sticksandbones | some sunny day

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in stars and time: siffrin

some sunny day

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

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?

[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?

[ 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!!! ]

[ 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.

[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!

[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?!

[ 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. ]

[ Odile keeps Loop's arm twisted behind their back with one hand and uses the other to press down on their head. ]

And no more from you for the moment.

[muffled angry Loop noises]

[Stan doesn't trust for a second that Sif won't try and bolt the second they have a chance, or that Isabeau would keep a tight enough grip on him to keep him in place, but he's outnumbered now. ...Or at least, he's outnumbered in terms of people who aren't being held down with their face smushed into the floor.]

...Fine.

[He doesn't let Siffrin go to Isabeau himself, but he walks him over to hand him off directly. It's only when he feels Siffrin in Isabeau's grip that he finally releases his grip and takes a few steps back. He drums his fingers on the handle of his cane, tense as if he's expecting something to happen. Something he needs to be ready to defend against.]

There. Happy?

[Hey, Siffrin sure isn't fighting it. They cast Stan a sour look for the totally unnecessary escort, but they're reaching out for Isabeau as soon as he's within arm's reach, quickly latching onto his side.]

[ Alright, Odile has a handle on Loop, and Stan at least agrees readily enough there's some relief that shows. Right, because getting physical to try and take them back by force was not planned in his books today. ]

Thanks, sorry.

[ An apology as needed because all things considered, Isabeau is sad about the news with Dipper. Even if an apology is empty without the means and answers as to what happened.

Still, he does believe they can talk this all out and figure out what really happened. One step at a time, though. His grip on Siffrin is careful but solid enough to assure Stan, only to adjust it once Siffrin reaches out to him. That arm winds firmly around them, securing a hold both for their own safety and everyone else's as they latch to his side and he tucks them there.

A glance around to access the situation more (??? his door??) right okay, not as important here. A deep breath. ]

I know repeating is going to sound annoying but, it might help to revisit and go through everything you guys know together? Though it sounded like you were in the middle of discussing something as I came in.

[ The things about "copies"?? ]

[Isabeau has this way of apologizing that makes Stan actually want to believe him...but also, he's still pretty ticked off. So, he looks to Odile.]

Ladies first. Besides, you got to the scene first anyway, right?

["The beginning" starts with her, if they're cluing in someone who hasn't seen the crime scene - and if they want calm, he's not the person to talk to right now.]

Mafuyu and I discovered the body. It was blocking the door. I sent the young one away, and she sent a healer for Dipper. That was Ain. He investigated and moved the body, I checked the window. Stanley and Stanford arrived. Loop discovered a bloody knife in the bushes just outside, so I brought them inside. Once the knife was handed over Loop and I left. I returned after hearing the sounds of a fight, and had to forcibly restrain Loop.

[ She didn't actually do much investigating. ]

They claim that Siffrin responded strangely while they were discussing the crime, and that this is proof that they are a fake and that they murdered Dipper. As you can see from the ceiling, [ she nods in the direction of a large slash mark that was definitely meant for Siffrin's head, ] they are intent on killing him. Apparently this isn't the first time.

[ If Loop so much as squeaks she is going to push harder on their head. ]

[Stan actually hadn't looked too close at any of the hallway damage and he winces when he looks up and sees the big gash up there. Well! An attempt sure was made there!

But that's fine, because Dipper's dead and Stan's feeling increasingly like strangling someone with each passing second.]

I dunno about any of that part, you'll prolly have to ask Loop, but I stayed at the crime scene. So the whole thing happened in Dipper's old room here, and he's been using it as a dark room. We got a note saying he was meeting up with a friend, and Siffrin here said Dipper was showing him how the whole photography thing works. From what I gather, they were alone, right?

[You know, since he gave Siffrin the chance to say someone else was there and he decided to whine about getting accused instead. That's what happened, right? That's what Stan remembers.]

Anyway it's complicated but to develop pictures you gotta dunk them in chemicals in the dark, and if its not dark the pictures don't come out. You can't let the chemicals get exposed to light either or they get all messed up. Dipper knows all that, so he wouldn't have opened the door to let someone new in. It all had to have been someone who was already in the room, 'cause Dipper would have had to put all his stuff away first so it wouldn't get wrecked. It looks like someone got him by surprise where he was working too - a bunch of stuff's knocked over there.

[Stan has his arm over his stomach. It's the closest he can get to crossing his arms while keeping a hand on the Red Herring. Maybe it's not shocking, but it doesn't actually get easier to rehash Dipper's death over and over and over again. He takes a deep breath and keeps going.]

So from what I gather, it looks like someone who was in the room with him stabbed him with one of his own knives, propped him up against the door, and left out the window. So unless someone else was with them, Siffrin's the only one who could've done it.

[They have been politely tolerating the Researcher's rough handling up until now, but between having to watch the Fighter holding Siffrin like that when he's a blinding fake and having their secret-adjacent past actions (that they still don't even remember!!) brought up a third time—blind it all, they're going to do a lot more than squeak.

The push back against her weight, at least enough to not be speaking directly into the floor.]

Siffrin is the only one who could've done it, all of the evidence points to that, which is why that isn't Siffrin.

Stars, the Siffrin I know would find some way backwards to blame himself, if anything! He'd be too hung up on failing to save Dipper to argue this much! I'd be the one defending him right now if he didn't keep pushing back against saying anything at all! Why would he be so against it?! He'd want to find the killer himself, if he was innocent!

There are copies of people running around, it's another one of the Forest's sick games! Stan, you believe at least that much, don't you? Someone else here has to have noticed, there's no way it was only me!

[Stan doesn't answer at first, mulling it over. That caught his attention earlier too and he never got an answer. Then, finally, to Odile--]

...Let them up. They're making a lot of sense and if I had to let go of Siffrin to play nice, then you can get their face off the floor.

[His attention is trained on Loop now, but not in a suspicious way. He wants to know more and if he's helping to get Loop off the ground, then Loop had better elaborate when they get the chance. He hasn't noticed, but he does believe and wants to know what the hell is going on with the copies.]

[Wow, Stan really is becoming their favourite Grunkle today.

... but it's a little different, what with the huge gash in the ceiling and all. They sigh, shifting uncomfortably under Odile.]

Fighter. Do not let Siffrin move an inch, and I can promise you I won't try anything. You have my word.

[They just have to trust them.]

Yes, I've noticed the copies.

[ She kinda got sidetracked when she was about to tell Stanford about it. She glares at Loop, then sighs. ]

If you try to attack any of us again, I won't be so forgiving.

[ She lets them up.

It. Takes a bit longer for her to straighten herself. With a groan. ]

[Loop stands, giving their back and limbs a stretch as they readjust to a standing position. Arms... sore. Shoulder... still oozing blood. Gonna be bruised later. Wonderful, blinding wonderful.

...

They cup one hand, casting a regenerative Craft on themselves. Then, they clap their hands together.]

That wasn't so bad, was it?

[Playing! Nice!! For the greater good!!!]

[ It's... a lot of information to absorb. Not really pipping up as he takes it all in, thinking it over.

His expression is mostly smoothed out, contemplative, not really giving off too much as he thinks outside a furrow of his brows. But his free hand clenches as people move, unfurling after and offering a nod. Yeah, he's got Siffrin. Don't worry.

That arm around Siffrin grows a bit firmer, but only they will be able to feel the faint tremble of that hand against them. Isabeau shifting to angle himself more against everyone else though, sorry. If any actions do come their way Isabeau will definitely be taking the brunt of it.

So alright everyone, please play nice indeed!!! ]

None of this would have been necessary if you had talked to us instead of immediately resorting to violence.

[ She gives Loop another glare for good measure. ]

Well he started it. [they will die on this particular hill

... but they do ease off a bit, once they get a look at that glare being levelled at them. hnng.]

... Stars. None of you would know the real Siffrin if they were standing right in front of you. It had to me. It's not like I went in planning to start a fight, I really did just want to talk.

I won't allow some pale copy to take stardust's place. He's suffered enough already.

Then tell us how he started it!

[Stan says it like it's easy and simple and obvious.]

"I know him better than anyone" ain't gonna cut it here. Tell us exactly what happened when you went to talk to him, and why he's different. I get that these two probably could've picked up on it and maybe they should've, but I don't know any of you from a hole in the wall! ...Or in the door, I guess.

[He casually glances at the dent in Isabeau's door. Now's really not the time for it, but he can't help it, it was right there staring him in the face.]

Anyway. Lay it out for me like I'm an idiot, Loop. Why's he the copy?

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