The Doctor makes fun of my suit. Because I've never heard that one before. Yeah, it may seem a bit silly but what can I say? I'm a product of my environment. Everyone back home loves bright colors and it makes it easy to keep track of who is who in the big meetings—as long as you don't take into account people throwing titles around like they are potatoes but that's another story. And at least I have a symbol that matches my name unlike... well, pretty much everyone else.
"It's 'Spider-Woman', actually. Or just Jess"
He's a fellow dimension hopper that apparently has nothing to do with this whole thing and just... came out of the blue to help us? That's random.
"Welcome to the team I guess. I would suggest you tone down your attitude but I guess Bill is technically in charge and I need a drink or two before I start really caring about something other than getting back home"
Naoto wonders why I'm so knowledgeable in multiversal stuff. That makes two of us. I probably pissed off some god in a former life.
"Well, my world is a bit... odd. I've been fighting crime for almost as long as I can remember and I have a knack for getting myself into these kind of situations—as much as I try not to. I guess it must come with the tights"
Terezi finally introduces herself and says she's a troll—good to know—and a lot of other stuff. I'm zoning out mid-rant because I don't understand half of what she's saying means. And the other half is just dumb.
There was a murder investigation going on here, right? Better get back on track.
"Yes we were going to look for Scarlet. Lead the way, Naoto"
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
Chung in the lounge
"Uh... thanks..."
Chung thanked the android for pouring wine for him. He, however, decided to wait and see until he or the others can figure out what happens next.
He tried to see if he can radio back to HQ.
"This is Chung. We found the body and one of the guests agreed to talk about what happened. Do you guys have information on your end, over."
edited 14th Aug '17 4:02:17 AM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
huzzaaaaaaaah
"Questions, questions, questions! I must have landed in a question planet. They never ask this many questions." The Doctor muttered to Bill, although his mutters were loud enough and angry enough that just about anybody could listen to him (then again, there was a distinct feeling he didn't care). "What makes you think that this is the one question I'll say no to?" He said to Terezi, rolling his eyes. "Time traveling box, savior of all, can do a lot of things."
"Again, I'm sorry! We really never get a lot of these questions." Bill said to everyone, trying mostly to focus on Jessica (she seemed like the one in command) but also trying to look at everyone else. "Maybe it's best we focus on the murder, right?"
"Yes, because every minute I waste answering questions is a minute that the murderer could use to his advantage!" The Doctor said, clasping his hands and turning to Sherlock. "Electrical energies. Lightbulbs. You know lightbulbs, right? Now, think about this. Lightbulbs, especially these old ones, tend to change with time. They start looking a bit dim, old, weathered. So if you were to walk into a room and see a big, bright bulb, you'd probably wonder why did they change the bulbs so recently. Especially since a murder just happened!"
"Could be a coincidence." Bill suggested.
"Could be- but I've often found coincidences are a product of hindsight. And you can't get to that if you don't explore every possible avenue." The Doctor turned to the others, but coincidentally, mostly to Jessica. "That's what we need to do. Look for things that seem like coincidences. Because that's what people, the smart people, like to prey on: the human brain's tendency to just ignore things that it can easily explain. Bill!" He snapped his fingers and pointed at her, before pointing at Naoto. "Stick with the witnesses!"
"Oh, I've always wanted to interrogate someone." Bill said, walking over to Naoto's side. "Can I be your bad cop?"
"As for you," He turned to Sherlock. "You seem like a perceptive fellow. Spotted any coincidences?"
edited 16th Aug '17 2:10:55 AM by Stratofarius
That One Gal
The Hall
Bill stepped around the large group of people, slipping into the few (Jess, Naoto, and other-Bill) who were going to go look for people. "Can I come along with you? I know I don't know a whole lot, but I still did some recon while I was here, so I still know things! Like, for instance, this Miss Scarlet is always with Ms. Peacock," he nodded to the guestbook, "always talking and talking. And ever since the body was discovered, I haven't heard either of them talking, so they have to be someplace I haven't been yet!" He pointed upwards. "The second floor!"
The Lounge
John raised his glass up in a pseudo-cheer before taking a sip. "You didn't have to do that, really. I was already back here." He returned his attention to the rest of the group.
"It might be a bit weird, sure, but William was always eccentric. Our parties aren't so much for convicting the killer, so much as simply being right in who it is. So you could perfectly guess that you are the culprit and still win." John smiled to Nick, now. "I would love to, but this is a party. You should mingle with everyone, get to know them yourselves. A second-hand account is no judge of character."
Chung's badge quietly responded. "Uhh, hey? Yes? This is Arwyn. Nice job finding that body, buddy. I...You know it's your job to have information, right? Go out, find the clues and the things, go and...find stuff out, ya know? All we can tell ya is superficial trivia that won't help ya. Like..." A short pause followed. "Did you know that Boddy's mansion used to be an extensive vineyard before a forest fire wiped everything out? The guy bought the place out just so the workers wouldn't be bankrupt. But yeah, that's sorta the stuff we can give to ya, so. Out."
edited 16th Aug '17 10:30:39 AM by TruthHurts22
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
A beat.
"...WELL, FIGHTING LORD ENGLISH WAS NOT SOMETHING ON MY TO DO LIST BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN IM NOT READY TO DO EXACTLY THAT."
I unsheathed the two swords of my cane and held them inches from the alleged cherub's neck as I gave him a "devilish" grin. Not that he actually smelled like a cherub in any sense, or did a convincing impression of the insufferable malevolent twat of the myths surrounding the name English in the Furthest Ring, but that was no reason to let him think that I wasn't keeping a nose on him.
"LUCKILY IM NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO EXPECT YOU TO ACTUALLY DIE IF I TRIED OR THINK YOURE NOT FULL OF SHIT. THEREFORE, O LORD OF TIME, KNOCK YOURSELF OUT BUT BEAR IN MIND THAT I AM WATCHING YOU IF A HAIR ON YOUR CONSPICUOUSLY NOT GREEN HEAD SMELLS EVEN SLIGHTLY OUT OF PLACE. HEEHEEHEEHEE!!!!"
edited 15th Aug '17 11:15:21 PM by Oceanstuck
i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
2 Spooky 4 U
So Terezi is indeed not human. Interesting. First Teddy and now her. Seems like she has talent for meeting strange new beings..........though she couldn't help by somewhat agree with the contemptible statement. "Terezi-san, I think this man doesn't have any relation to anything you know about."
As for Jess-san, Naoto only nodded her head and told her, "I understand. As a member of the Shirogane bloodline I have been training to become a detective since childhood and only recently have I discovered some....oddities back home. Either way, experience is experience."
Then Bill-san and......other Bill-san then joined up with her and Jess-san to handle the witnesses. More numbers was nice but having skilled numbers was preferred. Still, at least we know a general direction for the search. "Second floor it is. Everyone else, I would recommend helping the Doctor and Sherlock-san with their investigation or doing a thorough scan of this floor. If you don't find anything then head up to the second floor and continue on" announced Naoto to everyone in the Hall. She would then lead the group to a set of stairs and would head up them.
edited 16th Aug '17 9:36:48 AM by LightToAll
Nick glanced down at the wine placed next to him and gently picked it up. He'd learned early on that even people who didn't mind synths— all two of them— still found it off-putting if he didn't at least try to eat and drink.
As he sipped the wine he sighed internally. So, Green wasn't much for gossip. It was too bad he couldn't get at least an impression of how Green viewed the people around him. It looked like he would have to mingle to get anywhere.
"Well, why don't you tell me about yourself then," he suggested, "how'd you meet Boddy? D'you work in the same fields?"
I say that aloud too sometimes, just: "man, no life."
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
Chung
"That seems to be trivial... But it's better to be safe than sorry. We're at least talking to the guest. One of them seems to be... chummy. We'll get back to you. Over and out."
Chung ended the transmission afterwards.
He decided to go outside and check on other places when he ran to Bill.
"Pardon me, but do you have a minute?"
edited 18th Aug '17 9:20:48 PM by Ominae
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Holmes — Hall
Holmes furrowed his brow as the doctor provided a somewhat rambling explanation of the device's function. "...Frankly, Sir, your explanations are somewhat difficult to follow. However, I believe that at least some of these electric energy sources you are detecting come from our fellow investigators. Certainly I can accept that the metal behemoth outside is powered by electricity, and after the things I have witnessed so far, I would not discount the possibility of some of our company being machines underneath their costumes."
Miss Pyrope suddenly revealed a pair of blades hidden in her cane and held them to the doctor's neck. After a moment of surprise Holmes moved behind her briskly, ready to use his strength if need be. "Miss, I hardly know what you are talking about, but rest assured that we come from a motley of different worlds, and I doubt you can have any quarrel with men you have only met half a hour ago. Now put down these weapons. Threatening an old man is unbecoming conduct for an investigator, and blades like these are dangerous tools for a lady."
Meanwhile in the lounge, I came to the conclusion that further questioning was risky — I had no exaggerated opinion of my bluffing skills — and so, excusing myself, I backed out of the lounge into the hall. The first thing I saw was the gray-skin girl holding a pair of blades to a man's neck, which left me speechless for a moment. Then, however, I picked up one of the chairs and, holding it in both hands, approached the girl, ready to subdue her by force should the need arise.
edited 17th Aug '17 12:59:31 PM by Korodzik
Akuma Shogun
Lounge
Nick, Chung, and Mr. Green (noting that he was already at the bar, so he didn't really need Gesicht's help) all thank Gesicht for giving them wine in various ways, but Watson didn't even touch his wine glass. It seems Watson needs to get a breath of fresh air, or however that human catchphrase goes.
Gesicht briefly peeks out the door to see Watson and Sherlock confronting Terezi in the hallway because she threatened the new arrivals with her unorthodox weapons. He sighs and looks away before things start getting hairy. Why are the rookies so prone to violence?
In the meantime, Chung reports the news to Arwyn via the badge and Arywn simply tells him to do his job and solve the mystery with the others, so he left the lounge to chat with Bill.
Mr. Green and Nick continue to chat with each other about the other guests and such. Not one to rudely butt in and all, Gesicht pours himself a glass and takes a sip even though he can't really taste it at all.
huzzaaaaaaaah
The Doctor stopped as soon as he saw the blade coming for him, and his face wavered between a nervous smile and a pissed-off glare. "Being threatened by a gray girl with a penchant for swords was on the top of my to-do list for today, so thank you." He said, raising an eyebrow. "But I should tell you that physically threatening others just to make a point is not going to get you very far. Especially when you're threatening me. So for the sake of the other people in this mansion-" At this, he tried to push the sword away as gently as possible, without harming his fingers. "Drop it." A beat.
"That's not going to get you very far, Doctor!" Bill yelled from the stairs.
"Please." He added, with the most forced smile a human face was capable of making.
"Sorry. Sometimes he likes to run right into trouble and acts surprised when trouble fights back." Bill said to Naoto, before placing her hands in her pockets. "By the way, hope you don't mind me asking, but what's with all the 'san' you keep throwing around? Is that some kind of alien tic?" Her smile dropped for a moment. "I'm assuming you're an alien. Pretty much all of the aliens I meet just look like humans with multicolored skins. And maybe a sharp ear here or an extra tooth there, but... very-human, all of them."
"Well," said Muzzle when Sherlock mentioned the possibility of more machines masquerading as humans. "I'm a half-qualifier, at any rate," he said, grinning a bit sheepishly as he raised his arm and let his baggy trenchoat fall away ,revealing - for a few seconds - the angular metal armor that ensconced his augmented body.
That was when Bill announced that the second hall might contain some useful information. "I don't see why not," he said as he headed for the stairs. "Might be a bit safer for one's physical health than staying... here," he said, looking around at the brief burst of violence. "Humans." he mumbled to himself.
"Yeah, superheroics has its ups and downs. One minute you convince a sentient bomb to not explode by offering it ice cream and the next an army of rats is trying to kill you. Goddamn vermin"
Before I can resume with the only interesting thing to do here, Terezi decides to threaten the doc by drawing two swords near his face.
"What did I just say?"
Whatever the doctor did to piss off Terezi, it's not worth killing him. And even if it was, doing it right here is not the best course of action. So, getting close to Terezi and controlling the situation is top priority right now. Scratch that, containing my laughter at Watson trying subdue Terezi like if she were a lion is my top priority—I can't help it, it's just too goofy. I put my hand on the troll's shoulder and try to hold her in place so it's impossible for her to ignore me.
"Terezi, for the love of god, drop them or I'm going to knock you out. And I'm not kidding, I will do it. You don't want to test me. I have got way too much repressed anger right now so things could get messy fast" I'm practically talking to her hear right now and slowly squeezing her shoulder so she gets the hint.
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
"WAIT YOU ACTUALLY..."
Let's pretend I didn't just say I wasn't stupid enough to follow through on the pointy threat because the odor of distress wafting off all these people made it worth it. I needed a paper and crayon for this, holy shit.
"PFFT...AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO TRY AND KILL HIM. THAT'S HILARIOUS!"
I kept chuckling for long enough to probably make a lot of these humans uncomfortable, until the joke got old enough for me to stop.
"NO BUT SERIOUSLY I WASNT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO HIM. I THOUGHT I SAID THAT," I clarified, sheathing my caneswords.
"BESIDES HES CLEARLY FULL OF SHIT. HES NOT EVEN A FUCKING CHERUB, COME ON. do you guys know what a cherub is?"
i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
Hall
The devil-girl's response was unnerving, to say the least. She... laughed, laughed with an ear-piercing cackle, as if we all had just fallen for some childish prank. She then acted indignant that we ever accused her of any untoward intention. My ears wilted at the sound of obscenities she nonchalantly slipped into her speech; she sounded like a brat from the lowest slum of London.
"Young miss," my friend said sternly, as if rebuking a child... which, come to think of it, he was. "I would like to remind you that we have all been plucked from our worlds not so long ago, that we barely know each other, and that there may be a killer at large on the mansion grounds. Under these stressful circumstances, we certainly don't need someone making things worse by thoughtlessly waving blades around, even in jest.
"Furthermore, you are, as far as I can see, the only one of your kind here. Everybody here comes from a different reality, and obviously we neither know nor understand matters that concern your world. For one, I suspect that the word 'cherub' means something else to you that it does to the rest of us," he said. "I can only barely begin to guess what do you mean by 'Lord English', too. I might ask you if this means there is an England where you hail from... but right now we have a different matter on our hands. Watson, I believe you have been busy doing some investigating of your own?"
I quickly related to him everything I have learned in the lounge—about the state of the body, and all I could recall of my conversation with the guests—out loud, so that other investigators present could also hear it. Holmes was visibly bemused at the news of Lord Boddy's murder parties, and how the guests were certain that the murder was but a fanciful deception, and us merely another group of participants.
"Intriguing!" he said. "Most intriguing. It appears to be one of these riddles whose own strangeness becomes a key to the solution. Ladies and gentlemen," he addressed the rest of those gathered, "let me raise a few pertinent points."
"Something about this case seemed off to me from the start, and Watson's revelations shed a new light on the matter. Notice a few facts. First: Lord Boddy's security seems frightfully lax; it appears he trusted his fence and gate entirely. There have been no guards, and the sole servant, the maid, has not come down to check on us. The guests seem certain that we are also guests, yet felt no need to come out to meet us, even though we have all been raising a racket in this hall for the past twenty minutes or so.
"Now, one might suppose that Lord Boddy regularly held large parties attended by throngs of exotic guests, and so the people here would be accustomed that any strangers on the mansion grounds have been let in by the rightful owner. And yet—" here Holmes paged through the guest book "—these pages tell a different story. Clearly Mr. Boddy's parties so far had been limited mostly to a small, intimate circle of acquaintances. So why is nobody made curious by our presence here today? Perhaps a different group of guests, much like ours, has been expected on this very night. Which, if true, would be an interesting—", he looked at the old doctor with a subtle smile, "—coincidence."
"And another thing. We seem to have made a hasty assumption that, like in a cheap penny dreadful, the circle of suspects is neatly limited to the guests so helpfully listed in the book. But one may imagine an assassin or just a lowly burglar who entered via some trickery, committed the deed, and either snuck out or hid on the mansion grounds. Or possibly even mixed himself in with our group in the initial confusion. This possibility can not be entirely eliminated."
"This is, of course, all speculation until we interrogate more of the guests present. Since everyone else seem inclined to stampede all over the second floor, I think I will remain here for the time being. No offense, Watson, but I think I will head to the lounge to find anything you have most certainly missed. If you wish to accompany me, Doctor?" he said to the old man.
That One Gal
Second Floor Hallway
With the group deciding not to butt into the commotion going on - to Bill's obvious relief - they made their upstairs to the second story
◊.
When the reached the floor, Bill hurried to the front of the group and addressed them all. "Well, ah, here we are. Where do you girls want to...check out first?"
Lounge
"I guess I could tell you that much," Green relented, placing his glass back down. "It was...A few years back, I'd wager. Boddy had been troubled for a long time, and I assume he sought refuge under the Lord." He gestured his head in some vague direction. "I had seen him attend mass a few times before he came to me. He was a mess, all disheveled and on the verge of tears. I helped him through whatever was troubling him, though all I really did was sit and talk with him once or twice. And then, he decided we were friends - not that I think otherwise, of course," he added hastily. "Now I'm invited to every one of his parties. He's been a good host and friend since then." He took a small sip from his wine.
"I wish you were on time, then you could've met him sooner."
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
Chung realized that Bill either didn't bother to answer his question or he was too busy with the others.
So he decided to follow them upstairs.
And when he heard Bill asking the girls on where to start, he decided to wait and see what would happen.
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Terezi was just pulling a prank on us. Call me crazy but I'm going to hear my gut and keep her away from the doctor.
"All I saw was you drawing two swords on him. What was I supposed to think?"
There are very few misunderstandings in the international language of violence. And turns out I'm a fluent speaker so I know what I'm talking about. As for "cherubs", I've got nothing. I bet she's not even talking about what I have in mind.
"Some kind of angel, right?"
At least someone isn't losing his time with this and is actually trying to come up with a rather interesting theory. Maybe it's just the nature of my home but I've been blind to the fact that no one really seems surprised about our presence. I'm not even sure superheroes are a thing in this universe. Admittedly, such a world would be a bit crazy but it can happen.
"Yes, we should interrogate the suspects. Don't you agree, Terezi? Now, say goodbye to the doctor and let's get moving"
Akuma Shogun
Lounge
Gesicht listens to Green's story to the best of his ability. It seems that Lord Boddy was a troubled man before he became a born-again Christian. Mr. Green was Lord Boddy's pastor. They had mass a few times, and Lord Boddy confided in Mr. Green enough that he began to invite him to these decadent, yet eccentric, parties.
Gesicht sheds a tear in response to Mr. Green's story and replies, "Me, too. He and I would've probably gotten along."
2 Spooky 4 U
Right away Naoto told Bill-san "If you know the location of the guest named Scarlet, could you point us in that direction? Otherwise, a idea of this floors layout and any other possible suspects up here please" and then she answered other Bill-san with, "It's a Japanese honorific. Think of it like how someone might use Ms. or Mr. to address someone in a formal matter. Also, aliens? I do know a being of sentient but unhuman existence but I ensure you that he is one of Earth's people and he is the same as you and me."
As for the rather unnecessary drama going on downstairs, the Detective Prince made her choice to file that under the "nope" section. That wasn't her thing and she had more important things to do. Asides, Terezi-san was like Kanji-kun. She did rash things at a whim but it's not like she would actually kill someone based on such irrational conclusions......right?
edited 3rd Sep '17 5:17:08 PM by LightToAll
Organized Canine Bureau Special Agent
Chung, steppin in
"Pardon me..." Chung spoke up after he heard Bill's question.
"Are all of the rooms in this floor accessible at this point?"
"Exit muna si Polgas. Ang kailangan dito ay si Dobermaxx!"
Dark Sun, what choices have I...?
"ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT. I WONT SCARE THE SUSPICIOUS DOCTOR DUDE INTO NOT JOKING ABOUT BEING A MULTIVERSAL TYRANT. I GOT IT." You bluff one time with a human...
Whatever. We have an investigation to do, and this whole thing has wasted enough time.
"YEAH, I GOTCHA." Oh, it was cultural exchange hour now, was it. "THEYRE PROBABLY WHERE THE MYTH COMES FROM, SO CLOSE ENOUGH. THOUGH WAIT, HUMANS HAVE A DIFFERENT CONCEPT OF ANGELS DONT THEY. ANYWAY CLERUBS ARE THESE GREEN ALIENS WITH SKULLS FOR HEADS THAT TURN INTO GIANT SNAKES WHEN THEY HAVE SEX. I SORTA REMEMBER THEM GROWING UP WITH GOOD AND EVIL SPLIT PERSONALITIES BUT ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAD IT EXPLAINED. ROXYS FRIENDS WITH ONE BUT I CANT EXACTLY ASK HER ABOUT THAT. AND I KNOW EARTH HAD AN ENGLAND, THE TWO I KNOW OF ANYWAY, BUT BOTH OF THOSE EARTHS ARE DEAD SO TECHNICALLY WE DONT HAVE ONE, NO."
I trodded off toward the open door that I remembered being the room where the body was.
i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess
Hall
In response to my friend's admonishments, Miss Pyrope rattled off a couple of facts about the world from which she had come. The few details she revealed sounded rather ghastly; I wondered if I had heard her correctly about the destruction of Earth— no, two Earths. I shuddered at the thought of such a catastrophe.
"Well, Watson," Holmes said, "while I will busy myself in the lounge, I would be obliged if you looked around for the other guests, and perhaps that yet-unseen maid. Do not try to interrogate them too extensively, as we would not want you to blurt out too much to a potential culprit."
Watson: Hall -> Library
I obliged, and headed out of the hall to the corridor. Picking a door right nearby, I entered what turned out to be a library.
Holmes: Hall -> Lounge
Holmes, meanwhile, entered the lounge. Right away he proceeded to investigate the body carefully, trying to discern all he could about the man from the state of his clothes, any possible markings on his body, and whatever he could have had hidden on his person—all while covering his face with a handkerchief on account of the unaccountable odor. He also made sure to search carefully the floor around the body.
This scrutiny completed, he turned to Mr. Green. "Good evening, Sir. I do hope neither you, nor anyone else, has been bothered by the presence of such a large group of invitees? I understand we made a sizeable racket from all the excitement of being invited to such a place, and I feared we might have spoiled the evening. From what I know, Lord Boddy's parties are typically far more intimate affairs."
He then asked in a perfectly casual manner: "If this would not be an indiscretion... what matter had troubled Lord Boddy so?"
edited 22nd Sep '17 1:46:48 PM by Korodzik
"WERE YOU DISGUISED AS A BIG GREEN SKULL MONSTER," I pressed further, still very skeptical. "BECAUSE OTHERWISE I THINK THE PRESENCE OF A HUMAN WOULD BE REFLECTED IN OUR MYTHOLOGY, CONSIDERING THEY DONT EVEN COME FROM THE SAME UNIVERSE."
I looked at the sharp-dressed chick clearly confused to meet a species that wasn't her own for once. God, could you believe humanity didn't even get to hit the stars before most of them got killed by Reckoning? "TEREZI. YES, WE ARE CALLED TROLLS, WHICH IRONICALLY JUST HAPPENS TO ALSO BE A HUMAN WORD FOR A CONTEMPTIBLE TYPE OF INTERNET PERSONA. WE FOUND THAT OUT PRETTY EARLY ON."
i guess you can watch me shitpost i guess