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

[asymptotes]

My word's all I can give you.

[ He thinks for a moment. ]

Also, my word that I would have been more likely to snap his neck. Hacking away at the body like that is... a little sad, don't you think?

[allatonce]

Thaaaaaat assumes you would be able to. I think we've pretty much discovered that physically? Dandy was way weirder than we all previously assumed.

[asymptotes]

That's true.

[ He sighs. ]

Tell you what. If it'll ease your mind? How about another check or two? We can hit everyone we haven't eliminated while we're at it. I can't prove it wasn't me, but we can at least check me and some others over to see.

[allatonce]

What kind of checks are you suggesting? Are we all going to finally strip?

[hotpaprika]

... I suppose it cannot hurt...

[asymptotes]

Might not be a bad idea. Up to you. But right now I only have my word, and you only have yours, and that's not going to get us anywhere.

[specialyellthing]

[shes already unbuttoning her jacket but contrary to the icon has something on under it]

[allatonce]

[she's looking disrespectfully!!]

[inaclearing]

[wHy DoNt YoU gO pIcK hEr Up]

[sastruga]

[immediately covers mielle's eyes]

[fuckingguy]

... We could check the bottoms of our shoes for flour or blood or some shit?

[howveryglib]

Would the smell of flour potentially remain on people as well, perhaps?

[allatonce]

Most of our shoes have been through so much shit at this point I suspect that might not be useful but it's worth checking I guess.

[visiblepattern]

May I be exempt...? I believe we already know that I couldn't have carried out either murder.

[asymptotes]

Sounds fair to me.

[ Said with some measure of genuine affection, despite his recent Everything. ]

[specialyellthing]

The girls too. Mafuyu was still recovering from yesterday, and I feel safe sayin Mielle hasn’t strayed from her side.

[asymptotes]

Sure. But I better not be in charge, seeing as how I'm one of the leading contenders.

[inaclearing]

...I can do it. If there's no objections?

[He's not sure how clear he is, given all the gasoline stuff, but like he doesn't really want to think people are suspecting him here?]

[pairtner]

Will I have to join in?

[She hasn't forgotten she's under some measure of suspicion of murder, really]

[inaclearing]

I feel like Jonathan already checked you, but...

[you know, if people feel otherwise we can go again?]

[specialyellthing]

Go for it.

NO SHOES NO SHIRTS CHECK

[inaclearing]

Right.

[Brett nods and steps away from his podium.]

Let's check shoes, then. And I think hands and arms, at least. I don't think we have any signs that there might be defensive wounds, but there have been a lot of fire and explosions today.

[Who knows, maybe someone wasn't careful enough and got a little burned? Anything's worth a shot at this point.]

[pairtner]

[If anyone does come to check her she's here. Aiba doesn't move to offer herself at anyone, instead waiting for someone to come to her if they want to]

[hotpaprika]

[Jonathan takes off his shoes and rolls up his sleeves and there is no sign of anything unusual.]

[fuckingguy]

Perhaps. But also, his heart was a box and he should have died after bleeding as much blood as he bled, so who even knows what was going on with his spine?