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FIFTH TRIAL
Trial V
From what you can see, all the lights in the opera house are turned on. Only when you enter and see the open doors that lead into the main theater, you can see that room's lights are currently turned off. It's very dark in there.
Like before, Rembrandt escorts everybody to the stage. In the dark you still can see the many blue-eyed things you may be getting used to. They're still very scared of Rembrandt, staying as far away from the assistant as possible. The stage is illuminated by the spotlights, the only light in this theater.
The Lady and Rembrandt are at their balcony. She stands up, addressing the group:
"If you don't make this trial go like I want it, every single person in this room is getting vivisected!"
It has been a couple hours and she's still furious. It doesn't seem like her mood is going to improve anytime soon...if ever. Behind her, Rembrandt doesn't seem very impressed with her gratuitous threat. At least she probably won't get to make good on that threat, hm?
Let the trial for the death of Dist the Rose begin.
[OOC NOTE: From the halfway point of the trial and onwards, you'll have the option to ask the masterminds for the chance to get a hint! Be warned, though: the price will involve some body horror for your character. Keep that in mind when deciding to use this option!]
QUESTIONS
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Body and Bullets
I went to the Auto Shop earlier and the door was opened and it was dark inside. For some reason, the lights weren't working. I decided to check further to see if Dist was still around. Found him on the ground next to his work bench. There was asingle gunshot wound to his back, Rigor Mortis hasn't set in yet and he still felt warm. The door was opened, which means he should have been cooling much fast. So it may have just happened before we found the body. Rideaux should be able to confirm and further elaborate on his state and give a better window of time.
[ Tapping the bullet shell casing. ]
This week, the post office was rather generous with weapons. I suspect a number of you received a gun this week. [ He's pulling out the gun they found by Dist's body. ]
Erik found this by the body, and I checked it out. It's missing two bullets total. I found only the single bullet casing on the ground in the shop. Erik can tell you more about the bullet holes and any other evidence there.
[ That's all he has. ]
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This killer was careful. I searched the area around the auto-shop and a great deal beyond until just now and I found nothing. No discarded items, no footprints, nothing.
It's a clean kill.
[ So that explains the current state of attire and bad mood. Usually they found things fairly quick and he could maybe even shower, but today...? ]
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[ Setting the partly bloody-but-otherwise-intact flashlight out and the two bullets! One is bloody and they're both kind of deformed (though the bloody one is worse). Because, you know, impact. ] I think you can guess which one was in the wall above the back workbench, behind Dist's body.
The other was facing the inside of the autoshop. I'd say it was around mid-door height.
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I'll confirm his findings on the body. As for the time of death, I'd estimate about an hour at most. Livor mortis hadn't set in yet either, which I'd usually expect to see at least the beginnings of within an hour.
I did a check for any other wounds in case there was anything else that could have been missed while focusing on the gunshot wound, but there weren't any that I could see. He still had his gloves on, and his hands were clean underneath.
I'll also add that I saw him early in the evening when he came by the bar briefly, though that doesn't do much to narrow down the time frame.
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bathroom
[ she reaches out and puts one of the paper towels out for people to inspect. she unfolds it. ]
They had these black marks on them. Smudges. The sink was also wet.
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Shoe check (and also a little clothing check)
I'm going to look to see if there's residue on them, since it could be that some of it could remain if it comes into contact with a person, while the rest might disappear.
Someone can check me if they want, though...
[ He'll hold up his boots for people to check, they're clean! So getting that out of the way.
Anyway, time to approach...also he'll be eyeballing people's clothing on top of the shoes he's checking because, yeah. ]
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Check inside of pockets or pat them down. Maybe there's a bullet casing on them.
[ Anyways he's cleaned ]
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Gun Questions
I own one, so does Sakaguchi. Dist did as well.
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Cat Herd
We know he was shot in the back, but it was the upper chest and it didn't hit anything vital. He likely bled to death. In that time, we know the killer moved from some where behind him, a few feet maybe, to a couple of feet in front of him. There's a shot in the door frame at the same height, chest height from the victim and mid-door height, which means it was likely the same shooter. The shots hit straight on.
The killer then went to the gym at some point to clean up. Maybe even grabbed a new pair of clothes there or changed into something they had already waiting. All we have are used paper towels with a substance on them.
We also know a number of people may have access to guns, but we don't know who actually got one. So I would like to ask everyone who went to the post office this week and who do you know got a gun or a weapon of some kind.
There are a couple of strange things with this case. One is the shot to the doorway of the garage.
What we learned from Rembrandt is that a clone from Klados will fade away when the user is killed. So, while the killer was standing in front of the body for some reason, his clone may have walked in or was going for the door to get help. He shot at the clone, but missed. Everything was cleaned outside of the auto shop and it was normal on the interior, so the clone may have vanished at this point.
The other odd thing is the flashlight and the lights in the auto shop. The flashlight didn't have any blood on it besides what was under it. If Dist was holding the flashlight, then it would have been hit with some blood splatter or drops. It also was placed on top of the blood. It didn't roll like it should have and it wasn't broken or damaged. The floors are concrete. If he was holding it... it wouldn't have been right by his hand. [ Dazai is going to pretend to grab the flashlight to show. ]
I think the killer placed it there, forgot to turn it on, and then went outside to shut off the lights. I think they may have been trying to purposely frame me considering my powers and the weapon of choice. So we might have to consider anyone who would know how my power works. I don't think it would be wise to narrow in on anyone familiar with the gun. They didn't need to stand that far away from him to shoot him in the back. They also didn't kill him instantly.
Okay, am I missing anything else?
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Have we fielded the idea of discerning the shooter's height from where the bullet hole in the door is?
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HINT OFFER
Alright, keep going, everyone. As usual I offer you a vital clue, and although this time I'd love for it to be free, I have to stick with the precedent I already established. Tough luck for everyone here.
The hint... [She shows a rather thin cylindrical container wrapped with foam because hey, she's tossing that from the balcony if someone takes the hint. Doesn't seem to be more than a foot long] ...is inside this capsule.
Ninety minutes. That's all.
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5 minutes to go...
Motive Talk
We're going in circles here. While I don't expect this to yield a lot of honest results, it might be worth at least bringing up the motive secrets. I urge you all to be honest about what you witnessed in other people's behaviour. Who seemed unsettled? Who would have reason to want to protect their secrets at all costs?
None of us benefit from executing the wrong person here. It was foolish and inane to kill in the first place, so I hope we can leave this idiocy behind us now.
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I have plenty reason to guard this particular secret from certain people at home, but I'm not stupid enough to go for the motive this close to the end.
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THE HINT
Sure, I'm not going to say no. Catch.
[The Lady takes aim and tosses the foam-wrapped capsule towards the stage. It doesn't matter if it isn't caught, the foam will save it.
Once they open the capsule, they can take the contents out. Be careful if you're doing it in your hand, though:
It's glass. Very small shards of glass, still sharp. There's definitely not enough to form again what it was originally, but there's enough of this to know it's certainly glass.
Enjoy.]
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Glass investigation
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Haaand check
[ Rean will also take off his gloves, offering them for people to check. His hands look clean!
He will also be doing his best to look underneath people's fingernails too and such. Gotta be thorough! ]
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[At the start of all this he would have screamed. He would have fought it, and he would have done...something that isn't this. He's still not seeming too coherent, he's staring at a lot of nothing down toward the ground.]
I have nothing to offer you here. Normally I'd try. But I don't have anything. If you're going to vote me out now then so be it, but you're making a mistake. I want that much known before you all make Rembrandt tell you as much.
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I believe you. I have to believe you.
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RESULTS
I'll take this one.
[She stands up, facing everyone from her balcony. When she speaks she lacks the usual teasing tone she has, instead replaced by a cold-blooded disdain]
They say when you want something done, you must do it yourself. I'm a firm believer of that and this only proved it further. Even with a straightforward hint you all managed to get misled. But I have to applaud the culprit's wits. It was a clever show. It almost was enough.
[The corners of her mouth twitches upwards]
You have my respect but that's not enough to save you, Ango Sakaguchi. You got two votes too many to be spared. I'm taking your life today. But fret not, your secrets are safe. I'm still very upset about your choice of target, but a deal is a deal.
[There it comes, the grin she was trying to supress]
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[but then he turns to look at Ango]
I hope whatever your secret is was worth killing one of the most useful people we have. Your soul can rot here for all I care.
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1/2
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EXECUTION
...Dist was no more than a pawn to me, but he was my pawn nonetheless. You deserve death.
[Ango doesn't seem to have much of a reaction to that. He watches, impassive, while the Lady raises her gun.
It should have been a normal execution like any other. It would have been, if it wasn't for Ango's reaction. He takes out a gun too -- the gun he has always been carrying around. The Lady doesn't seem too impressed, she had expected that. What she didn't expect was for Ango to take out another gun, one in each hand. Her eyes widen at the development.
Her reaction is fast. She dives behind one of the curtains, while Ango shoots where she had been standing just a moment ago. The surprise costs her valuable seconds, blood stains the stage. Encouraged by the proof he has injured his opponent, Ango tries to get closer to peer into the curtain and make sure she wouldn't be able to shoot again, but there's barely any time for it.
Underneath him, the space between each wooden plank gains a red tint. Sensing danger, he dashes towards the Lady's edge of the stage, intending to run away from whatever was happening. A wise decision, given the sudden burst of heat and noise behind him. Half of the stage explodes, and the space where Ango had been standing at just a moment ago is now charred. His clothes and hair singed, Ango glances at the now obliterated half of the stage. That had been too close! But no, he had to focus on his task right now.
The noise of one, two, three bullets being fired ring. Ango raises his guns, ready to shoot at the Lady, but the situation changes. The bullets cross the air and hit the spotlights that illuminate the stage. One after another, they all shatter, leaving the place full of darkness. Only one is left: a spotlight aiming at the upper part of the wall decoration on the stage. The stage and everything else is full of darkness.
To Ango, this changes nothing. Having Sonui is enough to orientate himself, he can perceive the outline and location of everything. Still, the sudden change of illumination is disorienting for a moment. He keeps shooting forward for a couple seconds, but the Lady is already moving.
The Lady runs towards the edge of the stage and leaps towards the crowd of creatures. The creatures don't hesitate to extend claws and appendages towards the woman, trying to drag her in to feast on her soul, but they're held back. The Lady grins triumphantly, and forces herself among the crowd, ignoring everything trying to catch her.
Ango's echolocation is good, but there are too many bodies out there to aim at, not to mention the seating of the auditorium. He experimentally tries a few shots, all of them impacting among the creatures. None of them try to swarm Ango, they're all retreating slowly but surely. Suddenly, two bursts of light and noise shine among the dark crowd. Ango jumps aside, expecting to hear the bullets pass by, but that doesn't happen. Instead there's a strange noise way above him before some weird and soft shapes fall on the stage. Sandbags. Were those always up there?
Four bullets more are fired in quick succession, an ominous creaking noise filling the place. Ango is forced to look up, seeing the thick, wooden wall of the backdrop start tilting forward, everything that held it in place being gone. With that done, the last spotlight is shattered. Ten bullets so far.
Staying on the stage would mean he would get crushed, there was no choice but to jump off the stage, towards the floor and the seating. None of the creatures try to reach him, he is safe while the backdrop collapses on the stage, wood splintering and creaking everywhere. Pieces of wooden hellfire fly onto the seating.
Ango gets his bearings, using the natural echolocation to examine the place from where he's hiding. He knows she intended him to get off the stage, she knows she wanted him to go search for her. The creatures have almost all left the auditorium, leaving the Lady and Ango alone. There! There she is. Gripping the guns strongly, he crouches and walks slowly. From where she is one row of seating away, the Lady seems to have something in her hand -- the gun? -- but she's not moving from where she's hiding, behind one of the seats. Ango has no more choice but to get closer.
Trying to shoot her from there is very difficult. He will have to look over the seat to shoot, but that should be no problem. She should have no time to aim upwards -- he can sense her position, she's staring at the seat in front of her. It shouldn't take more than a second to shoot her fatally before she can even make a move. As silently as he could, he climbs on the seat in front of where the Lady's hiding.
The object she was holding is revealed right away: a sword.
The sword punctures through the back of the seat as soon as he steps on the seat. Ango leaps backwards, too late to avoid the wound that hits him on the stomach. Surprised, he refuses to give up and aims anyway, only to get beaned in the face by something else, something thrown: a pocketwatch. The watch hits him right on the bridge of the nose, bending his glasses. That is just the distraction the Lady needs, while Ango recoils from the unexpected pain on his face.
Two bullets hit his chest. Ango lets go of the handguns, collapsing among the seating while the Lady stands up.
It doesn't take long for the lights to return, except for the broken spotlights. When they do, everyone can see the Lady standing there. She's holding her shoulder, blood is trickling through her fingers. That must have hurt, yet she's chuckling. The Lady giggles, swaying in place]
Oh, almost, he almost did it. You can feel this, can't you, you little trollop? Wouldn't it be great if one of them kills you? Oof, this one is going to sting.
[Yeah, she's going to spend the night patching herself up because, even though it's not her body, she's using it. Still, she takes the sword out of the seat and looks straight at the Survivors who are left. Without breaking eye contact, she grins madly]
Show is over!
[She stands up with a surprising amount of stoicness and marches away like nothing had happened. Before she leaves, though, she glances towards where the crowd of creatures usually would be. Her eyes flicker towards Rembrandt]
...ah.
[With no further comment, she steps away, without even waiting for her assistant]
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Somehow he managed to get through that just fine, but he'll hang around some just to make sure everyone else had remained the same.
He only wished Ango hadn't failed in his attempts, however. Despite everything. ]