THE SECOND INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

THE SECOND INVESTIGATION
(~SK. 10)


[It is freezing. The temperature? Who knows at this point.

Today is a day for blankets and whatever you can grab to keep yourself warm. It truly seems like there is a winter without end, and that eventually everything will wither and die, including you. So bitter. So harsh. So cruel.

It's not fair. Then again, didn't Zero say life isn't fair? Well, Zero isn't freezing his butt off. Really, it's just too cold on the ship to do much of anything outside of keeping warm. Like, say, murder.



Right? Well. There's only one way to find out. So, what are the Strangers doing as they wake up shivering on this cold, cold day, which may or may not be a Friday according to the calendar?]

Comments

[godspiousjasper]

[ He spares a look over at Alastor and he's relieved he's okay but also a touch of weariness on his face. ]

For now, yes. I wasn't expecting to see Kaito end up dead this morning.

[superstylishsquid]

[He just gives his shoulder a light squeeze. Roland might notice Alastor himself looks a bit bloody, but none of his wounds look serious.]

I was worried someone might...the hostage barge has to be getting close.

[godspiousjasper]

Yeah. Someone really wanted to ensure the safety of that person they care about.

[ There's a thankful smile, then he eyes those injuries with concern. ]

...Are you alright?

[superstylishsquid]

Can't entirely say I blame them for thinking this might be the only way. Even I wasn't confident a rescue operation would work.

[He sighs.]

I'm a bit sore, but nothing serious. Was sparring with Aoi a little while before the body announcement.

[godspiousjasper]

They may not have come to that a rescue would be even possible at all.

[ If he were not inspecting Kaito's injuries, he would most certainly ask you a multitude of more questions. ]

Is Aoi going to be alright? He sure must be a skilled fighter if he managed to make some injuries on you.

[superstylishsquid]

He's got a concussion, so he'll be out of it for a while, but I don't think there's anything life threatening.

[godspiousjasper]

Good. I hope he'll be alright and that things didn't take a turn for the worse compared to what it already is.

[superstylishsquid]

At this point, we're mostly just worried about the cold. If he's not up and moving around, he's more likely to get sick because of it.

[godspiousjasper]

You have a point. It's certainly too cold for someone to be properly taken care of right now, but there's nothing we can do about that.

[superstylishsquid]

We'll just have to do what we can to warm him up until he can move around again. Unless maybe they decide to turn the AC off now that someone's dead.

[godspiousjasper]

That would be nice. I can't say i'm fond of these low temperatures, myself.

[superstylishsquid]

It's even starting to feel uncomfortable to me. Some of that has to be my lost powers, but it has to be dangerously cold if I'm feeling it.

[godspiousjasper]

[ He exhaled a puff of visible breath, one hand coming up to rub a bit at one of his upper arms. Sure he had two layers on but now regretted not bringing a blanket with him... or an extra one since he sure has his weapon Durendal with him, half wrapped in the blanket and the ends tied together enough so he can carry it around in a makeshift sheath of sorts.

Trial always followed these investigations, after all. ]

Yeah. I may need to visit the sauna later once everything's said and done.

[superstylishsquid]

Doesn't sound like a bad idea. Think we could both use some relaxing warmth.

[He glances around to see if anyone's watching, and...oops, Hubert can see them from where he is. No warmth sharing this time.]

[godspiousjasper]

Indeed we could. I think it will be nice for the two of us to be able to unwind and warm up later.

[ Guess who isn't looking - or cares who sees - and decides to move to lean against him, humming softly. ]

Think we'll need another bottle of brandy for when we do that?

[superstylishsquid]

[Oh. Now he's blushing, and really hoping no one looks over...but he still puts an arm around him. He really shouldn't be letting himself get this fond of a heroic sort, but the man hasn't been making it easy.]

After the way this day is going? I think some sort of drink will be in order.

[godspiousjasper]

[ Being close to someone else certainly is warmer than being on his own, so just going to revel in this. A warmth amidst the chill in the air and that awful feeling of the fact of knowing another teenager had died. He's also definitely smiling a little at seeing the blush but not going to say anything about it. ]

Good to see we're on the same page about that.

[ Did he just lean a bit more against the other man while aware of that arm around him? Possibly. ]

This ship truly has driven me to drink more than I usually would, but at least i'm not drinking alone and am in good company when I do so.

[strangerpeople]

[As Roland is doing that, something might catch his eye.]

[godspiousjasper]

[ A pause. He was about to respond to Alastor but stopped short. Just what's caught his eye? ]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[Kaito's watch.

There are spots of pink on it.]

[godspiousjasper]

[ Taking a second, he shifts just a little to look a bit more closely at it. Does it match the color of the pink stuff thats splattered around the room? ]

[superstylishsquid]

Same here, honestly. I normally don't bother with anything harder than wine, but 'stressful' doesn't even begin to touch this week.

[This...definitely does feel nice. The warmth might not necessarily be much, but compared to the nagging chill of the air, it's a much needed comfort. And with another kid gone...Roland should understand why there's a tension in the grip of his arm.]

[godspiousjasper]

I agree completely.

[ It was a bit delayed, his response. But afterwards, he points out a thing with one hand. ]

Look, Alastor. At Kaito's watch. Those spots look like the stuff that's been splashed around here.

[superstylishsquid]

The pink stuff all over his body actually seems to be his blood.

[And...yeah, he's licking it. Does this also taste like blood?]

[strangerpeople]

[Yup.]