WEEK 8 - Trial

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (8)

saturday TRIAL DAY ONE (22) 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]

[He doesn't know how to answer that because if he thinks about it, there's evidence that could be used against him. Nobody's pointed it out and he hopes it doesn't come to that. There's enough evidence that doesn't point to himself either, and yet...]

I'm not ready to die again. [It's barely above a whisper and he's still keeping his eyes clenched shut.] I'm not doing this. I'm not ready for that so...we need to get better at this. [Whether he means solving the trial or just breaking the cycle and not killing people, he doesn't specify.]

[antietam]

[ Adam is quiet for a long while, mostly out of surprise. Maybe he could have guessed that if he'd thought about it for a while, but it's... strange to hear it come from Luke. It's a huge thing to admit. He feels his stomach twist, suddenly overwhelmed with a sadness that feels like an empty hole. He doesn't know what he'd do if Luke died here, if this was the last time he'd ever see him again. He's gotten way too close and it was a mistake.

He shifts slowly and Luke might recognize his movements from before as his arms wrap around him uncertainly. This time, the hug isn't loose. It's tight and it's purely selfish. ] That's not going to happen. I won't let it happen. Trust me, alright? I won't let anyone do that to you.

[chiseler]

[Getting close to people was the worst idea. Coming back was the worst idea even if it wasn't his and he can't handle this, he can't handle being in his right mind and having to deal with these thoughts and what he feels for people and being a hero. He's not ready to be a hero, he thinks. Being a hero hurts too much and it's weird how every time he thinks of a world without some of these people his throat closes up. Thinking of a world without Adam Parrish, without someone who's understood so much of who he is and has, essentially, given him his life back, is enough to make his stomach drop out and his heart claw its way up out of his chest.

Everything is awful, and yet it's par for the course.

He recognizes the movement and this time it's not awkward or stiff. Instead he waits for a moment before hesitantly returning the gesture like he's still not sure this is safe to do. On the other hand, his own grip is tight, well aware this may be the last time he gets to do this whether they want it to be or not. It's safer to be reasonable than optimistic.]

You have to trust me to do what's best even if it's something I'm not ready for. You've gotta promise me you didn't do this, you wouldn't do this, and that you won't put either of us in a position something like that happens. Understand? [It's hard to be threatening when his voice is shaking, too, but he's trying.]

[antietam]

[ Adam knows nothing has happened yet, but he still feels like he wants to cry. He won't, of course, but he's burying his head against Luke's shoulder just in case. It's not entirely clear who's comforting who anymore. It's probably a little of both because they've become entirely too dependent on each other. There was a time where he pushed his own friends away so that he wouldn't become too dependent on them, and he learned not to do that, and now it's a problem.

He doesn't really know what to say because Luke is making him promise a lot. The first part doesn't sound good, and he starts to shake his head but the rest he can promise. He's still not letting go, and it doesn't seem like he will for a while. ] I wouldn't. I didn't. I promise. But you can't—not for me. Don't think about that. Even if you can't trust anyone else, you have to trust me. I won't let it come to that.

[chiseler]

[You know what that's fine. They're under a table and he's allowing his thoughts to drift a little even as a hand comes up to rest on the back of Adam's head. He's not entirely sure what's compelling him but subconsciously his fingers are smoothing over his hair a little. And in his head, he's thinking of something from a very, very long time ago.

"My heart felt like it was cracking into pieces. She had such pain in her voice—familiar pain. I looked at Thalia, and we made a silent decision right there. We would take care of this kid. After what had happened with Halcyon Green...well, it seemed like fate. We’d watched one demigod die for us. Now we’d found this little girl. It was almost like a second chance."

He had failed that little girl in the most horrific way possible, and if she hadn't been as strong and brave as she'd been, if she hadn't believed so strongly, she would have died and he could have gone with her. In a way, despite Adam not being a demigod, this is a third chance.

'Die a hero three times, you get to go to the Isle of Blest.'

So...he's keeping them in that position because relying on friends sucks but he doesn't know how to pull back and stop it now that it's started. He's needed this, even if he won't admit it.]

You have to get back. You have to get back to Ronan and Opal and I have to get back--[....to nothing. He's quick to change the subject.] Help me stop this. Help me find the culprit tomorrow and help me stop this.

[antietam]

[ Adam's experience with affection only began a few months ago with Ronan, and this is obviously different. This is entirely new and strange. His parents never held him like this, but here's someone he met on a spaceship a couple months ago who cares about him enough to do it. It's funny how life works. Actually, it's not funny because he feels like a child... but maybe there is a part of him where the young Adam Parrish feels as though he's unlovable and has been waiting for this sort of hug his entire life.

He makes himself feel better by thinking maybe Luke has been waiting for this too.

It's easy to tell where Luke was going with that sentence and he shakes his head before he can cut himself off. ] I will. I have a lot of things to show you. I have to translate them, but I'll show you. [ It's said quickly like they're on a time limit, or maybe he's trying to convince Luke not to leave him. ]

I don't want to go back without you, Luke. What am I gonna do? I want you to babysit her and stay with me... [ He never really completed that fantasy because Luke didn't give him enough to go off of. ]

[chiseler]

[Well he's not wrong. He's rarely experienced affection like this from his own family and it's been years since he's received affection at all. Granted that was his own fault. It was his own fault for choosing the path he did, for betraying everyone he's loved and who's loved him, and it's for that reason he's sort of working with what he recalls from when he was younger.

He understands a lot about Adam. He understands Adam's family has never made the world safe for their son, he understands that Adam's too proud for these things, and he understands that it's still necessary. Sometimes when you spend your entire life on your own you don't realize how much you want a person there until they're threatened to be ripped away from you.

Of course, his eyes widen a little when Adam continues. What he has to show him he has zero idea, but he nods in response. It must be important, whatever it is, and part of him wonders if this goes back to the code he'd heard about from Adam a little while ago. But that's not what gets to him. It's the last bit.]

...is that what you were trying to tell me the other day? That's why you were asking about the future? [He's...strangely honored by that but also a little scared.] I don't...[He bites the inside of his cheek.] We don't know if that's possible. [But the fact he's still pretty much petting Adam's hair should be enough to get across the point that he'd be more than willing to consider such a thing if he had the chance to take that opportunity. He would like to go back to his world, of course. See his friends, live a different life...but maybe that would be a different life, too. Like rebirth, but without having to re-experience the heartache. To lighten the mood, he tries for a joke.] Besides. Bet you'd get real sick of me real fast when we got to Virginia.

[antietam]

[ Adam doesn't realize the gravity of what he's said until it's too late. It's one thing to tell a friend that you want them around, but it's a different thing to tell a dead friend who's not even from the same universe as you that you want to bring them home. How would that even work? Assuming they both live, which is currently threatened, there's no guarantee anyone will ever be able to get home. Adam has just been telling himself that to keep going. And after that, he's been telling himself that he'll find something for Luke. Because if Luke goes home, however that could be, he'll be dead. And Adam can't accept that.

He's so exhausted by all of this that he ends up just leaning miserably on Luke. He doesn't pull away, but his arms loosen and droop. Maybe soon he'll realize this isn't the Adam Parrish he wants to be, but it's also the most emotion he's allowed himself to show in a long time. Maybe it's good. ] No. I don't think I would. [ It's honest. He's clearly not in the mood for jokes. ] You coming back with me is as likely as me getting home. Maybe impossible, maybe not.

[ He goes quiet to collect himself and he pulls away to sit but not far. That's enough weakness for a while. ] I have a crappy apartment. It's above a church. Thought you'd like the irony. Gansey would love you. [ Ronan would hate him because Ronan hates everyone new, but that's alright. ]

[chiseler]

[They can discuss it later, think about it later. They needed to get through the next couple of days first and he doesn't want to feel too hopeful about anything yet. Any time he gets hopeful, those hopes get crushed and Luke takes three steps backwards.

He shifts a little against the table leg and accommodates for the extra weight that is Adam leaning against him. Even if his grip loosens Luke doesn't bother pushing him away until Adam feels like moving. He's still an adult and he still has to take Adam's mental state seriously here even when Luke's currently falling apart.]

...a crappy apartment's better than nothing even if the church is a lie. [A small grin.] I can't promise I wouldn't mess with Gansey a little just to make sure he stays on his toes. [And truthfully he wants to make sure Ronan's really going to treat Adam right. He trusts Adam's judgment...but it's sort of the same way he judged the shit out of Percy as he noticed he was getting closer to Annabeth.] We'll make it work somehow wherever we end up.

[antietam]

[ He might be a little embarrassed for himself, but Luke didn't seem to mind any of it. It's actually quite comforting to know that this is an acceptable display of emotion. He's never had the chance to express himself like that before or know that this is alright, and it feels like some tension has been relieved. Not the tension from the trial, but some tension that has built up for years inside of him.

There's a pause and he manages a smile. ] Ronan's Catholic. So probably don't say that unless you want him to hate you even more. [ Adam believes in God, probably, but it's also such a non-entity in his life that he doesn't care. ] Yeah, we will. Wherever it is, we're going together. [ Because he's decided now that he's definitely not letting Luke go. Even right now, he's not quite ready for that, so he'll just link their arms. A precaution. ]

[chiseler]

[Being sappy is embarrassing but at the same time he feels better whether he wants to admit it or not. Adam links their arms and Luke kind of knocks his head gently into Adam's and that's that. They're both stuck together until the end.

And yet...he has a sinking feeling about tomorrow anyway. Gods. He can only hope it won't be too painful.]

Ronan has absolutely no reason to hate me when he hasn't even met me. I'll even be sure the rumors don't follow us back there. [He rolls his eyes and he looks at him then.] ...you should get some rest. We've got a really long day tomorrow and it's not gonna get any easier.

[antietam]

He'll hate you. [ He sounds certain of that but not concerned in the least. Ronan used to hate him too. In the end, he thinks Ronan and Luke might end up being horrible, conspiring friends. The thought warms him enough that he nods without a fight. ]

You won't be sleeping, will you? [ Adam is fairly sure he's never actually seen Luke sleep. Still, he grabs part of the blanket to bunch it up into a pillow. Looks like he's settling down right here since he doubt Luke will move. ]

[chiseler]

[There's a hum that says "I look forward to it" or "I call bullshit", it's hard to say. Instead, he recognizes that Adam's settling and he moves to grab a blanket to loosely pull it over him. Adam's way too old for him to be trying to tuck in or anything but he's making sure he's comfortable.]

There's been enough commotion in the trial room today don't you think? [That is to say he rarely sleeps during trial day because he'd rather not risk the nightmares.] There's always tomorrow for that anyway.

[antietam]

[ Adam pushes at the blanket futilely like he's trying to maintain some semblance of independence and adulthood, but he finally lets it stay over his legs. Luke has ruined his image completely, and it's awful.

He pauses for a moment like he's thinking if Luke might be implying something about tomorrow. But no. None of that. ] Yeah, I'll make sure you get to bed early. Night, Luke. [ He yawns and then he's out like a light. Probably faster than usual even. ]