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

[exequte]

[NONE of that, sir.

Akane looks up at him, eyes red, still crying, and then rushes over and hugs him--properly, this time, arms wrapped around him and clinging.

And then, finally, she eventually speaks, her voice very low.]

How fast was it, do you think...?

[pegasinister]

... I can't say for sure. But with the amount of blood and what I could see of the injury... he would have lost consciousness quickly. Shock would have been instant, and so I doubt there was much pain.

[exequte]

[She clings, still staining his shirt, too, with her tears. She's still unnaturally hot, especially in this cold, especially when she isn't wrapped up anymore.]

Y-you're right...

But what... what about the other injuries? I couldn't tell, they....

Blood doesn't flow that strongly when it's not being pumped by the heart, but the rest of it....

What if it wasn't?

[pegasinister]

There's no way to know until Roland gives his full report. But I can say some of that splatter... isn't blood at all.

But more importantly for now- I can feel fever baking off you. You should rest while you can.

[he glances back at the casino, a pained pinched expression on his face. Like he wants to say more]

[exequte]

W-what? But... What is it, then?

[It's enough to make her pull back enough to look at the blood, and then back up at him, with an expression that is just... very tired, and full of heartbreak. She blinks away more tears, noticing his expression.]

... what is it?

I... this happens a lot. It's not like there's much time....

[pegasinister]

... I heard some of what you and Moriarty spoke of. Not in complete detail, but enough.

[exequte]

[She looks up at him steadily, waiting for the rest of what he wants to say to her. She hadn't been trying to hide.]

[pegasinister]

[He seems pleased by her not trying to deny it.]

Are you prepared for all the possibilities- if Delta actually gives you the chance to kill them?

[exequte]

All the possibilities...?

The method of execution, you mean?

[pegasinister]

No. What if, say, it was Aoi? Or one of those here you've come to care for? If the culprit has a convincing sob story? Can you stand steady in the face of that option?

[exequte]

[She doesn't quite flinch under the question, though there is an air of that in her before she looks back up at him, expression bleak and set, and finally looks away, back towards the body.]

It wasn't an accident, this time. And I don't think it was Aoi, when Zero isn't requiring that he attend the trial. He... he would have been the hardest.

But... yes. I think so.

[pegasinister]

I see. There is no stepping off of this bloody path once you have chosen it. But if you are steadfast in this, I will support you.

[exequte]

[She gives him a watery smile for that, and stands on tiptoe to give him a hug, and it's more of a proper hug this time, rather than simply clinging.]

Thank you, Hubert.

[pegasinister]

[... and he actually hugs back. As stiff as expected of him, but an attempt is made]