(mingle) cat herding, round two

[sisters]

( on february 2, transfer students will find that there are notes hung up around the dormitory with doctor's scrawl handwriting that a few people might recognize scribbled across it. it reads: )

TRANSFER MEETING
february 2, 5:00 p.m.
dorm common room

( the early-arrivers will find that amami is already set up in the common room, making himself comfortable on the far side of one of the couches with a sketchbook, but beyond a wave and a smile he won't offer much to speak of. it's only once it looks like there's a good handful of people that he'll glance around, grimace a bit, and speak up. )

So... I'm sure you guys already know why we're here, right?

( rest in piss, hiro. legend almost took two transfer students with him on his way. )

I know I might not be the person anyone wants to hear this from, but I figure everyone's had some time to gather evidence and any witnesses we might've had by now. I don't like the idea of this continuing more than anyone else, and if we want to keep it from happening again, it's probably best if we compile what we know.

( and unfortunately what he knows is nothing, because he was busy getting stabbed, so the floor is officially open. )

---

(ICly, this meeting begins on February 1. However, to keep us from trapping ourselves in another time cube, when things start to slow down, Amami will pitch that they regroup in a couple days. The details don't matter so much, but you can assume they'll come back for more discussion intermittently if anything new comes to light before Disney. This doesn't all have to be in one day! Feel free to PM/ping me anywhere if you'd like me to add any other helpful links. )

• IC Recap - Maya & VP's deaths
• IC Recap - Hiro Arisu's death
• OOC Recaps - Miro board & Google doc
• Meeting Recap - What's been covered
• Per mod guidance, the murder methods abide by Knox's commandments

Comments

[notsosou]

I'd like to know how you can frame fingerprints, Helena.

[Is it even possible? But even if it is, that's still quite a way to go for this.]

Poor attempt at burning aside, Subaru handled that note.

[It's definitely very damning... especially when put together with everything else.]

Ahaha, we don't know for sure what happened when they met, apart from that Hiro ended up in the Principal's Office. There's no reason the note can't have been taken from him beforehand, or wasn't even taken at all... because he just needs to have seen it.

[starrypoint]

I didn't! I swear, I haven't touched any kind of note! I don't know how my fingerprints got on something, but I promise promise promise I didn't have anything to do with this!

[decrypter]

By taking a piece of paper he'd already touched. There's a number of ways to get someone to touch something without them seeing the contents or the contents even being there in the first place.

[and it's not like Subaru couldn't have been distracted in the process.]

You're very quick to disbelieve, Sou.

[notsosou]

You're very quick to trust, Helena.

[Subaru's pleading hurts, but he can't afford to let it get to him... he knows how easily people can lie. Even ones you trusted fully... especially ones you trusted fully.]

Until you can prove something like that happened... we're just ignoring the evidence in front of our faces!

[It's not like she's believing him, either.]

Think about it. There's no reason to place orange hairs in the Faculty Office at all. And who keeps derailing meetings whenever it starts to look like we're getting somewhere?

[He's going there.]

[starrypoint]

[oh no......... his naturally fun nature when things are tense is getting him in trouble....................]

Fine! Then look me in the eye, Sou Hiyori, and tell me that I did it!

[notsosou]

You did it, Subaru Akehoshi.

[He won't back down!]

[starrypoint]

[he flinches, because he didn't expect shin to actually say it, but he won't back down either.]

You can believe what you wanna then, 'cause I don't blame you, but I didn't do it!

[decrypter]

I've lived with him for months. If he had killed, he wouldn't have the heart to be in a mood decent enough to derail anything.

[her voice remains calm, even, but there's a note of steel under it. Shin lost the privilege of her backing down when he decided to try to lie to her.]

[notsosou]

Oh, so people can't lie about their natures for any longer than a couple of weeks?

[Smack him one, Helena.]

[decrypter]

Do you truly wish to bring up the subject of lying, Sou Hiyori?

[the tiniest emphasis on that name, one she knows he'll hear, and no one else will.]

That path will not lead to your victory.

[notsosou]

Y-you wouldn't...

[Would she? He himself was talking about the people you trust most, and the ways they can betray you, and how they know exactly the things about you that will hurt you the most. It's one thing for Komaeda to dangle that sword over his head, but...]

Ahaha... Maybe I've underestimated you, huh?

[It's not a happy laugh, or a happy smile that follows.]

[commences]

( ha... )

[decrypter]

[a fraction of a second, and then, the tiniest motion of her head. no. that's not the game she's playing.]

Should I bring up how you tried to convince me you were a killer?

[crystallomancy]

--If you're going to bring that last point UP, Hiyori-kun, then I'm just as guilty as he IS!

( he can recognize it, because he naturally plays off of subaru. it's the boke-tsukkomi nature of things. )

Baru-kun has nothing to do with THIS. Lay off before I break my promise to the little falcon about violence at this meetING.

( ...because it can't be subaru. it won't be. and natsume isn't playing around with the idea, or with his threat this time. )

[sisters]

Sakasaki-kun...

( his voice is tired, but it's a warning nonetheless.

... not that amami can do much, injured, even if he hasn't shown as much, and not that he enjoys shin's accusation either... but he knows it's a means to an end. a matter of shin caring about solving this murder just as much as natsume does, and for someone who should want to solve this as much as anyone... )

If you feel that strongly about it, prove him wrong. But if you're going to resort to threats against anyone who's trying their best to figure things out, it's never going to be solved.

[crystallomancy]

Sorry for actually sticking up for my FRIENDS, Amachan-kun, though I guess you wouldn't know anything about THAT.

( he's snappy, even if amami is right. maybe even because he is.

but he knows subaru didn't do it. he knows. his voice is barely controlled as he continues, nails digging into his palms. )

I would know if Baru-kun left at any point in the night; I'm an extremely light sleeper HERE, to the point that any errant shifting of weight or movement of my curtains will wake ME. As the person who sleeps on the top BUNK, Akehoshi Subaru-kun has suffered the brunt of my griping when he's left for his stupid morning jog; he's careful but not careful enOUGH, and he always manages to alert him in some fashion to his leavING. And I know for a fact I wasn't woken up either of those days--it wasn't HIM.

( natsume draws himself up as straight as he can, chin raised, gaze firm. )

Or is my word no GOOD?

[sisters]

Right. Whatever you say.

( it stings, but amami is able to take it in stride. he's used to being friendless, see, and natsume has never liked him much besides. but the same way that natsume has faith in subaru, amami doesn't want to see shin attacked figuratively or literally for trying with everything he's got to solve the very murder that's got natsume so torn up. )

I'm not the one you need to convince, you know. I just don't want to see you fighting someone you should consider an ally in this.

[starrypoint]

Natsume won't consider someone he thinks is wrong an ally, especially if they're being stubborn like Yori-chan. Besides, he's just acting the way he usually would in defending someone -- just 'cause it's a little more violent than the way you and Yori-chan stuck up for each other doesn't mean it's something to attack him over either.

[... he isn't looking at amami though. because subaru leapt to amami's defense, but...?]

He won't hurt anyone though. It wouldn't help anything.

[notsosou]

[Ways to make Shin double down #435, and also every other number: make him feel like his life is in danger.]

Careful... Resorting to violence is a bit of a bad look, isn't it?

[He's got one hand in his pocket, just in case. He's got a knife, a taser, and an admittedly unloaded gun, as well as his prototype scarf arms even if he doesn't want to have to trial by fire them this early. If things do come down to a brawl... well he'd probably just try and run away mostly.]

It's basically saying 'I don't have any evidence to refute this'!

[He knows Natsume bounces off Subaru... but he rarely starts it, as far as Shin can see.]

[samuraiwomen]

You don't need to do that, Sakasaki-san. We won't be getting worked up with accusations this meeting!

[ She's made up her mind. So when she points at Shin, its because she has all the courage in the world. ]

I might not have evidence Sou...but I'm going to say it. Subaru Akehoshi is not our murderer! I think you know that as well as I do.

[crystallomancy]

( "we won't get worked up" speak for yourself little falcon he's several weeks of pent-up grief and frustration ready to blow on anyone )

[samuraiwomen]

[ She Will Give You A Hug Later. but lets focus on clearing Subaru's name before we fly off the handle!!! She's all hopped up on the anime power of caring about her friends right now. ]

[crystallomancy]

PlainLY, given I'm biased towards the accused HERE, I'm not so sure you'll take any evidence I have to say to HEART.

( which might be fair, but it's still sniped right back at shin. natsume forces one of his hands open, thinks about the shape of a flame and lets it rest hidden between him and subaru's legs in the palm of his hand.

he wasn't taught magic so he could hurt people. that was not the point, technically. but he has always considered the best defense to be a solid offense. )

Baru-kun is my bunkMATE. I'm extremely sensitive to changes in my environment thanks to how completely idiotically murder-happy this place IS, and I'm a light sleeper to BOOT. Baru-kun never once escapes our room without waking me up thanks to his tendency to shake my curtains when he goes down the ladDER, and I don't remember being woken up at any point in the night aside from his usual stupidly early morning JOG.

[notsosou]

Ahaha, maybe I wouldn't be convinced... but I'm not the only one here.

[It's a battle for hearts and minds! It's not about if you can convince your opponent, but if you can achieve the majority... but Shin would prefer if evidence was what won out instead.

Shin's still getting used to using magic, his small lifeforce and and even smaller thready connection to it, channeling only enough for a small flame or a single papercut. Even the reason the array on his scarf is as complicated as it is is because it's optimized for efficiency, using his tiny trickle of magic as the force falling on one end of a very very long lever. He couldn't hope to compete with a fireball, but that's not stopping his soul reacting instinctively and defensively and making his hair and clothes prickle with static electricity.]

You wouldn't happen to know if he didn't do anything else on his jog, Sakasaki-san? Especially considering he does it before the silence lifts...

[He'd been paying attention to Subaru's alibi earlier.]

[crystallomancy]

He just JOGS. I wouldn't be surprised if he stole a ball or two to chase for FUN, but it's his jocky little time to wake up and unWIND. Even he needs moments away from being "Subaru Akehoshi".

( to just be nameless. )