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

[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.

Totally okay!

[subtleserenity]

Lounge has probably got somethin'. This there're candles on all the tables.

[Smaller, but that's better compared to bigger in this case.]

[manelesscatking]

"Let's do it. I don't feel so good about letting a killer run free." Huǒ's hair flares up and they turn on their heel, pausing briefly to watch Brimstone's reaction while stalking off.

[grotesqueobserver]

"Killer?!" Okay. Now is definitely not the time to panic. He visibly calms himself, taking a deep, shaky breath. "I-I can help. The Master...they used me for my eyes. They're better than anyone's." Well. That he knew of, anyway.

[manelesscatking]

The page stops and turns to the gargoyle and paces slowly backwards. "That might be helpful. What's your name, stranger? Mine's Huǒ, and I was a page in the service of the Keeper. It seems that service gave me a sense for weapons, and I want to see if I can sniff out the fell dagger being used for sacrifices."

[grotesqueobserver]

"I um...don't really have one," he admits sheepishly. "I used to be the sentry. Lights and I used to work together, actually. We watched for intruders and um...escapees." He looks away briefly before continuing. "That's not really me anymore though."

But something else the page said attracts his attention. "Sacrifices?" he repeats. "Do you think this is some kind of ritual?"

[manelesscatking]

"Alright then," Huǒ says, planting their feet firmly, "I'll call you Vigil until you tell me otherwise."

They furrow their brow. "Oh, I just assumed. It's a magical dagger, and the whole 'replacing organs' thing smacks of a ritual. Do you disagree?"

[grotesqueobserver]

"Vigil," he repeats, a smile creeping over his face. Having a name, temporary or not, made him feel oddly...complete. "I like that."

But there are more important things to discuss. "I didn't know about the weapon. How do you know it's magical?"

[manelesscatking]

The page gives a slight smile at Vigil's approval.

"Well, I didn't see any special colors or anything, but those who held it reported feelings of paranoia and nausea, and I doubt those were imagined."

Huǒ's eyebrows dart skyward. "In fact, the paranoia lingered - I'll bet the murderer feels like they're being watched, even while they're not holding the dagger."

[grotesqueobserver]

"...which could make them paranoid and even more dangerous." Not good. Not good at all. "Could it be exerting some sort of influence on whoever's using it? I don't know anything about magic." He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.

[manelesscatking]

"Nor do I, and I've spent DAYS studying it," the page grimaces. "At any rate, it might be a good indicator of the murderer, if we see someone acting paranoid."