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

ice cream parlor, the parlorening…2!

[dullshooter]

Like the good, upstanding citizen I am, I was helping out Hild and Floyd in the parlour. The fire extinguisher had some grey hair on it - probably Undertaker’s, unless the stress of this place has started making people age early. Which wouldn’t surprise me, and I think we could all sympathise.

[Anyway…there’s a lot to get through and you can tell he’s trying so hard to get it in order.]

Something definitely went kaboom in there - place looked like there was an explosion around the counter. Soot, melted junk, et cetera. You get the deal. Not a clue what did it, but there was this microwave on the counter. With a thingy [He doesn’t know what a sotoba is] jammed in the handle. Prolly ‘cause it electrocuted me when I touched it.

[Said very casually.]

Nothing in it though. One of the tripwires Hild mentioned was on the on/off switch of the fan, which had a bowl of white baking stuff in it. Emphasis on the ‘had’, ‘cause it had all been blown around the place.

Is that it? I think that’s it.

[pairtner]

[Aiba was pretty much tuning out so much, but when she heard about Misfire getting electrocuted she snapped back to attention]

Are you alright?!

[dullshooter]

…Did I say something weird?

[He doesn’t get the concern.]

[pairtner]

Electrocution can be fatal! Are you alright or not? Do you feel any different?

[dullshooter]

Oh, right. Yeah? Think so. Still kinda tingles.

[buriedstar]

[ looks over, sighs. ]

You're fine, right?

[dullshooter]

Aw, you worried about me?

[buriedstar]

You're not really expecting me to say no, are you?

[ That might sound just the tiniest bit pouty. He is not a tsun. ]

[dullshooter]

Nah. Just wanted to tease.

[Fingergun and a wink!]

I’m a-ok. Lucky it was me and not someone else, though, right?

[buriedstar]

Mmhmm~.

[ On both counts. ]

[sastruga]

["b-baka!"]