The Lady of Justice - Chapter 1 Trial Start

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “Huh. Coulda sworn I did hear… eh. Probably not.”

Abel turns to him like an awoken sleeper agent. What did you say Jack? What was that?

“Did you Hear something Jack?” He’s looking at him So intensely. If Jack heard something and didn’t think it was important to mention he swears to GOD-

Dexter Blanche “We didn’t hear the gunshot, yes? And its a small island, but there is one place where nobody would be able to hear you, and thats Inside one of these VHS Tape scenes itself. I wonder what would happen if one were to take a weapon inside one and injure another… Alas, we didn’t have time to experiment, but the thought did pass through my head.”

“That would probably work- we can interact with each other in the tapes so I don’t see why injuring each other would be some sort of limit. Not if this is supposed to be a murder game.” He’s still looking at Jack, though.

“That point doesn’t matter if someone heard something, though.” Then he squints.

“You know, Creature kindly brought our group two tapes to watch. I wonder if that’s important. One of them was Atsuko’s- but the other…” He trails off.

Is now the time for this game you’re playing, Abel?

“The other had no label- But wasn’t in the box of tapes Dexter and I were sorting, before or after discovering the body.” He’s still looking at Jack.

“You know- If we’re going to point out Melvin not watching his tape- Jack? Did you ever get around to watching yours?”

Abel. Please. NOT THE TIME. I mean yeah these questions might be relevant but you alREADY ADMITTED YOU DON’T EVEN THINK IT’S JACK.

R.N.A.

Dexter Blanche “We didn’t hear the gunshot, yes? And its a small island, but there is one place where nobody would be able to hear you, and that’s Inside one of these VHS Tape scenes itself."

Abel Lazarus “We can interact with each other in the tapes, so I don’t see why injuring each other would be some sort of limit. Not if this is supposed to be a murder game.”

“It is a fact that a… bullet was fired. After all, a bullet was found… lodged in the space heater.” R.N.A. explained. “Whether people… heard the shot or not… does not matter.” R.N.A. pauses for a moment. “But it… is likely that it was… inside of a VHS tape. Specifically… Atsuko’s. I found her tape… inside the TreeVee near… her body. I believe she… was watching it before she died.”

“Even she… wanted to move on without bloodshed.” They add. They wanted the culprit to really understand this.

Narrator “We’ll give ya a real answer, anyway. No bullets from us are involved in this murder. How’s that?”

Viper “…I also think ’Suko might have been shot."

Taran “A thief would have had to steal from both of us, and in my case would need to have pulled it out of my front pocket.”

“Is there… any point in continuing this discussion? It is clear… who the culprit is.” R.N.A. seemed fairly sure of their logic at this point.

“Taran… You never lost the bullet… did you? It is like you said… it was kept in a spot where… stealing it would be difficult. You had it… and used it… to shoot Atsuko whilst… inside of her tape.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Dexter was once again getting Points with Jack, whatever those could possibly be worth.

Dexter Blanche Has anyone seen anything that looked almost like… small burn marks? Or black pocks, on anyone or anything?”

Haruka Yukimura if someone did have residue on their hands, that would certainly be a bit suspicious… It’s not too hard to clean it off, but for the sake of thoroughness-”

“Yeah, be pretty stupid if the killer didn’t try an’ wash it off of ‘em, I guess. But didn’t the footprints go to the water, too?”

Abel Lazarus “Did you Hear something Jack?”

“What, just now? Not ‘n particular.” If you’re gonna glare at him like that, then he’s gonna be an imp about it.

He just stared right back at Abel through the tape talk. Well how about that.

Abel Lazarus Jack? Did you ever get around to watching yours?”

“Yeah… Musta been a day or so now? More or less? All kinda blends together, you know how it is. ‘R maybe not—you haven’t been here that long yet, have ya?”

“But yeah, ‘s been watched. Launched it into the ocean after. ‘Bout enough of that, y’know?”

Viper “…When you vanished. You went into a tape, didn’t you? That’s why it’s a ‘trade secret’. ’Cause you didn’t know you were in a tape… Would also explain how you might have heard a shot but nobody else did!”

“Oh, so you ask me to be your thievery mentor, but ya don’t even think I can shake a tail without some magic train crap, huh? Think I know what I’m doing or not, Snakebite? And I’m pretty sure ‘d notice if…”

“…..” If what? He was suddenly seeing a completely different nightmare scenario? And knew it was a tape thing and not reality or literal nightmares or anything else that he regularly…

“…Okay, I, uh. You got me there. But I didn’t hear a shot, anyway. ‘S more just a sudden…” He trailed off, squinting. What had it been, really?

“But be careful tryin’ to doubt my alibi. ‘F mine’s no good, then neither’s yours.”

“Not that anyone’s gonna blame you when I’m right here, but. Just saying.”

Taran

R.N.A. “Taran… You never lost the bullet… did you? It is like you said… it was kept in a spot where… stealing it would be difficult. You had it… and used it… to shoot Atsuko whilst… inside of her tape.”

The accusation from R.N.A. lights up some combative instinct in Taran.

“Haha! I like your thought process, but no. If me and Fenna didn’t lose our respective stuff I would know where to get the gun at least, but that doesn’t put me at the scene and I didn’t have any motive to kill Atsuko. Especially not a tape-related motive.”

“I snuck into the hut and fast-forwarded mine to the end, and afterwards I called in Comedy to let me watch it. It worked as well as I thought, didn’t relive anything too awful.” Taran shifts to break his gaze at R.N.A. as he says that. “ Melvin walked in on me and I did the same to his. And that’s why I wanted to see the splicer, actually. Our tapes- mine and Melvin’s anyway- were both pretty shoddily cut. If that thing does it better, somebody could have done a second pass or something.”

Roadie 🪶Jack “Guess these aren’t ‘xactly standard, though? Sure missin’ all the… halfway decent memories.”

“If they’re a recurring thing out here, it sounds like Neko’s trainjacking tendencies are probably at work, but someone else could have been involved here.” Heh, Train-Jack.

“You’re not in the clear with me either, R.N.A., but I’m not interested in hurling murder accusations at you quite yet.”

“Arty’s bullet doesn’t seem different from what I had, though… I had a doubt, but I guess it probably was fired from the gacha-gun. Damn, when could it have been stolen?”

Fenna Van Daalen “When did that happen…? Anyone got a band-aid?”

“Could Haruka or someone take a look at the cut? We had some broken glass in the sand where Comedy was killed…” And maybe Fenna did it. He couldn’t quite say that part out loud.

Viper

Grumbling with the considerable deflection of her point about the gun and a homemade silencer, Viper seems dejected. Just for a moment or two. Wow? She’s not the smartest one in the room for once? Blasphemy! …Not that she’s really proved she’s anything but a resident girl fail, but… beside the point!

“…I’d have to disagree on the point on ’Suko’s tape being the one she watched before she died, though… I think it’s much more likely she just…. kinda left it in there after watchin’ it earlier. I think… ’s much more likely it happened in that unlabelled tape.”

She clearly had some thoughts about that in itself, as she spun…slowly on her chair to look over at Mr. Soggy, Jack.

“…When you vanished. You went into a tape, didn’t you? That’s why it’s a ‘trade secret’. ’Cause you didn’t know you were in a tape… Would also explain how you might have heard a shot but nobody else did!” Viper knows Jack might not be the most cooperative about this. So, she next addresses Haruka.

“And you- Haruka- What do you mean when you said you recognised the gun?” Since Haruka said it that had nagged at the back of her mind- “Purely in a sense of…. seein’ Fenna and Taran handlin’ it or… have ya seen it before? Sorta in the sense of those… gacha items bein’ related to us?”

“Look… I dunno what ’Suko was stabbed with, but it’s clear to me she was stabbed with somethin’ at some point in time. It’s kinda obvious now that it ain’t some kinda blade.”

Now she had ample time to mull over RNA’s accusations, also, she blinked a few times…

“…Taran? I dunno… he would’a had ta be pretty lucky ta find the gun in the shipwreck. Or…ta steal it from Fenna.” Viper scowled, “I dunno. I ain’t too convinced right now. Gonna need some more…evidence.”

“‘s there anythin’ either group ain’t talked ’bout yet?”

Haruka Yukimura

Dexter Blanche when someone is shot point blank, but its certainly possible that the residue could have gotten on someone’s gloves or hands, certainly!”

“It’s not a guarantee, but if someone did have residue on their hands, that would certainly be a bit suspicious… It’s not too hard to clean it off, but for the sake of thoroughness-” She held up her hands, which had no markings on aside from her vitiligo. “Mine are clean.”

Viper Haruka- What do you mean when you said you recognised the gun?

“…I’ve seen it before. A long while ago. It wasn’t the… highest-quality weapon, but it was - is? - enough to kill. It’s a gun, after all…”

She paused for a moment, trying to think of what might be helpful to bring up.

"So… ah, are we treating these deaths as related, or do we think they were coincidential? I can certainly say how I think Comedy may have met their unfortunate end… It seems they were struck by a rock, and then somehow or another ended up in the water - where I think they drowned. Perhaps they were unconscious after being hit?

“…But I don’t have much to say in regards to Atsuko. Sorry.”

And she completely avoided casting suspicion onto anyone. Partially because she really wasn’t too sure, herself.

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent has once again been content to listen to everyone talking, he wasn’t sure what to say. Mainly because he had no idea what the heck happened overall.

Arty spoke, as she shows the bullet and the space heater… Oh god, is that blood? Vinzent made an effort to not show any expression change, especially to try to pretend he wasn’t getting a little pale, but that was… Bleh, so there was more blood involved. Fun. ANYWAY, this isn’t the time to act weak, he had to listen to Arty. Because… While her conclusion was at least the same, her points were valid. It’s good to have more context. Then…

The bullet got stolen? Yeah, he too would’ve thought Jack would be the thief, if only because he has a tendency to steal. … Anyway, the noise discussion… Right.

Viper talks, she brings good points too… Then Abel corrects her. And Neko Neko speaks. How the hell did the shot happen?

He leaned back as Arty went to hand the item to Taran, before crossing his arms in thoughts. Haruka spoke, then Jack, then Dexter.

How do some people just know things like that? On one hand, he’s grateful for their knowledge, on the other, hello?

He listened to Abel talking. … Oh yeah, he has forgotten about that, Vinzent has watched three tapes, and the idea of interacting with each other still escaped his mind, somehow. Trauma Memories Time, baby! THIS IS NOT THE TIME NOW.

Has Jack ever watched his own tape? Vinzent didn’t know but he was curious. If he could have the dexterity to take it and watch it himself before Jack could, it would have been a nice small revenge for the wanderer’s idea of blackmailing Vinzent about the tape.

… Once again, it has been several days ago and Vinzent’s tape is as good as broken. Not the time to hold an unnecessary grudge about that. (But he’s still salty.)

Then… R.N.A. spoke. Okay, first, yes, Taran having no one to back him up on his alibi might not help, but Vinzent is… Surprised that Taran would be accused. He didn’t seem like the type to go and do that?

Oh. There we go. Vinzent might not have been present with that group, but as if he’d not listen to what Viper was saying. The brown scrap that keep nagging him… He muttered to himself, only loud enough for his immediate neighbors to hear.

“Could the brown scrap be from part of a glove…?”

While he hasn’t made a direct accusation, it was pretty clear to him that he now made a possible connection. Actually… That might make more sense? But how was he to get a visual confirmation from where he was sitting? As if he’d proudly make an accusation in front of people, but maybe him talking with his neighbors hearing him, might… Help push the idea forward? Vinzent was more afraid of getting consequences for daring to speak up. If only he was less fussy about self preservation than anything else.

Viper

Haruka Yukimura "So… ah, are we treating these deaths as related, or do we think they were coincidential? I can certainly say how I think Comedy may have met their unfortunate end… It seems they were struck by a rock, and then somehow or another ended up in the water - where I think they drowned. Perhaps they were unconscious after being hit?

“Hm. Kinda feels plausible enough. That’s probably partially why Nekoneko specified only one of the deaths mattered.” Viper agreed, frowning almost pensively. Nekoneko was such a crafty cat, it wouldn’t surprise her if their words could be taken so literally only when convenient.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Yeah, be pretty stupid if the killer didn’t try an’ wash it off of ‘em, I guess. But didn’t the footprints go to the water, too?”

“Yeah. Kinda bigger than my feet by a lot. They looked a lil’ weird too…” Viper tilts her head, “…Almost kinda like they were stepped in more than once.”

But Jack addressing her commentary on his alibi has her puffing up like a p-ssed off snake.

Roadie 🪶Jack “But be careful tryin’ to doubt my alibi. ‘F mine’s no good, then neither’s yours.”

“I never said your testimony was bogus, dipsh-t! F-ckin’ listen ta what I say.” Viper snaps, and for a moment she looks like she’s about to fly from her chair and launch at Jack, but luckily- or perhaps unluckily, for him, her butt stays firmly parked on the chair. Perhaps it was the realisation she’d have to bolt over Abel, RNA and Haruka just to swing for him.

“Doesn’t f-ckin’ matter if people are gonna blame me or not.” She huffs, grumbling as she folds her arms.

After a long pause, Viper finally speaks up again.

“I kinda… have a theory. This kinda… banks on my long-standin’ theory about someone here.”

Huh?

“…RNA. I like, am so convinced you’re not actually a robot that i think it’s actually kinda relevant. Can…can ya humour me. Lemme see the bottom of ya feet.” Viper has…thoughts. It’s probably nothing, but she can’t not chase up this lead to avenge beloved Atsuko.

“Like, it just ain’t fair for murdercat to put a robot on the same train as us humans who can die. But, if ya really are a robot, ya ain’t really gonna die are ya? Ya can just be… uploaded. An’ built a new body.”

Viper leans forward, glancing around Abel.

“Humour me. Prove to me you’re a robot. Beyond any doubt.”

R.N.A.

Viper “…RNA. I like, am so convinced you’re not actually a robot that i think it’s actually kinda relevant. Can…can ya humour me. Lemme see the bottom of ya feet.”

The oddity of this request aside, R.N.A. feels obliged to attempt and prove their innocence as much as they can. They lift a single foot up, angling so Viper has a clear view of the bottom. “They… are both identical.”

The bottom of the foot is decently sized and rectangular in nature. It’s very likely that any footprints made by it would be extremely recognizable as being from R.N.A. in this case.

“Besides this, there is… a lot of evidence… proving my innocence.” R.N.A. needed to clear this up quickly, so people could turn to different suspects.

"1. I was with Matsukaze… when the fire erupted. If the bullet… hitting the space heater… caused the fire… then I could not have fired that bullet without… Matsukaze noticing.

2. I have already watched my tape. I had… no reason to kill.

3. I could not have stolen… anything. I am not stealthy. Nor has anyone… admitted to giving me something. So I could not… get my hands on the gun or bullet.

4. Just because I am a robot… does not mean I… am not destructible."

Now that this was cleared up…

Narrator “I MAY ONLY RULE ON CASES OFFICIALLY PRESENTED TO THE COURT. BUT SOLVING ONE MAY HELP SOLVE THE OTHER…”

“I believe this too. Comedy was not attacked… for no reason. The culprit may have… wanted to use something in secret. The… tape splicer, in specific.”

There had been something small, yet odd that they had made a note of. Now felt like a good time to bring it up.

Fenna Van Daalen “I think the sunset was behind me when I started the tape, so… east coast, right? I just thought I’d get the damn thing over with, didn’t think it’d take so long…"

“Miss Fenna… I believe your tape was spliced. That’s why it was taking so long to finish. Someone tampered with it.”

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “I never said your testimony was bogus, dipsh-t!

“Y’… said I was at your crime scene… at the time of th’ murder? How’s that not doubtin’ my… Whatever.” Fine, hate him, not like you’re the first. Tch.

And people going on, this and that and the other thing. Jack’s head was still pounding, and a swig from his water bottle didn’t come close to fixing it. He’d probably have to pass out a while within the next day or two. Ugh. Not gonna think about it.

R.N.A. I believe your tape was spliced. That’s why it was taking so long to finish. Someone tampered with it.”

He wasn’t gonna mention he still had no idea what splicing was. Wouldn’t affect his point, anyway, would it?

He sighed. “What, this everybody’s first time with these things? High enough risk a’ getting trapped in ’em normally that you’re not even s’posed to try and watch your own. Not usually, at least.”

“Guess these aren’t ‘xactly standard, though? Sure missin’ all the… halfway decent memories.”

Or maybe that was just his.

Viper “Measurin’ feet.

“Well! Oughta be easy.”

Jack wriggled his toes a little, feet very much in plain sight despite the whole court of law murder trial thing. Crossing his ankles the other way, he didn’t bother to move his feet anywhere more accessible or hand off a boot. They weren’t much bigger than Viper’s, though. Did still have a couple scars on them. Had this guy grown up on a minefield or what?

Abel Lazarus “Wait- Jack? You Launched your tape into the water? You’re. Sure about that?”

He squinted back. Seemed weirdly unaggressive for this guy, not that Jack could recall a baseline. Did he need to be concerned?

He thought a moment and shrugged. “Sure ’s I am ’bout most things I’ve done.” Which was… substantially lower than most people, but still something.

Fenna Van Daalen “When did that happen…? Anyone got a band-aid?”

“Some a’ those beach rocks getcha? Wasn’t the greatest place t’ go barefootin’ if ya don’t got the calluses.”

Narrator

“A FALSIS PRINCIPIIS PROFICISCI… PARDON MY INTERRUPTION. IS IT TRUE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN… TWO MURDERS?”

“I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS BY THE COUNSEL.”

She scowled down at the benches, where she assumed the “attorneys” stood.

“I MAY ONLY RULE ON CASES OFFICIALLY PRESENTED TO THE COURT. BUT SOLVING ONE MAY HELP SOLVE THE OTHER…”

Viper

Narrator “A FALSIS PRINCIPIIS PROFICISCI… PARDON MY INTERRUPTION. IS IT TRUE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN… TWO MURDERS?”

“Eh? Yeah, two murders, stone lady!” Viper calls up to the towering figure, “Clearly, Murdercat didn’t think that part was important!” Yeah Viper, suck up to the judge and maybe you’ll get some brownie points!

R.N.A. The bottom of the foot is decently sized and rectangular in nature. It’s very likely that any footprints made by it would be extremely recognizable as being from R.N.A. in this case.

When they hold up their foot, Viper scoffs and spins on her chair to face away from them. Despite her sudden appearance akin to that of a scolded child, she listened to them. They… made good points. Points too good for her to… refute. Viper had to admit, yeah… perhaps… RNA was no longer her suspect.

But who was?

Melvin started speaking and she listened to him too, before rotating back toward the group.

“I know it’ll leave a lot of people but… we outta start rulin’ people out.” Viper sticks out her foot. “Measurin’ feet. Anyone whose feet are considerably bigger than mine… are a suspect!” If people don’t volunteer, shes gonna start just doing. She’s going to move her way around and measure everyone’s feet.

Narrator

Narrator “I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS BY THE COUNSEL.”

Neko-Neko made one of those little “oopsies! [raps knuckles on head and a little anime star floats out]” faces, but they didn’t seem very concerned.

“Don’t worry, Your Honor, we can add it to tomorra’s docket if we gotta. I have copies of the paperwork ready for every trial situation!”

R.N.A. “Excuse me, Nekoneko. Would you… be able to fetch Fenna’s tape? I’d like… to examine it in greater detail.”

“Fetch? We look like a dog to you?”

“I did bring it, though! Here…”

Since R.N.A. did ask nicely, they went over to the jury box to present a tape. The name on the label (Fenna Van Daalen) was one of the clearer ones you’d seen, and you could tell by the reels that it had been watched… partly. Nothing seemed more unusual about the tape’s film than anyone else’s.

Melvin Greene

This is still all so over his head. Melvin’s been quiet because in spite of himself, he really has been doing his best to keep up with what everyone is saying. (To mixed success.) It still doesn’t feel great to accept the idea that one of them really had done it, but, well. Life sucks in new and exciting ways sometimes. He should probably just get over it already.

R.N.A. Miss Fenna… I believe your tape was spliced. That’s why it was taking so long to finish. Someone tampered with it.

“Ugh. So what, someone probably bigger than Viper and less… square than you–” he gestures to R.N.A as if there could have possibly been any confusion, “– had to find this GUN which EXISTS, I GUESS, and also… screw with the tapes?” Assuming it was the same person responsible for both, anyways. They’d also have had to somehow obtain the bullet, but the obscene luck that would require doesn’t exactly occur to him. He’s already thinking too much for one post <3 But wait. There’s more.

“… Fuck. Abel, Dexter, you didn’t see anything while you were in there? ‘Cause if someone really brained Comedy over the stupid splicer… uh, gimme a sec." It takes him a protracted moment, a bit of muttering to himself, and a little counting on his fingers to finish the thought, looking a little uncomfortable. "Shit. Would they have been dead by then? Did someone kill ’em to fuck with the tapes, and, and then- then put everything back at their place what the hell!????”

That would place it as being sometime before Fenna watched her tape if this theory held any water. Okay he’s freaking out a bit again. Give him a break, he’s just not thrilled about the possibility that Comedy had been dead that long and nobody noticed. Hard to say how much of that is conscious thought, of course. For the love of GOD someone smarter than him help.

Fenna Van Daalen

Fenna had been rather quiet during the trial so far– she looked like she was at least paying attention, but the way she rubbed her forehead indicated that the alcohol-induced headache wasn’t going away anytime soon. When the discussion came back around to directly addressing her, she looked confused.

R.N.A. “Miss Fenna… I believe your tape was spliced. That’s why it was taking so long to finish. Someone tampered with it.”

“…Y’think so? It seemed pretty normal ta me, but… I was out fer a while, I guess…”

Viper “I know it’ll leave a lot of people but… we outta start rulin’ people out.” Viper sticks out her foot. “Measurin’ feet. Anyone whose feet are considerably bigger than mine… are a suspect!”

“My feet? Yous didn’t strike me fer that kinda gal, but…”

Despite her joking around, Fenna hesitated for a moment, looking at one of her heels with a bit of surprise before passing it down to Viper. After handing it off, she immediately turned down to pull off one of the flats she was currently wearing.

“When did that happen…? Anyone got a band-aid?”

Fenna’s glittery heel was quite a bit larger than Viper’s foot, and the velvety insole bore trace amounts of blood.

Abel Lazarus

Abel knows Viper’s…. Viperisms too well to not just pop his shoe off and hand it over for a minute. Thank god they’re right next to each other he’s not in the mood to pass his shoe around much more than that.

It’s definitely bigger than Viper’s- perhaps the same size as the print? I wouldn’t know! Neither would he.

Either way he doesn’t have the gall to do what RNA did and show his Foot. How silly would that look? Putting his foot in the air? How Undistinguished. Just take the shoe Vipes.

Melvin Greene Did someone kill ’em to fuck with the tapes, and, and then- then put everything back at their place what the hell!????”

“They would have needed to do it before Dexter and I went to the hut.” Unless Dexter saw something Abel didn’t but their observation stat is just barely not the same- so. “Because we didn’t see those tools until the investigation.” He flips his ponytail over his shoulder and smooths his fingers along it almost like he’s a bit… bored. “Dexter and I didn’t see anyone enter the hut while we were there- and it was the first place we investigated after the bodies were found. Unless someone was able to sneak around without us noticing they were missing- it had to have happened before either of us even entered the hut.”

This is going too slow for Abel’s liking. But something is nagging at him. Jack Launched his tape into the water? Is that not actually an effective way to get rid of tapes? He has a bad feeling about that. Might as well just-

“Wait- Jack? You Launched your tape into the water? You’re. Sure about that?” This is probably the nicest way he’s Ever spoken to Jack. It’s absolutely probably not trial relevant but he does need this question answered.

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent, as usual was listening, putting the brown scrap on the back of his mind for now, since it has not been brought to the table once again.

If Comedy’s death didn’t matter… What was their relation to this case? It has to be related? Unless his group were absolutely way out in the left field. Why would Neko-Neko make these four waste their time investigating this one if it wouldn’t matter?

That said… Solving one may help solve the other… Maybe it wouldn’t be so useless after all.

R.N.A. bringing up good point has also made Vinzent a little miffed, if mainly because he didn’t like them much but, they did bring good points that can’t be ignored.

Fenna was purposefully left in the tape? But why? Was it just to her or…?

Then Melvin and Viper spoke.

Hm. Alright, okay.

“Sure, I’ll cooperate.”

Vinzent’s shoe is pretty average for what you’d expect of a 5′4″ man. So not much bigger than Viper’s in the end.

Then Abel spoke. Vinzent sure paid attention to what he was saying, trying to consider what the possibilities were. He’s totally not distracted about Abel playing with his ponytail- Oh, huh. Huh.

….

He almost wanted to question that too, since… It has not crossed his mind that it could be thrown in the water. All that he did with some tapes were breaking them, to ensure they were unusuable.

He will let the others talk once again. How pathetic must he feel to not be able to put together words and theories but being only able to listen. To be honest, this is getting him a little lost. Since there was no much to go off from Comedy’s investigation…? He wasn’t sure.

Abel Lazarus

Fenna Van Daalen “When did that happen…? Anyone got a band-aid?”

Well if Fenna was going to help him when he was bleeding-

He grabs one of the scraps of sheet from his pocket and offers it to Fenna and tries to not seem as weird as I’m sure Fenna feels about Abel of All People extending her kindness. Sorry Bestie.

Viper

Fenna Van Daalen “My feet? Yous didn’t strike me fer that kinda gal, but…”

Despite the knowledge that Fenna was very obviously joking, Viper’s face burned.

“Ugh- I’m not—” Why did she feel the need to grace that with a response? Who knows.

Once she received the shoe, Viper almost dropped it in surprise.

“F-ck! What happened!” Viper quickly measured the shoe and then shuffled it back down the line toward Fenna, moving on to the next person. “I dunno why your foot is bleedin’ but… That’s a lil strange.”

She examines Jack’s foot, seeming satisfied his feet weren’t big enough. Okay, good.

“Well that’s Jack clear… Abel and Fenna…not yet.” Viper grit her teeth saying the latter part.

Fenna Van Daalen

Abel Lazarus He grabs one of the scraps of sheet from his pocket and offers it to Fenna and tries to not seem as weird as I’m sure Fenna feels about Abel of All People extending her kindness. Sorry Bestie.

“Ah, thank ya dear…”

Fenna meekly accepted the bandages from Abel and set about binding her foot, with no objections to Haruka verifying the wound. It looks like more of a scrape than a cut from broken glass.

Roadie 🪶Jack “Some a’ those beach rocks getcha? Wasn’t the greatest place t’ go barefootin’ if ya don’t got the calluses.”

“Bah, that’s prolly what it was. I did go out swimmin’ earlier…”

When she looked up again at the faces around her, they were clouded with suspicion. Was that all it took for them to turn on her? Just one nick?

Viper “Well that’s Jack clear… Abel and Fenna…not yet.” Viper grit her teeth saying the latter part.

Taran "We had some broken glass in the sand where Comedy was killed…” And maybe Fenna did it. He couldn’t quite say that part out loud.

Vinzent Mayer It was without saying he was getting really anxious. He didn’t want it to be true. The fact that Fenna may have killed two people. And why?

“…Why are yous… lookin’ at me like dat?”

R.N.A. “Miss Fenna… What exactly were the contents… of your tape? Also… Why exactly were you drinking? Where did the alcohol come from? Also, What were you doing… before you decided to watch your tape?”

“My tape… was me workin’ night shift, over and over… and over and over. I drank ‘cause I figured my tape would be some dreary bullshit like dat. Just wanted ta get it over with. The alcohol came outta the flask in my purse. And before that? Hell if I know, the days were all runnin’ t’gether on dat damn island. Went swimmin’ at some point?”

R.N.A. “Excuse me, Nekoneko. Would you… be able to fetch Fenna’s tape? I’d like… to examine it in greater detail.”

“I really don’t know what ya think yer gonna find…”

Her voice was a little edgy as she glanced at R.N.A., then at the four other people without alibis. At least one of them still seemed far more suspicious than her, she thought. Why gang up on her all of a sudden?

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “What, this everybody’s first time with these things? High enough risk a’ getting trapped in ’em normally that you’re not even s’posed to try and watch your own. Not usually, at least.”

“Guess these aren’t ‘xactly standard, though? Sure missin’ all the… halfway decent memories.”

Abel feels like he’s Dying. What do you mEAN THEYRE NOT USUALLY SUPPOSED TO WATCH THEIR OWN????

“Missing……… the halfway decent memories………. Are these tapes Supposed to have Good Memories In Them?” He sounds stressed but not At Jack or anything he’s actually still talking to him surprisingly… uh. Normally?

Very pointedly he ignores Jack wiggling his toes because Ugh gross but.

Roadie 🪶Jack He thought a moment and shrugged. “Sure ’s I am ’bout most things I’ve done.” Which was… substantially lower than most people, but still something.

Abel is almost positive this information is going to come back to haunt him later. Absolutely Sure of it. Never been more sure in his life. He’s positive.

“Have you had a tape before this? Are there a Lot of cars with tapes similar to these?” He really hates this. What are you even normally supposed to do if not watch your own? Share them?

“Can you explain what most cars have you do with these tapes and what they’re usually like?” Maybe that will help on Some level- but this is probably the nicest way he’s ever talked to Jack. Now if only he could remember how to say Please-

Vinzent Mayer

What was with that joke…? As if Vinzent had any say in this when he… Never mind. He’s not that type of guy (at least not in this regard), and Fenna is most certainly not his type. Too much of a mother figure. And he’s not into MILF and DILFs, as far as he knows.

So far.

He’d trying very much to be normal and not let people see that he seemed to be looking absentmindly at Abel before Fenna spoke.

Band-aid..? She bled? Then he watched Abel help her. Okay, everything is normal so far.

Roadie 🪶Jack He sighed. “What, this everybody’s first time with these things? High enough risk a’ getting trapped in ’em normally that you’re not even s’posed to try and watch your own. Not usually, at least.”

Excuse me. He was not supposed to have watched his own? A little warning ahead would’ve been appreciated, but he guessed it was too late and he was still out of the tape well enough, luckily, despite the horrible memories resurfacing. The only sound coming out of Vinzent was an annoyed grumble.

Vinzent was unamused at Jack’s mild antics before paying attention to the trial again. He wanted to calm Abel down, but wasn’t sure how to do so without drawing attention to himself and Abel again. Let this be Normal we’re fine-

Oh come on.

… Taran’s plan about the tape was actually smart, if only Vinzent had knowledge of that. But too late!

…

He didn’t want to take a look at the cut, mainly because it felt. Weird. And… As if he had any understanding of how wounds worked exactly.

“I… Yeah, Haruka. If you may? You’re near Fenna, after all…”

It was without saying he was getting really anxious. He didn’t want it to be true. The fact that Fenna may have killed two people. And why?

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus

Jack just raised an eyebrow at Abel’s sudden tape interrogation. A murder trial didn’t seem like the time for this, but who was he to deny someone begging for his expertise? Hmm hmm.

“Dunno ’f I’d say good, but at least a little less…” While searching for a word, he fumbled the coin threading between his fingers. Still snapped it up before it could hit the floor. “…y’know. Like those were.”

“Honestly, the tapes’ve never been part of a car’s thing. Not like I’ve been to every single one, but I don’t think these’re s’posed to be anywhere we can get to ’em. Only ever seen ’em on the black market, ’r in the hands of some shady Denizens.”

Taran “If they’re a recurring thing out here, it sounds like Neko’s trainjacking tendencies are probably at work, but someone else could have been involved here.”

“Awful suspicious this guy had so many an’ wanted us to watch ‘em. Bet they wanted to trap us. Probably spliced up the tapes themselves t’ get rid of the decent parts, if ‘m understanding what splicin’ is at this point.” People sure had been talking about it enough, even if the tapes could trap people without anything that fancy and high-tech.

R.N.A. “The only people… who do not have… solid alibis are… Fenna, Melvin, Taran, Viper and Jack. They are the… five we should focus on… going forward.”

“Sure, I can accept that. ‘cept the big footprints get rid a’ me and Viper. Everybody else in our group saw ’em, too, so it’s not like we’re just co-conspirin’. Down to Fenna, Melvin, an’ Taran, then.” …Whichever ones those were. Maybe he needed to pay slightly closer attention to people’s names. As if that’d be easy.

But Fenna was easy enough to place just from her clear dismay at the looks of suspicion. First time falling from the “upstanding citizen” judgment, huh? Always a time.

Fenna Van Daalen “Bah, that’s prolly what it was. I did go out swimmin’ earlier…”

“Oh, y’mean to wash off the gun residue?”

Hoo, that oughta get some of her guard dogs after him. Maybe that’d liven things up enough to wake him up a little better.

Melvin Greene There’s rocks everywhere. Doesn’t mean [crap].”

“Doesn’t put her anywhere in particular, no. But does mean she’s been barefoot, and I coulda sworn there were some toe marks in those prints at the scene.”

Now that he thought about it… He bent to check his socks, but they were still far from dry. Dang. Sure felt like they’d been in here long enough. He sighed and wrung them again before laying them out at a different angle.

Melvin Greene “Huh, I kinda thought the scratched up tape that thing* dropped off might have been Jack’s. Had the scar, I think–” he gestures across his own face for emphasis (on the wrong side, for the record, but you get the idea) “– but I thought he threw his into the ocean???"

“Did it, now.”

…Relax. No one had watched his tape. No one knew anything. It was fine.

“…‘s what I said, yeah. Guess some things keep washin’ up on the shore, but mostly from the shipwreck…”

“…I’m sure it was someone else’s tape. Can’t be the only guy in the world who got my face scratched up.” With a grin, he inclined his head toward Abel. “Right, buddy?”

R.N.A.

Dexter Blanche

Dexter Blanche “…is it really that far fetched to believe that RNA could just be… wearing a shoe or boot inside those boxy looking… things? You really did just take it at face value, you know, Miss Viper.”

“Unfortunately… that theory does not change the fact… that I was with Matsukaze before and when… the fire broke out. My alibi… clearly excludes me from being the culprit.” Will they have to keep bringing this up until everyone understands this? Maybe.

R.N.A. digs out a band-aid from their top hat and attempts to get it passed forward to Fenna. Speaking of Fenna…

“Miss Fenna… What exactly were the contents… of your tape? Also… Why exactly were you drinking? Where did the alcohol come from? Also, What were you doing… before you decided to watch your tape?” These questions seemed like they would be fairly important. There were some gaps in her testimony that weren’t exactly explained…

Taran “I snuck into the hut and fast-forwarded mine to the end, and afterwards I called in Comedy to let me watch it. It worked as well as I thought, didn’t relive anything too awful.” Taran shifts to break his gaze at R.N.A. as he says that.

“So… you admit to being able to tamper with the tapes?” That seemed… suspicious, didn’t it? Especially with the discovery of the tape splicer itself in the hut. If anyone could have gotten proper usage out of it… Well, there was still no proof it was relevant to the murder.

“Excuse me, Nekoneko. Would you… be able to fetch Fenna’s tape? I’d like… to examine it in greater detail.” It was very possible that Nekoneko would refuse, but asking didn’t cost anything.

Taran “Could Haruka or someone take a look at the cut? We had some broken glass in the sand where Comedy was killed…”

“If there was any… other evidence around Comedy’s body… I suggest bringing it up now.” This seemed important. Why hadn’t it been brought up until now? Let’s see… There was the brown cloth scrap… the rock… now broken glass? Surely these had to point to something important… But R.N.A. didn’t have any strong conclusions. Maybe it was best to go over the alibis again…

R.N.A. and Matsukaze were together, with the former tending to the latter’s injury.

Asuka and Haruka were with the creature.

Dexter and Abel were together (though the details of what they were doing hadn’t been shared).

Arty and Vinzent were together browsing the shore for flotsam.

Viper was following Jack around the island, though Jack disappeared at one point, which would have left Viper alone too.

Taran claims to have been alone, climbing a treevee to inspect it.

Fenna is wholly unaccounted for so far, besides being found stuck in her tape.

Melvin had given no alibi, as far as R.N.A. could recall.

“The only people… who do not have… solid alibis are… Fenna, Melvin, Taran, Viper and Jack. They are the… five we should focus on… going forward.”

Hopefully, this could help steer the trial in a more productive direction.

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