first trial

[stagemanagers]

[Within a few minutes of the performers is finishing their investigations, the lights in every room flicker on and off several times. For those in or close to the lobby, they hear a faint rumbling. The gilded doors across from the heavy wooden front doors (which have always been there, the showrunners may have gotten to indicate them on the map) have opened.

Your intermission is ending. The show is about to begin.

The space behind them is lit; you're free to enter. It's a very short hallway, decorated in the same way as the lobby with the light walls and red carpet. There is one more set of doors to pass through and then you're all, finally, in the House. There's one grand chandelier above, glittering crystal, and the seats around you are made of fine, if dust-caked, red velvet. Those don't seem to be for you though - all the way down in front of the stage, where the orchestra might sit, there's a circle of wooden podiums. They're arranged so that everyone can face each other and are fixed into place. Each one bears a metal plaque with a cast member's name engraved on it. There's also a metal panel on top, with twenty ivory buttons paired to everyone's name.

Among these, only Jonny's podium is different - that one is draped in black crepe, with a larger grey-scale version of his headshot from the playbill framed and sitting at on top like a funerary portrait. Standing where he might have stood, a bare light bulb glows faintly atop a metal pole.

Right here, you're very close to the stage. But the curtain is closed, and it's a little too high to easily clamber up. You may not want to try. You've got more important business right now, after all.

As everyone is finding their places, the Phantom's voice suddenly sounds loud and clear throughout the space. If anyone is to look up, however, they'll see the dark suited figure of him and the whiteness of his mask peering over the edge of box 5.]

You must now determine who was responsible for the death of Jonny D'Ville. Submit your vote on the podiums when you are certain of your choice.

Comments

THE HERDING OF CATS

[mcfife]

Alright, so!

[Angus knocks on his podium three times, waits for a moment, then knocks on it again. When he gets everyone's attention, he speaks:]

As we have discussed, there are plenty of ways this could have happened, but we should review the evidence. Jonny was likely killed in the costume room by a single knife wound. As a cyborg, he had healing abilities as evidenced by the wounds on his knuckles, but they were not enough to save him.

His body was moved but not dragged a considerable distance to Room 20, which means that someone was strong enough to carry him or Jonny thought he would be fine and attempted to return to his room. He died leaning against the door.

There was a knife hidden under his pillow and his room was ransacked with his key in his door. Whether Jonny used that knife or his killer did, we still haven't figured out.

The dress and shirt were used to clean up the blood, though the dress was not worn. They may have been used by the killer to protect their clothing if they carried Jonny to the closet.

There is one question I have left: what do you make of the ring found in his pocket?

[37773972]

Can I see the ring?

[reassuranceandrevolution]

[Sigyn hands the ring to Stephen]

[37773972]

[Just gonna look over it...anything interesting about those symbols, mods? And/or can he guess if this is a wedding ring?]

pocket check?

[revelfree]

I know not of the ring, but I think it is pertinent that we lay all of our cards on the table. Or, in this case, lay whatever belongings we have with us on the table.

[Ariel empties his pockets. Or would, if he had anything to show.]

[mcfife]

[Angus has his armor which...has a pocket.

A Hot Pocket to be precise.

And some small vending machine trinkets, but no rings.]

[37773972]

[Just...gonna follow suit. He's got nothing but some duct tape on him.]

[holyspit]

[Steven's in his pajamas, he's in a pretty similar boat here. Just his room key, and the crumpled-and-resmoothed photo from the motive this week.]

Re: pocket check?

[reassuranceandrevolution]

[Sigyn turns out her pockets. There isn't much, a few smaller things from the vending machine and the knife Stephen gave her when they went exploring the secret tunnel]

[revelfree]

[Ariel is giving that knife an extra hard look. Anything out of the ordinary on it? Like. You know. Blood bits?]

[recessives]

[ Shilo has some pills and her room key, but then she reaches into her other pocket and reluctantly produces... nothing else! ]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley has, well. The Knife from Jonny's room. And, like Steven, her own motive photo, folded up. Nothing else. ]

[musacal]

[ Nana empties hers but doesn't have anything but more fucking muffins, somehow the program booklet. She keeps it on her most of the time to help remember names. ]

[etincelledefierte]

[Claudine's pockets are empty, and if Ariel wants to check the bag she brought with her, there's nothing in it except bloody clothes.]

[garbageface]

[ Santana produces a photograph of Finn Hudson and the steak knife she received from the merchandise booth. She places the photograph on the table, but does not let go of the knife. ]

[revelfree]

Santana? [Inspecting blood knife for blood is probably going to be a lost cause but... he's giving her a look anyway.]

May I see it? I will give it back. [He forces a smile] I would not dream of "messing with you."

[justmeheere]

[Jeremy's in the jeans he arrived in with the shirt he was wearing to the sleepover. This is relevant only because he starts pulling a frankly ridiculous amount of shit out of his pockets:

- a pen
- some crumpled paper
- bandages? from the merch booth?
- room key
- the wrapper from a tea bag]

[bloodycape]

[Red turning out her dress pockets only results in her producing biscuits and some trinkets from the merchandise booth, including a flower and some bobby pins.]

[superbeliever]

[Richard doesn't have pockets.]

[herwiggles]

[Spinel just... shrugs, and laughs.

What are pockets.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

I, um, I actually changed my clothes before I came here...

[So she doesn't have anything.]

I-I'm sorry! I just couldn't... I couldn't keep wearing...

[holyspit]

[gasp]

Oh no, he was gonna propose to someone.

[isawallflower]

It's also clean! ...The knife, it doesn't have any blood on it. [ Raising said knife.

[stagemanagers]

[Do you want to inspect it a little further, Riley?]

[reassuranceandrevolution]

[Sigyn is still holding the ring in question]

I remember he had on a simple band himself, but no other rings. He could have gotten it out of the merchandise booth.