unknownseas | Fourth Trial

[ 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You'll find no objections from me. Jonathan checked my dress and found out I have no injuries -- which means nothing, given I can self-repair.

[In other words, the check Brett proposed is fine.

As expected, there's no flour, gunpowder, or signs of fire on her, not even in the pads of all her paws, but if Brett at any point touched the forepaws, whenever he removes his hands he'll find red stains on his fingertips]

[He does so only incidentally, more focused on the rest of her. He doesn't even quite notice until he's already turned to walk away - he stops, looking down at his hands.]

...what's this?

[Can he identify what the stains are?]

[Oh, it's raspberry juice, she loves them fruits.

.......

Okay, no, it might be blood. Aiba shrugs]

I examined Dandy's body. It would make sense for me to have some blood on me.

[...would it?]

...you don't have any on your dress. It's white.

...what do you suggest, then? Dandy's corpse is the only source of blood.

[Pffft, as if]

I...

[Brett pauses. Hesitates. Then swallows and pushes forward. He can't afford, here and now, not to commit to his judgements. Not to say something.]

You could have gotten it on your hands before you put on these clothes. Before the investigation.

…

Are you required to make contact with the bodies to examine them…?

[please say yes please do not be the scrungly he does not want to lose the scrungly]

Direct contact allows me to check the details of the corpse.

[That's...not a yes. It's as if Aiba is watching out her words quite a bit. Still, she has given testimonies the entire game about the states of the corpse, and not even once mentioned approaching them]

You... didn't really touch Jason when we did that body check.

...perhaps you missed it.

[This is not a stellar defense]

I wasn't focusing on checking Jason over that much, Aiba. I would have noticed if you got up close and personal with the body.

...Not with Adaman, you didn't. Not that I remember.

[...]

Aiba, please don't lie to me. I understand that you're doing what you have to do, and I'm sure you have your reasons, but please. I'm begging you, don't lie to me.