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

[scienceofmagic]

He might have. But more than that, why didn't Dio claim the chain earlier if he figured it was his? Seems to me he was hoping none of us would notice. The only reason I can think of someone not claiming something that's misplaced and so easily explained is that they have something to hide.

[totalbullshit]

[ Okay, at this point she'll just turn to Dio with an exhausted look. ]

See?

[thegreenhornet]

But he was knocked out! With sleeping pills! I don't think he'd have the time to tear off something off Dio and then put it somewhere else!

[...or maybe he could? Britt isn't sure, he has never been dosed with sleeping pills, how can he know how awake someone would be]

[scienceofmagic]

That's only if the dosage was correct. If it was off or if the killer was impatient to get it over with, Wake would just be groggy and not out cold. Sleeping pills take time to work.

[foolishjustice]

We already established that the sleeping pills only made him drowsy, didn't we? Otherwise, there would be no need to hit his head against the drawer. That assault would have provided the opportunity to remove something from his person and drop it nearby.

[incrediblystressedout]

It was under a drawer on the service counter, so it could have come off by accident if it got caught on something, but...

...the drawer was behind the service counter. What were you doing back there, Mr. Dio?