week 7 - trial; day 1

[vicedirector]

seven vices case 7 trial, day 1 ♫ saturday At 9AM, every television will go off, loud enough to wake anyone sleeping. The calm, apathetic voice will advise everyone to gather in the chapel for the trial. Static will continue to blare in the head of anyone dillydallying. Once all of the guests have gathered in the chapel, the doors will lock. Most of the pews have been moved aside to allow for more space, and a few tables have been set up on the altar. On the first, there is an additional copy of the rulebook, and the information cards of the victim and suspects laid out, with space for the suspects to provide their whereabouts, as well as an autopsy report. There is also a large wheeled chalkboard upon which you may write theories. On the second table is a pitcher of water and some glasses, as well as very simple sandwiches and pastries. The door behind the altar has finally been unlocked. It's a rather plain room with an area set off by a folding screen. Inside, you will find a table on which the victim's body has been laid out. Next to the table, two black and white photographs have been hung on the screen. they are close ups of the victim's body, as it was found when the body discovery announcement chimed. A few sticks of incense burn in the corner to avoid any smells. At 6PM, the trial will adjourn. Everyone will be escorted back to the hotel by Miata, after which everyone is allowed to head to either the kitchen to get dinner, or to their rooms. Attempting to wander off into the other areas of the hotel will trigger the static alarms in everyone's heads/televisions. >Discuss? victims suspects cast setting rulebook

Comments

[dhaosu]

Mm. I'm sure at least two people were involved.

[ It's too early to say how... but he can't really see any other way about it, unfortunately. ]

If only because Gilbert and Alisha's time of deaths were so close together. Not to mention because of the altercation at some point, considering Gilbert's state. If it were one person as the killer, they would have to be incredibly talented, and I would be surprised if they did not wind up hurt somehow.

[ Unless they were wearing some sort of protective garment. In that case, then, it's whatever. ]

[herbgrace]

There's an hour between when Gilbert left the room he was in and the earliest point Alisha could have ended up in the pool. I still have something to check with the bodies, but we'll have to see how the details play out. It may be prudent to check that winter coat closely, as well. [It would make sense for the killer to have worn it to keep their actual clothes from getting messy.]

[detanimetion]

I get the feeling that either Gilbert or Alisha or even both were already dead before they ever made it to the pool. Alisha's a trained knight and even Gilbert probably wouldn't have gone down without a fight. I can't see someone taking them both down and making it all the way to the record store to set everything up and back in half an hour, not unless they had super speed.

[herbgrace]

[After having checked the bodies:] It's definitely pool water in Alisha's lungs, at least. [Don't ask how she checked. Or do, whatever.] Figuring out the order of events is probably going to be important here.

[brawlhalla]

If Alisha was out of commission for the fight with Gilbert...I feel like Gilbert died first, and Alisha second. She drowned, right? And they ended at the pool. So.

Maybe it went shocked Alisha, got interrupted by Gilbert, fought with him and killed him, then drowned Alisha with him tied to her?

[herbgrace]

It seems like it. The burns on her body are from electricity, so that order seems to make the most sense as far as what we know now.

[detanimetion]

[She frowns.] How did they electrify the pool in the first place? Just breaking the light over it couldn't have worked, yeah?

[herbgrace]

I wonder if the mannequin was involved. Or maybe tampering with the filter somehow...? [Electrician is not one of Lithuania's skills, sadly.]

[dhaosu]

Hopefully they'll lead to something conclusive. I had been wondering if something like a blade or a knife from the kitchen was utilized in one or more of Gilbert's wounds.

[ He folds his arms. ]

Look at the winter coat to see if there was something else besides the blood splatters...? Or perhaps whomever could fit into it with ease?

[herbgrace]

[After having checked over the body...] It seems like Gilbert's head was ripped off, actually. [Impressive, or something?] It's possible the coat could be concealing signs of a struggle.

[dhaosu]

[ Impressively gross to him. ]

Hm... they didn't even try to disguise how powerful they were.

[ ... ]

Indeed, the coat could have been used for that purpose. Then shall I suggest each of the suspects to try fitting into the coat?

[ Or a coat of similar size... because. It's very bloody?? ]

[herbgrace]

[Lithuania nods.] It's worth a try, at least.

[hopefragment]

H-how could that be possible?

[WHAT THE FUCK. THIS CLEARS HIM RIGHT GUYS.]

[brawlhalla]

Maybe Buddy wasn't wrong about some sort of "contraption" being used, but...we didn't find evidence of that, did we?

[hopefragment]

There wasn't anything listed that could be used for that purpose, I don't think, no...

[Jesus, give him a second, he's still. Trying to fathom someone literally ripping a head off with their bare hands.]

[brawlhalla]

Definitely nothing I remember?

[ THE HELL, THOUGH? ]

[herbgrace]

There are a few options. There's brute force, though it would have to be a lot of force--which points to Astrid with Stormfly, Undyne, and perhaps Rhys depending on the specifics of his robotic arm. There's also the idea of creating something that tore it off for the murderer, which opens it up again to everyone.

[hopefragment]

I know you can only take my word for it, but... there's no way I could create something like that. I don't know very much about building machines at all.

[If someone weren't so noble and were bringing his file back, we'd know that. OBSCURING EVIDENCE INABA (fuu)]

Like... would you have to use a rope? Maybe tied... around his neck...?

[He's starting to look vaguely ill just trying to picture it.]

[herbgrace]

The chains could have been involved. The blood would have washed off in the pool, so it would be hard to tell.

[brawlhalla]

No, you can check to make sure it wasn't Stormfly - because it wasn't.

[ Firmly. ]

Look, a Nadder doesn't have claws that are really good for delicate work - not that ripping off a head is delicate - but basically...the clawmarks would be super obvious. And the only other way she'd be able to get a head off without the claws? Biting. And again, you'd notice the teethmarks.

And since this is not a thing I would ever ask her to do, it's impossible that you found evidence of either thing.

[herbgrace]

[Lithuania nods.] I believe I would have seen evidence of teeth or claws if there was some, but it's important to note the possibility. I suppose with the chains she could have pulled on them, but I still believe you're unlikely as the culprit.

[muties]

The fuck...?

[ WHO RIPS OFF A HEAD.... ]

[herbgrace]

I was expecting signs of it being cut off, and yet... [Sometimes heads get ripped off, apparently.]

[earie]

Ugh. That has to be even harder than cutting it off, right?

[herbgrace]

[Lithuania nods.] Half of it was messily cut, but still, it's not easy without assistance.