FIRST TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

FIRST TRIAL

THE CONTAINMENT CENTER

After all the evidence is collected, the students themselves are as well. The Little Brother units gather them up in orderly fashion, encouraging the line to proceed two-by-two up the hallway beyond the music room and into the newly opened area. When grouped up together, the class just barely fits into the glass-paneled section of the decontamination chamber. It's hard not to wonder if the entire student body was never meant to make it this far in the first place. A short burst of pressurized air later and the panels lift - and, for the first time, the door to the containment facility opens before you. Behind it, an elevator beckons the class in. A Little Brother unit reaches inside, pushes a button, and the lift's real, see-through door closes before the lift begins to lower.

As the elevator descends, the car passes floor after floor of cellblocks. Start florescent lighting casts stark highlights onto each of them, and in those closest to the elevator car, shape after shape is visible. A wolf the size of an elephant with blood-tinged saliva dripping from it's massive fangs. A clown holding 20 multicolored balloons in one hand, a popped and shredded 21st hanging from the other out to you with a gap-toothed grin. A pit of writhing snakes with no beginning and no end. The feeling is comparable to the hungry, lingering gaze from outside the academy's fence. Looking out at the many cells, it's as if there's no barrier between them and the assembled students at all.

The car's moving too fast to see all of them clearly, but careful attention reveals one final detail: Some of them are completely empty. The other noticeable thing is the noise. Snarls, roars, sly chuckles, hissing, and even someone humming a haunting lullaby... they all mix together into a cacophony as you near the final destination.

When the elevator comes to a complete stop, the group is let out into a black-floored room illuminated by the same stark florescent lighting. Luckily, as soon as you go through the doorway the noise suddenly stops. The steep walls extend some two or three stories above without interruption, throwing stern, exaggerating angles reminiscent of brutalism. 21 stone podiums stand in a densely illuminated circle in the center of the room. Each one bears a name of one of the students in the class.

The Prefect is already waiting for everyone, sitting at a long desk backed by a projector screen bearing the same ram insignia from the post-spelling bee dance. Her hands are folded in front of her, and she barely moves.

"Looks like somebody attempted the alternative capstone. A week ago, I never would have believed it... but I know better now. Those who fall behind... just weaken the herd.

Luz, The Owlette, is dead. What a stupid title... I really hated it." The Prefect's expression staggers for a moment, then settles again. "Her murderer's still here, and the only way to prove that you deserve another chance in this school is to find them. Get the exam started."

There's a flicker on the screen behind her as the Principal speaks. "You heard Miss Kiryuu. We're beginning the exam, don't just stand around staring at each other!"

Investigation | Podium Layout | Locations | IC Profiles | IC Rules | Evidence | NPC Questions

OOC NOTES

While played out OOCly on Saturdays, trials ICLY take place the afternoon after investigations are concluded. This means that characters will have only a brief period of rest to gather their thoughts before being brought down. While the podium layout graphic shows room numbers, the real stone does bear characters' names.

The victim's body will not be available for reexamination during the trial but other pieces of evidence small enough to carry/move with you can be brought down into the trial. If you need mod input or NPC input in the middle of a thread please put 'MODS' in the header so we can see. Trials play out until the killer is caught or until around 8pm Eastern, at which point we'll try to wrap up. Good luck!

Comments

VOTING

[whimsicalism]

[The Principal sighs. He's been mostly quiet but there's... he's not happy.]

You're right, Miss Aoki. Joker won't be brought here now. Whether you live, however, is up to your classmates. Voting is now. Majority rules.

[bellabellabella]

Reika.

[hashtagwoof]

[ ... He sighs heavily as he votes for Reika Aoki. ]

[spychic]

[Anya votes for Reika.]

....
Anya won't ever understand.

But...Anya won't let everyone else get hurt.

[canreallymove]

[He offers his hand again. If she takes it, he holds her hand in a grip like a vice grip and doesn't let go.]

[lets_dewey_it]

_{[Dewey will also go up and grip her hand like he hasn't before. This... was utterly miserable. But he wanted her to have hope.]}

[noblesnow]

[Reika's back to facing away, so it's hard to hear her response when she says it so quietly, but it sounds like it might have been:]

I'm counting on you.

[romancing]

[ Reika Aoki ]

[violence_ensues]

[Cops don't kill people.]

[keyringwitness]

...Reika. The magical girl.

I...

[She turns to Reika, unable to even bring herself to smile weakly with all the tears falling down her face.]

Thanks for teaching me h- how to dance, Miss Reika.

[noblesnow]

I'm sorry we won't get to do it again.

[It feels like an absurd thing to say, but she doesn't feel like she can let the comment go unacknowledged.]

[panglici]

Reika.

May you find only the mercy you deserve.

Re: VOTING

[cellpreservation]

[Putting in his vote for Reika.]

Re: VOTING

[lets_dewey_it]

<sub>[...Reika.

...At least you helped him with a song.]</sub>

[britbrat]

[ Reika Aoki ]

Serve her right.

[noblesnow]

[Reika Aoki.

Her path is coming to an end.]

[normalnotroyal]

[Rosalinda hesitates a moment before voting for Reika Aoki.]

[holyironmade]

Aoki Reika-san.

[It seems she was waiting for Reika to do it... Shamash glares at Reika, the closest thing to a response that has ever been seen in his unchanging glowing form.]

[canismajorcontrolfreak]

[Despite the anger. Despite the screaming. Despite the hot tears of rage pouring down his cheeks.

Dylan hesitates.

It's taking a life.

And...he's going to be responsible for it.

It's. So much, to take in.

But, in the end, there's one thing that rings true about Dylan Dalmatian, almost always.]

>Reika Aoki

[He takes responsibility.]

[violence_ensues]

[Adorabat glances over to Dylan.

uh

...Bat hugs?]

[copycut]

[ Reika Aoki. ]

spoilers for the witch

[curdle]

[ Let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her.

Thomasin blinks the moisture from her eyes. The punishment for the crime of murder is death, she knows that. But she keeps thinking of her desperate plea to father, the venom with which she spat it, how she made the twins into minions of the wicked one even in her own mind. And she thinks of looking into their small faces, after, and knowing they were as clear of it as she.

Reika is not like Jonas and Mercy; she has killed, they all know that now. But after this, they will be able to say as much of everyone else in this room. ]

... 'Tis she. Reika.

[canreallymove]

[Sonic hesitates. Probably one of the first times he's hesitated, in...ever. Like. Really hesitated.

So this was it. Time to vote.

....

But he remains silent. He doesn't press a button or call a name.

He is a Freedom Fighter, in the end, and even knowing he can't forgive Reika, even knowing that, deep down he knows who his ultimate villain is here. And as such he will still rebel against the cruelty of the Principal nevertheless, and against what the Principal is trying to force them to do, in whatever way he can.



He abstains.]

[noblesnow]

[It doesn't mean much, but Reika will remember that.]

[gotnothing]

Oh boo hoo, are you bummed we figured it out? Gonna cry about it later?

Reika. Whatever.