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

[allatonce]

Honestly, the use of explosives in both makes me kind of sus that they didn't at least notice each other? But I don't know if we know enough to fully declare that either way.

[hotpaprika]

I suppose it is possible that they were busy with their own schemes to pay them any mind?

[sastruga]

One of them, maybe.

But both?

[inaclearing]

Well, even if one of them did see something...they can't exactly admit to it now.

[hotpaprika]

... come to think of it

How do we know that one of the culprits didn't come investigate the fireworks?

[inaclearing]

We don't. We can't.

[hotpaprika]

We could, theoretically.

Did anyone notice someone investigate the fireworks but not leave their room?

[specialyellthing]

Nandor came and got me, when the boomin started. Everyone in my suite was accounted for at that time.

[fuckingguy]

It is true, they were. I myself was awakened from my slumber by all the racket down in the theme park. Not sure if any of you guys saw me leaving, but there are still six of us in there...

[daimakaicho]

[ smh didnt she tell you that you should've been in the room ]

[sastruga]

Mm, true enough. So just the possibility doesn't tell us much right now.

[inaclearing]

[Brett nods, and chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment before adding:]

Maybe if we figure one out, they won't have any more reason not to speak.

[He can't imagine either party being all that invested in protecting the other...though he could be wrong.]

[hotpaprika]

... you make a good point, unless one half has a particular interest on letting the other party live.

MODS

[inaclearing]

I don't...think they could have been working together from the outset...

[But, well.]

Mayor Fontaine - can two separate people win at this?

[hotpaprika]

Even so, if someone learned that the other culprit was someone they cared deeply for...

[inaclearing]

...if they were going to kill someone, then they were willing to see them dead anyway. And they know the other person's willing to do the same.

[Jonathan could still be right, of course; feelings are just like that. But still.]

[bathymetric]

No reason why not, if they went at it about the same time. You just run the risk of one helpin' to suss the other out, like the pope and magic brat a couple of these games ago.

[allatonce]

The ice cream parlor would take more time to set up so it's possible they were ships passing in the night or whatever the phrase is. Still sus.

[specialyellthing]

Dandy and the fireworks woulda taken a while, too...

[allatonce]

Yeah, but that was definitely done after they, you know. 'cause there was still a fuckton of smoke hanging around.

[buriedstar]

Do we have an estimated time of death for either of them?

[sastruga]

...Maybe Aiba has an idea for Dandy? She examined him closely, right?

hey mods

[pairtner]

Usually I check the bodies to have an estimate of the time of death.

[Being a detective's assistant has its perks. Aiba pauses for a brief second while she sifts through the data and--

yeah give her a sec]

[bathymetric]

[ Alright, so, timeline here.

The fireworks started going off at dawn. That's when you guys were woken up by that booming. With that in mind! Dandy would've been dead for one to two hours when you found and examined him. ]

[pairtner]

[After that very brief pause, Aiba informs:]

According to the temperature of the body, Dandy died from one to two hours before I began examining him.