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

[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.]

[specialyellthing]

[IF YOU IDIOTS WOULD JUST LISTEN TO HER WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITH THIS MURDERGAME WEEK ONE---]

[hotpaprika]

[HE'S IN THE PIT OF DESPAIR RIGHT NOW HES A LITTLE DISTRACTED.

But eventually, as he stares at Dandys corpse, he begins laughing. It is a bitter, hollow laugh of man who's lost all hope.]

We're all going to die here. And theres not a damned person out there who cares enough about our plight to even attempt to save us.

cw: disassociation

[specialyellthing]

[The response comes from a side of Zinda that none of them-- save for maybe Nandor, yesterday, outside the clinic-- has seen before. But there's a man with a hole in his chest in front of her, and she's trying to figure out what the hell is going on so she can explain it all during the trial, the trial that they need to do, that they need to succeed in, so they can all live another week--

She's entirely in war mode. Shut down to protect herself from what's in front of her, which means she can't coddle Jonathan the way he needs right now, she can't even listen to--]

Someone shut him the hell up before I do it!

[hotpaprika]

[He can't stop laughing. He can't look away from Dandy. He feels absolutely possessed by despair.]

[fuckingguy]

[ ANYWAY, GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH LATER, Nandor comes around the loop, looking like shit! He glances at Jonathan, growls under his breath and, uh... immediately starts trying to pick him up and throw him over his shoulder. ]

cw suicidal ideation

[hotpaprika]

[Jonthan makes no effort to resist, and allows himself to be carried by Nandor. In the very least he's stopped laughing, but in a low voice he starts speaking again.]

... Nandor... if you need my blood for any reason...

[specialyellthing]

Are you makin' a pass at him now? [well. it's... closer to regular zinda, at least.]

[fuckingguy]

No.

[ He strides on, staring ahead. There's a snarl in his voice that hasn't been there before — not with Jonathan, at least. ]

Think of me as you like. I shall not be killing you today or any other day.

[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) ]