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

[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?

[hardnosed]

Rose's sword should have still been in the garden. I left it there past week.

[ yeah, left, that's definitely the word for it ]

[ladygeryon]

Not hers-the one that was taken from the display case.

[bolderfell]

The only weapon I found was the gun. The rifle.

[bathymetric]

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

[bogwife]

[Oh ho? What about it?]

[bathymetric]

[ So Zerinda is no Ema Skye, but she is from a fantasy world.

The wound on Vincent is way more in line with a smaller blade than any full-on sword. ]

[bogwife]

[!!!]

Wait...it's too big. A regular sword is too big to have made the wound he had.

[bolderfell]

Huh? Then what about the broken case?

[bogwife]

A red herring? I've seen a few stab wounds in my time and his makes more sense coming from a smaller blade.

[mouflon]

Wait, so was the sword taken as misdirection? Meaning we might actually be looking for one of the vending machine knives, or...

[ ...

You know what? She's just going to look directly at Kirei. ]

[blackmass]

...The Black Keys you gave me have not left my room since you handed it over, Rin. Do not look at me like that.

[mouflon]

No offense, but we only have your word on that. You mind at least showing us the inside of your cassock? That's where you people keep them, right?

[blackmass]

Right about here, yes. [He took off the long purple coat worn by most Executors; sure enough, it was empty of Black Key handles.]

I should mention I wouldn't appreciate being framed twice, should anyone have had such a thing in mind.

[mouflon]

To be fair, what happened was probably way too chaotic for someone to have deliberately framed you in the middle of it. It's just a funny coincidence that the poisonous plants weren't hurt while someone was fighting off a monster that might have been a vampire, and that said monster just happened to be killed by a thin blade.

[blackmass]

Yes, it's rather funny how those things work out, isn't it.

[mouflon]

Oh, and here's another thought: If someone was trying to make it look you did it, why did they make it look like some other weapon was used? That wouldn't do anything but throw us off your scent.

[blackmass]

How should I know? I don't claim to understand the mentality of anyone around here, least of all now.

[mouflon]

Still, you have to admit. We only have circumstantial evidence to work with, and right now, all of it looks like it's pointing toward you. Nothing to say in your own defense, Kotomine?

[ladygeryon]

Even if it was, that still raises the question of where it is now...

[bolderfell]

Probably in someone's room. We never look even in the rooms of the victims before we come to trial here.