week 5 - execution

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (5)

sunday EXECUTION (32) survivors As voting comes to an end, a song filters in played so loud that it becomes distored and fragmented. If a participant checks their datapad, they will see the the victim and suspect chosen by majority's pictures displayed. If they attempt to scroll, they will see a list of characters and their votes in alphabetical order.

victim



culprit



Character Statuses
Setting
Rulebook
Votes

Comments

EVENT

[al2955]

That concludes our trial today. I hope you all had a wonderful time. As promised in this week's motives, all items from those who did not commit a murder and successfully get away with it shall now be destroyed.

[A bright white-hot fire ignites in the glass case displaying everyone's items. When it fades, you can see that all the items have been completely obliterated.]

[muties]

[ roxy's item was a ring that she needed to bring back a bro back home SO THAT SUCKS. u extra killed poor sweet calliope the cherub, gj alice. ]

[bloodbiter]

[for a moment she looks Upset as everything is destroyed, but she takes a deep breath fairly quickly to try and regain her composure. this day basically sucks.]

[brooches]

Adelina... it'll be alright.

[ :( Hey buddy. ]

[bloodbiter]

[she manages a smile and a nod]

I know. My apologies, I shouldn't be letting it get to me. I know there are more important things to focus on.

[brooches]

We're human. It's natural for us to mourn loss of any capacity.

[ Elizabeth is stern: ]

Don't apologize to me for this. I'm quite serious.

[bloodbiter]

...I won't apologize, then. But mourning is an overstatement, truly. It's a shame, but I will move past it quickly.

[breakshot]

[ as everything goes up in flames, he's silently watching the picture of him and his classmates in particular burn to ashes with a grim look. ... it doesn't matter. they're fine. they're absolutely fine... he'll get what he wants and without killing someone for it. ]

[toprotecttheworld]

The item in my case was just a photograph. It doesn't mean anything unless we let it. We're not stupid enough to fall for that.

[If Machias turns around, she'll see Jessie talking to Arbok. There was a photograph in her case, too, so she's probably talking about her own case and not trying to comfort Machias by speaking so loud he'll overhear.

Probably.]

[breakshot]

[ The unexpected gesture breaks his previously frozen look at the ashes. He only barely turns around, managing a glance over his shoulder to see Jessie and Arbok near another case. It's hard to overlook Jessie's words (or Jessie in general), especially when her words somehow manage to hit close to home. ... She had a photograph of someone in hers too, didn't she? Maybe it's not wrong to assume she was just comforting herself - that it had shaken her too.

Or maybe the truth is Jessie isn't all that subtle, but he'll play along as he turns back to his case and takes a deep breath in. ]

I'm all right. I'll find the truth - I'll find out what happened. ... I don't need someone to hand that to me on a platter when I can take it for myself.

[ He's clearly just talking to himself, or perhaps only thoughtfully to the memory of his friends. What a crazy kid. Someone needs to get that checked out. ]

I'll see you all again soon.

[toprotecttheworld]

Chawbawk?

[Why is Arbok going along with this charade? Because Master told him to, of course.]

That's right, Arbok. If she's still out there somewhere, I'll just find her myself. I wouldn't want to take the easy way out, there's no thief's honor in that.

[The photograph had been of herself, but it was the only possession her mother took with her when she abandoned Jessie aside from her earrings. What is she doing now? This means she must be alive, and that's enough for Jessie to feel hope instead of despair over this.]

I'll take care of everything myself. You should, too. [Machias.] Arbok.

[refactor]

[ Jack hadn't actually been paying much attention, and he really still doesn't when the announcement starts. It's only at "destroyed" that Jack suddenly sits at so much rigid attention that he nearly falls out of his chair. ]

Nonono, that is not how this was supposed to go!

[ He's very quickly on his feet to nearly sprint to those glass cases, because even if it's only a photograph, it's one that's incredibly important to him. He bangs his fist against the case without even really thinking about it, so... hopefully that doesn't get too hot? Not that he would care, since he plan here would definitely still amount to "punch through the glass and grab the picture out of the fire." Common sense is pretty hard to find when you're operating on pure instinct.

Luckily, one punch is enough for him to know that this isn't going to work, so he'll take a step back and watch with his hands clenches into fists at his sides. It's a sharp contrast to that usually jovial personality of his to see his expression twisted up into pure, definitely murderous fury. Somehow, he'd thought this wouldn't apply if they'd caught the right person, so he's nearly shaking in his anger. But he takes a further step back, throwing his arms out in a wide gesture like that would diffuse some of the tension that's making him really want to strangle whoever is closest to him. ]

Oh, cute, real cute. Whoever— I, I know some godddamn mouthbreather is watching this shitshow, so for whoever's watching at home? I'll come for you. You do not bring my daughter into this! Even a picture, that's—

[ But Jack makes a loud noise of frustration that cuts off the rest before at least giving the glass case another nice punch just for good measure. Fuck you, case!! But after that, Jack will be quick to storm off, since he needs to go calm down elsewhere so he doesn't shoot someone in the face just because it seems like good stress relief. ]

[brooches]

[ This was all a show. It's easy for her to say - a photograph a distant memory and symbolism resting in the glass case. A key, photograph, and a ticket go up in flames. She watches as her frame melts and twists between burning ash, but the sudden yell and sound of glass being hammered against makes her flinch. Her eyes meet the scene, taken aback by the sudden act of violence from Jack. This is the first time she saw him this way and it scares her. She's to her feet, noting that his punches aren't stopping - by the time she pushes through to him, he's off down the hallway and she's calling for him. ]

Mr. Jack, hold on!

[ She knows of his daughter. They've talked about Angel. They've shared things that are pretty intimate in nature, honestly. So she feels obligated to go to him - looking through the crowd for Rhys and Fiona but falling short. She's the one who confronts and angry psychopath, specifically as she runs and grabs at his wrist. ]

Ho-Hold on, your hand!

1/2 why are you like this

[refactor]

[ Even though he hears Jack calling out to him, he doesn't exactly slow in storming off, since he can feel his temper boiling to a dangerous place. It's not even necessarily losing the photo itself that has him so angry. He's angry about it, yes, but it's just a photograph. More than that, he's angry because of the implication inherent in it. If they can bring that photo to use against him, then his mind can't help but jump to Angel herself. And if it were Angel in danger? That idea is what has him so angry. ]

Now's not the time, kiddo—

[ There's venom in his words when he speaks, and any sane person would probably leave Jack be, but. When Elizabeth grabs his wrist, there's another moment where Jack reacts far more quickly than he thinks about what's happening. It's a reflexive action as someone grabs his wrist that he turns and wrenches it back, but with a little more power than he really needs to. His hand swings back towards her, effectively backhanding Elizabeth fairly hard. ]

[refactor]

[ Though even so, Jack looks surprised only a moment after, and he pulls his hand back sharply. He exhales a shaky breath, but even so, he's actually rather quick to step after her. His tone is still full of anger, but it's clear that he's trying to push that down into something softer. ]

Ah, shit— Je-- Jesus, I'm sorry. [ Weird. He's not usually the kind of guy to apologize for hitting someone, especially when angry, but guilt is quick to twist up in his gut all the same. It's an uncomfortable thing, because he would really rather ignore these uncomfortable parallels, but it's difficult to do so. When he speaks again, more of that anger is pushed out of his tone, at least. ]

Didn't-- Didn't mean to hit you, Liz. Just- dammit, don't grab my wrist like that? I— Come on, I'm clearly pissed, so why would you...

[ But he just trails off lamely, since he's not sure what to do here other than talk, and he'd definitely dig himself into a deeper hole. ]

:)

[brooches]

[ She doesn't know when to stop. That's what got her out of her tower. The tenacious attitude to keep trying despite the questionable pretenses. Jack is a walking questionable pretense. She didn't expect it - she thought by calming him down she could see if he broke a knuckle or hurt his hand - he's frustrated, she knows. The crack against her jaw, connecting right against her mouth. There's a sickening sound of impact and a trickle of blood forming on her gums and from the corner of her lips. She's shocked, her eyes wide, face voided of any color and she's definitely stepped back from the sheer force.

Her hand cups at her mouth, shaking her head a bit with a muffled - ]

Don't.

[ She's not mad, but she tries to really not blame him for it. ]

It was an accident, I'm alright... [ Says the girl pulling her fingers away with the stain of red. Oh... that's... a thing. There's not a gush, but there's definitely more than a simple little trickle - it collects at her bottom lip, likely busted. She's shaking her head in a dismissive way. ] It was my own foolish choice -

[ She blames herself, but turns away, trying not to feel a bitterness grow. He couldn't control his actions and that was absolutely... telling. She looks to him from the corner of her eyes, trying to not throw up at the taste of iron in her mouth. ]

Don't ever strike me again - accident or not. Just - just please calm down.

[ It was like a warning shot, she thinks. ]

>:[

[refactor]

[ That "don't" shuts Jack up more effectively than pretty much anything else could hope to, and he takes a half step back as if to give her more distance. He bows his head forward as he pushes a hand through his hair, and his expression is difficult as he tries to think of what to do. His temper had gotten the better of him, and in that, he's not sure how to respond. He'd never been good at dealing with his own temper. ]

That's- C'mon, that's not—

[ Jack starts to protest as she calls her choice foolish, but he falls silent again. His hand falls away from his head to settle back at his side, but his expression is no less conflicted. He waits until she's done speaking, but he nods slowly. There are a few moments before he speaks again, and it seems to be to make sure to at least push the last of the anger out of his tone. He's still angry, rather deeply so, but now it's at least distracted by this. Jack shifts to put his hands on his hips, which is more open and relaxed than how he'd been holding himself to start, but it does feel slightly forced. At least the tone of his voice is more genuinely calm than his body language. ]

Won't happen again, Liz. Promise.

[erythristic]

[she shuts her eyes when the fire starts to take the List. one long breath in, and out. perhaps it was for the best that it burned - what use would it have done her here?

instead, she waits until the items are gone, until people have their outrage, before speaking to Alice's statue.]

Might I make a request?

[al2955]

That would depend on what it is, Miss Grelle.

[erythristic]

Kazuma had a last request. He spoke of papers in his room, in his dresser, that he wishes to be kept safe for delivery. May I be allowed in his room to retrieve them? Accompanied, of course.

[she'll also take a robot bringing them out. or Alice holding onto them herself.]

[al2955]

That would be possible. A robot shall accompany you to verify that you remove nothing else.

[erythristic]

Thank you.

[she'll be good, she promises, and those papers are getting tucked somewhere safe.]

[allout]

[ well, there goes the velvet key. when she thinks on it, maybe it didn't matter that she wouldn't have it in her posession again - she had said her goodbyes to theo knowing well that she'd probably never see him again, and she wasn't close enough to the other velvet room denizens to miss them much.

it's another means of closure that she has to go through, but it's still difficult. maybe just the idea of being able to see theodore again was nice, despite her resolve to do what she had to do for the world. it brings up complicated and selfish feelings, but she swallows them down as she watches the flames. ]

[toprotecttheworld]

[When the fire is over, Jessie places her hand on the case that her mother's items were in. Those earrings, those coordinates. Despite how arrogant and sly she'd been during the trial, she looks unmistakably sad over losing those items. Arbok consoles her, resting his head on her shoulder.]

Mother...looks like you've left me again, haven't you? I don't like this habit of yours.

[socloverit]

[WHY IS IT ALWAYS FIRE WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN!!!

Clover jumps almost a foot in the air because jesus, always with the incineration and shit—but she folds her arms and forces herself to settle just as quickly, scowling now instead. It doesn't matter, really. She already has what matters most to her right here.

Hell if she can't grudgewank with the best of them, though, so yes, she is mad.]

Hmph. Sucks.