Well, they've been arguing off and on for pretty much the whole day now, sunset is coming in the next half-hour and I'm not sure they're any more close to an idea on what to do than when the day started. There's a lull in the conversation so I've decided to take the opportunity to jot some thoughts down.
A number of them have taken a break to eat some food. I've had a kettle of pork & beans stewing since lunch, and the lot of them brought a mixture of day-old breads loafs, apples, carrots, and few other odd-ends for snacking to hold them over for the long day (I told them no one was going home until we figured out what to do and to bring what they might need accordingly.) Everyone has been welcome to, and some have, help themselves and eat as it's suited them as the day has gone on. It has worked well.
Things started off a little slow. Everyone was pretty stand-offish and didn't have much to say, which was not really surprising, as I think most of us were still processing what happened.
There have been a good number of points where I feel like real progress is being made and that everyone is invested, engaged, being peaceful and reasonable, and working together like I've asked them to. Then at other points I feel like figuring out who is behind David's murder is utterly hopeless. There have been a couple times that I thought some were going to resort to violence, but thankfully it seems like it won't actually ever come to that. It is just a bunch of hot words and posturing as far as I see.
Everyone seems to be getting tired and things are calming down and we'll probably have to just decide to resume discussions tomorrow, it's no use keeping everyone here if they're tired and not thinking clearly. I'll just keep Henry hidden for another night. Hell, I'll keep him hidden as many nights as it takes, he can wait it out if it comes to that.
I'm going to take this opportunity to take a little break from my current duty of overseeing this meeting and go handle some "duty" of my own. They'll fill me in on any pertinent conversation that happens while I'm gone. I shouldn't be more than 20 minutes to the outhouse and back.
... while the magistrate's gone ...
"That's not true at all!" Shouts Floretta Lynn. A handful of the others begin to advance on her and corner her. She makes a shove and runs toward the door, but they are all close after her. Before she can even get to the bottom step of the porch someone tackles her from behind and she falls hard face first into dirt and rocks, blood comes from her nose. Her tackler grabs her by the hair and makes her stand, and she starts swinging. Immediately the others who think she is guilty of being involved in the scheme to take over the Jenkis property are there and they collectively restrain her and force her to her knees.
"Stay down." One of them demands of her. Subdued and defeated, she begins to weep. Trentonlf makes his way to the tool shed and grabs a large axe used for slaughtering sheep and returns with it.
"No!!!" A blood-curdling scream comes from Amanda Hills. Everyone turns, shocked at the sudden extreme protest. Amanda runs up to Floretta. "Get away from her!" she screams at those holding Floretta down, and they oblige, giving the two a moment, knowing nothing now can change what is about to happen.
Floretta stands and the two clutch hands and begin to kiss passionately, fearing no judgement because they are the only two who exist to each other any more.
"I love you!"
"I love you."
"We will be together forever."
"Yes."
"You are not losing me."
"No."
"Enough of this perversion of nature!" trentonlf interrupts them and pushes Amanda to the side - who runs off from the group, not witnessing what comes next - and kicks Floretta's legs out from under her knocking her back to her knees. He raises the axe and ---
In one swift stroke Floretta Lynn's head is completely severed off the rest of her body. There's a flash of pink and then an instant red swelling and spurting of blood from the neck.
...
"What have you done?!" The magistrate returns to this horrible scene outside of his home. A place that had always been of peace and comfort to him, but will never be again.
"What have you done!!?" He screams the demand at the group again.
"We decided to hold a vote while you were out at the outhouse," they explained. "We figured there was no other way to move things forward and we knew you didn't want to be part of such a thing. We respectfully waited until you were gone so that you had no choice in the matter and were not party to it. Say what you will about it, but we stand by it."
"I wish you'd all have told me this is was what you decided to do. I wish you would have waited for me to return! I might been able to find a better way!"
"There was no 'better way'" someone countered.
"It had to be done" added another.
"It did" chimed in the rest of the group.
"Where did Amanda go?" Someone from the group notices her absence.
"She ran off that way." Someone who noticed her flee points.
"I'm going to go check on her." Someone else says.
After a several minutes they return, running towards the group, obviously distressed, panting.
"She...she...jumped."
---
You are Floretta Lynn. You were born a gold miner's daughter to Lou Diddle and Dolly-Dee Lynn. How have two younger sisters: Candice and the newlyborn Maude, and three older brothers, Jack, Rick (people call him "Stick"), and Andrew. You have been loved and have much love and care to give. The Jenkis Brothers have always been kind to you and looked out for your well-being and you wish to do the same for Henry now that David is dead. Other than that your story is your own, make it what you will against the will of others who would seek to control you and do anyone in this town harm.
-
abilities:
- Declare Love - One time in the game, during the Day, you may declare your love for another player. This will "loverize" you and that player, binding your fates. If you die, they will die, if they die, you will die. Immediately upon loverizing the player of your choice you will also be given a private chat with them that can be used at all times.
You must use this ability during the Day by either 1.) notifying me privately via PM or QT that you wish to use it with the playername of your desired target, or, 2.) typing some variant of "I declare love for #playername" in the game thread.
- Innocence - on Day 3 your innocence will be made undeniably apparent.
- Haunt - When you die you will not be banished to the afterlife, you will instead remain able to speak to everyone (post in the game), but you will have no vote once dead.
You can vote during the Day.
- You win when all threats to Henry Jenkis have been eliminated.
---
You are Amanda Hills. You were born a gold miner's daughter to Billy and Betty Hills and you have an older sister name Beverly, and five older brothes - Billy Jr., Hank, Hugo, Hal, and Bobby (everyone calls him "Bumpy" because he was dropped on his head as a baby and is daft.) You can do anything a man can do, and some things you do better. Not being Billy's first-daughter, he begrudges you for not being a son, and has always treated you as a boy.
You father is a greedy and terrifying man, and he's never treated you kindly. You sometimes wish you were a man. You wish you had the balls to stand up to him, that is for sure. You have always been dressed in boy's clothes, as anything your sister outgrows is always sold, what your father does with the money, you are never sure. You aren't bitter though, you just know that this is not the place for you, and wish to save as much money as you can and then travel far far away to a better place which would be anywhere but here, you figure.
You are a good, loving, generous person at heart, but this life doesn't permit that of you. You want to change that. If you were rich you could, and you'd share it with all of your friends (you have no friends here, really) and discover what living happily is to you, somewhere far from here.
David Jenkis was your best friend, and you care greatly for Henry. You will do all that you can to ensure his safety and the well-being of his property.
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abilities:
- Ruffian - Due to your toughness you will survive one Night Kill attempt.
You can vote during the Day.
- You win when all threats to Henry Jenkis have been eliminated.
Post edited August 16, 2017 by drealmer7
