SHI QING XUAN

[aubins]

Comments

[aubins]

It couldn't have been one killer, there's just... too much for it to have been one killer.

[ ... ]

Unless it was two, and whoever was wearing the clown shoes [ I. HATE. THIS. FAMILY. ] decided to clear up more evidence than someone was expecting. Two killers, two victims, but one of the killers decides to silence the person they worked with...?

[shiftingwinds]

...I suppose that's not impossible, if they wanted to ensure they couldn't turn on them if things started to go poorly for them at the trial.

[her brow furrows]

But that seems risky, too - you'd end up potentially leaving more evidence, and although we were very motivated to figure this out... we've never actually managed to do so.

[...]

Unless it was less that they started out working together, and more that they came across each other by chance while carrying out their own murders...?

[aubins]

That hasn't happened before though... but there did seem to be a lot of crossover this time around. If you couldn't trust the other to keep silent, then the only other logical thing to do would be to kill them as well.

Well, I say logical, but if one killer outed another in trial, they'd be outing themselves as well.

[shiftingwinds]

Not necessarily... they could examine the evidence knowing that person was involved, somehow, and present it in a way that made it seem like they were just following a logical conclusion.

It's easier to make connections when you already have some idea of who you want it to point to.

[aubins]

After how badly we've done, I'd be suspicious of someone piecing stuff together so easily. But even then, you could play it off and take your time with it.

[ and thus they are no closer to a truth. ]

[shiftingwinds]

[SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHS]

What a mess.

[aubins]

[ he's having another cake because he needs to binge eat. ]

Isn't it just?

[shiftingwinds]

[honestly valid. she does the same, since she can't binge drink alcohol right now.

sadly binge eating after they fucked up at trial probably counts as a combination despair-gluttony indulgence.]

When we catch whoever did this, I'd like to make a mess of them.

[aubins]

[ oh shit you're right runs off to report that. ]

Oh, I'll help. Or ask you to get in line. [ smile! ]

[shiftingwinds]

[smiles back!]

You're at the front of the line. I'll be right behind you.

[aubins]

Good. I'll try and save some for you.

[shiftingwinds]

Much appreciated.

[aubins]

I did say I'd break their arm, so I guess I can start with that.

[shiftingwinds]

That's an idea. Having a broken arm would certainly make things much more difficult for them, if they did end up sticking around.

[aubins]

Unless they just went in the medbay and ruined my hard work.

[shiftingwinds]

That just means you can break it again.

[aubins]

You're so right.

[shiftingwinds]

[having said that - she briefly looks guilty, but then she remembers luca's dead and someone tried to frame ming yi for it, and she looks angry again.

It's Complicated. she takes a breath.]

...we'll figure this out. Eventually, perhaps - but we will.

[aubins]

[ a loop of sass to anger to sass to anger. ]

Eventually is better than never.

[shiftingwinds]

It is. No one can keep things hidden forever - particularly not things as brutal as this.

[aubins]

Something's got to give at some point.

[shiftingwinds]

I just hope it's sooner rather than later. This is wearing on all of us.

[aubins]

... It's bad I keep thinking it'd be nice to get one right so we know we're not condemning someone uninvolved, when I really should be thinking "it'd be nice if no one died".

[shiftingwinds]

"It'd be nice if no one died" goes without saying. [she hesitates] But it also doesn't fit the reality of the situation we're in.

[aubins]

It doesn't, no. It's purely wishful thinking.