grimmoired | CHAPTER 3 ; TRIAL

The Story Continues...
CHAPTER 3 - WEEK 329 Narrators Remain ;

Wakey wakey, naughty murder children. It's a lovely Saturday, after all. Breakfast is served piping hot at its usual time and all of the evidence has been removed from the scenes of yesterday. No matter how you choose to spent your morning though, the clock will begin to chime the moment both hands reach the large, ornate twelve.

Before your eyes materializes a door...but not just any door. Unlike the door leading to the festival, this door sits primly and properly right in front of the foyer. Whether you exit the castle on your own or you feel a friendly, invisible push, you begin to walk under an arc of wisterias. Behind you, the clock continues to chime with every step you take.

By the time the time the clock strikes twelve, you've entered a beautiful garden. In front of you is a long table, 19 seats on each side. Around the garden are several glass cases containing evidence collected yesterday. As noon intensifies on the sun-shaped clock, you'll find Tiger at the head of the table, a glass-covered rose near her right hand.

Tick tock, Narrators. You have nine hours to deliberate.

Throughout today's trial, the delightful, delectable scent of freshly brewed coffee will linger in the air though there will be no coffee present. Instead, today's trial snacks include...finger foods.

Welcome to your trial post!

Please see here for the OOC summary of events from yesterday's investigation.

In addition, please be sure to vote! Please see the voting page on how to vote, as we will have two special things to vote for. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST!

If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Danielle (

entrappings), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions.

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[Alright look he's been holding himself back for Okita's sake, but it's getting down to the wire and he just doesn't have that much self-control.]

Tora-kun. [His voice is calm.] Is there a reason I shouldn't just kill everyone here right now to make sure Okita-kun is safe?

[OKAY MAYBE NOT EVERYONE... there's a couple people he'd be willing to spare, but listen I never said he wasn't mildly yan]

[She raises an eyebrow.]

Depends on who you ask.

I'm asking you.

If I had to give you a reason...

[She folds her hands slowly, thoughtfully, mulling over every word.]

It's that you'll make a lot of enemies very quickly, and I'd hate to see you go. But ultimately, what you decide to do is your decision alone.

Why would you hate to see me go if the dead are still here somewhere anyway?

I couldn't say.

[She seems like she's telling the truth.]

Sentimentality is a curious thing. Nobody's ever brought me tea before.

[Yeah, well...]

...that was before I knew what Okita-kun was tasked with.

[He won't put Hijikata's death on her shoulders, even though he'd been very, very tempted to try hunting down her and Dragon directly after the fact... but that part, he can't forgive.]

That's fine.

[She looks away, like she expected as much. Nobody ever likes her for very long.]

...you won't even tell me why?

[He seems a little confused; don't most people want to absolve themselves?]

This isn't the time or place to talk about such things.

[And she's not the type to try and justify herself to people.]

(no subject)

okitactless - 2018-07-01 01:06 (UTC) - Expand

Yasusada—!

[Oh, no -kun for him today... BUT LOOK HE LOVES THE PEOPLE HERE, DON'T KILL THEM??]

[WHY NO BISCUIT

He jumps, and at least looks suitably guilty... hey it sure does look like the exact same face Okita made when he sent a child flying through a door]

I'm sorry, Okita-kun, but I can't just let you die! I can't lose you again! [whoops he sure didn't mean to admit that part]

[NO BISCUIT!!

Also wow thanks for the history spoilers, Yams!! Souji will digest that later because he knows a dangerous look when he sees one. Does he have to physically come over there and fetch his pompom? Is Yasusada going to make this wheezy man do that??]

Rapunzel is right. This is not the answer.

But I...

[It really is a lucky thing that Okita is the one alive--Hijikata would not have been able to hold him back like this.

He looks between Tiger and Okita, very openly torn, but... as with the rest of his time in this place, his loyalty to Okita wins out. His head is bowed and his shoulders have drooped, but he slowly returns to his spot at Okita's side, even though he gives him a pleading look through his bangs. He never did tie his hair back up.]

Okita-kun, I can't...

[He's the thin veil separating this castle from a yanyan death!!!!

In any case, no words just yet. He can't apologize for doing what he did, since he fully stands behind it - killing more people is, for once, probably not going to solve their problems!! The rest of the gumis are rolling in their grave.

But he can at least pull Yasusada over and hug him tightly. His sword... does his best..... TRIES SO HARD.]

[HE LITERALLY IS

Well, okay, and maybe Rapunzel's Disney Magic, but even that isn't as strong of an influence as Okita's presence. He doesn't even try stop himself from breaking down, though he does at least bury his face in Okita's shoulder to hide his tears--Okita doesn't like it when he cries, after all.]

[THIS IS SO SAD......

But he'll just sit with Yasusada in his arms for however long he needs to cry it out, gently patting his back and making soft, soothing sounds. He wishes he could do more, but it's probably suiting that he can't, after this mess of a week.]

Yasusada, that isn't the answer!!

[ partner??? please??? ]

...Not you, Rapunzel-kun. [AS IF THAT MAKES IT BETTER]

[ she speaks firmly, but puts her hand gently on his arm: ]

Nobody.

But...!

[Considering how many times they've needed to lean on each other for support, she'll likely be able to feel the tension in his body, as well as the slight trembling of his hands. The look he gives her isn't murderous, at least--but it's almost desperate, which could be worse.]

You saw it... [can't you understand?]

I know. I know how you feel.

[ it's hug time!!! it's hug time!! ]

But you have to think about what Okita wants. These people are innocent... He doesn't want you to do this. And, what if people vote you off for this? He, and I... We could both lose you. Neither of us want that.

[It's a good thing she's basically conditioned him to settle down with hugs!! The strength drains out of him as he leans against her, hiding his face in her hair. He never tied his back up, so there's probably a lot of fluff in her face, but it's nothing compared to hers.]

I know, but I just... I can't... [He sucks at words at the best of times, and now is definitely not the best of times. He gives up, shaking his head slightly.] Okita-kun...

[ she's trained him well. she doesn't mind the fluff - she strokes it, actually, as he's sinking into her. ]

I know.... But he'll be alright. Have faith in him.

But... [Even when he finally manages to speak past the lump in his throat, it's barely more than a whisper--partly because he doesn't want Okita to overhear him, and partly because that's the most he can manage.] But we can't be sure...

[The partnerless have been spared up until now, but they've also had most of the murderers confess up until now. Who's to say that Okita will get the same sort of luck?]