First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[Just as everyone is starting to finish their investigations, there's a slow ominous sound from the lobby.

The gilded doors on the northern wall have opened.

This time, the space behind them is lit; you're free to enter. There's one more set of doors to pass through, and then you're all, finally, in the House. There's one grand chandelier above, glittering crystal, and the seats around you are made of fine red velvet. Those don't seem to be for you, though - all the way down in front of the stage, where the orchestra might sit, there's a circle of wooden podiums. They're arranged so that everyone can face each other, and are fixed into place. Each one bears a metal plaque with a cast member's name engraved on it. There's also a metal panel on top, with twenty ivory buttons paired to everyone's name.

Among these, only Jean Valjean's podium is different - that one is draped in black crepe, with a larger greyscale version of his headshot from the playbill framed and sitting at its foot like a funerary portrait. Standing where he might have stood, a bare lightbulb glows faintly atop a metal pole.

Right here, you're very close to the stage. But the curtain is closed, and it's a little too high to easily clamber up. You may not want to try. You've got more important business right now, after all.

As everyone is finding their places, the Balladeer's voice suddenly sounds loud and clear throughout the space.]

Okay, guys, here's how we do trial. I've...never actually been involved in something like this before, but you can do it. Just take all the time you need to talk it out - I'll be right here the whole time. You don't need a unanimous vote, we go by majority rule.

Oh, and don't mess with those buttons until you're really ready to vote. You won't be able to take it back.

...good luck.

Comments

[sunshineprincess]

That sounds... [Painful? Excessive? Like someone really hated him?]... like someone really wanted to hurt him.

[dontfeedplants]

W... wasn't the only one who wanted to hurt him Javert?

[He doesn't want to jump to conclusions, but...]

[sunshineprincess]

[GUESS WHO LOOKS UTTERLY OFFENDED NOW]

No! He only wanted to keep an eye on him! Sir Javert would never stoop this low.

[dontfeedplants]

[Oh god why.]

Sorry! I just... I just don't know who else would want to hurt him, especially on this level.

[sunshineprincess]

Sir Javert is a man of the law, and everyone knows that killing is against the law. Why would his title be 'The Law' if he was going to blatantly break it by committing a crime.

[Elsa would be so proud right now]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

You shouldn't yell at Seymour-san.

[D-ne's voice is soft. She rubs her eyes, as they hurt from the crying she's done.]

It's a logical conclusion, if a rushed one, given their history. Shouting won't solve this, Anna-san.

[sunshineprincess]

[Anna just pouts at D-ne.]

Just because they have a history doesn't mean he did it.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

That is true. But denying every possibility's going to trip us up.

[sunshineprincess]

I am not denying there is a possibility, I just don't think he would have done it. And if he did...

[Then who is she supposed to trust in this place?]

[solomonjihad]

Then he answers for his sins.

[C o mforting?...no]

[dontfeedplants]

I don't know, maybe he felt like he had to kill someone?

O-of course, we still don't know if anyone could actually grant our wishes...

[Rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.]

[sunshineprincess]

We don't even know if Sir Javert even had a wish. Has anyone even asked him about it?

[dontfeedplants]

I guess it can't hurt? Maybe we should ask everyone what their wishes are?

[Everyone will answer truthfully, right?]

[sunshineprincess]

[Oh boy. Anna takes a deep breath.]

I would have wished for things to be just like they were between my sister and I like when we were little.

[trettende]

[ Hans sighs. I mean, his truth is embarrassing but it's always great at earning him sympathy. ]

I'd wish for my family to notice me and respect me.

[ Ultimately, anyway. ]

[littlegirl_littlecurl]

[Darla ain't really speaking up much, but she does spout out an answer.]

"Don't need one. I wanna be famous and I can do that myself."

[onthebusagain]

I have everything I could wish for, already. [She's much more subdued than usual, but she still has a reputation to uphold.]

[solomonjihad]

While it would be easy to say that, there is more.

[Silly humans.]

There were two other wounds. One to his neck, one to his right hand. The slit on his neck was too superficial to be fatal, but, the right hand wound was a deep gash.

None of the other wounds were of a similar nature, even though they resulted in decent bloodshed. So, I must propose that the wound which contributed most to his demise, was the wound on his right hand.

[Dear god she is calm.]

[sunshineprincess]

[Wow. You're way way way too calm.]

But how?

[solomonjihad]

A sufficiently deep injury near arterial canals would cause blood loss, and the heart would need to pump harder to compensate. However, without medical attention, the person can die of blood loss, especially if other injuries impair them as well.

A deep gash like the one Valjean sustained, whether or not arteries were cut, with sufficient time could have caused him to die, especially if the other wounds were inflicted while he was still alive.

[She is not ok Anna help]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

How will this help us find who did this? Can you determine anything about the identity of the culprit from Valjean-san's wounds?

[the lesson is fascinating and all but]

[irreprochable]

The wounds seemed like someone was trying without being particularly precise. It's likely that it's someone who either hasn't killed before or was very scared while doing it.

[solomonjihad]

Indeed. And we must consider how everything else fits into this potential description of our murderer. They could be very experienced, or extremely lucky.

[robitussin]

Is it important that they're on his front, too? Like, wouldn't it have been safer for them to stab him in the back?

[irreprochable]

Thank you Princess.

[javer clears his throat a little awkwardly hes right here fam]

I am an officer of the law. I have no use for this kind of blatant carnage.