1st victim

[stagemanagers]

[The performers have been in the opera house for nearly two weeks now. Overall, despite the captivity, the experience has been a mellow one even with the introduction of the motive. Peaceful almost.

It's 7 am Friday morning. As everyone starts to putter out of their dressing rooms and begin the day, something feels different. A certain heaviness in the air, a sense of dread...oh, and then there's the metallic smell of blood coming from the hallway.

Investigate?]

Comments

[stagemanagers]

[Not immediately unusual, no. Where would he like to start looking more closely?]

[dechagny]

[Maybe one of these couches because he might need to have a sit-down if he can't get his legs to strengthen up again. Do we have couch clues?]

[stagemanagers]

[We do not, but go ahead and take a breather if you need to, Raoul. Maybe over where you had that heart-to-heart with Valjean earlier in the week. That would be fun.]

[dechagny]

[That's exactly where he goes. Funny, how he remembers the exact spot...the man's story, its sadness, its pain. And now he is gone.

He's taking about two minutes to compose himself before he's got his strength back, pushing down his shock and sorrow. Alright - alright, he. He can do this. There's a killer amongst the group. One of the ladies might be hurt next.

Is there anything of note on the walls?]

[stagemanagers]

[I was right, that was fun. Great show, everyone.

Nothing on the walls, nope!]

[dechagny]

[The floor then - anything near the entrance to the hallway on the floor? Blood, dropped items, signs of a struggle?]

[stagemanagers]

[The carpet in here is red, making it hard to distinguish color. But there is a trail of dark droplets across the middle of the floor.]

[dechagny]

[Once he's offered D-ne some comfort and urged her to come look at this, Raoul is here, kneeling down by the droplets. Is there any way to tell the direction they come from or lead to?]

[stagemanagers]

[The blood's soaked into the carpet, and it's a little difficult to gauge what direction the droplets fell in.

Regardless, the trail certainly stretches from the entrance to one wing all the way to the other]

[dechagny]

[So there's a trail from the west to the east...could that mean there is something in the east hallway? Since the body's west, it makes sense to check the east, even if there's nothing there, but maybe...

Raoul's keeping a sharp eye out as he goes to the entrance of the east hallway. Anything else to find along the way?]

[stagemanagers]

[Nope. As it happens, the trail seems to be the only thing of note in the lobby. Good job, Raoul, you did it.]

[dechagny]

[Thank goodness he was useful! Now to help the folks in the hallway.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

A tr-trail... A trail of blood.

[Well D-ne is just going to sit in the nearest chair, looking grim.]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[You have a little investigation company, Raoul! ...Though she's probably not going to be much help, Valjean's death has hit D-ne hard, given the tear-stains on her face.]

Raoul-...san... H- have you found anything...?

[dechagny]

[The fact that so many ladies must bear witness to and investigate such a gruesome murder weighs as heavily on Raoul's mind as Valjean's death itself. And D-ne is a sweet girl, almost like a little sister, that his heart hurts when he hears her question.]

No...nothing yet. I...am not even sure where to begin to look, or if there is anything here to find...

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[She tries to smile. It's very strained.]

I'm afraid... I probably won't b-be of much help. I didn't think--

[She breaks off and wipes her eyes with the back of her sleeve.]

[dechagny]

[He approaches slowly, putting an arm on her shoulder, and...drawing her close for a hug. A comforting one, like one a big brother would give to a younger sibling.]

Neither did I. And...especially not to Monsieur Valjean.

[And then he catches sight of this and pulls away, eyes narrowing, before he moves to go towards it.]

Miss D-ne, there is something...

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Well, that's. D-ne is stiff, as if she's not used to such a gesture, but manages to almost return it, sort of. One arm up at Raoul's mid-back. Her hand's trembling.

When he pulls away, she blinks, a little confused, and trails behind.]

Ah...? Oh, is that...?

[dechagny]

We should check it. Unless you would rather sit, in which case I will check it.

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

I think... I will be best here.

[dechagny]

[He'll nod, and offer a reassuring smile. It's not as brilliant as it should be, but it is full of honest sentiment.] It will be alright, Miss D-ne. We will find out what has happened and apprehend the murderer - and then we will not have to worry anymore.

[Raoul........]

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

[Whether she believes him or not, she responds:]

...Yes... Yes, that's just what will happen.