❧ I shot the sheriff! - Final Act

[luministimods]

Citizens of Luministi! I come before you today with news of the gravest sort!

[a likely now-familiar dark-haired girl appears on the CATs and vidscreens of every resident, her arms thrown out to her sides in her usual theatrical manner, but her expression is very grim indeed]

As you know, our fair town has experienced two maliciously malignant murders already in the past week. And it is my bemoaned burden to have to bring you this devilishly dire news today--there has been a third murder. A murder of someone very close to our own hearts. An--[cuts off, sniffling. she lowers her arms and her head and swipes a finger at her eye. keeps her head down when she begins to speak again, still sniffling] I'm sorry, dear citizens. This murder weighs heavily on my own heart. But I shall, as always, do my doleful duty and report this egregious event. Andre--Andre Ardes, our benevolent bartender, is dead. Hit over the head by one of his own bottles and then...then, with the bottle, his throat... [but her voice catches, and she turns away from the CAT, putting her hands up to hide her face] I'm sorry. [her voice is choked with tears] But Audrey is a melancholic mess. It's not fair! Why is this happening? This was supposed to be fun! [wipes her face, sniffling some more. after spending a moment composing herself, she turns back to the CAT]

I apologize, dear citizens. There is more news to share, and I'm dutifully dependable enough to share it. You see... [lowers her voice] I was told not to share it all, but the news is the news, and I won't let it be stopped! Not in this horrifically horrendous case. So I tell you now, out of nothing more than the insistence of my heroic heart, that a note was found with...Andre... [her voice catches again, and she stops to take a deep breath, but she stays composed this time] It said, "This is what happens to traitors." I... [clenches her hands into fists at her sides, her voice rising again] Who, I ask you, in their right mind could ever think that amenable Andre was a traitor?

[but she takes another deep breath, lowering her voice again when she continues] There is something dark afoot in our threatened town, and it's the news' job to sort it out. So I, as your representative of the news, am going to lead the way in getting to the bottom of this. No one else is going to die on my watch! You see, citizens, I am not only dedicated and dutiful but also boundlessly brave. I'm going to confront the killer and make him or her change their ways!

[a bit sheepishly] Only, I'm not sure who to confront yet... So I come to you with a plea. Who do you think the killer might be? If you have any ideas, come to the Town Square, and we'll go from there, to get that killer out of our hair!

[ooc: Verita is completely serious about confronting the murderer. In this post, you can feel free to interact with her ICly and, if you would like to confront someone, she will be happy to accompany you! Your actions here may have an effect on the further progression of the game. Also, those who were interrogated by the sheriff, feel free to enjoy the effects on your characters!]

Comments

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[the Doctor arrives in a moment, offering her a smile] I've got a few suspects, but first I want you to tell me one thing...what have all these victims got in common? Might narrow it down just a bit.

[luministimods]

I don't know! [waves her arms helplessly, looking quite distraught] But they were all nice people. [sniffs]

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[sympathetically offers her a hand to hold] Was there anyone they all knew?

[luministimods]

[takes his hand, wiping at her eyes with the other] They've been in town for a long time, so lots of us knew them. Anybody who does anything important in town, like me, we know just about everybody. But how could anybody who knows us say such mean things about Andre!?

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[gently] We're gonna find out, yeah? Brax sent me a transcript of a transmission...do the initials HA or HR mean anything to you?

[luministimods]

Initials? [thinks for a long moment] No, I can't think of anybody with names like that. Are you sure they're initials? [sniffs again, trying to stop crying] Why are they important?

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Not able to stand seeing the dear woman cry, Fuu comes over to speak with her (her happy tone a bit at odds with the atmosphere).]

Oh, Miss Verita! [Fuu nabs one of her hands and gives it a comforting squeeze.] That was so brave of you, really. How else could we have known about the note?
Are you doing okay?

[luministimods]

Thanks. [sniffles, wiping her eyes] I just don't know why people are...are dying. Andre was always very nice to me, and Audrey's such a good friend! It's not fair.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

No, no of course it's not. [Takes some tissues out from her small purse and hands them to her.] Especially when it's nice people.

But, are you certain that you want to do this - go after the murder? I fear that you might be in danger now, after sharing that bit about the note. On one hand, they might go into hiding now that you've so boldly proclaimed that you're after them. But on the other hand, you might have made yourself a target. It depends on the motives of the person, I suppose...

[Gyah, but she's going on and on!]

But! If you want to keep going with this, I'll try and help you out, okay?

[luministimods]

[accepts the tissues, blowing her nose. when she's done, she nods determinedly and, in fact, looks a bit surprised at that idea] Nobody would come after me! Daddy will make sure of that. And the news is the news, and it's my job to share it!

I do! Any help would be enormously appreciated. What do you think we should do?

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Okay! That's the spirit.

Well, perhaps we'll start with some questions. Like who is your father, if I may? I really don't know much about the relationships and politics in town. The note accused Ardes of being a traitor, right? So there must be at least two factions in this town. Rather like something I read in a note once. But anyways, can you think of something that the town is divided over? It might give us a clue to who leads each side.

[alwaysanarcher.livejournal.com]

[Cissie comes over as soon as she can! She's a little breathless - blame the archery practice, since she brought her bow and arrows along - but regardless, she's nearby with tissues and her sympathies.]

My condolences, Miss Verita.

I'm... I'm just not so sure if you should confront the killer. You just might end up killing him. Not when you know so little about him... or her. [this last sentence is an afterthought, and it slightly shows.]

[luministimods]

[accepts the tissues, blowing her nose, but then she looks up at Cissie, quite shocked]

Kill someone? Me? Never! [determined] We just have to find who it is so we can get the sheriff to stop them.

[alwaysanarcher.livejournal.com]

["I thought I'd never kill someone either."] ... Good. Remember that.

I'm sure we'll be able to bring the killer to justice. [Though how is another question.]

[luministimods]

[blinks] I couldn't forget. We have to get justice for Andre! [sniffles again]

Do you have any idea who might have done such a terrifically terrible thing?

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[... :C

DON'T WORRY, VERITA. YOUR ASSISTANT FRIEND XION IS THERE FOR YOU. She's actually going to come and portal into the Town Square, as usual.]

Oh... I'm... I'm sorry...

[luministimods]

[Verita is so relieved!]

[sniffles, looking over at Xion] Me too. It's just not fair! [rubs her eyes]

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

[Xion doesn't normally initiate physical contact, but... Verita is so upset, and she doesn't know what else to do, so... Xion's going to reach over and give her a hug.]

[luministimods]

[hugs her back, still sniffling] Thanks...

[irreversibly.livejournal.com]

I... I'm sorry. I know how you feel...

[likefedex.livejournal.com]

[Verita seems to have a fan.]

What a hot-blooded speech from our brave poet-heroine!

[luministimods]

[looks up, surprised] You think I'm a heroine? [sniffs]

[likefedex.livejournal.com]

You sounded like one just now! I could feel the heat of your burning soul in your passionate words, even in such an emotional moment! It was so cool!

[luministimods]

[can't help a smile at that] Thank you! But I have a very important job to do, you know. [sniffs again] Especially now that people have...have died.

[likefedex.livejournal.com]

I heard about that. Has anyone come forward with anything useful? If I knew anything I'd say it, but I just got here. It's the worst possible timing because the first suspect is almost always the person who nobody knows!