route_1065 | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who:

veritadorata [closed]
Where: Violet City
When: The afternoon of April 3rd
Summary: Two magicians meet to talk about MYSTERIES.
Rating: G, PG at the highest
Log:

[Needless to say... in this storm, with those things wandering about, being outside wasn't exactly at the top of Kaito's list of things to do. But his last conversation with his fellow magician friend had left him curious and uneasy, and now that he was in Violet (the same city Battler claimed to be in) he was going to seek the redhead out for some answers.

He normally didn't pry any further into mysteries than what was necessary. Some things weren't meant to be known, and Kaito had long since earned a deep appreciation for the unknown. When someone brought up 'murder,' however... things were far, far different.

Right now, Kaito was darting through the streets of Violet City toward the inn, flinching as he brushed past a few flopping Magikarp and hopping Chinchou. If he didn't look at them, then he'd be okay... right? Right?

There had been no sign of Battler so far, but even if the spiky-headed magician was in a rush... he was keeping an eye out for a splash of red amongst the gloomy, rainy backdrop of the afternoon]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Where to start...

[Keeps silent for a moment, absently drying his head. The bed is drenched now, but he doesn't seem to care.]

How much do you know about mystery novels? My point... how much do you know how they are constructed?

[Plops on the bed himself-- oops still soaking wet-- and leans back on his hands]

'M not that big of a fan of mystery novels, but I've read a few. [A nod] I know the general set up. The detective, the suspects, the tricks...

[Nods.] There are a few things to keep in mind while reading a mystery novel, so that you can enjoy it at its fullest. Right now I'll only mention a few, but you'll understand later on why I am starting with this. First of all, you must be set on solving a mystery novel yourself. True, the answer is given at the end... but the point is to have the same clues the detective is given, to see the same scenario the detective is seeing... to solve the crime at the same time, so when the detective draws out the culprit, you can say "hah, I knew it!"

[Battler seems absorbed on his explanation, but makes a small pause...]

It... wouldn't be fair for a reader if the crime was solved by a demon, or an all knowing angel, right? The mystery genre is very special about it. Second thing, then, the detective must solve the crime using rational and scientific methods. No matter how twisted or impossible the crime may seem.

[He may not be the biggest mystery novel fan, but he knows enough about them to sense where this is going]

'Course. It'd be impossible for the reader to solve if the culprit used unknown or hidden methods to commit the crime.

Exactly. The good old mystery novels from the golden age followed some rules, more or less, to prevent that.

Ihihi... it took me a good while to understand those rules, but a dear friend of mine made sure I got them right.

The culprit must be mentioned in the early part of the story. Nothing supernatural can be used as detective technique. There must not be any hidden passages or doors. No mysterious drugs or weird 'scientific' devices that no one understands. The detective can't rely on accidents or intuition. The detective can't be the culprit. The crime can't be solved with clues not presented...

Heh heh, I still remember most of it, I'm surprised!

-- Father Knox's Decalogue. The rules-- or I guess I should say guidelines-- of every mystery novel.

Simplified, but they sound accurate. [Headtilt] I think you missed some, though.

Well, yeah. I did say "most", heeeh.

[Another pause, his face goes back into thoughtful mode.]

As with any mystery novel... I should start with the plot setting, then present the characters and then go on with the crime, right?

[A nod]

The detective first?

There is no detective... but I guess this guy named Ushiromiya Battler can fill the slot for now.

[Slooow blink]

Sounds like an interesting twist... I'll accept it.

You know? Maybe you should play the part of this 'Battler' person. Let me just describe what happened...

You just arrived to your grandfather's island, after a tiresome trip. All your family is there, all those aunts and uncles you haven't seen in six years. And your cousins, of course! You're now taller than George-aniki, that made you feel weird. And Maria doesn't remember you, but last time you saw her she was three, so it was only logical. Ah, and that rude and loud girl, Jessica! She's your cousin too. For you, this looks like the start of a fun weekend, after all, you're part of the 'kids'. Adults should be able to solve their things, right?

[Leaning back and giving Battler a grin as he nods, listening intently]

Of course, adults are not always as mature as they like to pretend. So, while they discussed about what would happend after grandfather died, you and the kids decide to catch up. You remember the servants, right? The stoic Genji and old Kumasawa. And Shannon too... ah, she's beautiful~ ♥ last time you saw her she was what? Twelve? Thirteen? And now she's a gorgeous young woman, with those big, bouncy, squishy breasts just right there, waiting to be grabbed...

Sadly, it's time to move forward the story a little. In your defense, you did warn her you'd try.

As you walk inside the mansion, a huge portrait in the hall catches your eye. An elegant woman with blond hair, wearing a long, black dress, stares at you with her deep blue eyes. Maria tells you she's Beatrice, the witch of Rokkenjima. Jessica says the old geezer put that portrait in there recently, alongside the weird epitaph just below it...

My beloved hometown, the sweetfish river running through it.
You who seek the Golden Land, follow its path downstream and seek the key.

If you follow the river downstream, you will find a village.
In the village, look for the shore the two will tell you of.
There sleeps the key to the Golden Land.

He who lays hand upon the key shall travel under the rules below.

At the first twilight, you shall lift up as sacrifice the six chosen by the key.
At the second twilight, the surviving shall tear apart the two who are close.
At the third twilight, the surviving shall praise my honorable name on high.
At the fourth twilight, gouge the head and kill.
At the fifth twilight, gouge the chest and kill.
At the sixth twilight, gouge the stomach and kill.
At the seventh twilight, gouge the knee and kill.
At the eighth twilight, gouge the leg and kill.
At the ninth twilight, the Witch shall be revived and none shall be left alive.
At the tenth twilight, the journey shall end and you should reach the village of gold.

The Witch will praise the wise, and should bestow four treasures.
One shall be, all the gold from the Golden Land.
One shall be, the resurrection of the souls of all the dead.
One shall be, even the resurrection of the lost love.
One shall be, to put the Witch to sleep for all time.

Sleep peacefully, my most beloved witch, Beatrice.

[He almost snorts in laughter at the part about Shannon, but snaps back to curious attention once Battler begins the epitaph.

It's pretty clear the epitaph is more than just... well. An epitaph. But again he says nothing, opting to listen carefully instead]

It... sounds ominous, doesn't it? But you don't pay much attention to it. After all, even when they told you it was about some secret gold hidden in the island, this wasn't something that picked your attention...

And then, enter the typhoon. Let's just say the island is now completely cut off from the outside world, since there are no boats sailing with this weather, and the storm cut the telephone lines...

[Battler pauses again, he needs to get to the real point of the story. He finally decided how to explain things to Kaito, but patience isn't his forte.]

All in all, your night isn't that bad. You play cards with your cousins, make fun of Jessica and her lousy love life, ah! And you also almost choked with the news George-aniki and Shannon had something going on. Saying goodbye to your first love feels nostalgic, but you wish for them to be happy, don't you?

But we're far into the story and the crime hasn't been presented yet. So let's fast forward to the next morning. The adults aren't there, yet there is much movement in the mansion. Natsuhi oba-san went outside with Eva oba-san and Hideyoshi-san, and Jessica, George and you are worried something might have happened.

You run with them, following your aunts, until you reach a storehouse in the garden. You almost feel your guts freezing inside as Natsuhi oba-san's face turns white when she sees all of you, and immediately runs towards you, trying to stop you from coming any closer.

Why would she do that? There's uncertainty and confusion in your mind. There is someone in there, isn't it? And that smell... is that blood? That suit, those shoes. Isn't that your old man? Isn't that Kyrie-san?

You're not really sure of what's happening, but Jessica's piercing scream drags you back to reality, only to notice you're screaming too.

Your father. The father you hated so much because of the asshole he had been. The father you antagonized with, the one you could be childish and immature with, because that was the right thing to do to show him how much you disagreed with everything he had done. He is there, on the floor, with his face smashed down, resting on a pool of his own blood beside his wife, who is in no better shape than he is. Jessica's father is there too. Maria's mother is there too. Even Gohda-san... and Shannon...

How could this be? Why did this happen? Who could've done this...?

[Closed circle... he's definitely heard of that mystery novel technique. With a nod, he continues to listen.

His calm expression flickers slightly when Battler reaches the part about the murders, and in order to prevent it from revealing his true emotions (it hits entirely too close to home for his own comfort), he ducks his head down and gives it a shake]

... a murder, huh? [A beat] 'M sorry, Battler-san. [He... knows what it feels like to lose a family member to murder]

[Battler keeps silent for some moments, though his face remains as calm as it has been since he started his story.

He wasn't bothered by it. Didn't he tell that to the Phantom Thief back then? He was past that stage by now. Words as sword, Truth as shield. That was all.

And now, it was time to use those weapons.]

Maria was sleeping with you, in the cousin's room in the Guest House. Genji, Kumasawa, Shannon and Kanon (that is another servant) were in the Manor with doctor Nanjo, as were your old man, Kyrie-san, your uncles and aunts. The doors were locked, as every night. Windows were locked, due to the storm.

They had at least 6 hours before Natsuhi oba-san found them in the garden storehouse. The door was locked, and the windows are far too small for a person to fit. It made no sense! Why would someone kill all six of them, drag them there, smash their faces, lock the shutter and then return the key to where it was? All of them had alibis... and all of them were close to the family.

[Turns to look at Kaito, keeps silent again for a second...]

It was impossible for any of them to have done that. But then, Maria says she knows who it was.

Beatrice. The witch of Rokkenjima.

[ooc: uh, i fail at this thing, can we assume Battler actually told him ep1 up to the first twilight? |D]

... impossible.

[Another, thoughtful pause. How impossible was it really?]

So everyone assumes a witch was the one who killed them all...?

((I thought that's what he was doing? :|a But sure! I know canon so it's all good o/))

Impossible? It is the witch's epitaph after all.

At the first twilight, you shall lift up as sacrifice the six chosen by the key.

Besides, didn't Beatrice sent a letter saying she would take back what was hers, with interest?

[[I kinda forgot the letter part and stuff, that's why |DDD]]

[He nods]

'S pretty simple on the surface... but this wouldn't be a game if it were as simple as "a witch did it," right?

((... oops. I did too so we're both good XD /assumes!))

If you think it isn't this simple... then prove me wrong. You are taking the place of this Battler guy, aren't you?

Tell me how this story will continue.

[Leaning back again thoughtfully, before repeating part of the story he had already committed to memory]

At the second twilight, the surviving shall tear apart the two who are close.

If those six died in a way predicted by the epitaph, then it sounds like someone is killing people based on the epitaph. Two more people die, don't they? Two people who are close.

Everyone is family, so "the two who are close" can't be determined by simple family bonds... 's gotta be something stronger than that.

[A beat] A couple. Shannon and George sound like they'd fit, but Shannon is already dead. [Another pause... he's thinking]

Would it be Eva and Hideyoshi?

Not bad, Kaito-san!

Eva oba-san and Hideyoshi-san needed some rest, since everyone was under a lot of pressure.

The door was closed, the chain was up. Hideyoshi-san was on the tub, his forehead pierced cleanly, the same wound that they found of Eva oba-san's head, as she was lying on the bed. Windows were closed and locked.

How did this happen?

[Thoughtful paaaaaause]

Some doors let you lock them before you exit. You twist the lock and pull the door shut, and while you were able to step outside, no one else is able to enter.

'S gotta be something like that.

Do chains set themselves too?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

WHY DO YOU TALK SO MUCH BATTLER WHY.

BATTL;DR 8D

*CRIES FOREVER*

*A*

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

CRIES FOREVER

A