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

[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. ]

[theuniverseleads]

Does the Forest need a motive?

Maybe he figured it out! Dipper is a smart kid. Really, Researcher, don't tell me you of all people haven't noticed there are copies running around?

[alphacraft]

It does need a motive, actually. I've yet to see or hear of anything in this place that didn't have some purpose.

Your accusation is based solely on Siffrin's behavior after being accused of murdering his friend. Do you have any evidence besides the fact that they were in the room yesterday?

[charlastan]

[Ugh, he just explained it! How much more evidence does she need? He's almost positive he's gone to jail over less!]

I'm telling you, whoever it was had to be in the room with him! The chemicals gets all messed up in the light, Dipper would've had to put them all away first! I don't care if it was Siffrin or Paul Bunyan himself, but he got murdered by surprise by someone in the room!

[Stan pauses though, as Loop's addition really sinks in. He gesture to Loop with his cane - the handle end, not the gun end. Sorry, he just doesn't have any hands to point with.]

Wait. What do you mean "copies"?

[Then he squints at the back of Siffrin's head, as if that will reveal something to him.]

...How would we know if he's the real deal?

[jouvente]

[ Because clearly things aren't crazy and chaotic enough.

Anyways, there's the sound of heavier footsteps that seem to stagger at the top of the stairs and rushing over with the air of a confused dog. Because what the CRAB is GOING ON HERE. ]

Wh-- What happened?! I heard arguing outside and...

[ This is not the normal day he was expecting to have today. Between looking at where Loop is contained by Odile, "M'dame?!" to Stan scruffing poor Siffrin but

okay, okay okay okay okay okay. Slowly taking a step towards Stan with hands raised up, easy easy. Jus attention worriedly fixated on how Siffrin is being held up here. ]

I. Think I'm gonna need a quick explanation, a fast one.

[ Before he or anyone makes any drastic sudden moves here, please and thanks!!! ]

[alphacraft]

[ Oh hey, Isabeau. Someone who can hold Loop down without their joints hurting. Allow Odile to explain. ]

Dipper was found dead a short time ago. Loop has accused Siffrin of the crime, as well as being a false copy of himself, and has attempted to kill him. They don't seem to care who else gets hurt in the process.

[start_again]

[Oh, thank the Universe, another person he can reliably trust to be on his side here. Siffrin flails a bit in Stan's grip, turning thst pleading look on Isabeau and piping up before anyone can throw more accusations.]

I-Isa! You know me!! Tell them I would never hurt Dipper!

[charlastan]

[Of COURSE another person's turned up! Because it needed to be more chaotic. Stan can't help himself and snaps at Isabeau--]

You couldn't have gotten here FIVE MINUTES AGO when we did all the explaining?!

[He would drag a hand down his face, but all his hands are full right now.]

Ugh! Look. My nephew Dipper's dead. He got stabbed in the chest by someone he was showing his dark room photography stuff, and everyone is giving me SHIT about it just because it was Siffrin even though I'M RIGHT! Does that help?! Are you all caught up now?!

[jouvente]

[ Right

okay. Well, that

That is not good. There's a dawning realization of quiet horror at the mention of Dipper's apparent demise? But it's controlled quickly, and rather a look of accusation or doubt it's concern and worry thrown Siffrin's way between Odile and their word.

Even if he looks briefly in Loop's direction, a hesitant look until he turns back to Stan and Siffrin. Don't worry Stan, your blowup frustrations is not offending him here. ]

There's some things I don't quite get- [ between the dark room photography stuff ] but yeah, that has caught me up enough for now.

Look, Sif wouldn't hurt a friend, and especially not someone like Dipper! Not after.. [ okay, no time for that talk, he just shakes his head, expression mostly subdued as he takes another step. Carefully, no rush or sudden movements. ] I think we all need to take a deep breath and calm down for a moment. We can discuss this more calmly, can't we? To figure out what's going on?

[ It might be better for them to help Odile with Loop, really, but it doesn't sit well to have Siffrin in the hands of someone outside their group. ]

...Can I take hold of them? I promise I won't let him go anywhere, and I'm sure Sif knows better than to try and risk running away right now, so..

[ A stretched out hand for the fella. ]