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

[alphacraft]

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. ]

[theuniverseleads]

[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!!!]

[jouvente]

[ 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!!! ]

[alphacraft]

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. ]

[theuniverseleads]

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.

[charlastan]

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?

[theuniverseleads]

[They breathe in and sigh tiredly at the joke. Would've laughed if the mood were better, really! Not having a great time of it right now!

But he's right. They fold their arms, focusing on Stan instead of the looks their former party members are giving them.]

Alright. From the top, then.

I wasn't sure at first, so... I probably could have handled it better, admittedly. But I was worried, and I didn't like that it was even an option, so I wanted to hear what stardust had to say. I didn't want to make an accusation unless I was certain, and I didn't want someone else to reach the same conclusion first.

I asked him where he was last night, and he gave the same answer he gave all of you. I didn't expect him to just admit to being there if he did it, so I didn't think he was lying—he still isn't about that, I suppose—but I... wanted some proof, that it was really him. And he got mad at me for asking, and he refused to give me anything, demanded I explain what was going on first... so I relented, and I told him what happened with Dipper.

We yelled at each other. I tried to apologize, but he wouldn't accept anything. I told him I'd back him up if he told the rest of you what he knew, because I wanted to believe him. But he refused that, too. So I tried to let him cool off. I said I'd handle it myself, and... we both said... some things.

[... uselessly vague, haha. They shrink into themselves a bit.] Sorry, it's— it's personal. I can't. It's not relevant to this. [another pause to breathe, breathe, breathe]

... I think he was trying to provoke me on purpose. And it worked! And I didn't even realize he was a fake until he lied about what happened. He said I got more suspicious of him, but all I wanted was to clear his name. I wanted to believe he wouldn't lose to an imitation. Hah, he probably just gave up, didn't he? He was... never that good at self-preservation...

I'm such an idiot. I didn't recognize him, either. I should've known from the start.

[alphacraft]

[ Odile sighs, shuts her eyes and rubs the bridge of her nose. This is all new information to process, laid out very calmly and clearly. And that kind of pisses her off too. ]

Was that really so difficult, Loop?

[start_again]

[Siffrin bristles under Isabeau's arm, fingers tightening in his shirt.]

I lied? You're the blinding liar! And you keep acting like it's so weird that I'd be mad about being accused of murdering a child! By you, of all people! You should trust me more than anyone!

[This is all such a mess. With grit teeth, Siffrin thinks, tries to come up with some way to convince everyone–

Ah.]

...Wait! I have a witness! The fishtank in my room!

[jouvente]

[ Isabeau watches Loop closely, from the pointed jabs directed to clearly him and Odile both regarding Siffrin, before the full explanation of what went down. Lips press in a line, glancing in Odile's way briefly until down at Siffrin. His hold does not loosen nor tighten, just strictly keeping it as firm as it already is. ]

..The fishtank? [ No, Isabeau knows exactly what fishtank he's referring to, has been in that room before this after all. ] It was empty last time I saw..?

[ Which he didn't really question then but? Maybe he should've? ]

[theuniverseleads]

The squid??

[okay he's officially lost them, what the FUCK is he scheming]

[charlastan]

[Things were going so good. He got a GOOD explanation out of Loop, and he was ready to start questioning Siffrin, but now he's just staring.]

The what?!

[He's got to be kidding. Stan looks directly at Loop like, he's got to be kidding, right?????? But unfortunately Loop seems just as lost, so Stan groans.]

This is stupid. You want us to interrogate a goddamn fish?

[alphacraft]

[ Odile rubs the bridge of her nose harder. ]

Your fishtank? Siffrin, Loop has given their version of how things played out, you only need to share yours.

[start_again]

[Who could have guessed this would only add further confusion? Sigh.]

AGH. No, listen! The squid in my fishtank is Callan! The lake guardian monster thing! He can probably vouch for me being in my room during the murder!

[jouvente]

--There is a lake guardian monster thing that stays in your room??

[theuniverseleads]

—that's the lake guardian??

[wait no focus]

Why do you want his version of events? Have you been bribing him?

Why should any of us trust him?

[charlastan]

Huh. ...I kinda feel like I should be offended, since I'm part squid now or whatever?

[He doesn't know if he's actually bothered, but keeping a squid guardian as a pet is pretty weird either way.]

But yeah, what Loop said - that sounds like a lousy witness!

[alphacraft]

[ This morning has raised so many questions that she's having to just let slide. Honestly. ]

Would this entity have the information we need? Are they aware of how humans track time? Would they know if the person they saw was you or a duplicate?

[start_again]

Oh, so as soon as a witness might be able to back me up, suddenly no witnesses can be trusted? Why are you so eager to just label me as guilty and be done with it? Shouldn't you want me to be innocent?

[Siffrin sighs heavily, dragging his hand down his face. At least Odile remains smarts and objective about all this.]

I don't know what he knows! But it's better than nothing, isn't it?

[jouvente]

[ Watches Siffrin for a moment, before looking to the others. ]

...It's at least worth something, isn't it? We should at least be willing to hear him out.

[theuniverseleads]

[THE most exasperated sigh... they don't like where this is going, but.]

Fine, whatever. Interrogate the squid deity! Sure!

Let's get this over with, then. Fighter, do not let your guard down. [walking over the demolished door pieces to Siffrin's room...]

[charlastan]

[Stan sighs too, but ultimately follows Loop. It's not like he knows where to go or what the hell is happening here anymore.]

Guess we're really doing this...

[alphacraft]

I still want to hear Siffrin's explanation of their conversation with Loop.

[ Just so nobody forgets. She follows last, taking a moment to stretch her legs and arms. Holding Loop down was not fun. ]

[sticksandbonesmods]

[Wouldn't it be so funny if Callan wasn't here.

Anyway no I'll give you this. He's here. He sees people come in and he immediately goes to greet Siffrin in his tiny, high-pitched voice (because he is currently itty-bitty), but there are... so many motherfuckers hi hello. Ugh, smells like human and Loop and old fart in here...

Callan figures this is Serious Business and scoots his way out of his mobile home, blorping outside of the glass in a way very reminiscent of how Mizuki climbs under doors, and then shapeshifts into big humanoid-shaped Callan. And then he sits his bare, wet ass on Siffrin's bed.

In a deeply waterlogged voice, he sing-songs:]

Hiiiiiii~.

[start_again]

[See? Do y'all believe him now??

There sure are a lot of motherfuckers in here. Siffrin is at the back of the group with Isa and Odile and thus has to arch up on his tiptoes, peeking over everyone's shoulders to wave at Callan.]

Hey, do you remember me coming back here early last night and just going straight to bed?