theairlock | First Investigation

[So much blood. Just...a lot, man.

There's stuff to look at all along Miki's right side - her shoulder, her thigh, and her stomach.]

[Oh Gods this really is a lot of blood, it really is. And they're not going to have time to shower after this, are they? Damn it. But okay, let's start with shoulder and work our way down. What's going on with Miki's body?]

[You've got a laceration on the shoulder, and a similar one on the thigh. They're long and ugly, but probably not fatal all on their own - it's the stomach wound that's the worst.]

[Alright - quick question about those lacerations. Is there any way to tell what kind of item might have made them? A blade, or a generally sharp object?

Once we've determined that, Lucina moves on to the stomach wound to take a closer look.]

[It was clearly something quite sharp, but it doesn't seem to have the kind of evenness you'd associate with a blade.

The stomach wound is similar, except that whatever it was went clean through Miki's body and (presumably) out the other side. Definitely a killing blow.]

[Lucina's brow furrows, and she shakes her head. Damn it all...so whatever killed Miki wasn't something typically used as a weapon, then. And she was left to bleed out like this...

Is there anything else about the body that looks strange? Defensive wounds, a dying expression, anything?]

[You got room for one more sad freckle, Lucie?

It's a stricken Prompto carrying a bloody knife who drifts into the library, looking like he might cry or faint or worse. But he won't... he can't accept that Miki's gone, not unless he sees her.

And he does see her from the doorway, and the sight of Miki slumped against the wall snuffs out that last little hopeful scrap of denial Prompto had. A whimper catches in his throat and he stumbles a couple steps forward before sinking to his knees in the middle of the floor.]

No...

[Oh-

Oh no

Miki, she's so sorry, but Lucina hears that sad, small sound and turns, and it's Prompto, and he's got a knife in his hand, and - and the wounds on Miki don't look like knife wounds, so...

Gently, she rests Miki back and gets up, crossing the room to Prompto and kneeling next to him.]

Prompto...

[She pauses, uncertain about what to do, how to help him - how to help anyone, because there is no helping this situation. Two girls are dead. Everything smells like blood. There's at least one killer in their midst and too many people who are hurting all at once.

But despite all that, Lucina leans gently forward, and wraps Prompto in a hug.]

We'll find out who did this. It's...it's going to be okay. I promise you. We will find Miki's killer.

[It's not her words that save him but the hug, the soft strength of her arms around him, and Prompto sucks in a breath and bursts into tears like a pinned balloon.]

Chitose's room... was all--there was blood on the floor, and some of the furniture was... And, and I didn't, I didn't know anything until they said--they said both of them were dead, Chitose and Miki, and I... she was just a kid--

[He holds onto Lucina with the arm that isn't holding the knife, burying his head in her shoulder.]

How could this happen when I was right there and didn't even know?

[Room 12 belongs to Miki Naoki. Room 14 to Chitose Karasuma.

And Room 13 is Prompto's.]

[She holds him firmly and gently, one of her hands reaching up and petting his head - like she'd do for Morgan when he was small and sad, letting him keep his head on her shoulder for however long he needed it there. Lucina swallows thickly.

It's so much. Too much. Too much at once.]

...It's not your fault. Prompto...I swear, it's not anyone's fault but the killer's. None of us could know what would happen...but we must be strong for them. We have to do what's right and find out what happened. For both their sakes.

[She squeezes him just a little tighter. Just a smidge.]

Hold on just a little longer - hold onto yourself. Everyone's...going to need you, when everything is done.

[There's something caught on the collar of her uniform! Careful while grabbing it, though - it's broken glass.]

[She'll gently take a piece and examine it - before going to Prompto and comforting him in his breakdown, of course. Is the glass a specific color or thickness that might tell us what it was originally part of? Is there any sort of residue on it? And - Lucina does a quick sweep of the floor around Miki - is there broken glass anywhere else in the library?]

[No residue! But it's clear glass, and some of the pieces are slightly curved.]

[Aiight, pocketing that shit, showing it to Penny, then comforting Soft Boy - unless there's anything else Lucina could find?]

[Well. That sure as hell was a body announcement. It takes Penny a minute- too long- to unfreeze from the cold disbelief that grips her, staring at the report on her PIP, same as when Chloe was executed. But once she does, she takes off at a sprint towards the library.]

No, no no no no no-

[She doesn't stop until she reaches the scene, halting abruptly. The abject horror on her face mitigated only slightly by the highly tacky dress that's replaced her usual clothes today. It's a moment or two before she can speak.]

Miki- no. Miss Lucina, who-

[And then, again, there's a spark of anger in her voice, just like at the motive announcement.]

Who did this.

...

[She's. Still looking over the body when Penny calls her name, but she stiffens somewhat at the anger in the younger girl's voice. The solid need to know who had done such a thing to an innocent girl.]

...I wish I knew. But...for Miki's sake...I want to find out.

That's- I'm going to-

[She ducks her head for a second, fists clenched onto handfuls of her dress.]

...What can I do. To help.

[The pain in Penny's posture is enough to strike Lucina right to her core. She's quiet for a moment, glancing down herself...this is too much. It really is too much to bear, and yet...]

...We need to look for clues. Any trace of something wrong or off about - about what's happened. There could be something anywhere...even the smallest thing could lead us to who killed Miki and Chitose. So, if...you think you can handle it, Penny, you should investigate. Will...you be alright, doing that?

...Yes.

[She sounds about ready to cry from anger, honestly.]

Do you need help with- ...here?

[If she were anyone else, Lucina would try to manage a smile. But as it is, all she can do is continue to look grim.]

I think so. Though, if...I could get a second opinion, that...would be good.

[She looks back to Miki.] Whatever made these wounds...it was sharp, but it was no weapon I'm familiar with. Do...you think you could see what it might be?

[Uh, she might have a very unfortunate idea, actually. Is there any chance the wounds might be shovel-shaped?]

[The lacerations are indeterminate, but I would be shocked if you could stab through someone's body with a shovel.]

[SHOVEL-KUN IS A STRONG BOY but okay, that's actually a weird kind of relief.]

[Anything she can glean about the wounds that Lucina hasn't, given her familiarity with ridiculous but advanced weaponry?]

(no subject)

airlockedmods - 2017-10-27 19:07 (UTC) - Expand

...I'm sorry, no. Just- something sharp, but uneven.

...Perhaps, like this?

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...Perhaps, like <a href="https://theairlock.dreamwidth.org/26506.html?thread=22232970#cmt22232970">this</a>?

<small[Here Penny would you like an evidence]</small>

Mods again

in4apounding - 2017-10-27 19:34 (UTC) - Expand