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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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."

[stringent]

"Gadabouts?!" Franziska's whip is clenched in her hands, her time in Hinoto-Ri trained her a little bit NOT to whip the living shit out of people at first sight. "I am Franziska von Karma, a prosecutor assisting at Interpol. If you will impede me I will report this to your superiors as obstruction of the highest order!"

[turnaboutnpcs]

The inspector archs an eyebrow at this claim but seems relatively unfazed.

"Interpol has no authority over local investigations, mademoiselle. It is your duty to assist. You should know if you are not a mere teller of tall tales - where is your identification?"

[stringent]

She pauses long enough for her to reach into her waistcoat's pocket. Inside the inner pocket was her prosecutor's badge, and a similar one from Interpol, engraved with the year 2019 on it. She puffs her chest out and stands tall, as if to say some frazzled French investigator is not going to get the better of her.

[turnaboutnpcs]

"Hah!"

He recognizes the badge for what it is and immediately descends upon his men.

"My phone, my phone! Where is my phone?"

The flailing arms knock one of the officers' caps off as he finds it in his pocket even before he finishes speaking.

"Who put it there?! I want Lyon; give me Lyon!"

...

"Not Lyon, my barber, you imbecile thing; Lyon! Interpol headquarters!"

And just when the jig seems up, the inspector throws his arms up in exasperation and the phone goes flying from his hands.

"Pah! Never mind the worthless thing. Obviously, it is the Interpol badge; how could they have sent an agent so quickly?! Madness! But it is pointless - the answer is as clear as the day before us!"

It is nighttime.

"A woman with no residency in France sneaking about the stage at the exact moment when our star is untimely plucked from the sky? There is no one else who could have committed the act."

[stringent]

That sounded like the person they were looking for. But all considered, it was prudent that all considered, her badge was still valid. Even though she wasn't entirely sure what would happen if they actually did check into Interpol. There is no doubt she probably would have been listed as Missing or something ridiculous like that, but that's another thought for another time.

"It is this woman we are interested in. Allow my subordinates access to the scene and we shall tend to matters." (Franzy, your fellow investigators from Hinoto-Ri are not your subordinates...)

[turnaboutnpcs]

"...You know of the suspect?"

Chief Inspector Otto Gaffe's eyes widen slightly before he raises a finger.

"Ah, ah - Perhaps you are qualified, but I have no assurances that your... many subordinates will not disturb the scene." The doubt in his voice seems to indicate that he is well aware that it was perfectly absurd for Interpol to send a dozen people to the scene of an investigation.

"Perhaps a trade, yes? Tell me of this Minerva and I shall see what I can do."

[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?"

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.

[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.

[turnaboutnpcs]

Édith took no notice to anyone else around her as she tried to take in everything that was happening. She was a huge fan of the trope and to see something like this happen was devastating. Although she would be lying if she said that this new development wasn't a juicy find. The reporter in her absolutely had to have jumped on this bandwagon. Besides, being the first reporter for a scoop like this... Imagine the possiblities! It was like she had power being the first and only reporter on the scene at the time.

So at first she took no notice for the boy who had approached her at first. She was too busy writing things in her notepad. After writing something down, she dug into her camera bag to bring out her camera to take a few shots of the scene. The moment he spoke, she jumped slightly, causing herself to take a closeup picture of the boy who had just approached her.

"Augh! Wasted film on somebody like you...," she cursed under her breath. Scanning through the last pictures she made, she didn't really glance to the boy. "Did something happen? Boy did it ever! This is a juicy scoop for sure! Who knew attending this performance could turn into something like a murder?!"

Finally looking to whom she was talking to, "Interesting outfit. Not too fashionable, but I've seen worse." Taking another picture of the boy. Who knew? It might have some importance later.

[cykedfists]

So it seemed that there was no need to speak in French. That was fine with her because she wasn't exactly fluent in it to begin with. Trying to think of what certain words were in French was a little annoying.

"Excuse me?" she asked at that. She was here to find out the truth, yes, but she found his tone utterly unnecessary. Still, he wasn't exactly wrong? "I guess you could say that...," she said. Her only guess is that somebody else had gotten to him first... "I assume you've spoken to Prosecutor Franziska von Karma?"

[cykedfists]

Luckily, Athena had been to the Eiffel tower back home a few times. It never stopped her from looking at it in awe, but with a case of her hands, that would have to wait. McGonagall's case was much more pressing than to sight see for her. She glanced over to where she saw Eikichi. Usually, she'd indulge in that sort of conversation, but right now there were more pressing matters.

"It is beautiful, but I have work to do. Although... if you intend on helping, I suggest you get to helping," she wouldn't mind normally. It's just been so long since she could be a real lawyer again.

[stringent]

"She was reported to us as missing under mysterious circumstances. We heard nothing until we were given a tip that she may be in Paris." Franziska pauses. She casts a brief eye on the murder scene. It's bright and garish, yet still manages to be be completely chic and alluring. Not the sort of place for Minerva, as far as she could tell and less so for her to kill someone.

"As skilled as she is, her profile does not indicate she is a killer." she continued in her formal tone. "That is all."

[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.

[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.

[turnaboutnpcs]

"This is a case of the highest profile, ma chère! There are far too many of you running about willy-nilly. Precision and attention, that is all that is needed! A single inspector is enough."

That inspector being him, of course, as he turns about in agitation and almost trips straight over the yellow tape.