not really steady with the scythe, though. You don't use things bigger than you often. [ and yuno raises her glass to her lips before she continues in a light tone. ]

You should learn. We're going to need you.

[socloverit]

[YUNO THAT'S SUCH A BAD PLACE TO KEEP A BAG OF KNIVES???? but Clover nods. the knife is hers now it's part of her arsenal. god.

but she glances up and then away at the next bit, resting her head on her folded arms again, not quite lifting her face enough to keep what she says next from being muttered.]

Didn't get a whole lot of time to practice. [what with Arumat getting fuckin murdered. But as she goes on, she sounds sincere.] I'll practice harder, then.

[bloodteller]

[ honestly, yuno's knife skills are top notch and she's capable of wielding shit twice her size. also she can fend off five adult men at once with only her hands, so, after a moment of deliberation: ]

You lift it too much with your arms. You have more strength in your legs, so if you shift your balance, it'll help. [ yuno flexes her own arms to demonstrate: ] My arms aren't where I keep my strength, but they know how to move when I'm ready to.

[socloverit]

[Weeks ago, stubborn and ever-independent Clover would have been infuriated just by the prospect of some kid younger than her trying to critique her murdering skills, but at this point, weirder shit has happened? Whatever? And anyway you don't just desecrate the shit out of a corpse like that if you don't know what you're doing, so Clover moves to prop her head up in her hand, quietly attentive.]

...Maybe you can show me later. Another time. [when they aren't all drowning their sorrows]

[bloodteller]

[ hey, clover's got a mean kick. they could both use each other for training. yuno can show her how to cleanly sever a head and clover can show her how to knock in doors. ...one of these things is a little less criminal than the other. ]

Maybe when the lights are on and we aren't relying on a glowing sword for a way to see. [ NO OFFENSE CLOVER BUT THAT THING IS TERRIFYING AND SHOULD NOT BE COMING CLOSE TO YUNO'S NECK IN THE DARK TBH... ]

You're not drinking your's. Do you not like it?

[socloverit]

[THAT'S FAIR? THAT'S DEFINITELY FAIR. THE LIGHTSABER MOOD LIGHTING IS COOL AND ALL BUT NOT GOOD FOR SCYTHE SWINGING

so she nods because again, yeah, that's legit, then takes a moment to register what the other thing Yuno's talking about is. right, she just totally forgot about her drink??]

Oh. I haven't tried it. [And so as long as she's something vaguely resembling sat up, she takes the glass and tries a sip, and immediately pulls a face.] Nope, never mind, I don't like it.

[bloodteller]

[ not even going to hesitate when she slides her glass over tbh. yuno's not the sort to share but no one should be left out of the drunken mess the group is at this point?? ]

It's honey wine and cherry juice. It's really sweet, you can't even taste the alcohol.

[ she's only slightly lying, you'll know you're drinking an Adult Drink but it's easy enough to chug... ]

You earned it.

later

[douchemag]

[It takes him a while because he's pretty damn drunk right now, but eventually he'll notice Clover is missing and go wandering off to find her. He raises an eyebrow but doesn't seem at all fazed by her glare.]

Hey, hey, the hell are you doing here by yourself? Party's in the other room. [Not that he doesn't understand wanting to isolate yourself, especially after whatever the Queen showed her, but listen this is the best he can do at checking up on her.]

[socloverit]

[Judar's one of like...two???? people allowed to come in here without immediately receiving the stink eye, and Clover sets her datapad and scythe aside and even starts to stand when she sees him.]

That's what we're passing for a party now, huh? [Twelve tired and traumatized assholes and idiots drinking in the dark and trying not to think too hard about how totally boned they are. The party life indeed. But gosh, look at him, actually making an effort to come find her!!! She's too far off here to just accidentally be stumbled upon.]

...How are you feeling? [wound-wise, queen trauma-wise, didn't die today-wise, likelihood of drunkenly vomiting on the carpet-wise??]

[douchemag]

Closest thing to one we've ever gotten here. [Not that he's complaining at all - a bunch of traumatized assholes trying to drink their troubles away sounds exactly like every party he's ever been into aside from the Cthulu cult ones.] If we're all gonna die tomorrow, we might as well have fun tonight.

[He laughs at that question, actually heading towards where she is and plopping himself into the chair next to her. The fact that he's sitting down instead of floating somewhere probably speaks to how drunk he already is.]

Better than this morning, that's for fucking sure! Though that could be all the booze talking. [That, and not being dead. That's a bonus.] Plus no more trials and Ass Lice's dead! There's something to celebrate.

[socloverit]

[Not much is ever actually funny to her anymore, and how completely wasted he is right now would be hilarious if she wasn't such a mess, but even if it's in no small part all the alcohol, seeing him so chipper gets her to smile, too, in spite of everything. She's sitting back down if he is, because these are as fine conditions as any for avoiding everyone else. No need to go anywhere.]

No, I think better than this morning's for sure. Rest in pieces, Ass Lice. [She even snickers.] Good riddance.

...You think that's it, huh? We're dying tomorrow or the next day or whatever? Got doomed that bad? [She doesn't sound as serious as maybe she should, though, in part because dying's terribly low on her list of worries and they'd been trying for it anyway, hadn't they?]

[douchemag]

Seriously, good fucking riddance. [He's snickering right along with her. Yeah, maybe they're all fucked without Alice, but whatever it's still better than when she was around as far as he's concerned.] I'd thank whoever did it if they weren't a [vague handwave as he makes a demony face] Sowhatevershit.

[He actually hums in thought before shaking his head.] Nah. Think we got a better chance now than we had before, actually. And even if we're screwed...a giant eye demon monster's simple, y'know? If we're stronger than she is, then we take her out, and if not, we die. That's it. No need to worry about hostages or trials or executions or the ship blowing up if we don't follow the rules or any of that bullshit.

[socloverit]

[She's trying to imitate his demony face and giggling, because giant eye monster trauma becomes a little less terrible when silly faces are involved, and she definitely cannot make a serious demony face.]

You're probably right. [She'd like to hold out hope that they can get this ship moving yet, or someone—the Nuwa, maybe, if they've really lucked out—will stage some grand rescue if they don't find something in the ship themselves. Long term thinking has never been her forte, though, and she's still reeling over everything else, so she hasn't considered where they'd go from there.] If we're gonna die, this is probably the way to do it.

[But he's definitely not getting out of a conversation about death without getting fucking doxxed.] I'm really glad you made it out of there okay. [For...given values of "okay," given. Everything???? But he's here and laughing and alive despite it all.]

[douchemag]

[Considering she's talking about them dying, he probably shouldn't be grinning as eagerly as he is now...but there it is anyway.]

It's about fucking time. That fight with Fiona was sooooo disappointing. I want an actual challenge this time.

[But ugh!! If he was sober right now, he'd be grossed out by this blatant doxxing, but alas he just looks ridiculously smug and cheerful about his survival, even though he didn't do shit to cause it.]

Whaaaat, don't tell me you were worried! No way was I gonna die from something that lame.

[you literally walked into the trial going KILL ME you fucking asshole]

[socloverit]

Sorry, I spent how long yelling at you before you decided to quit trying to hurry up the voting? [harrumph!!! She can't even really be mad about it, though, when he's so stupidly cheerful and—and here. The queen had made her relive all those deaths and forced her through more she never thought could be worse than what she'd imagined, and she still feels small and scared and helpless. Her brother is dead, Arumat and Machias are dead, Junpei is dead and Alice's prospects are slim—and despite what she saw, despite everything working against it, Judar's still here. It's almost like hope, if anything is anymore.

And okay, this was happening whether or not he was gonna be a dick about friendship as usual—the good news is that she's mindful of his cool new bullet wound because being shot up isn't fun, dealing with physical contact after being shot up is super not fun, and she relates enough to actually be something close to careful! The bad news is that this asshole is getting a goddamn hug.]

[douchemag]

I don't remember--[But then he's cut off by her hugging him? Rude.

Actually, while he certainly will never admit to needing a hug and it's something that would never even occur to him, she'll be able to instantly tell just from touching him that under all the cheerfulness and 'who the fuck cares' attitude, he's shaking pretty badly. It's the combination of a lot of factors: general stress and exhaustion, relief from escaping his execution, rage and terror from the vision the Queen showed him.

It's the last thing that gets him to not only tolerate the hug for more than a split second, but even unconsciously lean into it as his breath hitches for a moment. Because that wasn't just a potential future the Queen showed him; it's his past, from when he was too blind to realize just how much he's been controlled, how he's never made a real choice in his entire life. And more than death, more than execution - the thought of ever being forced to go back to that, to be shackled again to someone else's decision on his fate, absolutely terrifies him down to his core.

So it's Clover's touch, here and now and real, that he latches on to as an anchor. Because - he made a choice, and he chose her, and this is the result. More than Kougyoku, maybe even more than Hakuryuu; she's someone who never thought of him as 'Magi' first and 'Judar' second, who he never had to consider as a potential king candidate, who doesn't look at him and see the power he can provide her before anything else. He chose her and she chose him based on nothing but the people they are and - that's a fucked up way to view friendship or their relationship, but it's the best frame of reference he has. He doesn't need friends, but proof that he can somehow matter outside of his fate as a Magi? That's pretty damn important.

So yeah. He's not far gone enough to actually hug her back, but he does let the hug linger for a few moments past plausible deniability before he starts weakly trying to shove her off.]

Ugggh, get off me, you're making me all sweaty and gross.

early

[tevinteriscoming]

[This is not a great idea. But. He keeps glancing over at her out of the corner of his eye from whatever part of the room he's in.]

[socloverit]

[there have been better ideas

maybe there have also been worse ideas though because she doesn't seem to notice; Dorian's not especially high on her list of concerns at the moment given all of today's everything and she's too distracted to be paying enough attention to him right now.]

[tevinteriscoming]

[Eesh. He definitely has something to say to her, and he sits there and weighs for a bit whether he's drunk enough to say it. In the end, it turns out that he is too drunk to say it.]

later

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[it's time for clover to immediately regret rebefriending the cat, because when he notices her missing he tries to go find her. when he spots her he stays standing in the doorway of the conference room, as if unsure whether he should step forward]

Clover? Are you okay? [she probably can't see it because Darkness, but he makes a face at himself. are any of them okay? jfc, what an idiot.] I mean... Never mind.

[socloverit]

[That was the stupidest question and maybe he'll see the way her face scrunches up when he asks against the reflected light of her scythe if nothing else, but she relaxes when he catches himself.]

Never mind. [An affirmation instead of a dismissal; "never mind" was definitely the right thing to say there. A pause, and she adds, quiet:] Wrecking the fuel room was kinda cool. [That's about as okay as she ever gets.]

[monsieurchatastrophe]

[he's glad she's not holding it against him, but he looks at the doorframe when he answers:]

Kinda, yeah. I don't think you can top how cool you looked breaking this door, though.