some sunny day

[sticksandbomesmods]

Its the early morning, the sun has been up for about an hour or two with the quiet stirring of the Grove. The town slowly wakes up, and goes about their morning...

There is a smell in the halls of the Inn. Subtle in the early hours, but as the sun rises higher in the sky, it becomes difficult to ignore. Pungent and sharp. It's the smell of warm milk on the cusp of growing sour.

Under one of the doors a bright, almost pearlescent substance, that has started to leak out.


Uncovered Clues:

1. Unlocked door.
2. Signs of light scuffling
3. Upended box of pastries
4. Stabbed in the heart, likely died instantly
5. Wound is small with no exit wound.
6. Window is Adjacent to Body
7. Dipper's blood is two different colors, red and pearlescent white. The pearl blood seems older. The red blood comes straight from the wound.
8. body is cold and has been dead some time.
9. Noise at 10-11 pm
10. Dipper left a note for his uncles he was meeting a friend.
11. KNIFE

Comments

[theuniverseleads]

[They're still slowed, and with that boost in strength—she wrenches them down, Craft unleashed a moment too late. The blast shreds into the wall just a hair shy of Siffrin, slicing deep enough to show their intent.

Under threat of defenestration or not, they still continue to struggle, flaring and sparking and snarling. Not yet, not yet, not while he still lives—]

He killed Siffrin! He killed him, he killed him, you can't let him leave! I can prove it! He killed Siffrin and he killed Dipper!! Researcher, you're smart, you have to see it, it's not him!

[Screeching in their hysteria, they try to throw Odile off of them—and they may be smaller, but they still have several dozen levels over the Researcher. Now that they're fighting for their life, they're willing to bruise her up a little for the sake of murder.]

[start_again]

What are you even saying?! I'm Siffrin! And I didn't kill anyone!!

[Siffrin has to shout over Loop's screaming and screeching, which only adds to the chaos of this scene.]

[alphacraft]

[ Odile has the advantage of gravity, but she's not in a very stable position. She grunts as Loop nearly succeeds in throwing her, stopped only by the minor problem of their arms being tangled together. She's knocked off her balance, her arms aching as they try to twist the wrong direction. ]

Stanley! Stanford! A few extra hands would be appreciated!

[charlastan]

[It would be hard to miss all the commotion going on in the hall, but Stan admittedly tried pretty hard. Honestly, it felt like he and Ford were just starting to get somewhere when Odile shouts for them.

In a split second, Stan decides this is probably worth it - the odds of this not having something to do with Dipper's murder are pretty slim after all. When he bursts through the door he has his hand on his cane just under the handle, ready to transform it into its gun form if needed.

Maybe another person would have moved to help Odile hold Loop back, but he's heard enough through the door that he takes a different approach. In a quick motion, he takes advantage of his position and moves to scruff Siffrin with his free hand like a cat.]

Alright, EVERYBODY can it! And you, quit struggling.

[That nod was to Loop, and maybe a little to Odile. She shouldn't let go yet, but also Stan thinks he's got a pretty good grip on Siffrin here so maybe that will calm Loop down a little?]

[theuniverseleads]

[They really, really want to keep struggling, feeling a bit of progress made with knocking the Researcher off them—if they keep at it they know they'll succeed and then they can shut him up for good—

Stan is a wildcard, though. They don't know what to expect when he makes his appearance, and for a moment they think they'll really have to start using force against Odile... until he goes to grab Siffrin.

Oh.

Hmm.

... it does calm them down, if only a little bit. But that little bit matters when they were getting desperate.

They hiss in a breath, and slowly, slowly exhale it... and relax. There. Not struggling! Happy?

They'll start struggling again if Odile tries to throw them out a window tho]

[jouvente]

[ can't believe what a day Isabeau is gonna have later whenever he comes back from his morning jog ]

[start_again]

[ isa i'm so sorry

Siffrin reacts very much like a cat to being suddenly scruffed, limbs flailing dangerously for a moment given he's actively holding a knife, before he seems to recognize the futility of it and settles down. His breathing is heavy and his hand is clutching the collar of his cloak tightly to keep it from choking him, but he's not actively fighting it.]

[charlastan]

[Stan gives everyone a second to simmer down before he keeps going. No one lets go, and no one is actively trying to murder each other in the moment. To be honest, he actually seems a little surprised it worked this well!]

Alright, great! Good. Now, I only heard a little bit of whatever's going on out here but all of the he said/they said is already exhausting, so we're gonna start from the top. No buts. I've got a lot of questions, and I'm sure Odile does too.

[Yes, they sound like they already talked about it. No, Stan doesn't care. He wasn't there for it, so it doesn't count.

He doesn't pull Siffrin harder than he already is, but he does wiggle them in place a little bit so they know exactly who Stan's talking to.]

First thing's first - you. Where were you last night?

[Stan isn't making an threats exactly, but there's an edge to his voice that he can't help at this point. You know, since his nephew's been murdered and this might lead to answers about that.]

[start_again]

[Having his collar digging into his throat is not super conducive to talking. Siffrin has to wriggling a bit to get into a more viable position for it, a rasp in his voice when he finally manages to get words out.]

H-here, for a little while.

[Or, y'know. Dipper's room. He looks unwilling to even look in the direction of that open door right now.]

Dipper... He wanted to show me his camera thing, so we hung out for a bit, and then I left probably around 9ish? That's all I know. He's...he's my friend, why would I ever hurt him? And why would I say something that'd make me suspicious if I was the killer?!

[alphacraft]

[ Odile waits a moment to be sure Loop isn't about to start flailing again, then extracts her arms and grabs at their wrists to twist behind their back. Her knees hurt already, but she doesn't trust Loop not to start flailing and trying to kill Siffrin again. ]

[theuniverseleads]

[They start squirming again, ow ow ow be gentle!! They're delicate!!

Still (mostly) being good tho, Odile can stay up there as long as she doesn't try anything crazy.]

[charlastan]

[The comments about why or why not Siffrin would do something gets him another shake from Stan. Sorry buddy, he doesn't care.]

You know how many times I've gotten caught committing a crime 'cause I said something stupid and suspicious?

[He pauses for a second like he's trying to recall an approximate number, but only the scent of smoke and burning wood come to mind. ...Never mind all that.]

...Well, I dunno either. But I know it was a lot! Anyway, next question - what'd you do after you left? Any time before midnight, where were you and what were you doing?

[Got any kind of alibi, Siffrin?]

[start_again]

[ don't shake the baby!! it only draws a scowl out of siffrin, and he restrains the urge to try to kick the old man. no need to make this worse... ]

I went back to my room and went to bed since I didn't really have anything else to do. Can you let go already?

[alphacraft]

[ Yeah Odile is getting grumpy about that too. ]

Siffrin has made no attempt to escape, Stanley. There's no need to hold him like that.

[theuniverseleads]

[Loop just continuing to silently glare from the floor like no???? Keep holding him???? You let that motherfucker go and they are going OFF]

[charlastan]

[Stan does not let go. The most he does is lower Sif a little bit so the hold doesn't pull on his neck quite so much. His heels can fully touch the ground, as a treat.]

Relax, relax. I've only got one more question, and if he can talk his way outta this one he might be in the clear. Maybe.

[Maybe they're all expecting Stan to ask something more obviously relevant to the case, maybe if he rooms with anyone or who saw him last. But no, instead--]

Pop quiz! Why do you have to develop pictures in a dark room? If Dipper was showing you how photos work, then he must've warned you the doors and windows gotta stay shut. How come?

[start_again]

[Siffrin's expression is pure bafflement, halfway looking back over his shoulder to give Stan a perplexed look, like what does that have to do with anything?]

He said something about light messing up the pictures? I didn't question it so I don't know the details.

[charlastan]

[It has everything to do with it. He hangs onto Siffrin while he explains, laying it out for everyone else.]

Bingo! If normal light touches them before they're developed, they get exposed - you know, they get weird colors or the picture doesn't show up. And it looked like Dipper was really in the middle of it too. All the trays and chemicals are still out and everything.

[Stay with him on this journey here. "Let him cook," as the kids say.]

But y'know, it's kinda weird, right? His set up would have gotten all messed up if someone broke in to kill him - the light from the hall would've wrecked everything, so why would Dipper even open the door if he was still working? And it didn't seem like there was much time for a struggle...

[He hums thoughtfully, but doesn't really give a space to answer - not yet anyway.]

My guess is that whoever did it? Had to have already been in the room with him, grabbed his knife, stabbed him, and escaped out the window. Funny how Loop found Dipper's knife out there too!

[Even without taking Dipper's weird blood into account, the whole thing is real suspicious. He doesn't think he's as good at this kind of mystery solving stuff, so hopefully he's laid it out in a way that makes any amount of sense outside of his own head.]

Was anyone else in photography class? 'Cause if not, like it or not, you're suspect number one.

[theuniverseleads]

[... as Stan gives his explanation, Loop's expression lifts, just a little. Nice to have someone on their side for once.

...]

Aww, so I wouldn't be able to watch? That's too bad. [not the time for this but also dang, imagine getting left out of cool photography stuff because your head is a giant lightbulb... Universe can't let them have ANYTHING]

[start_again]

[Even with feet on the ground, Siffrin does not like being held onto like this. This is not part of his self-imposed touch therapy! A bitter, sarcastic laugh slips out of him and he tugs at the grip on his collar.]

It's not like I'm the only person in the whole grove he would have let in voluntarily! Maybe someone came by a while after I left! And why would I use his knife? I have my own!

[theuniverseleads]

... Stardust's knife has a pretty distinctive curve! I think you'd be in a lot more trouble if you had.

And I think Stanley has a good point, too. If he was deep in his work, he would've ruined the photos if he'd opened the door for someone. But it happened so quickly, it couldn't have been someone who entered through the window, either—Dipper had a weapon on him, but he never got a chance to draw it, right? No shouting, either. I've seen his reflexes firsthand, I don't think he'd take that long to react.

It had to be someone faster. Someone in the room that he trusted, someone familiar with the tool, and who knows where to strike to kill.

[staring directly at Siffrin No Middle Names No Last Names if that even is your real fake name sir]

[start_again]

[Siffrin stares right back, snarling. It is somewhat less intimidating when one is currently scruffed like a kitten.]

You're the last person who should be accusing anyone of murder. You just want me out of the way so you can take my place!

[And then he looks back over Loop's shoulder, expression shifting to something pleading.]

Odile, c'mon, you're the smart one. You can think of a way to convince them, right?

[alphacraft]

[ Odile's fury has subsided some now that the fight has ended, but she's still clearly displeased. Her expression only softens when she looks over at Siffrin. Don't worry, she's still on your side. ]

Loop. You said that this isn't Siffrin. Why?

[theuniverseleads]

[They bristle again when Siffrin speaks, that star in their eye shining red hot again—how dare he, how dare he?

They glare in tense silence, considering how quickly they'd be able to kill him if they threw Odile off right now... but they manage to retain enough composure not to. Even if they did, it wouldn't take back those words. It wouldn't prove anything at all.

They breath in and out roughly, anger simmering low.]

... it wasn't obvious until he lied. He said earlier I thought he was "more suspicious" during our little chat, but actually, I was ready to believe him. He's the one who kept arguing about telling everyone what he knew. He didn't want to talk, even when I said I'd back him up.

And... there are certain things stardust would never share. [their glare sharpens again, fixed on Siffrin] Are you sure you want to go that far? Over this? Is that what Siffrin would do?

[Is it?]

[alphacraft]

[ Before they can get into even more vague yet telling statements about things she's going to have to interrogate them about in private later, she cuts in again. ]

That doesn't constitute motive.

[ Why would Siffrin, either the real Siffrin or an imposter looking to take their place, kill Dipper? So far the evidence is purely circumstantial. ]