Week 4 - Trial

[cartesio]

Week 4: Trial

It's dawn when the Sergeant calls everyone to the courtroom. Despite the early hour, the tribunes of the room are as full as the last two times, sleepy townspeople glaring and looking at the visitors with distrust. The Sergeant told everyone to get to their spots. Anyone who looks behind them, will see the bailiffs carrying Sting Eucliffe away, who is trying to resist them but doesn't seem to have enough strength to do that well.

"Don't worry about him. That guy ate a lot of ice and frost for reasons I don't understand, and now he has a very bad cold. I don't want him making everyone in this room sick, so he's excused. No, that's not a hint all of you should get sick to avoid these trials."

There are more podiums draped in black now. Clarisse, Eric Lecarde, and Jughead Jones have joined the dead, and their podiums look lonely without their occupants.

With a twirl of the gavel, the Sergeant recites:

"Today the trial will focus on solving the murder of..."

He takes a PDA out of his pocket, and holds it in the air. The PDA's text-to-voice software says: 'Forsythe'

"...Pendleton Jones the Third. The circumstances need no introduction, we all are aware of them. Here are your suspects"

            
Once everyone had a moment to see the faces in the photos, the Sergeant adds:

"By the way, there are two separate culprits today. Yes, two of these five people directly caused Jughead's death. When it's time to vote, remember to vote for two different people."

Let the trial begin.

Links

Evidence
Guestbook
Voting

[Welcome to the trial! Please remember to cast your votes here!. Your deadline is 8:00 PM EST. Good luck!]

Comments

[pursuitofdeath]

And yet someone was able to believe. Well, if you think about it-- as long as they got away with it, they had nothing to lose, even if it didn't work. But they still leave room to die in return. Sounds like they had a desperate desire to believe, against better judgement.

[protectandselfserve]

In fairness, Sarge and his backers have pulled off a lot of really improbable stuff so far, all things considered. Immortality seems like it'd fit in at least a bit, even if it seems like a raw deal when you really think about it.

[carbide]

...I may have contributed to its believability as well.

[By discouraging it strongly enough to make it obvious she knew something.]

[protectandselfserve]

Well, I might've considered it possible before you chimed in, given everything.

[marmoron]

What did you do?

[streetwolf]

I think she might be talking about the whole made of metal thing there...

[carbide]

I was actually referring to my reaction in the meeting. I essentially confirmed that immortality was possible, at a price.

[streetwolf]

Oh... What kinda price was that?

[He was too busy yelling.]

[carbide]

[it's fine, he was just reducing everyone's defense]

Humanity.

[marmoron]

...Humans are immortal where you're from? Or do you mean that more metaphorically.

[Probably getting super sidetracked here, but.]

[carbide]

[it's fine they've still got five hours]

You misunderstand. The price is to give up one's humanity.

[marmoron]

... Right.

[A beat.]

So there really wasn't anyone at the meeting who seemed to take it seriously?

[pursuitofdeath]

They have, it's true. But a raw deal--

Not necessarily.

Considering what we know now, those who succeed in getting away with murder get to leave at the end of May.

That doesn't guarantee your safety.

...unless there was another reward that would take care of that.

[protectandselfserve]

Oh, I see what you're getting at! I do think it's a little shortsighted, though...

[pursuitofdeath]

I have to agree. But for someone who's goal may have simply been to get out of here alive, this may be their best option.