First Trial

[stagemanagers]

[Just as everyone is starting to finish their investigations, there's a slow ominous sound from the lobby.

The gilded doors on the northern wall have opened.

This time, the space behind them is lit; you're free to enter. There's 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 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 Jean Valjean's podium is different - that one is draped in black crepe, with a larger greyscale version of his headshot from the playbill framed and sitting at its foot like a funerary portrait. Standing where he might have stood, a bare lightbulb 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 Balladeer's voice suddenly sounds loud and clear throughout the space.]

Okay, guys, here's how we do trial. I've...never actually been involved in something like this before, but you can do it. Just take all the time you need to talk it out - I'll be right here the whole time. You don't need a unanimous vote, we go by majority rule.

Oh, and don't mess with those buttons until you're really ready to vote. You won't be able to take it back.

...good luck.

Comments

[trettende]

[ Hans has been mostly quiet, murder is serious business and hardly the time for smiles. They could be issuing someone's death here, he watches his words. It won't do to issue undue suspicion anywhere. ]

Perhaps the body was moved? Or is it possible the murderer injured themselves?

[catliketread]

It was a large amount of blood, so that does seem likely. I would assume the body was moved if only because it would take entirely too much effort to move the blood and smear it around in there to make it look like a fight took place in there. I can't see a reason for doing that in the first place, anyway.

[So yeah, probably a moved body and an injured murderer.]

[trettende]

So then the question is perhaps, why would they move the body? Especially if they were injured, you would think they would leave it and tend to their wounds.

[ Suspicious indeed. ]

[catliketread]

I've no idea. It's not as though we wouldn't find the body anyway, so what was the point in moving him to the hall?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

Maybe... They tried to get get him somewhere else? They had, ah...another plan, but had to abandon it.

[catliketread]

Actually, maybe Seymour's got it. If they used that blanket to try to move him, that'd explain why they had to wash it, right? Still doesn't explain where they were going to take him or why they just left him in the hallway, but it's an idea.

[irreprochable]

Perhaps they heard someone coming and had to run.

[catliketread]

That's possible. They had time to clean the blanket though... Hmm. I'm not sure how to put this all together.

[does he look like a detective??? no. he is a pirate. the pirate king.]

[irreprochable]

[the pirate king surely knows how to commit crimes]

So they left the body, took the blanket to the laundry room, threw it in one of this strange machines and left.

[javert has no idea how long laundry machines take to work maybe its instantaneous.]

[catliketread]

Oh, that's probably it!

[those machines are magic, that's exactly how they work!!]

Still doesn't get us any closer to determining the identity of the murderer, though.

[irreprochable]

Well, it's someone who knows how to use those things.

[the machines being magic is definitely getting them off in the wrong direction but...at least this part is vaguely logical]

[catliketread]

How many of us is that? I thought most of us didn't know what they were and assumed they were machines of death.

[at least there wasn't a body in the washing machine!!]

[irreprochable]

I don't know. But Hime might have a point about the "dryers"? If they had just used water in the first place and put it away, then it would have taken a lot more time, like you suggested.

[solomonjihad]

There is still the possibility you and the prince mentioned - that whoever is the murderer injured themselves in the act.

[catliketread]

Then if they injured themselves they should still be bleeding! We can check everyone over to see if anyone is sporting fresh injuries!

[YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, EVERYONE STRIP]

[trettende]

Assuming they injured themselves, they must be used to dealing with a fair bit of pain, to do all that while dripping blood. They were determined.

[dontfeedplants]

But they still have time to wash and fold away the blanket. If they heard someone coming wouldn't they have just run back to their room?

[lifegoalsorwifegoals]

A-ah... Yes, that would make sense... [She considers.] So... They would have to be at least strong enough to...move ah... Valjean-san's body, yes?

[catliketread]

With the help of a blanket, yes, but that does narrow it down a bit.

[bodies are heavy, so!!!]

[trettende]

But they needed the blanket because they couldn't carry him themselves. So it's not someone particularly strong, either.

[irreprochable]

Not necessarily. If they had been injured, as suggested, that may have been the only way to handle it.

[catliketread]

Right - we can probably rule out the weakest members of our group, at least.

[don't worry tiny girls, you are probably safe]

[trettende]

Inspector Javert may be right. They could have been compensating for their injury.

[sunshineprincess]

[Rude. Anna is pretty strong!]

[solomonjihad]

The murder was a recent one, in relation to our waking up, if what has been found adds up.

It is possible.