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

[inaclearing]

[Brett looks at him and grimaces a little. Yeah, it's...well, saying anything in this room can be a lot.]

Do you want...?

[He gestures like, do you want him to come over there and talk slightly more privately?]

[visiblepattern]

[...Uhhhhh...

He pauses for a moment before just- ]

I'm not trying to accuse anyone or hurt anyone's feelings, but I feel like just to be...careful? I think? We should keep an eye on Aiba. She would know how to set up something complicated like that, but also...in order to kill us she might have to due to her size. It would make the most sense for her of all people to set something like that up.

I don't... Please don't be mad at her or jump on her, but I do want to mention the...that.

[fuckingguy]

... Oh.

[hotpaprika]

[Huh that

Is a good point.]

... Do you think we should observe her for anything off? Like wounds?

... would she have wounds?

[specialyellthing]

We could check for residue from the powder, too, even if that’d be easy enough to clean off.

[hotpaprika]

[He glances over at Aiba.]

Uh, Ms. Aiba, if you do not mind...

[pairtner]

Go ahead. I understand the concern.

[Aiba is currently wearing the outfit Forrest made for her -- the human projection is too -- a nice white dress. She'll allow anyone to approach, yeah]

[hotpaprika]

[He's too polite to do a strip search, but he's going to examine her dress and any immediate signs of injury.]

[pairtner]

[This dress is spotless clean! No signs of tearing or holes either -- Aiba takes really good care of it, since it's the first and only gift she has had, yup.

As for her silly gummy form, it looks intact! No stains, no missing pieces. She stares up at him]

For the sake of transparency I should inform you I can repair any 'injuries' on myself. I create this protective casing, after all.

[hotpaprika]

[Thank god he did not want to do a strip search.]

Well, if you did do it, you are at least much smarter than Vholran.

[sastruga]

That's such a low bar...

[inaclearing]

May as well do that with everyone, if we're going to. It would've been easy for Vholran to change his clothes, too...

[so like, may as well look at any and everything!]

[hotpaprika]

The man truly did think he was a criminal mastermind...

[sastruga]

"Ohhhh, I'm Vholran, the greatest swordsman who ever lived, I love bullying teenage girls because I'm so smart."

[wow

she's even doing the voice]

[hotpaprika]

[He chokes out a laugh, despite himself.]

[inaclearing]

[Brett cracks a smile.]

[dullshooter]

…Did anyone else catch her throwing furniture around a couple of weeks back? I don’t think she’d necessarily need to do all this to get rid of someone. I fully believe in her power to bludgeon one of us to death.

[visiblepattern]

That's true, but Aiba likes us. Or at least, she's told me she does. It would be easier to set something up to kill a random person than to beat someone to death.

[inaclearing]

Less personal. Like...setting a trap in the woods and walking away, instead of hunting.

[inaclearing]

...it's okay. I'm sure she understands that we have to consider all the angles like that.

[Brett's still super not emoting about this, really, beyond a bit of concern for Forrest.]

I do see what you're saying. It's...circumstantial, though, so...you're right, we shouldn't just jump on it. We can...keep it in mind.

[visiblepattern]

...I hope it's nothing. I'm not trying to...

[We're all kind of upset today. He'll be all right, probably.]

[inaclearing]

...it's fine. That's...just what we have to do here.

[pairtner]

Forrest, do not be upset. In an investigation, all avenues must be investigated properly. You're not at fault.

[visiblepattern]

...All right.

[It feels a little better if Aiba is saying that too.]