THE FIRST TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST TRIAL

[Almost as soon as the investigation is over, a loud DING echoes through the mall.

The elevator doors in the food court, before completely inaccessible, have now opened for the Titled. It will not close until every last Titled has gotten in. Nor will everyone have to wait long for potential stragglers; a thought comes to everyone's mind, a realization that they need to get into the elevator. They need to go.

They need to find out who did this.

The elevator is a small freight elevator inside, and its just big enough to fit everyone in it. After a short ride, the elevator opens...

And they are on the roof. Despite it clearly not being that late in the day, the roof seems to be surrounded by an air of cool, perpetual sunset. Beyond that, good luck making out what's beyond the roof - there seems to be a city, but it's utterly unidentifiable. Not that anyone can jump off the roof to try and get closer - there is a translucent barrier surrounding the roof that is utterly impenetrable.

The main attraction of the roof, however, is not the fuzzy landscape beyond. It's the large, stepped circular platform which is a mere ten paces from the elevator. On this platform are 15 podiums, surrounding a large, empty, circular floor. Instantly every phone pings, giving everyone their platform assignment based on their bedroom number. And - upon arriving at their designated podium - they will find a dock for their phone to slide into. As soon as they do so the XAMINE app will pop up, revealing everyone's findings regarding the murder.

Not Wake, though. His podium is lower, and bare save for a white cloth.

Still, everyone - including Ren, who will find that whoever arranged this whole deal has given him a chair to sit in - will need their strength. Which is why each Stranger also has a bento box lunch, carefully prepared, waiting for them at their podium. Each meal is tailored to every Stranger's specific tastes and allergies, as best as a bent box meal can be. It even comes with a cup of their favorite drink.

So, take a few bites, take a few breaths, and get ready, Titled.

The trial for the murder of Wake Archus, The Feeling, has begun.]

Comments

[steelmagnolias]

[Ren had a suit and a pair of cufflinks when he arrived, but his jacket is off right now. Instead, he's just wearing a simple button up shirt. And pants, but that goes without saying.]

[incrediblystressedout]

[Ren couldn't have done this. He'd have just pocketed the cufflinks while Joey was out of the room and never brought them up. Joey's not dumb and neither is he. Still, just for process of elimination...]

Hey, Mr. Sanzaki, your cufflinks are still on your jacket, right?

[steelmagnolias]

[Takes him a while, but.]

In my room. And it looks like whoever these belong to didn't take them off right...

[incrediblystressedout]

Right. You couldn't have dragged someone so far with your back, either, so it doesn't matter.

How do you mean they didn't take them off right?

[steelmagnolias]

Like they were just... ripped off. You've gotta take them off carefully so you don't damage the holes in your shirt, but maybe there wasn't enough time.

[incrediblystressedout]

Or if Wake was struggling, they could have been torn off.

Was the chain broken? The claspy thingy on the chain, specifically.

[steelmagnolias]

Sure looks like it.

[He holds up the chain, which is loosened around the edges.]

Gold's conductive, so it belonging to the murderer was just my best guess.