Fourth Trial

[bathymetric]

[ After the evidence (and what a large batch of evidence it is, this time) has been gathered up, after actually patiently waiting a longer time than usual to make sure everything's been grabbed, the speakers over New Rapture crackle to life. ]

Time's up, everyone. You know where to go.

[ The lower number of bathyspheres, as you descend, is starting to become really notable, isn't it? The descent is the same as ever, lower and lower into the sea. The bioluminescence of those slugs on the ocean floor is almost brighter today, somehow, and some of them have even crawled up the cliff face around you as you pass them.

The dome approaches, slowly as ever, gleaming red in the darkness. The bathyspheres land in a row, doors opening one by one to reveal the familiar sight of the trial room, three more podiums now darkened. ]

Take your places, ladies and gentlemen. You've got a doozy of a situation to discuss. Ass Man and Silver Fox are dead. You know what happens if you can't figure out whodunnit.

[ Welcome to your fourth trial. ]

Comments

[honeyedtea]

[ As a surprise to exactly no one, Mielle is stood at Mafuyu's podium - but rather than by her side, she's stood slightly in front of her, body angled as if to shield Mafuyu from the others. ]

Would anyone mind explaining what actually happened? All we know is that we were disturbed by a great deal of noise and Zinda and the others went tearing off towards it.

[hotpaprika]

[He doesn't meet Mielle's face, and he looks like he's in shock..]

The murderer is a pure monster...

[dullshooter]

Haven’t we done this conversation already?

[The ‘who’s the real monster?’ rodeo.]

[sastruga]

We have it every week.

[dullshooter]

And strangely enough, it never gets us anywhere…

[sastruga]

Mm. Because then people argue about it and people start to act superior and the whole time we don't talk about anything useful and before you know it an hour's passed.

[hotpaprika]

The murderer gored Dandy, Misfire! His chest cavity was exposed!

[dullshooter]

…Okay, bit excessive, but ‘monster’s a strong word.

[specialyellthing]

… Naw. He might not be too far off with this one.

[pairtner]

I must agree with them this time.

[Dandy didn't deserve any of this!]

[hotpaprika]

[He nods, choking back a sob. He knows he's dramatic but he cannot think of a single way that the murderer could ever be justified for this sort of crimes.]

[buriedstar]

Fourth time's the charm?

[ He does not at all sound serious. ]

[dullshooter]

Nah, you don’t wanna miss out how we’re gonna do it the fifth time.

[buriedstar]

In that case, I can't wait~.

[fuckingguy]

For fuck's sake...

cw: gore and torture

[specialyellthing]

[And if Jonathan’s shock isn’t enough to clue Mielle in? Zinda’s uncharacteristic steeliness should.]

Someone tied Dandy up an’ cut his heart out. Literally. Aiba’s gonna give all the details in a bit, I’m sure. Don’t know what happened with the other guy.

[sastruga]

His...

[...Mafuyu doesn't pay Jonathan too much mind. It's nothing personal, just, he's in a state every week.

But Zinda, though...]

...We don't exactly get extra points for brutality.

[So. What the fuck.]

cw: gore and torture

[honeyedtea]

His-?

[ The prim irritation slides off Mielle's face at that and she blinks a few times as the information sinks in.

No, she wasn't particularly a fan of Dandy's but... ]

... what a horrendous way to kill. I think we really are dealing with a monster.

[howveryglib]

…

If Dandy was not a human, I do find myself wondering if the culprit had to make multiple different attempts to kill him until they eventually found a permanent solution.

[onemillion]

Someone set off fireworks in the middle of the amusement park - that was the noise we all heard. I didn't investigate that so I'm not sure how it connects, but the dark ride was where Dandy was found. I'm not sure what happened to the Undertaker.

[allatonce]

Oh, uh. I investigated that.

[She's been fiddling with a bracelet people might recognize as Dandy's, turning it over on her wrist and half paying attention to what everyone's saying.]

They were set up to go off over the dark ride like a fucking beacon. But lest you think they're not involved...

[Joy holds up the bloody sword she brought to the trial room. Notably, the tip is damaged in the same way as the other knives found.]

Found this in the empty firework crates.