itscurtains | First Trial

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First Trial

[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.

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[The noise is enough to add even more anxiety into Anna's life. This is all too elaborate. Too pre-planned. Seeing Valjean's podium so close to her own is enough to start bringing tears to her eyes. The only solace at the moment is the fact that she has two people she really likes beside her.

Once everyone is in she takes a moment to let people settle down. Hopefully her sister would be proud of her as she decides to take center stage.]

As everyone here knows already, we're here to figure out who murdered Jean Valjean, also know as 'The Breadwinner'. Which I am highly disappointed in whoever did it! [Anyways.] He was a kind old man in the same situation as everyone else here. So... Whoever has evidence they found should speak up first and we can all discuss it. I found something myself, though I don't know what it is. I can pass it around when everyone's had a turn, alright?

[Seymour is one of the last people to make it to the lobby since he was really not looking forward to looking at Jean Valjean's body again. And when he does finally leave, it takes a lot of effort to move to the lobby without passing out at the body.

He is definitely very visibly shaken up over all of this, and he barely manages to get his word out once he does speak up.

Um... so while we were in the storage room, Hime and I found this. [Pulls out the straight razor.] We... we were thinking someone might have been... stabbed by this.

[Billy is pale, and shaking, his normal hoodie zipped up and pulled tight around him. He's a few minutes behind everyone else, fitting because as soon as he heard the Balladeer's announcement he... hadn't left his room. It was cowardly, but... somebody was dead. And not even one of the douchey somebodies, but the old man who'd been nothing but patient and kind.

But he comes eventually, and he finds his podium, and he just. Stands there. Trains his eyes on the podium in front of him, studying (without touching - don't mess with the buttons, the Balladeer had said, and so far for somebody holding them hostage the Balladeer hadn't ever lied to them) the apparatus in front of him. He's physically standing there, but he doesn't look like he's there, mentally.]

Um! [Hime raises her hand.] Kre-- Mr. Krelborn was talking about when we found that old-timey thing from before they invented razors that don't stab you. We know they must have used the storage closet for something other than hiding their blanket and weapon.

Some things were moved around. All the cleaning products and WD-40 were just dumped back on the floor after someone used them, and that ugly arm thing was gone.

[Oh! Oh! Anna carefully takes her piece of evidence out. She holds it up like a trophy on the tip of her finger.]

I found this tiny little opera glass lens by the puddle of blood. I think it's plastic.

[SOMEONE INFORM HER OF CONTACT LENSES PLEASE]

[After some time, Astarte looks around. What fools. Bickering and bickering. Is it any wonder she took control? Who would want a slobbering, crying child among the cacophony already present?

Finally, she speaks, her hand again...swishing the nonexistent cape. Before bringing a hand down.]

NOW.

Objections and take thats
We can do this all night,
But one of us killed this morning
With something to show
From their fight.

One of us has likely been injured, based on the evidence. If I must I will check females when we have stripped. Who will check the males?

Edited 2016-10-22 19:36 (UTC)

[With D-ne's help Eliza is dressed again and wound-free so she's stepping up to her podium (and shielding her eyes in case the menfolk are still getting dressed) so it's time for a Come to Jesus meeting.]

If everyone is clothed again, I feel we need to get back to the evidence. Is anyone on the men's side of the courtroom injured?

I believe we could use a moment to try and refocus on what we do know. With the news of what might happen if we don't get this right - and I have little reason to believe this man isn't serious - we need to make sure we do our best to adequately solve this case. If I have any information incorrect, please correct it so that the group may have a better understanding.

Sometime early this morning, a few hours before we found him, Jean Valjean was murdered with a straight razor. The stabbings were poorly done, with several wounds in the face and the chest. The two most significant were on his neck and right hand. The wound on his right hand was the cause of considerable blood loss, while the one on his neck wasn't fatal. This suggests one of three things: the killer either is not accustomed to killed, panicked, or was injured.

Further evidence suggests that the killer was most likely injured. One needs to consider the trail of blood and the nature of it. According to the report from the Pirate King, there were essentially two trails of blood. The larger one looks like it was smeared across the floor. There is a pool of blood next to Valjean's candlesticks, which were in the Dining Room a smaller trail leads to the Lobby.

The working theory seems to be that the killer needed the use of a blanket to move the body. This does not necessarily indicate that the culprit was weak, but strengthens the suspicion that he was injured in the process. Valjean's body was dragged to the hall.

The next parts of what we know are all guesses, but I would like to encourage everyone to begin to form thei own ideas. Sharing them - and speaking them aloud - can aid the process of figuring things out. Even if you say something that doesn't make sense in the end, your thought process can be vital to helping everyone out. In order to open discussion, I will go first. My theory is this:

The killer approached Valjean at his shrine, and engaged in a fight. Here he was injured and lost a contact, indicating that the killer is probably from a "modern" date, Billy indicates sometime after 1950. The killer was not ready for the fight that ensued and lashed out, vision impaired and injured. The killer then decided to move the body. My guess is that they wanted to get to the kitchen, either to frame someone or use some of the kitchen's stock to dispose of the body. The kitchen was locked, and, interestingly, I was earlier told that the murderer would not have been given help, had he sought it to open up the kitchen.

My supposition is that the killer left Valjean in the hallway once he found the Kitchen was locked and headed to the Lobby, to speak with the showrunner in the box office. He was denied the ability to get into the kitchen.

The killer than changed tactics and decided to clean the weapon. He cleaned the blanket in the process without using a dryer and returned the blanket and the razor to the storage closet. There was still blood on the sink.

As Hime suggested, the storage room was used for more than just hiding the weapons. Some cleaning supplies and what can only be referred to as "the arm thing" -- forgive my lack of a technical term - were moved. The arm thing had been hidden earlier by Monsieur de Chagny and Hime earlier in the week and was later found in the laundry room along with a police uniform, both covered in blood.

I know you have no reason to trust my word on the uniform, but I imagine the idea was to frame myself and de Chagny by placing items we had connection to in the laundry room, although I realize I am reaching with the arm thing. Any and all viable theories about it are of course welcome.

In terms of the culprit we know their motive was being granted a wish, that they are modern enough to have a contact and are most likely injured, although some discussion has come up about the possibility of magic healing them. [fucking incredible.] As soon as we have results from the injury search and the vision search, we should compare those results as soon as possible.

Our showrunner has said some other interesting things today as well. He refused to answer why Valjean was out at the time of morning, although our best guess, considering Valjean was at his alter, was that he was praying. Anna suggested maybe he was doing so with someone he trusted, although I would wager Valjean would welcome anyone to God with him. Secondly, he earlier mentioned that "someone had already gotten that part," when it came to not needing his help.

If I have forgotten anything, I am listening. I am also particularly interested in thoughts about "the arm thing," and if anyone saw Valjean prior, or saw someone attempting to speak with the Showrunner early this morning.

[In the midst of the shock and accusations, D-ne trembles. She stops looking at everyone, especially Hime and Natalie, her shoulders curl, and then-

Then she looks straight up at all of them, pops her one contact back in, and speaks.]

You think this proves it? You think... I'll tell you why... Why I wouldn't have...!

[A gentle melody starts...]

It's said a long, long time ago, there was a Pandora's Box known as the Monkey's Paw.

[-that quickly devolves into anything but.]

"If you have wishes deep inside you, I'll grant you five and fulfill your great desires, understand?"
That's a rumor that's been circling around, "The Monkey's Paw," that is this urban legend.

"Tell me the dreams you hold dear and I'll grant them, everything, no matter what, make a wish okay?"
To say I've craved nothing wouldn't be the truth, so the monkey took its aim at me and readied up its shot.

"Should I say yes, grant my yearnings?" That's what I had wondered.
Just a temptation, a small consideration,
But the clown who ran this game then grinned.

I became the monkey who imitated, to become the person I so dreamed.
All the wants, all the hopes, that resounded inside me, a once in a lifetime special chance!

If I had such a power, then why would this be the path that I take inside this place?
Tell me why, you can try, to pin this crime on me, but this unhappy object seals my one true alibi!

[MACHINE GUN SONG BATTLE, START!]

[The Balladeer has been largely silent since suspicion turned on D-ne, but now he clears his throat from somewhere.]

I guess we've heard about enough of that. Might as well start with the votes. Remember, majority rules.

[As the final votes come in, the house lights drop suddenly. The only illumination comes from the small bulbs along the aisles, and of course the dim lamp standing in Valjean’s place.

There's a swish as the curtain above draws itself open.

When the stage lights come up, D-ne is somehow already up there, standing center-stage. The Balladeer's there too, watching her from the side, hands empty; this won't require his instrumentation. He paces towards D-ne with long deliberate strides as the music begins, his eyes and voice chilly. With each step he makes, she takes an equal one back.]

Here we go
Welcome to
The story of
the girl named D
Quiet thing
So much alone
Day by day,
I'm fading away

[When it’s clear the Balladeer isn’t going to hurt her, D-ne visibly relaxes and turns away from him, a desperate longing in her voice as she sings.]

We get along just fine
I say what I think you like to hear
It's funny how much I
Would like to become like a mirror

Can you remember
Who you are?
Do you even know?
When you’re alone...

[This, at last, gets D-ne to strike back. She spins around to face the Balladeer, defiant.]

I’LL BECOME WHAT SHE’D LIKE
THAT MEANS SHE WILL WANT ME,
RIGHT!?
NOBODIES HAVE TO GO
THAT IS HOW THE WORLD WORKS, YOU KNOW

COPY THAT, COPYCAT
COPY THAT, COPYCAT

[The Balladeer scoffs and folds his arms, stepping aside as there’s movement from the wings. First one puppet circles out from each side of the stage, then two, then there’s six. They’re made of carved wood and dressed in the same style of school uniform D-ne wears, and all have identical short-cut wigs and painted expressions. Their means of motion isn’t obvious; they don’t look like they should be able to dance about as they are.

Mistaking the first puppet’s silhouette for someone else, disbelief crosses D-ne’s face, then relief, then elation. She mouths something. Briskly, she starts to cross the stage to it, only for the second to emerge. The smile freezes on her face and quickly turns to fear as she realizes they’re on either side of her. She backs away from them, but if any get close, she reaches out, unable to help herself. Each time, they dance away, leaving her empty-handed.

The Balladeer stalks around the edges of the dance, circling them before moving towards the edge of the stage.]

Change your hair
Get new shoes
Wear contacts to
Hide your own blue
Do you think
Anyone could
Love someone
Who's barely even real?

Is this what you call love?
Making her a thing you can consume
You took a life for this?
Kinda like you took hers too

[D-ne, who’s trying once more to touch one of the puppets, freezes. She slowly looks to the Balladeer, as if he’s struck her, and shakes her head in horror. Each word she sings sounds more despondent than the last.]

I can't remember...
Who I am
Everything's a blur...
I am alone...

I'VE BECOME WHAT THEY’D LIKE
SOMEONE HAS TO WANT ME,
RIGHT?!
NOBODIES HAVE TO GO
THAT IS HOW THE WORLD WORKS, YOU KNOW…?

COPY THAT, COPYCAT
COPY THAT, COPYCAT
COPY THAT, COPYCAT
COPY THAT, COPYCAT

[Trembling, D-ne sinks to her knees and touches the red ribbon in her hair. The puppets begin to dance toward her, and somehow their movements appear menacing.]

I can't remember
what I’ve done
everything's a blur
did I kill her…?

[For the first time, D-ne peers out into the orchestra pit, at the other “cast members.” As she reaches her final line, though it’s incredibly pained, she does what she does best: she smiles.]

“I'll become what you like”
this is what I wanted...right?
I guess I have to go
Good luck with the rest of the show

[The music stops dead.

Instead, a softer tune begins, and the puppets part as another figure steps out onto stage. Their costume is much more familiar; it is, after all, the clothes Jean Valjean wore when he arrived. The figure resembles him exactly in size, shape, and even gait...but there’s strange vague shadows where its body ought to be, just like the hands from within the merchandise booth.

Still, it pauses as if uncertain, and then starts to slowly approach D-ne, its right hand outstretched as if to help her to her feet. D-ne looks up at it in disbelief. She should recoil, but instead something compels her to reach a trembling hand back, like she should have done just this morning.

Downstage, unnoticed, the Balladeer turns his back to the scene to stare hard at the lip of the stage.

The dark figure draws closer and stops, nearly touching D-ne’s fingers with its own. Instead, like the strike of a snake, it lashes out, a silver razor flashing in its other hand. The music screeches to a discordant halt as it lunges forward, pinning her down and driving the blade into her face and chest, again and again.

Finally, it’s quiet. The shadow-Valjean rises and slowly flicks the razor shut, the click echoing over the stage. There's no visible features to its face, but for a moment it seems to scan the audience. Then, it steps deliberately over her body, through the blood pooling beneath her still form, and proceeds offstage. The Balladeer never turns around to look. Still, he doesn’t speak until it’s out of sight, and when he does his tone seems carefully controlled.]

You should all get out of here now.

[And then the stage lights go out too, and the curtain swishes shut.]

Edited 2016-10-23 06:33 (UTC)

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