SIXTH TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Alright, same as every week before this - gather at the Vault Door so my Assistant can let you in. And I can start hoping to salvage at least the aquarium.

[ The Assistant, nee Failsafe, stands in her armor at the ready when you arrive, not saying a word and simply unlocking the door and elevator for you to head on down to the trial room. Second verse, same as the first five verses, but a whole lot quieter and a whole lot meaner.

The elevator is a lot emptier now, isn't it? Your number has fallen yet again since the last time you were here. Feels like yesterday, or maybe forever ago? Time's feeling pretty weird right about now, but trial days are for getting locked into the moment. You're here, you're present.

You're running out of allies.

The screens are the same as ever, though, and lower as you enter. ]

I see you haven't decided to continue to increase the number of bodies this week. Perhaps something to be thankful for, in all of this. Hotshot is dead, and the responsibility of finding his killer falls to you. Hopefully this is all old hat to you by now, no?

[The screens rise.

Welcome to your sixth trial. ]

Comments

[bogwife]

Vincent was killed by a fairly large stab wound in his chest. He may have been there for a bit, there was a lot of blood pooled under him. Based on how destroyed the entire area was I think we know there was a fight but there was blood scattered around the museum lobby and there were tears and rips in his cape that looked much newer than the rest of them.

[She folds her arms across her chest, closing her eyes to visualize what she saw better.] He was already cold when I got to him and he was positioned in a bit of an odd way. He was on his back and one arm was set across his chest? [She opens her eyes again and chews her lower lip in thought.]

A few people already know this but Vincent was alive when I found him. He looked at me before he died and he said "I'm a mo-" and then he died. [She frowns suddenly.] I wasn't terribly close with him but does anyone remember what color his eyes were?

[blackmass]

...We only spoke a time or two, but...red, I believe. Why does that matter?

[bogwife]

When he looked at me before he died his eyes were gold.

[bolderfell]

...Like Alice's?

[bogwife]

[She nods.] I thought the same thing.

[mouflon]

...Hey, if it was a case like Alice's, do you think... He lost control? If he was the one with the gun, that would explain why the spread of fire was the way it was.

[ladygeryon]

It also seems like he was the one scratching up the walls. Maybe he started out using the gun, but lost enough control that he couldn't even handle it anymore?

[blackmass]

How strange. Do you presume that had something to do with everyone's power fluctuations, perhaps? In my own world, magic and the like are often tied to one's eyes.

[bogwife]

It's a possibility. Did anyone talk to him earlier this week?

[blackmass]

I don't know. I haven't spoken with many people this week myself.

[nothingcanstop]

He seemed...pretty alright during air hockey.

[hardnosed]

Don't tell me we've had another vampire the whole time.

[nothingcanstop]

His body was cold...

[bolderfell]

That's also not what a fifty-nine-year-old human looks like.

[hardnosed]

How long does it take for that to happen, anyway?

[mouflon]

Well, obviously he wasn't human. He was way too hot to be almost 60 years old.

[bolderfell]

...That's your type, huh.

[hardnosed]

Ugh, I don't know when you start to age!

[bogwife]

...Honestly? Yeah. [He was very pretty.]

[ladygeryon]

Did you find any blood on his metal hand? Or residue that looked like he'd been scratching up the walls?

Mods??

[bogwife]

I don't think so but let me think.

[Was there anything on his metal arm?]

[bathymetric]

[ There was no blood on it, for sure, but definitely some concrete dust that matches the walls and, if you squinted real hard, a few scratches on the claws. ]

[bogwife]

There wasn't any blood but they were a little dusty and scratched up.

[ladygeryon]

Huh...guess we probably can't check for scratches, then. Actually...did anyone find a sword while investigating?

[bathymetric]

[ Hey Zerinda, quick funny thing while we're talking about the sword! ]