CHAPTER 2 ; INVESTIGATION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 2 - WEEK 2??? Narrators Remain ; The clock begins to chime, and on the first note, curfew lifts. Your doors swing open, whether you are ready or not. Leaving your room is a blur. The person you fell asleep beside — are they still there? Have they vanished? Were they ever there at all? You can't seem to recall clearly. What you are most aware of is the pervading sense of wrongness in the air, and how you can't hear anything but the chime of the clock. Even the sounds of your own voice and your own footsteps do not reach your ears. By the time the time the clock strikes nine, you know one thing to be true: blood has been spilt. Search the castle carefully — you wouldn't want to miss a single important detail, would you...? Welcome to this week's investigation post! This time, you all will be posting your own locations that you wish to search. Please note the Locations page for your reference. Evidence — or lack thereof — will be noted in these threads. We ask that group threads consist of no more than 2-3 characters. After the discovery of the body (or bodies) and any pertinent evidence, an IC announcement concluding the investigation will go up. You are then free to make your own toplevels on this post for any threads you would like to have between the end of the investigation and the start of the trial. If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings to Britt (bloodthirstiest), as she will be taking point on this investigation! Instructions on this week's investigation can be found in a pin in the General chat! full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[holybind]

[ Zelos is absolutely okay with Monika sticking close, she can stick as closely to him as she wants!

He and his one good eye will keep watch for the both of them ]

If something did happen, I bet it happened here— it's a sadists playground.

[recoda]

[ just.

zelos. ]

Are you going to be morbid every time we talk?

[holybind]

Well, it's hardly a happy occasion.

[ I'm sorry this is just how he is ]

Wouldn't it be worse if I strolled in here talking about daisies and sunshine when we're on the prowl for a corpse? I mean, I've been told my tone of voice is already worryingly pleasant. Just can't win with you folks!

[recoda]

[ JUST

PRESSES A FINGER TO HIS LIPS

STOP TALKING. ]

[themodsgrimm]

[Well, I hate to interrupt this pleasant conversation, but there's something pretty glaringly obvious when they walk in and take a cursory glance around.

A lot of the old, rusted-over equipment? It doesn't look new, exactly... but it looks better, like someone's devoted a significant amount of time to fixing it up. Hmm.

Maybe they want to start looking around in more detail.]

[holybind]

[ as pleasant as he finds the sensation of monika's hand on his mouth in any capacity, there are unfortunately more important things to give his attention to (for the moment)

anyway, he pulls her hand away so he can SPEAK ]

What do we have here!

[ Zelos will go over to look at the equipment I guess! ]

[recoda]

[ this is just the worst.

with a soft frown monika will somewhat unwillingly leave his side to explore. she doesn't quite touch anything, but looks close. are there any fingerprints or the like? ]

I don't want to think about why someone spent so much time on this stuff...

[themodsgrimm]

[There are no fingerprints! At least, not any that can be seen with the naked eye. However, she'll find a little wicker basket holding fire strikers... will she take a closer look?

Zelos, examining the equipment, will find that it's sort of... half-fixed? It's definitely not in tip-top shape, but in some cases, pieces that had rusted over are half-cleared of rust, or pieces that were ... in pieces are haphazardly patched together.

Off to the side, a cabinet of supplies sits innocently, waiting to be examined.]

[holybind]

Maybe we'll get lucky and all of this'll just be the remnants of someone dealing with their boredom in non-murderous ways.

[ He punctuates his words with a derisive snort so yeah, he doesn't think they'll get lucky.

Anyway what kind of machine is this anyway? What does it do, and if he can't tell what it can do is there anything weird about the pieces in front of him? ]

[recoda]

... I wish I could believe something like that, [ she hums.

Not only will she take a closer look at the wicker basket, she'll pick it up and cradle it in her hands, curiosity piqued.

She'll simply bring it with her as she moves away, towards the supply cabinet. That's fine, right? Examining the basket AND the cabinet? She's a champ multitasker, it's fine. ]

[themodsgrimm]

[The machine Zelos is examining looks as though it's meant to mix things together - it has multiple openings at the top, all leading down into a single reservoir that then comes out into an opening at the bottom, where one could probably fit a potions flask.

Inside the wicker basket, Monika will find an assortment of fire strikers. There are five of them - they're labeled 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Hmm.

Anyway, once the cabinet is opened, it looks kind of... bare. There are a few stray supplies here and there - a packet of something labeled "powdered lizard's tails," a pouch labeled "eye of newt" with some circular-feeling objects inside of it, et cetera... But a lot of stuff is missing!

It's almost as if multiple people have raided the supplies this week.]

[holybind]

I mean, it's possible. Sure, people might get up to some bizarre and grotesque antics while trying to stave off boredom, but that doesn't mean they hurt anyone in the process!

[ Anyway gonna take a closer look at this machine? Do any of the openings have residue or anything in them? Can he tell if it's anythings been poured into it? ]

[recoda]

[ instantly, with a perfectly cheerful tone and expression: ]

Bizarre and grotesque? Well, I'm sure you'd know!

[ anyway,

Monika will note the missing fire striker, humming as she sets the basket down to go through the cabinet more thoroughly. ]

... this is so strange ... who here would know magic well enough to use these things?

[ She'll glance past the cabinet. Is there anything else in the lab that's interesting? ]

[themodsgrimm]

[There's a little bit of sticky residue in the machine. Apparently, someone in the castle has been brewing potions! Maybe even multiple someones. Good work, Zelos.

In her more thorough investigation of the cabinet, Monika will find a little container labeled Cobalt Powder. Apparently there were some normal ingredients in here, too... before everyone decided to play mad scientist.

Other than that, the laboratory is clear.]

[holybind]

Aw, don't be like that! My interests are entirely innocent and mostly wholesome.

[ Anyway what a bust! ]

Alls well that ends well though.

[recoda]

Mm... for some reason that's kind of hard to believe!

[ She'll close the cabinet, wondering about that powder. ]

... and you know someone is still dead, right? [ her shoulders are kind of tight. ]

[holybind]

[ Wow Monika, kill the vibe much? At that, the smile drops from his face. Gone with the flip of a switch almost! ]

I don't know, actually. Neither of us do.

[ a shrug ]

Like I said, maybe we got lucky.

[ Unlikely ]

Anyway, you were wondering who would have the know how to use this stuff? Probably that shrimpy kid who's always stabbing himself in the name of discovery or whatever.

[recoda]

Someone is dead! [ she snaps, all pretense falling away from her, too. ] Wasn't it you who told me we're all "equally screwed"? Don't pretend like you don't know!

[ Her hands twitch, like she means to gesture but can't figure out what she actually wants to do. She seems really agitated for some reason. ]

Hi pip I’m sorry about this tag

[holybind]

[ He flinches if only because he’s realized he’s forgotten he said as much. It’s been a long week. ]

Uh, I say a lot of stuff, darling. You can’t expect me to remember every conversation I have with every pretty girl.

[ He does remember though ]

I get that you’re all worked up, as any person would be! But I didn’t kill anyone, so maybe direct those frustrations else where. Unless of course, you’d like to take them out on me via more pleasurable methods.

I Hate Everything™

[recoda]

[ the really unfortunate thing about him saying that to her is that

she

turns like

bright scarlet. not out of anger, either.

she's trying to look mad, her eyes narrowed, but really it mostly looks like she's actually considering it. ]

... come talk to me about it later.

[ blows him a kiss, turns on her heel, and walks out ]

Hm

[holybind]

[ that reaction’s cute.

but he expects her to yell, cry even maybe. So when she says that, well— ]

Sure, sure— it’s a date.