HEARTS IN DARKNESS: THE BODY

[yourkeepers]

The body glimmers as the light spreads over its features, like a statue of precious metals stained with blood. Golden hair soaks in a pool of red that paints the floor like a canvas, extending out around the head and shoulders of the victim, still lazily seeping and expanding.

It's the body of the the oracle, and she is very much dead.

Her entire throat and chest is a mess of gore. The blood coats the skin and cloth so that it's hard to make out details, but there is one thing certain - something has cut deep into her chest cavity, as it carving something out from inside.

The body is still warm, but you never heard her scream.

Comments

[ironspirit]

Just making sure.

[He smiles, despite the circumstances. If the sword seems a little brighter now that he's in someone's hands... well, it could just be a trick of the light (or lack thereof?).]

[hand_of_courage]

I'm going to go this way.

[Tick Tock pointed down the hall in the direction the blood trail went.]

It's the only path we have right now.

[ironspirit]

... I'll come with you!

[Which he would be doing anyway, technically, but he's still a little hesitant to hand himself out to someone unsupervised. Also because he wants to beat up bad guys.]

[hand_of_courage]

[Tick Tock didn't object, he just started to head off, using the flaming sword as his light source.]

Do you know who Miss Nancy is?

[ironspirit]

Nope. Who's that?

[hand_of_courage]

She's someone who lives in the library. Her and her children. She likes to write stories. She's a good person.

[ironspirit]

Oh, cool. Do you think she might've seen something? [He doesn't remember anyone mentioning a Nancy before or seeing any kids in the library, but maybe she was a book or something? A series of books?? Nancy sounds like a fine changeling name to have.]

[hand_of_courage]

Maybe. Or one of her children. We can at least ask.

[The Timekeeper lifted his voice and called out.]

Miss Nancy? Are you around?

[subtleserenity]

[While the clock seems intent on following after a trail he can neither see nor smell, Brimstone has her own ideas about how to go about the investigation. First, check on that dagger. Second, find Copper.]

More'n one path to search down. Good luck. I'll be checkin' on the weapon. Lights? [She glances at the the typewriters who have both shown up, as well.]

[justbeclaws]

I'm with you, if that's okay. [The other group looks far more dangerous than she is, anyway; she'd just be in the way.]

[seerchlight]

[Lights looks away from the crime scene a bit thankfully. He starts floating in the direction of the hearth room without much provocation.]

Yeah. Right. Murder weapon, sounds good.

[subtleserenity]

[When they reach the room, picking up anyone who happens to want to follow the floating light, Brimstone opens the door and goes to the table where the dagger had been.]

It's not here. Check the shelves.

[She doesn't really intend to order them about, but... well. For the typewriter's benefit, she adds a description.]

It's a black dagger. Shiny. Grabbin' it'll make you feel sick.

[She also takes a look at the bird woman's body on the table, just to see if it looks like anyone's been bothering it.]

Uh...

[Okay. Sure looks like it's been bothered. She pushes the girl over and that sure is something glowing like the girl in the library. Brimstone has a strong constitution, but that's disgusting.]

What's a heart look like?

[seerchlight]

[Naturally, Lights sees what she's looking at just as soon as she flips over the body. His face shows obvious alarm.]

Like...what...what the fuck is that?

[justbeclaws]

[The typewriter looks up from checking the shelves. At first she can't see what all the fuss is about, and then - ]

What the fuck?!!

[subtleserenity]

It looks like... [It's the same glow, anyway. Grimacing, Brimstone reaches into the cavity that's been created and pops out the heart. She doesn't remember much, but she's fairly certain it's one of the most disgusting things she's ever done. Her hands aren't really meant for something so delicate... and the typewriter's metal. Asking Lights to hold onto something that he would then be physically incapable of not-seeing would be wrong. She's tries to be gentle.]

Think we should get this back to the owner.

[justbeclaws]

It can't hurrt.

...I can carrrry it, if you want. [It's not like her hands can get more covered in gore.]

[seerchlight]

[Lights grimaces at it. He nods a little, but not enthusiastically. He doesn't really feel like gawking at that corpse again - not of a woman who he'd felt that strange bit of kinship with.]

Someone's responsible for all this shit, right. I think I'm going to set up in the Great Hall and keep an eye on things. If someone is trying to sneak around then maybe I can catch them trying to get back in here.

[manelesscatking]

Huǒ walks over from continuing the search for the dagger and their chest heaves briefly.

"Brimstone, let's do this. We'll get her heart back, and then..." The page's expression hardens. "And then we'll find Copper, that dagger, and the one who did this."

[subtleserenity]

[Brimstone nods, face grim as she passes the heart to the typewriter.]

We'll need some torches or candles if Lights is gonna be stayin' put. Any of you know where we can get some?

Hope this is okay! ^_^;

[grotesqueobserver]

He was following the sound of familiar voices and the sight of a familiar light, and the statue makes a sound between a gasp and a shriek when he sees the group in front of him. "Oh my God, what happened?" Both hands are clamped over his mouth, and his eyes are glued to the heart in Brimstone's hand. "That's...that's..." Yeah, he's going to need a moment.

Re: Hope this is okay! ^_^;

[manelesscatking]

"Take a moment," the page says, showing signs of consternation themself. "It's a hard sight to see. Rest assured this isn't any of our faults."

They turn to Brimstone. "I know the dining room has plenty of candles, but they're gigantic. Do you have any better ideas?"

Re: Hope this is okay! ^_^;

[justbeclaws]

[She wipes her hands off on the sides of her dominance gland containment garment before taking the heart. It doesn't make much difference in the general scheme of things, but maybe any dirt on her hands will come off with the top layer of blood. Besides, if whoever did this is still around...she'd rather the gun have both hands free.]

I can see okay as long as yourr hairr stays lit, but if we want something else...I don't know. I've mostly been in the librrarry.

No need to respond! Do so if you want though :^)

[manelesscatking]

Huǒ catches up with the party after a fruitless search for other denizens of the dark library. Their hair is dancing with fire and their shoulders are shaking almost imperceptibly.

"I see a body. Mind...uh...catching me up on what's happening? I thought I saw the oracle"

[fuzzyduck]

Copper catches up then as well, surely late for a good reason of some sort and looking pale. Or perhaps even pending towards a sickly green-ish.

"What's... What--" She is also having trouble stringing words together, it seems. She has seen dead bodies before, yes, but the violence of this scene makes her feel... uneasy.

[manelesscatking]

On their way to the secret chamber, Huǒ and Copper get briefed by Brimstone on the first grizzly murder of the night.