Fourth Investigation

[bathymetric]

It's hard to tell that - of if - the motive has passed. The radios are the same, there are no missing powers, the day begins like any other. But there's something heavy hanging over you, the knowledge that, well... it's Friday. And unpleasant things happen in New Rapture on Fridays.

While we would love to say it's remotely quiet and peaceful, we can't. Helios Suites and the grounds around them are body-free, at least, but... there's a series of booming noises coming from somewhere else in New Rapture, echoing through the empty halls.

Looks like the game is afoot, citizens.

Comments

[onemillion]

Thank you, Gaius, but please be careful.

[You probably won't die to fireworks, but you will definitely get some vuln stacks.]

[howveryglib]

I will, of course.

[he’s pretty fast so it doesn’t take long before he’s back and helmeted up! That gas mask looking thingy on it has to be useful for something, right?

Anyway, he’ll go and check by the roller coaster if he can get close.]

[bathymetric]

[ If he can keep a respectable distance from the fireworks, he should have no problems checking out the roller coaster! Might be a bad time to ride it, though. That's the only real thing to do, because the roller coaster is clear. ]

[howveryglib]

[cool!

…he’ll just pop on over to the other thread unless like something’s up with the bumper cars that he can see if he stays away from the fireworks.]

[bathymetric]

[ Bumper cars are looking fine, nothing to note! ]

[howveryglib]

[actually wait hang on. Is anyone being dead in the dark ride.]

[bathymetric]

[ What an interesting question.

As Gaius enters, the fireworks start to die down. It seems you've all been looking for long enough. He'll notice some things immediately off, that being that the dark ride isn't so dark right now. The overhead lights are on and the water on the track is drained.

Want to follow the track? ]

[howveryglib]

[I mean, technically he doesn’t want to, but he’ll do it anyway…]

[specialyellthing]

[dont worry gaius, you've got friends now! She's going after him.]

What's the story, Boss?

[howveryglib]

I am not certain yet, but I am prepared for the worst.

[how on earth did they drain all the water, did he miss the controls? well anyway let’s walk and talk!]

cw: torture and gore upcoming

[bathymetric]

[ Good man. Sorry about this.

When the group reaches about halfway into the dark ride, they'll see something...very wrong.

That being, a figure tied down arms spread eagle on a platform depicting the wonderful capitalist lifestyle of New Rapture. Even from this distance...

They don't look good. ]

[howveryglib]

[SURE IS A HEADING YOU LOVE TO SEE. Alright. He’s going to nod at Nandor and Zinda before hopping up there to take a closer look, sword at the ready. He doesn’t expect anyone to be around still but… you know… maybe he can cut the poor sap loose…]

[specialyellthing]

Good thing you were preparin' for the worst-- [okay probably not the time but the blackhawks have literally never been good at not quipping in dire situations]

cw: torture, gore

[bathymetric]

[ It won't make much of a difference. The large about of blood on the platform is a good indicator of that, but there's something a bit more telling, when you get close enough to see his open chest cavity.

He's always had so much to say, so this may be weird, to see him so silent. To see him literally without the heart he's always worn on his sleeve.

To see him strung up like this.

Space Dandy is dead. ]

[specialyellthing]

What the fu--

[okay that wit that was there just a minute ago is fuckin GONE]

[fuckingguy]

[ UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ]

The fuck—

[howveryglib]

…

Did I not tell you…

[it’s kind of muttered, as he processes what the fuck… like yeah he’s used to gore and shit but like. Why. Also damn it : (]

[specialyellthing]

[it takes her a second-- but she manages to get her brain to stop spinning long enough to put a hand gently on Gaius' arm. Then the other on Nandor's.]

... We'll get to the bottom of this.

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan cautiously shows up after he hears the announcement. He can hardly believe what he's hearing, and seeing his body.

This was... monstrous. Jonathan can't scream or wail anymore. He just silently cries as he falls to his feet.]

This... this isn't fair...

[specialyellthing]

Jon get outta here-- [Her voice is... sharper and angrier than it normally is. But if she can spare him the details of this scene, by yelling at him to get out? She has to try.]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan doesn't react, like he can't hear Zinda. His eyes are just firmly locked on Dandy's corpse.]

[fuckingguy]

Yeeeeeeee...

[ Chances are Nandor (and everyone else, but like, in a non-vampire way) already smells some of what's going on, but after Gaius takes the lead he's going to just cautiously sheath the sword, pull himself up onto the platform, and check that out! After offering Zinda a hand up, of course. ]

[specialyellthing]

[BOY SHE DONT NEED NO HAND UP---


by which i mean she's already scrambled up there.]

[fuckingguy]

[ LISTEN IT'S NOT THAT SHE'S A WOMAN (it is though) IT'S THAT SHE'S SHORT (she is though) ]

[fuckingguy]

[ Okay, he's drawing a sword and doing the same. ]