"Thanks."

-Answers-

"Hello? ...Yes, I got here fine. Ovi was driving, my bike was still in the shop."

-...He's...wearing a ring none of you noticed that what-

Coroner's Office (Aichi)

-...? Koata's freaking out...-

"W-What's wrong, Koata...?"

-He looks at Koata frantically writing things down.-

-...-

-...SHOULD HE BE WRITING NOTES TOO?!-

-O-OK... Calm down... You can add to your notes later on tonight... For now it seems like Shotaro and Koata are dealing with it...-

-For now just focus on what you're doing right now...-

"..."

-He walks a little closer to the dead body and looks at it with a solemn and saddened expression...-

-...That is also showing the struggle of trying not to be sick.-

-...Is there anything else of note on that body? Even the smallest thing?-

Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 14th 2018 at 10:13:30 AM

…

-koata just stops and looks at aichi-

S—…

…

-koata turns around to look back at the body quietly, with his hand over his mouth-

...

Edited by Lilqueendaisy on Jul 14th 2018 at 8:26:02 AM

Hotel

You're welcome. Just trying my best to help out.

{A Ring. So they're married. Kinda reminds me of my SO, Helena.}

"Thanks...Shadow. Don't think we've met."

Hotel

You're welcome. Call me Geischt. Or Agent Hoffmann if you want to be more professional.

Coroner's Office (Aichi)

-...-

-...Why does stuff like this have to happen...?-

-Why...?-

-People killing other people...-

-Not an accident, not illness, not death of old age...-

-...Not even in self-defense...-

-...Just senseless killing...-

-It's clear that Aichi still hadn't truly prepared himself for what this case would mean, what this career would mean...-

-...-

-...No.-

-No. He doesn't regret this.-

-Being here, being able to help stop a lunatic like this...-

-He would never regret doing something like that. Kai opened his eyes to his potential to help people, back then...-

-Even when he wasn't sure of what he could do for anyone, he completely changed his plans... He originally planned to study cosmology and astrophysics in college, but that moment...-

-...It made him want to do everything he could to become an agent as well.-

-So that he could get closer to Kai, so that he could help save so many people...-

-He wants to help people. Protect them from crazed lunatics like The Weaver.-

-Even if he's not entirely sure of what he can do, even if he's just a rookie...-

-...He will... He will...-

-...He will do everything he can in this case! He won't stop until they've stopped the killer from getting anymore victims!-

-His expression is still solemn and sad, but at the same time you can see a spark of resolve in them.-

-But still, he looks over the body. He just wants to see if there's any single piece of information that can be obtained that wouldn't be found at a glance.-

-...There most likely isn't, but Aichi is pushing himself to look over that body carefully.-

-...-

-...After this is done he's probably going to puke.-

Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 14th 2018 at 10:44:12 AM

Lobby

(Hard to find the bathroom, Nahman Jayden, when the lobby's turning into the undersea background from your ARI...)

(Does that tuna swimming by want you take your tripto? I think that tuna wants you to take your tripto. You should listen to him. And the extreme agony in your gut, because it hurts really bad and you're all sweaty now.)

(Audrey's guiding him the right way, but she has to really push for it. Dude's turning to jelly as we speak...)

(Gesicht's Blackberry and Shadow's phone happen to land next to... is that an iPod. That looks like a damn iPod.)

Police Station

(A stout, older man◊ in a uniform and tie sits at his desk, hands folded.)

Ah, you're here very promptly. I must thank you for your punctuality and introduce myself. Chief August deCapp of the Gray County Police Department, and it's an honor to meet you fine gentlemen. Please sit wherever you'd like.

(There's an abundance of good leather chairs in this here office.)

(Leah stands at the back of the room, fidgeting a bit. She remains silent and composed, but it's at least clear that her mind is wandering.)

Floor SA

...OH NO, SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN IN THAT SENSE. I THINK I REMEMBER YOUR FACE FROM TV...?

(Idly munches on his red-hots as he speaks, the cinnamony scent permeating his abundant loud-talk breath.)

Group Text

Cool thank you. talking to police chief. he's fat.

Heavens... My thoughts and prayers are with Agent Jayden. Please do, Mr. Gesicht.

Coroner's Office

...Sandwi—... oh fuck me!

(Throws open the fridge, revealing...)

(...The wicker machete, in a large evidence bag!)

Jesus, I'm so out of sorts... Don't touch that damn sandwich, it's probably crawling with pathogens now... Need to get some gloves... That was my fucking lunch...

(Dr. Glassman Even Sadder Now...)

Erm... The spirit of competition is lovely and all, Mr. Gently, but these are still our friends and allies, do remember...!

(Smiles nervously.)

(but then... Doctor Mark Glassman look UP)

...What's this about a medical emergency. Describe the symptoms.

Oh man... That's a bummer. Is he your friend? I hope he mends up in time to go to the diner, 'cuz it's really nice. That's where... we went with uh... Norm and Leah and Reed...

(now Miss Cher's getting a lil' sad...)

(Norm, unfortunately, is still a tough nut to crack. Dead, stiff, all that blood on him, the very faint traces of his horrified expression still lingering on that lifeless, waxen face...)

Roadside

(Nods.)

I'm gonna call my mama real quick. Daddy works at the police department, but he's probably busy...

(Takes out an archaic little cell and starts dialing.)

Hospital

(Nods, smiling gently even as the embarrassing anime noise plays.)

Right this way.

(Starts taking Trudy down a dim, if very sterile and pristine, hospital hall. This building is old on the outside, but it seems the picture of medical innovation on the inside. All of the equipment looks very new and well-maintained.)

(Eventually reaches a door, gently opening it.)

(Inside is a medical professional◊ in a white coat, seated at a desk lined with medical-related files and equipment. It's hard to tell if they're a man or a woman... But they're popping the bubbles on a piece of bubble wrap... and they're not stopping. And they don't seem to notice anything else...)

(Just smiles fondly at this individual.)

Pool

...Hm, I understand. Curiosity just kills me, you see. I'm the proverbial cat. And you are a very admirable cat in your own right, a majestic tiger.

(Smiles.)

There's not a lot I can offer you, as a meager tourist... but if you want me to buy you a lunch sometime or anything, I'll be staying here for a while.

Edited by MobileLeprechaun on Jul 14th 2018 at 11:54:55 AM

-Dirk frowns a little as he relinquishes the sandwich to Mark-

Drat... thought I was onto something, there...

"...The hell?"

-Picks the iPod up-

-smiles tiredly-

Thank you, that's very kind.

-sits down on the side of the road next to the sign-

"... -clears throat- ... Excuse me?"

"How long ago?"

-There's a small bit of satisfaction he has in seeing Dirk's loony trail cut short-

-LOUDLY clears his throat at Cher's Sad-

He's... our coworker.

Anyway, I think we've all got as much as we can out of here. Unless anyone else has some insights.

…

-he just bows to all these people, clearly dirk's upsetting people-

I—I'm sorry for my friend!

…

-he looks up at the machete!-

Oh—um... Thank you.

-Is staring at that stupid fucking fish-

... can't... won't... gotta... hhh...

-Tries to not lean so much on Audrey, clutching his stomach-

... you can't- can't tell anyone... compromise the entire... entire investigation...

-Is currently ignoring the intermittently vibrating phone in his pocket and sits down, keeping his businesslike expression-

Agent Mars Zerickas. Pleasure's all ours.

I know you're probably not thrilled to have us here, but rest assured, we're here to help however we can.

Gesicht's Text

"Excellent. Can you keep my meal light? They say a detective thinks best if their meals aren't too lavish?"

Hotel

(Once Geischt is done with the text, he glances at the iPod. What generation is it?)

Fucking hell, tell me or you go to the hospital.

... later... just hurry...

Coroner's Office (Aichi)

-Nothing... He nearly sighs, but keeps himself from doing so.-

-...Oh, Mr. Jayden's symptoms? ...Audrey didn't mention them...-

"I-I'm not sure... Ms. Chance never responded to my questions..."

-That makes Aichi more nervous... It makes sense that she'd have to focus on helping Jayden, but at the same time it means that no one has any idea what's going on.-

"S-She's attending to him, but she didn't say what was happening..."

-...Both Mr. Glass and Ms. Bordeaux are getting more upset...-

-He gives them a soft, but very sad, smile.-

"Ah... I-I'm very sorry... I understand that it has to be extremely difficult for you both... And thank you for answering our questions despite that."

-Aichi then looks at Shotaro when he suggests leaving, and nods.-

"Yeah... I think we're about ready to wrap things up here..."

-He looks back over at Mr. Glass and Ms. Bordeaux, and...-

-...Suddenly Aichi gets a more determined expression.-

"We'll figure out who The Weaver is, and stop him. We won't let him get away with this!"

-You can hear the determination in his voice too!-

-Who knew this guy had the ability to show determination and grit?-

Edited by CrystalMemoria on Jul 15th 2018 at 8:41:09 AM

Coroner's Office

(The machete replica is very intricate, using small little fibers of wicker in its construction. It's stained with a dark reddish lacquer, along with a bit of Norm's blood.)

(Mark takes the sandwich and grunts at Dirk, holding onto it as loosely as he can and keeping it far away from his body even though he has gloves on. His look of bitter, sadness-steeped ire towards the world softens when Koata and Aichi speak up. His eyes widen a bit as Aichi begins to show some passion.)

...Thank you, agents. I'm very sorry you had to catch Cher and I in such an unprofessional state, but I appreciate your dedication to this case more than words can express right now... I was expecting a very different scenario than what just occurred... Weren't you, Cher...?

...Yeah... I was just thinking about that. I thought you guys were gonna be all cold and interrogatey, but uh—... Yeah, thank you. And you younger guys, you're really cute and sweet... I'm glad they sent you in particular, 'cuz you're really gentle and nice, but you still know what you're doing...? That means a whole lot to me... I was— eheh, kinda afraid I'd get into an uncomfy spot and start crying again...

...I was too... So, thank you.

(Calmly turns around to throw the sandwich in the trash.)

…!! FUCKFUCKFUCK—

(Trips over a discarded latex glove, nearly falling over and bumping Norm's autopsy table hard enough to slide it forward. Loses his grip on the sandwich and ends up popping it right in Norm's half-open gob.)

(The table skids to a halt just before it collides with Ms. Bordeaux's desk, but Norm himself keeps sliding, hitting the computer keyboard with his face and stiffly slumping over in the chair.)

(...The computer browser, roused to life from this sudden ham-and-corpse-face impact, abruptly pulls up a webpage displaying PDF with what appears to be the Gray County seal at the top. Beneath the seal, in bold Times New Roman, it reads:)

Grayrock City Council Meeting Minutes — 15 November, 2017

...Whoa... What the heck...?

(Is all ":o...")

Lobby

(So close to the bathroom, Audrey, just give that door a good push...!)

(The tuna's unfeeling eyes bore a hole into Jayden's tortured soul. It will bite your face off if you don't take it. TAKE IT NORMAN. TAKE IT.)

(It's a 6th-gen iPod Touch, with the same case as shown.)

(If one of them pushes the little button, they can see... huh.◊ Someone must like anime.)

Roadside

(In just a minute, a nice-looking white Ford F150 pulls up, with a plump middle-aged lady◊ inside.)

Oh GraceLyn, you've done such a fine job puttin' up this sign and findin' this kindly FBI feller! I'm Cyndi, sir, Cyndi deCapp. Now you said you was gonna need a ride to th' police station?

(The young gal's already hopping in the truck, patting the seat beside her for Marc to hop in.)

Hospital

(Doesn't even look up.)

Such a lovely sound, isn't it? And so many opportunities to hear it... Each sheet must have 20, 30 little bubbles, and inside every one lies such joy...

(NOW they look up, smiling.)

And you, have you come to listen with me? Or perhaps are you feeling ill?

Police Station

Oh, no need to worry, we're relieved to finally have y'all in town... Such a disturbing case, we've been stretching ourselves so thin trying to solve it.

(Looks to Leah at the back of the room.)

Ms. Yardley, why don't you get these gentlemen a little sweet tea from the back? I do suppose that heat is hard on those of y'all who haven't been to Texas before.

(Nods and hurries out to fetch some.)

Group Text

I'm sure the diner will have something light available on the menu. We shall see, yes?

Already know im getting a steak. Wanna see if it's anywhere near alberta beef in quality

Floor SA

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I THINK, MAYBE TWO... WEREN'T YOU RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR? I THINK IT WAS NEW JERSEY, THOUGH I CAN CERTAINLY REMEMBER A FACE BETTER THAN A STATE.

“...Freakin’ weaboos, whose is this?”

-Closes his eyes, starting to slump more and more on Audrey-

<I'm gonna faint... I can't keep this up...>

-Musters his willpower and attempts to fling himself through the bathroom door-

Edited by eldritchseer on Jul 15th 2018 at 1:01:28 AM

Bruce nods and says, "Yes, that's right. Bruce Wayne, good to meet you."