Trial 2

[jinglehellmods]

WHO KILLED CHRISTMAS?

Four hours pass yet again. Thug Dangerzone and Brasco move all the tables together (with no help from Starshine), and once again the dining room becomes a makeshift trial center. Poor Diana's body is carefully laid out on one of the tables. She's covered by a sheet, because frankly her corpse looks a little nauseating, but she's there if anyone needs to look at her.

On each spot at the table is a some cookies and apple cider, and that basket sits remains cheery and present at the center of the tavle. 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, Brasco stands up on a chair. "I gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed in you all," he says, and you get the sense he honestly means it. "This is way, way more murders than we wanted here! By a significant margin! But at least justice can be served a little. Me and Princess and Thug were looking around some after you guys finished, and we narrowed it down to five different suspects. So figure it out! You've got all day. Go vote when you're sure, and remember: this isn't a joke. Make sure you get it right. When we've got a majority vote, or when it gets too late, we'll decide.

Ready? Start!"

 

19 GUESTS REMAIN

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Comments

LET'S JUST GET THE STRIP SEARCH OUT OF THE WAY

[happydreamed]

[Kantera clears his throat.]

Since 'tis apparent that the attacker may well be scratched, we may as well proceed with the strip search, if only to have it done and over with. Rider and one other female volunteer will have a look at Rosalind in the next room, while I and one other, non-suspect volunteer will have a look at the men.

[There's more than a few who could qualify.]

Be assured that my examination is purely professional.

[codeofmisconduct]

I can confirm that much, seeing as I've been through this before.

[Hi Kantera. Here they are again. The least he can do is vouch for your professional work.]

[happydreamed]

Thank you. I will be glad to vouch for your lack of scratches once I have confirmed it.

[codeofmisconduct]

I'm grateful.

[Once they've found a suitable sidekick for Kantera, Arai will proceed to adhere to the strip search. There are no new scratches or wounds on him. Not on his back, hands, arms or otherwise. He's clean.]

[happydreamed]

No fresh injuries. Thank you for your cooperation.

[transparentanswer]

...Fine. Let's get it over with.

[happydreamed]

'Twill be quick and painless.

[Let him just grab an assistant...]

[transparentanswer]

[When Kantera does, Shintaro disrobes and guess what? His torso is free of wounds and scratches as are his arms. However, his hands, which he didn't need to disrobe to be visible show signs of cuts and bruises on his knuckles as well as a burn mark on the side of his right palm.]

No one touched me.

[happydreamed]

[Sorry, briefly distracted from the murder thing.]

Young one, when did you acquire this burn?

[transparentanswer]

[Clenches his fist nervously!]

...After we found the body. I burned it trying to fish something out of the fireplace.

[happydreamed]

I see. Please allow me to treat it properly when we have finished here, and be more careful in the future.

[concern...]

[transparentanswer]

It didn't seem like the right time.

[Sigh...]

Do I need to take off my pants, too?

[happydreamed]

Would you rather take them off now, or do so later if it becomes clear that further examination is necessary?

[doublesmall]

[people who give about zero shits: chuuya. he's not a shy person, so he has no issue with going ahead and pulling off his dumb holiday sweater and shirt.

there are old marks on him, blade scars and a bullet wound or two, but none of them are fresh.]

Is that good enough for you?

[happydreamed]

Indeed. I thank you for your cooperation.

[It's not like Diana would have reached any lower on him, he's already short enough.]

[doublesmall]

[RUDE....

but okay, he'll cover back up, he has no intention of being shirtless all day.]

Yeah, no problem.

[originallutece]

[She'll be going off with Rider, thanks, and one other lady, because she really isn't comfortable doing all this.]

[viperess]

...Rosalind. I hope you aren't guilty. It would be a shame.

[ she just wants to say that. last person she trusted to not be guilty was the killer and ever since she has to be more mindful. ]

[originallutece]

. . . you know, I think I'll take that as a compliment.

[But the reason for her reluctance becomes a bit clearer. Shrugging off her sweater, Rosalind exhales harshly. There's bruises along her neck, collarbones, and scattered over her torso, as well as a fair few scratches on her back, arms and hips.

. . . although a closer inspection would reveal these are the bruises someone would make from kissing, not hitting.]

I didn't-- I'm not in--

[She scowls.]

Jack and I were distracting ourselves.

[viperess]

..."Distracting."

[ said so flatly, because she can already guess what that word means in the context. she takes rosalind's arm and lifts it, looking intently at the wounds. ]

Please remain still. My eyes are quite sharp - this won't take long.

[originallutece]

Yes, distracting.

[Her scowl darkens. She's not all that happy about standing around without her sweater, thanks, never mind being judged.

But given Rider is looking so closely, she'll notice the scratches on her arm are fresher than the ones on her body.]

Ask him if you want an alibi. We spent the evening together again.

[viperess]

Hm. [ she lowers the arm and turns a bit of her hair back behind her shoulder. ] I don't doubt your claim. But the scratches on your arm seem more recent than the others.

[originallutece]

[She'll take it off again if she has to, but for now, Rosalind is putting her sweater back on. Baby, it's cold outside.]

He was a little careless last night. And--

[This really makes her look not-so-classy, but on the other hand, whatever! Better than being accused of a crime!]

-- we were a bit, ah, drunk.

[ident17y]

[ Speaking up oh so helpfully: ]

I can confirm Jack is hardly in the room at night.

[viperess]

Goodness. What a mess. Who can think about this sort of thing right now...