Week 0

[productions]

Who: Designated Killers and Mastermind
What: Assignments
When: Early Morning, Sunday

[Early this morning, several guests will be awoken before 6 AM by a loud alarm ringing in their room. Lying on their desk will be a telegram, signed The Producer, instructing them to go immediately to the billiards room.

Once they arrive at the billiards room, they will find the door in the back open. They will then be able to proceed into the smoking room, where others await.]

Comments

[speakveryclearly]

[Kanaya sinks into a cushioned reading chair, the kind with legs, and her fists are held over her eyes.] Aaaaaaaaaaaaugh. [This is getting her crazy alreavedy.]

This whole "alibi" thing, it's going to be very difficult to get around. And I don't see how. At this point it's starting to look like our odds are much worse than even of being executed if we do go through with anything. You would have hoped for one-in-five. But no.

I've got my speed at least. That should help. If I'm responsible for something... What I should do is leave a room with multiple confederate witnesses to carry the act out, then return to the room and receive the announcement.

We have our advantage in numbers at least. There's a huge advantage in the two-examiners "no funny business" clause. Two group members not implicated in the crime could go together and fiddle with the evidence that way. There's that, at least. And similarly if we use our chloroform we can make up the amount with each other's bottles...

That's all I have so far. [God she's just dead girl walking here.]

[souredsweet]

[likewise, Kaoru looks significantly more disgruntled than the last time they met.] I suggest that chloroform is not used at all. A few people were suggesting that everyone empty their bottles and anyone who isn't willing to go along with that plan if it's suggested to a larger group will end up looking suspicious.

But I do agree that relying on numbers is our best option here. Alibis can be constructed by acting as a witness to one another, and as mentioned, the clause will allow two of our own to change evidence if necessary. ...Though I'll be honest and say that I was not expecting this group to be so formidable. That said, I now have quite a few names to suggest, but I'd like to hear of others first.

[pasodoble]

After today I'd rather not use the vials either. ( Spain makes a face recalling how the the trial went. Who honestly knows the chemical make up of chloroform? What are they teaching kids these days? ) Unless we could get extras some how.

I was actually worried the killer would have used Miss Lydia's keys to steal the items from her room. ( And then a careless shrug, ) But trying to break into someone's room could mean needing another alibi.

( Just. A loud and dramatic sigh at this point. He's really no good at these games. )

... The trial went well, didn't it?

[souredsweet]

It would be too risky to use anything that obvious. [a nod of agreement... while not quite as loud and dramatic as Spain's, there's a sigh from Kaoru as well.] As Miss Aozaki mentioned, needing too many alibis could damn us. Our collaborative testimony will have to be sparse to keep our alliance secret, and the crime itself will need to be planned perfectly so that the trials don't go as well as this one did. We can't afford foolish mistakes.

[SPEAKING OF.] —Why in the world did you vote for Mr. Clyde, anyway?

[pasodoble]

Foolish mistakes... Of course.

Hm? ( Tilting his head to one side. What sort of question is that? Isn't it kind of obvious? Oh, well, he'll explain, ) I suppose it's because... I'm more of a lover than a killer. ( Meaning: ) I couldn't really condemn a ( rather attractive ) young woman. I have a reputation!

That said, they performed well at the trial. ( And whatever cheery smile he may have had before, fades. ) We'll have to watch out for them.

[souredsweet]

[SPAIN... Kaoru's expression flattens a little but there's no surprise present.]

You and Miss Aozaki both have risked casting suspicion upon yourselves by voting for someone when an obvious culprit had been caught. I would suggest against that in the future.

[do they have the popularity rankings yet IT IS A MYSTERY. either way] Miss Sto Helit, Miss Marlow, Miss May and Mr. Stilinski are the current largest threats, by my estimate. They will either have to be removed quickly or studied intently so that no one accidentally commits a murder that they may solve.

[pasodoble]

But it's the truth.

( Even if it really was wiser to set aside feelings. He'll remember that from now on. Spain nods along with Karou's suggestions until one name in particular is spoken, to which he immediately shoots a glare. )

We aren't going to kill May; she's just a child!

[souredsweet]

[Kaoru raises a hand, placating. not even gonna touch that first comment...]

Which is why I said removed or watched. I do not wish to kill Miss May either, but with her apparent knowledge of chemicals, any murder revolving around them or involving them in any way will be difficult to execute flawlessly. She would have to be guided off course if that were to happen.

At any rate, I believe her to be the least threatening of the four. Miss Sto Helit and Miss Marlow seem to be the most.

[pasodoble]

( . . . )

( Physically, Spain will relax, or at least, try to look like he is. It's obvious he's still on edge about the earlier comment. )

Marlow would be the easier of the two but leaving Miss Sto Helit alone for too long...

( His voice trails off. Figures that take on leadership roles and gain popularity, especially one with enough power to begin with-- it's a possibility that he can't help but take a little personally. )

[souredsweet]

[in direct response, Kaoru's expression and tone soften a little.]

Miss Sto Helit is a massive hurdle. She is talented, intelligent and has the backing of many people already. However, Miss Marlow and Mr. Stilinski may have worked out a system that could make one or both of them more difficult to kill. I saw them leave the smoking room together and they seemed to be working closely during the trial itself, as well.

[pasodoble]

... But it's impossible for them to be together all of the time.

( Give him a minute to think this out but... )

[souredsweet]

There is also the possibility that one or both may receive immunity for their talented performance at the trial, keep that in mind.

...Still, Miss Marlow would be the easiest target, given the current set up of our sleeping wing. [MASS CORROBORATION OF ALIBIS ie emerald wing is the wing of murderers good job guys] Unless you would prefer to target Mr. Stilinski, of course, but I doubt framing Miss Marlow would work out well, given her performance in the trial.

[pasodoble]

( Green is the color of death apparently. )

I would prefer it, actually, but given the circumstances, even I wouldn't risk it. ( And this is the guy who sailed his entire armada at a certain stormy island. But then again, his luck hasn't been good in a long time. ) If we could distract Clyde, we might have some freedom to cover it up.

Of course, none of this matters if she receives immunity.

[souredsweet]

[death, which descends on pastel-green wings]

She will not have immunity her entire stay, if she receives it at all. ...Clyde may not be a problem, either. [wow pretending to be nice might have actually helped for once!!]

Still, in case we have to save that for a later day, we should look at our other options as well and decide who will be doing the murder this week. I personally believe I would not be fit for a kill so soon, as I have a lot to learn in regard to modern crime scenes and other such things that may prove to be fatal slips in a trial. [because wow who knew murders involved so much science]

[vytis]

I don't see why you all couldn't provide alibis for each other, having them say you were somewhere when you weren't.

[Helpful producer advice?]

[speakveryclearly]

Maybe, but there's quite a bit of risk in a proposition like that, sir - consider Susan's harping on her visibility in the courtyard through the ballroom's windows. One misplaced person could topple the entire house of cards, no?

[vytis]

I wouldn't suggest using that explanation every time, of course--but if someone not on the suspect list claimed that they met you in their room at that time, it's not as if anyone else would know.

[speakveryclearly]

That's a risk potentially worth taking when the competition is thinner [s h u d d e r] but with over two dozen witnesses running around I'd rather take the time to work out a better plan than that.

[vytis]

Then my suggestion would be to select times very few people would have alibis for. Either that or frame someone specifically.

[speakveryclearly]

How effective would our framing job have to be to get someone listed as a suspect?

[vytis]

If you want to frame someone, let me know. I'll make sure they show up on the list. Regarding the creation of false alibis, incidentally--if you do decide to attempt such a thing, be absolutely certain you won't get caught.

[His friendly face fades for the moment into a more severe and serious one.] None of you would like the consequences of this group being discovered, as I'm sure you're all aware. If you ever get caught, you'd better have a very good excuse.

[aozaki]

As a magus, I can see Susan through her trick, if what's written on her card is correct. The real problem is we shouldn't rely on each other too much for an obvious pattern to become discernible. As Lithuania's pointed out, our advantage in numbers can be completely turned against us if anyone begins suspecting an allegiance among our numbers.