Turnabout a la Mode! Day 1 Investigation

[stringmods]

The journey is far less painful than might be expected. After arriving in the Champ de Mars in Paris, the arriving strangers go unnoticed by the crowds all around, the people too busy whispering to each other in horror. Several are crying and others are carrying their children away from the Eiffel Tower which stands high above in the dark Paris night.

The area is hauntingly beautiful, with lights covering the trees of Paris's park and banners talking about the great Tic and Tac's final Parisian tour before going worldwide. So why is the entire place so somber?

The fact that the police are scrambling about is the first clue that something is very wrong. As the Visitors were warned, their powers are completely gone, leaving only their mundane skills. With no Persona to call on, it will make this entire journey far harder... but thankfully Minerva can be spotted close by.

But before anyone can do anything, she's being carried away by the policemen, put into a car, and carted off.  The police bar the perimeter, looking at you in annoyance.

"Mesdames et Messieurs, the show is over, and this area is a crime scene. Please move back so as not to cause issues with the investigation."

It seems something terrible has happened...

But just as you're pondering your next move, another car screeches up beside the yellow tape, and a man with a fervent expression and a rather alarming mustache leaps out of the car.  Gesticulating wildly, he descends upon the scene like a storm of extravagantly expensive cologne.

"Get back, get back!  A terrible crime has occurred here!  And I, Chief Inspector Otto Gaffe, swear that I shall not rest until justice is served!"

A flailing arm barely avoids breaking a nose as he impatiently pushes you out of the way.

"Who are you?  ...Is that an attorney's badge?"

Perhaps this would be a good place to start.

((There will be no tag order so as to speed things along!  But each group should only respond to the portions marked for them (A, B, or Defense).  When all the necessary clues have been discovered, we will initiate Day 1 Court. You may respond!))

Comments

Interview: Chief Inspector Otto Gaffe (Everyone)

[turnaboutalamode]

Chief Inspector Otto Gaffe looks irritated at the large crowd of people standing before him. But it seems like he's willing to listen, particularly as some amongst you are wearing your attorney's badges on display...

Perhaps you can convince him to allow access to the crime scene.

[stringent]

It was more than enough to get her in a bad mood that there was some really annoying music being piped in via the Tower's speakers, but they were on official business. And she missed it, really, because working with Interpol assured her of a glamorous travel lifestyle. Though France.... was never on that list of countries she ever went to.

"You!" shouted Franziska as she recognised the man by the virtue of the crooked badge that poked out of his pocket and by the fact he is the most frazzled here. "Allow us through."

[turnaboutnpcs]

"Pah! And who are you to make such demands?"

The man snorts and waves his hand dismissively.

"Non, we do not allow gadabouts to frolic about the scene of the crime, lawyers or no. Go away and leave us to our work."

Re: Interview: Chief Inspector Otto Gaffe (Everyone)

[cykedfists]

Athena hadn't really known what to expect with all of this, but when she arrived along with the others, she couldn't help but to get excited. They were in Paris after all! Athena had studied abroad in Europe, so the various people talking hadn't been much of an issue. At first she figured people were just off in a hurry because it did happen, but once she overheard people talk among themselves about a murder happening, she immediately stopped.

She did know French, as little as it may be, but she had to distinguish if that was what she truly heard. She attempted to stop a few people to ask them what had happened, but nobody seemed to want to stick around for long enough to do so. Eventually, she shoved through the crowd to find the Chief Inspector looking quite troubled. Before he had the chance to speak, she flashed her badge to him like nobody's business (and enjoyed it the entire time because who doesn't like to see her badge 21412312 times?).

"Excusez-moi, monsieur. Je suis Athena Cykes et je suis un avocat," she introduced to him.

She didn't know whether or not she had to speak French with them being taken here from Hinoto-ri, but she figured it was best to do it just in case. It had been a while since she had last spoken in full sentences in French, so she wondered if this would be enough for him to understand. Nevermind that he used English in the start. WOOPS

[turnaboutnpcs]

Otto Gaffe looks vaguely grumpy, as many people probably would after being scolded by Franziska.

"Yes, yes, what is it? Shall I allow a guess? Interpol's personal defense attorney come to romp all about?"

It seems the language barrier isn't an issue regardless what she speaks. Despite the loss of their abilities, the nanobots were still working hard.

here we go I hope takakage doesn't get his head chewed off

[thirdarrow]

It's been a while after the Inspector had let the Visitors through. Hopefully he'd have calmed down by then.

Takakage approached him quietly, standing a respectful distance away while waiting for the Inspector to finish reading through some paperwork. The strategist took care to appear non-confrontational, adjusting his expression and posture to imply humility and a small hint of meekness.

It wasn't exactly like how he usually conducted himself, but he had to accommodate the other's personality.

[turnaboutnpcs]

Otto's mustache quivers as he flips through them at blinding speed, occasionally grunting utterances.

"Hm! Hah! ...Of course!"

He slams a fist against the pile of papers.

"The murderer is clearly -- "

Dramatic whirl! Dramatic fingerpoint!

"Y -- .........Who are you?"

Investigate: Crime Scene (Teams A and B)

[turnaboutalamode]

After you agree to take on the defense of Minerva McGonagall, the Chief Inspector reluctantly waves a hand, indicating that the policemen should allow you through. The investigation team is allowed to enter the scene of the crime.

It appears to be a magic show... And up on stage, there is something covered by a white cloth.

[cykedfists]

It had been a few months since Athena has really had a chance to do her job as a lawyer. She had been trying to become one at Hinoto-ri, but that was certainly a process. Having the opportunity to do her job now was great. The fact that France seemed to thing Minerva McGonagall was the culprit made her sad of course, but Athena thought that time moping was better spent investigating.

She didn't waste time to go to the stage. She was careful to not move or touch the evidence. It wouldn't do any good until she had the proper say so. For now, simply examining everything would be good enough until she actually had to pick something up.

[deathboss]

"I can't believe I'm standing here inside the Eiffel tower!" Oops someone was fanboying a little too hard here. "It's even more beautiful than the Tokyo Tower! But Michel isn't too surprised, after all, french is the language of love!"

Eikichi hasn't quite noticed the crime scene yet. Just give him time.

[dekillerqueen]

The friendly Hinoto-Ri baker is not a great fan of mingling. He does, however, have quite an interest in murders, and he would very much like to know what happened here.

Armed with his trusty leather gloves, he lifts the white cloth to see what's hidden below. He intends to leave the scene in the same state as it was before - no one needs to know he was ever here.

NOTE: GRAPHIC DETAIL OF VICTIM'S DEATH

[turnaboutalamode]

At first glance, the sight is rather macabre if someone had never seen a murder before (which is not much of an issue here); the body is in suck an uncomfortable position as if they'd been pulled forward, leaving the victim's legs dangling in the air slightly.

It becomes easier to see why soon enough; instead of where the head should be, what looks like a gigantic metal hammer has smashed not only into the wire, mirror and stone stage, shattering all it touched from impact. From the way the victim's neck disappears into it, little is left to the imagination of what might have happened.

She's dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with a few pockets, not leaving much to the imagination, stained with the blood as red as her nails from her very recent, unfortunate death.

I hope this is allowed? :'D

[thirdarrow]

A magic show would involve various props and gimmicks to simulate the impossible. He had taken a glimpse at the deceased while Shelly was investigating it - while it was gruesome, such tragedies were the norm in war. He wasn't as affected as others would have expected him to be.

A hammer. Audience members would have expected the hammer to not cause any damage at all, perhaps. The the mechanism for it to miss would be broken - or perhaps, the gimmick hammer was swapped out for a real one. Perhaps the former, giving the difficulty of the latter.

Takakage walks around the back of the stage, looking out for any elaborate mechanisms that the magicians might have set up. He is careful not to disturb anything, merely observe. A flashlight was in his hand, his book in the other.

He might also have wandered off into the magicians' dressing room or preparation area behind the stage, if it exists.

Of course it is!

[turnaboutalamode]

That's rather striking is that, contraption aside, there's not that much to see apart from beautiful Paris greens. The stage is the entire of the tower itself and its little less than thousand steps. The fireworks for the finale went off without a hitch, so all that remains apart from the human remains hurr hurr are the burned cones on all sides as he slowly makes his way upwards. There are three levels of stairs, each with about three hundred steps.

If he does manage to get to the very top, he'll notice a contraption set up to release the hammer via a computer signal. The computer is blinking red indicating it has been released, as well as the countdown set at 0. That is also connected to a panel which is impossible to see from inside, but display a clock that everyone in attendance to see. There is no doubt that this is where the hammer first stood upon before it was released all the way downward. It's an impressive fall...but that does mean that the release was past of the illusion.

However, there's no doubt that the human body wasn't.

There seems to be no other clues nearby, so once he's done, it's a thousand stairs downward again...

So very late, I'm so sorry.

[electricyousei]

Ruri saw people looking over the physical things, so she simply started looking for security cameras, to see what angles they may cover. She also went about looking for video footage of the death. All the available footage she could find.

[turnaboutalamode]

Therein lied the problem, as one of the policeman would tell her once she asked around.

"We do not have footage of the stage or the trick itself. Everything regarding it is a professional magician's secret and part of the deal when it was hosted here. Photography was illegal as well, people were checked before coming to view the show."

Interview: Magician's Fans (Team A)

[turnaboutalamode]

Nearby, a young woman is arguing with someone who is presumably her father, yelling that she won't leave until she's sure that 'Tic and Tac' are OK. The father looks exasperated, but doesn't seem to have the strength to argue.

Perhaps they saw something.

[cykedfists]

It didn't take long for Athena to hear the racket. With her sensitive hearing, it wasn't that hard. Still, the moment that Tic and Tac were mentioned, she hurried over.

"Excuse me. I couldn't help but overhear you, but do you know the details of what happened here?" she asked them.

1/2

[turnaboutnpcs]

"Not a place for young ladies like you are my own should be," the old man muttered. "What a black day for all of Paris!"

[turnaboutnpcs]

"It was terrible!" The teenager answered, as she took out a handkerchief and pathetically sniffed in it again. "Mademoiselle Cachou is deeeeeead! And the twins! I dunno what will happen to them without 'er!"

ARRIVES LATE WITH STARBUCKS

[jonathandammit]

Jonathan is still really confused with... everything... but obviously, someone's dead and the woman is yelling pretty loudly.

"Excuse the morbid question, but... did you witness anything during the time of the murder?" Does he sound legit enough? Okay sure he sounds legit enough. He asks this to the woman and the man- whoever this 'Tic and Tac' is, they might not be in good shape, either.

Interview: Reporter (Team B)

[turnaboutalamode]

Someone is frantically scribbling notes in the corner and muttering into a tape recorder. She wears a badge identifying herself as a member of the press, no doubt originally here to cover the world renowned magic show.

It may be worth asking what she saw.

[thirdarrow]

They were in a foreign world now, with a different culture. Takakage had consulted Jonathan on the general ambience of the place, and decided it best to come dressed differently. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of it, however - a white dress shirt paired with dark grey pants would theoretically sound sensible, if not for the fact that he needed suspended to hold them up. (Much to his chagrin, he still had quite a thin frame, so tightening the belt would make him look rather disproportionate.)

As an afterthought, he decided to copy Jonathan's scarf as well, adding an orange ribbon tie to the whole outfit (think minato arisato). Hopefully it would be enough to blend in... right?

But anyway, back to the crime scene. Several of the other Visitors were trying to bargain their way into the crime scene - it was wise to leave them to concentrate on their efforts. Instead, the strategist paid more attention to the potential eyewitnesses -

- hmm. A woman taking notes fervently. A closer look identified her as someone from the press - a term used to describe a new profession dedicated to the distribution of news to the masses. Perhaps she would have saw something.

He approached the lady calmly, careful to sound non-threatening, merely vaguely curious.

"Excuse me, miss - I heard that a performance was due to be hosted here, but it seems to have been stalled. Did something happen?"

Interview: Minerva McGonagall (Defense Team)

[turnaboutalamode]

Minerva McGonagall has been taken to a nearby detention center as the prime suspect in the murder. After wrangling with the Inspector, the Defense Team has obtained permission for a brief visitation.

You enter after a brief ride through the city and state your business. You are told that the suspect will be brought out shortly and to not take any longer than an hour.

[cykedfists]

Athena knew that McGonagall couldn't be the real killer here. But that seemed to be the case for all of the cases she'd taken back home too. The boss had taught her that she always had to believe in her client though. So she waited patiently for her to come out, used to this from back home.