Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

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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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

ic profiles | locations | voting

Unless you just came from a bed and breakfast, your new surroundings probably look very unfamiliar. One minute you were off doing whatever it was do you back home (Saving the world? Destroying it? You know who you are.) and the next, you’re in the foyer of what appears to be a middle of the road bed and breakfast. What it might lack in flourish as a building it certainly makes up in Christmas Cheer, the floor fully decked out from that giant tree that you can’t miss to garlands and holly on almost every surface.

To your left is a guestbook with faces you may have seen before and others you have not, and to your left is a coat closet. You could use the coat closet, but unfortunately for you you don’t have a coat. Or anything you were wearing before - instead, everyone is wearing a holiday sweater* and khaki pants.

You’re not alone. Guests start to pour in and the foyer is feeling a little cramped. Then three individuals - two men and a woman - walk down to greet you. The woman is young, with brown hair that she obviously spent a great deal of time on-- actually, that can go for her entire ensemble. This is a woman who is clearly out to impress, and everything, from her makeup to her hair to her outfit, tells you all that she’s just better than you. It’s a natural thing. Don’t try and imitate her, because you won’t come close.

The man on the left is taller than his companions, but not as much as he might wish he was. His hair is short and a darker shade of brown, inclined towards curls. He’s dressed in casual wear: jeans and a plaid overshirt, layers upon layers that presumably serve to make him look cool, even if they don’t keep him warm.

The final man is a cheerful looking sort, with a round face and an eager demeanor. He’s staring out at the crowds with a happy smile, all but bouncing on his feet as they three of them get ready to present.

“Hello everyone,” the woman says, in a regal but slightly disaffected voice, “I am Princess Starshine, welcome to our humble abode.”

“And I am Thug Dangerzone,” the taller of the men says proudly. He looks just a little too excited to say that name. “I’m a single father of two who grew up in a rugged environment, raised by my father and several uncle figures, who taught me any number of surprisingly ranged skills, up to and including sewing, cooking and, of course, how to hunt in the wild--”

“Wait, I thought I was Thug Dangerzone this time?” The shorter man pipes up, still smiling though it might look a little force. “You said I could after last time! You said,” he lowers his voice, mimicking ‘Thug’s’ tone: “...next time you can be Thug Dangerzone. This is next time! I mean, if not, that’s totally cool… but that’s what you said. I’m just reminding you.”

“I said next time you could be someone like Thug Dangerzone,” he replies. This is a bit unprofessional, but on the other hand, he hardly seems to care. “Look, just . . . you can have it. I’ll be . . . I don’t know. Brasco, okay? That’ll be my name.”

“Ugh, okay, whatever,” Princess Starshine rolls her eyes, “lemme get through the formalities - rules are in the scrapbook. Follow them, I guess. Fancy dinner is served every night. We don’t know how to get you home. But, hey, it’s the holidays! Stay with us instead of going out in the storm! Yay!” That is the least enthusiastic yay.

((*You may pick the holiday sweater of your choice as our gift to you! But you may only pick one and it’s yours for the full time. Choose wisely. Also, underneath the sweater is a khaki colored shirt! Nice!

Replies from Starshine will come from princesstarshine, Brasco is brasco and Thug Dangerzone secretingredients))