third investigation

[stagemanagers]

[At the start of Friday, things are surprisingly calm. There’s no blood on the hall carpet, presumably no bodies ready to fall out of a broom closet, nothing especially incriminating when the cast wakes up and emerges from their rooms. It’s possible this time, even with the palpable temptation of the Phantom’s motive, that no one has taken him up on his offer to kill. Maybe later today you won't have to march yourselves into the trial room to decipher clues and watch more of you die.

But the day is young.]

Comments

[holyspit]

[Well obviously everything is fine then. Checkmate, Phantom.]

[Steven's gonna head out towards the stables to check on Lion, anything unusual along the way?]

[heathencall]

[If Mephisto had it his way, he'd still be fast asleep. He doesn't even need to sleep, but after everything, it feels far better than being awake.

But pain wakes him, and he decides to grab something to make it go away. He's heading for the supply closet. You say there's no bodies ready to fall out, but let's be 100% sure of that.]

[mcfife]

[Everything is fine.

Angus first heads to the kitchen with Tad Cooper in one arm to get some dragon food, but if nothing is wrong there, his first stop is the dining room to have breakfast.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

[It's calm enough that Christine almost wants to just take it for granted. Almost.

Still, as she's heading over to the cafe for tea, she's looking for anything that might be out of place... and hoping there won't be anything amiss.]

[stagemanagers]

[Well. Let's think this through. You're passing through the garden to get there, yes?]

[stagemanagers]

[THREE WHOLE BODIES FALL OUT - nah you're fine there's nothing here.]

[holyspit]

[oh please not another garden body this is supposed to be a happy place]

[What's wrong with the garden?]

[stagemanagers]

[Nothing is amiss in the kitchen or dining room! Have a nice breakfast, Angus and Tad Cooper!]

[heathencall]

[Okay. Good. Time to grab some pain killers and go bother Stephen then.

unless he's fucking dead you bastards]

[stagemanagers]

[For once, an incredibly solid choice! Everything is fine here! Get some tea!]

[stagemanagers]

[Here in the garden
Let's play a game
With all of these gem shards

Steven being the one to find these is incredibly helpful, both in understanding the scene and in narrowing this down to the only remaining conclusion - Spinel is dead.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

[Hooray for tea! Christine is going to make a couple extra cups and try to bug Jeremy and Riley. Because they should be up and at em!

But since Riley isn't in her room, Christine may try the doors also. Just to see if they're in their rooms.]

[garbageface]

[ Santana enters the laundry room, looking very tired and generally out of it. She’s got a lot of blood to wash out of her clothes. Thanks, Stephen!! ]

[stagemanagers]

[Ominous, but you're good! Nothing's wrong in here!]

[holyspit]

[Yeah, that's. Sure weird. Some random bits of. Rock. In the grass here.]

[Ha.]

Spinel-?

[Noooo no no no no, he can- this can be fixed, right? His powers aren't working on humans, but she's a Gem, this has to make a difference.]

[He is on his fucking knees trying to form these shards back into their full heart shape, this has to work.]

[stagemanagers]

[I mean that is not going to work for more than one reason, but MORE ON THAT LATER]

[isawallflower]

[ Riley's...forgoing her usual workout today. Not even worried when Stephen doesn't knock on her door. She wants to get some fresh air instead?

That was. Probably a bad idea. ]

Steven...? Steven, what's--

[ Then she sees the shattered gem. ]

...What?

[37773972]

[Well, the door's unlocked - enjoy the sight of a snoozing (but very much alive) Stephen!]

[holyspit]

[Yeah, Steven's fine. He's fine! He's just feverishly trying to assemble the world's worst 3D puzzle.]

I don't know! She was just- lying here, in- in pieces-!

[heathencall]

[Cool. He's not ready to unpack this suitcase yet so time to go check some other stuff out.

Maybe go prank someone in the chapel]

[holyspit]

[OMINOUS, THANKS]

[stagemanagers]

[There's a couple things off in the chapel, but no bodies, so let's revisit this later!]

[isawallflower]

In pieces? [ Her breath catches. ] Spinel?

[holyspit]

Yes! I can- maybe this time, she's a Gem-

[Yeah, tears are falling freely, over the as-reassembled-as-it's-gonna-get gemstone. Of course nothing happens, because that might actually be a good thing and we can't have that apparently.]

[recessives]

[ Shilo's gonna head to the library! Surely no one would do a murder in a library! ]