THE FIRST VICTIM

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST VICTIM

[Friday morning is quiet enough.

Everything seems to be normal, as before. Normal and boring, even with the strange things happening around the Depths. After all, no one's killed yet. Why would they? Surely something as ridiculous as a weird fruit and a fleeting promise wouldn't provoke anyone to kill to see if something like that was actually true, right?

Right?

Still, if anyone was worried, they would at least feel justified at being tense. People were told to kill another in return for the safety and life of a loved one, after all. And it included a way out for someone who succeeded in getting away with it. There may be someone more than willing to kill for that chance.

And that's when you don't consider the two empty rooms, one of which was opened and resulted in more strange things happening. And what happened last week? It hasn't been solved, has it? And no one expected that.




Perhaps it's a thought to look around to make sure there's nothing off this morning.

Certainly, it couldn't hurt.]

Comments

[carries_war]

[Well, first off, breakfast is in order. Especially now that he has a dog in tow, Rubedo's first stop is the kitchen. He doesn't happen upon something like a dead body to delay this, does he?]

[strangerpeople]

[Good news! The kitchen is all clear.

Breakfast may be had!]

[carries_war]

[Yay, time to eat and feed the doge! ...Actually, you know what? Last time he cut up a big animal, he got one of his shirts all stained. So before he does that, let's take a quick stop by the clothier for some throwaway clothes.]

[strangerpeople]

[Awww, doge...

The clothier looks pretty normal. Feel free to pick your clothes.

Whereto next?]

[socialhacktivist]

[After getting her breakfast, Futaba grumbles her way up to the library. Anything weird in here for her to notice on her way to some lazy reading?]

[carries_war]

[Well he's certainly not giving the dog beer to drink. Let's drop by the kitchen again and grab a bowl to take down to the conservatex for some fresh water.]

[strangerpeople]

[Good, Futaba. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

There is a slight smell emanating in the air, as Futaba passes by the armory and towards the staircase.

Its not a scent that was there yesterday.]

[strangerpeople]

[You might not get there just yet, Rubedo...especially with a doge who can probably smell it before you. Oops.]

[socialhacktivist]

Uhh...

[Fine, she'll check it out. What will she find in the armory.]

[defriendestration]

[Well, there's only one thing to do when it's morning.

Breakfast, of course! He's going to get apples and tomatoes to eat.]

[carries_war]

[Someone else is on his way downstairs...except his new dog just started growling at the armory. His senses might be dulled, but something definitely smells...funny. Is it a smell that someone who's been around a lot of, say, bloody corpses might recognize?]

[strangerpeople]

[The smell is akin to burns and blood.

It seems to be coming from the...giant pile of daggers just...knocked over in the room. An entire rack of daggers, just all dumped on the floor. It's a shame. A real shame. Who wastes daggers like that?

...oh, there's also something big beneath the giant dump of stabby things.]

[strangerpeople]

[Unfortunately, as its mixed in with the smell overall, it is.]

[carries_war]

[Welp, since he recognizes that smell, Rubedo just huffs and follows Futaba.]

You should probably let me check this out.

[socialhacktivist]

[...oh. Oh god. Futaba lets out a strangled cry that might alert anyone in the area.

But... but maybe they can still...

Shaking, she tries to uncover the body, as though she might be able to save them.]

[strangerpeople]

[Is it a body?

It is.

The figure beneath is silent and still as they are slowly uncovered. They do not respond even as the daggers are pushed aside.]

[socialhacktivist]

Hey! Hey!!

[Although she's really unsteady, she won't stop until she can identify them and try to check their pulse or shake them or something.]

[carries_war]

[Well, if she wants to do this herself, he might as well help with moving those daggers.]

It smells like whoever's down here is pretty badly burned. Are you sure you wanna see this?

[lightnen]

[ You know, he HAD just been passing by when he heard movement. So he's going to poke his head into the room, raising an eyebrow when he saw both Rubedo and Futaba in here. The smell hadn't gone past him either.

So it made it incredibly easy for him to somewhat slip in without much of a noise, seeing as their focus was on something else. ]

...He's got a point. We can look at it if you don't want to.

[ Hope he's not startling anyone here now.. ]

[socialhacktivist]

[She did jump at first, realizing there were others in the room. But...]

It's... it's fine I... I can handle it.

[This isn't her first shake with death, just... the most up close. Panic has her fighting to push through it though. Because there's still hope... right...?]

[strangerpeople]

[Unfortunately, there is no pulse, once Futaba gets the chance to check it. The body is cold, and whatever compliments and smooth words that may have fallen from their lips upon seeing Futaba are now silent.

There is a sense of chill, terrible chill, like a spider crawling up one's spine, once the body is fully uncovered. There can only be one conclusion:

Laslow, The Spinner, is dead.]

[carries_war]

[He's a lot more collected than Futaba right now, so he did notice someone poking his head in the door. He gives him a brief glance, then nods at Futaba.]

Okay, if you're sure.

[So let's work on getting all these sharp things moved without cutting ourselves, shall we? While the dog continues to growl.]

[carries_war]

[Futaba, were you wondering if Rubedo could even make facial expressions? Well, apparently he can, because he's frowning hard.]

Well that sucks. He was nice.

[socialhacktivist]

Wha--

[She recognizes him pretty quickly. He was the first person she met here after all.]

What the hell... you stupid... idiot...

[Futaba wants to punch him but she knows it's too late for that. But that's not stopping her from getting tears in her eyes.]

Who could have done this...?

[defriendestration]

HOWDY! ARE WE HAVING A DAGGER PARTY???

[He smelled weirdness and then saw you guys tossing daggers on the way to the library!!]