on the third day of christmas my true love gave to me a trial to see whodunit

[jinglehellmods]

WHO KILLED CHRISTMAS?

Four hours pass. Thug Dangerzone and Brasco move all the tables together (with no help from Starshine) and the "trial room" such that it is, is set. One long table with plenty of standing room if you aren't feeling like getting buddy buddy with your new best friends. No one seems to have wanted to move the body, so right next to the long table is Kido, sort of covered with the tablecloth. (Was it made to be a reminder, of what you've lost? Or are they just lazy?)

On each spot at the table is a sandwich and apple cider, and that basket sits ominously in the middle of the table as a gruesome centerpiece reminder. Next to the food is a pen and a small notebook, like the kind they use on police procedural.

After everyone is seated, or at least standing awkwardly around, Starshine goes to stand at the head of the table and claps her hands to get everyone's attention. "Hello everyone. I hope you used your four hours wisely!" She sets a piece of paper on the table, with a variety of names. "Here's your suspect list. We were doing a little digging while you guys were busy poking around, so we've determined it's one of these idiots. Please discuss among yourself who did it. When you're ready, write their name on the paper and hand it to one of us and we'll count. When a majority of you have all written the same name, we'll stop. Or, uh, I guess if you waste enough of our time."

She looks from Brasco to Thug Dangerzone and then back to the table and the gathered masses. She waves her hand in a sweeping gesture in front of everyone, "Let the Hunger Games begin!"

23 GUESTS REMAIN

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Comments

[snackhabit]

[The quiche is gone, the sandwich that was left with her has been eaten. The apple cider has been drank and the cookies she stole from Thug Dangerzone have been devoured. All that’s left is Ries, who’s now crying and looking pretty suspect, but… She’s regained her composure once more as she wipes the tears from her eyes.]

So, please tell me how I committed this crime. I… would appreciate if you could piece together all that happened. Otherwise, there's no reason to say I did it right?

[Yet the look on her face says "please, solve this so I can rest in peace."]

[Everything is better with a little music, right?]

[happydreamed]

...You were the one who asked Kido to come to the kitchen with you. Kido was, as you said, very kind. He would have agreed to come out with you if you said that you were stressed and wanted to talk over a bite to eat, or for most any reason if he felt that he could help.

[snackhabit]

He really is that kind of person. It wasn't hard to peg him as that.

[happydreamed]

Indeed not.

You went to the kitchen, talked a little on your way - enough to be overheard. He was in the middle of making a sandwich when you attacked him with a knife. His reflexes were better than you expected, to be able to block that with his arm.

[snackhabit]

I'm afraid your theory is partially incorrect. Though it is true I attacked first.

[acherontiastyx]

Uh.

Okay.

I mean, if it was a dumb accident you'd just get a manslaughter charge. I think that's how it works.

[snackhabit]

But what if it wasn't an accident?

[acherontiastyx]

Then you're out of luck, I guess? I don't know. Like, they straight up said murdering won't let you go home.

[snackhabit]

Exactly.

[The rules say otherwise but Ries read the rules quite differently.]

[brasco]

I mean, we're not . . . legal . . . authorities . . .

[He pauses for a moment, frowning, but then adds:]

Anyway, we're just gonna put whoever did it in loser's jail, so they can't hurt anyone until the storm passes and you can all go.

[codeofmisconduct]

And your certain that what you have will be sufficient to hold them?

[brasco]

Hell yeah. I told you, we've done this before.

[acherontiastyx]

...so no one's even getting actually arrested, I guess?

[brasco]

Oh, no, they definitely are once you all get out of here, murder's kind of a big deal. But it's not like we can teleport them to the NYPD.

[doublesmall]

How does a place like this have somewhere that secure, anyway? Seems like we'd be safer if we got rid of them.

[like, if someone murders then you definitely murder them back? that's how these things work.]

[codeofmisconduct]

...Yes, that's the proper way to finish this.

[He thought he'd be prepared to face this with no hesitation and yet-- no. For Kido's sake he can't afford that.]

The why is simple enough-- you said it yourself. There is someone whom you need to get home to. The circumstances that lead you to feel so strong about that I am not aware, however he is family to you, and I'm sure whatever your reasons are, they are for you alone.

I can assume though because it was you who approached him Kido would not have felt threatened. Which is why I'm sure you were able to catch him off guard.

You also always have food with you-- which is why I'm sure the fruitbasket got dragged into this mess as well.

[snackhabit]

You're right about everything up until the fruitbasket. [She smiles at that.

Please. Solve this.

...she didn't mean for this yet here she is.]

[codeofmisconduct]

Then you'd intended to make use of it from the start? I didn't see you as someone who'd waste food... unless perhaps you weren't the one who brought it.

If you'd asked Kido to meet with you, bringing something like that... it's something he might have done.

[He's a good boy.]

[transparentanswer]

[Shintaro can only stare at her. He can't believe it. He doesn't want to be a part of this. He holds his hand over his mouth, trembling--fighting back tears and vomit. His eyes are burned with bitterness, sadness. He wants to say something, but...Nothing comes out. He just watches her, thinking about how painful this is going to be. How could she? She seemed so nice, so normal.

Fuck.]

[snackhabit]

[Ries just gives him a bitter smile. Is he crying for her? Or is it fear? She doesn't know, but that's okay. It's... okay.]

Are you really that surprised? Or just mad?

[transparentanswer]

D-don't do that.

[He grits and grinds his teeth, kicking his ankle. This sucks. This sucks so much. How could it be her? It doesn't make sense. She was so...normal.]

Quit smiling...

[radicalsix]

S-Shin--

[ She swallows, and reaches over to put a hand on his shoulder. She's not looking too good herself, but...

If there's any time to be strong... ]

You...you put on such a brave face before so that I wouldn't cry, right?

[ She feels like...no, she has to do the same. ]

I'm here for you. Just like you were there for me.

[transparentanswer]

[He shakes her hand off and looks away from her, from everyone. How does this keep happening?]

I'm not going to cry.

There's no reason to.

It's all just...[He bites his lip until her feels like it's going to bleed. Diana has been nothing but kind to him. He does wish he could hug her, or seek...some comfort in this awful place. So much so that he's shaking.

But he's just too rotten for that sort of thing.]

It's like I said...it's all just...Stupid,

[theothermrgray]

[Dorian feels as though he could say something, but this situation...]

[He can only politely stare, then advert his eyes.]

[Even though worse things have happened.]

[snackhabit]

[She'll just smile politely in his direction. Totally different from when she was calling people stupid earlier, but okay.]