THE FOURTH TRIAL

[strangerpeople]

THE FOURTH TRIAL
(~SK. 24-25)




[There's no announcement informing the Strangers to come into the theater. There is only the sound of the doors opening, beckoning those left to come inside. It's best not to tarry-really, do you want to know what happens if they refuse to go to the trial?

When they enter the theater, it's...different. Sort of. Maybe it's because the area where the podiums are covered in donuts (and yes, Roland will see the little white animals pop over and pinch a few off the top). Maybe it's the fact that more spaces are draped in black. Maybe it's the fact that Zack's podium is also missing from where it sat, leaving nothing but donuts-in fact, that's where the primary pile of donuts are. Digging through that pile will only yield donuts, and nothing more.

(Some of the animals try to approach Akane. They disintegrate before they get two steps. Apparently they're better off eating the donuts.)

But-most of all-it's the fact that Zero is not on the screens that pop out through the theater. There's nothing but static. And while the curtains are closed, you know you are being watched regardless.




Uh. So. Maybe it's not worth waiting for Zero on this.


The trial for the murder of Zack Prince, the One, has begun.]

Comments

Evidence Please!

[superstylishsquid]

[Alastor gives the donuts a rather...pointed look as he walks into the theater, but he doesn't say anything about them. Of greater concern is the lack of Zero...he didn't announce the body discovery, either.

Could Zack...? No, the tree had tried to kill him last week. He shakes his head and clears his throat loudly to get attention.]

Alright, let's save the circus sideshows for after we've taken a look at things, this time? We should look at the evidence together, see if we can draw connections.

The armory was a mess, looked like there was a fight in there. The wall was peppered with bullet holes that I think came from a handgun or something similar. There was also a knife missing...I didn't see the body this time, were there stab wounds?

[godspiousjasper]

[ Indeed the lack of Zero being present is concerning but he is all too happy to get right to it. Even placing a small container of some strange pink fluid on his podium once he's cleared it off enough. ]

I took a good look at his body and there were only bullet wounds. There were no injuries that came from a knife. Someone really wanted to make sure he was dead, given the two shots to his head.

[superstylishsquid]

Then I wonder what the knife was used for...think Zack tried to fight back?

[godspiousjasper]

It's possible, since you said the armory was a mess and the chances of a fight having occurred in there is extremely likely.

[superstylishsquid]

In that case, we'll want to see if anyone has knife wo- [Looking. At Kira.] ...If anyone has unexplained knife wounds.

[somuchshipping]

The tea room where I found Ritsu in was also a mess... There was a pathway of chairs all topped over to the door...

[There's a pile of teacup shards and a half-eaten scone on Hermes's podium.]

[superstylishsquid]

And it looks like someone was having tea? Did you find any bullet holes in the room?

[somuchshipping]

[Hermes shakes his head.]

Just the mess, the scone, and the teacup. And Ritsu.

...RitsuDidYouSee WhatHappenedLastNight? I was chasing that honey badger.

[autonomousthought]

No...I saw nothing. ...As far as I can tell... I was out cold all night. I left...the tea room, felt unbalanced, and then...next thing I remember...you were waking me.

[...hm. Alibis are a good starting place, though.]

Where was...everyone else?

[voidseeing]

The amount of blood on the floor in the infirmary made it clear that the actual death happened in there. But from the looks of things, he somehow got up and walked away after that...

[superstylishsquid]

There wasn't blood in the armory, so I think it's fair to say our culprit kept missing in there.

What makes you say Zack managed to get up and walk away after bleeding all over the infirmary?

[voidseeing]

Because there was a trail of blood leading out of the infirmary into the hallway.

[superstylishsquid]

The one in the hallway near our rooms, right?

[pegasinister]

...perhaps that has something to do with the listed causes of death. The fact that there are two of them.

[voidseeing]

That would make as much sense as anything in this situation possibly can...

[autonomousthought]

Are you implying...? But...that's not possible...is it?

cw: emoto

[pegasinister]

I found the missing knife in question in the bathroom. It was blood soaked and dripped quite a bit of blood on the floor, so I must assume it was dropped there.

There was also barely digested vomit in the stool. Something bready with almonds. I... did not take a sample, for obvious reasons.

[HE DID BRING THE BLOOD KNIFE THO]

[jinglebros]

Gross, you got close enough to smell it?

[pegasinister]

I did not stick my face overly close to it- all I could smell was acid and slight almonds.

[somuchshipping]

[Something... bready...? Hermes looks to the half-eaten scone on his podium, then over to Hubert.]

[HE'S STILL NOT TALKING TO YOU, YOU SAID NOTHING ABOUT MEANINGFUL GLANCES.]

[pegasinister]

...

Yes, that is likely our culprit.

[Still not giving him permission to speak tho]

[superstylishsquid]

That scone Hermes brought, maybe? Was there blood anywhere other than around the knife?

[pegasinister]

Only on the floor. No sign of washing up and none in the vomit.

[voidseeing]

With actual almonds, or just the scent of them?

[pegasinister]

It appeared there were some nuts of some sort in there. I CAN smell cyanide, so that is not out of the question.

[Hubert why do you know that you can- wait nevermind of course you would know]