turn 3
Oct. 5, 1986 - late morning, after the first twilight
in the guesthouse parlor, no farther than the lengths of a few hallways from a gruesome murder scene, you lay on a couch in sleep. it's surprising that you didn't sleep well, for such a busy day must have put you in dire need of rest. we suppose you must be; sprawled out, eyes closed and shocking blue hair just slightly out of place, you look almost as you did before we retired to our room last night. you look vulnerable. cute, perhaps. we'd like to reach out and run our fingers through your hair, feel the weight of it in our hands. we never got a proper chance.
you breathe so slow you nearly look still, but we can see the membranes of your eyelids twitching. I want to place my hand on your bare chest, feeling it rise and fall and warming these cold fingertips with the heat of your skin. we keep them off you, for there's guarantee we could get away with it. selfishly, I take in the sight meant for none other than I, recalling the roughened texture of your lips like a summoned phantom and moving the sensation elsewhere. I doubt you can hear my breath hitch, but we remain aware of the sliver of chance that your senses are arcanely sharp. your face shows little change except for the dark stain next to your barely-open mouth. when did you start drooling? it's okay. I'd wipe it up for you, but you just look so peaceful there. I don't want to disturb your rest. besides, we want to know if it makes you embarrassed. it's a good thing it won't dry up too quick, if only we could stick around longer. we have much to accomplish, and we must make sure to take advantage when you're out of our way.
before taking our leave, we carefully drape a thin knitted blanket over your unconscious body, as calm as it were upon our entrance.
hushed, empty, and easily within reach, the library is an ideal setting for Erika to gather her thoughts. as was natural, most of the family would be grouped at the mansion in shock and grief, giving her the time she so direly needed to conduct a thorough investigation. as per the epitaph, it would only be a matter of time until there was another murder. where her goal lies is not in preventing it, but intercepting the killer or at least putting another piece in the puzzle of Rokkenjima's mystery.
out of interest, with no real purpose, she looks at the spines of the books lined up on the tall dark wood shelves, most of them arranged neatly with some left out from the night prior. when Erika turns the corner, she curses herself for not having picked up on the presence she finds, the young servant woman sitting on the floor next to a bookshelf, silently looking at an open leatherbound tome.
"Erika-san. I was just cleaning up." Shannon flashes prey eyes up at her, still as a deer caught in headlights, before regaining some composure, dark pupils focusing in on the girl in front of her. state your intent.
suddenly, Erika starts to consider her original task far less important, taking a few steps closer to look at what Shannon's reading. she can't make out any text, so she gives up the search for the time being.
"don't worry about it. I was hoping to borrow you for a minute, actually. I have a few questions."
"I'm... sure it's hard for the family to talk about the investigation right now, so I don't mind. what did you want to know?" the servant puts her book on the shelf she's closest to, knees and ankles cracking as she rises. it seems like she's been working in here for a while. she'll appreciate the break.
"why, I'm wondering what you saw this morning. you must have been up early, so I'd like to hear who else was up then," Erika asks without a hint of threat in her tone, still glancing around at book titles. the shelves are well-stocked, she notes, glad for the chance at a better look around the library. when she had been here last night, she was in too much of a hurry to fully appreciate the collection.
the furniture closes its eyes briefly, recalling the events of the morning. it makes sure to look at Erika when it speaks.
"if I recall correctly... us staff woke up on time and everyone else woke up later."
"sounds typical, or am I off the mark?"
"n-no, you're right, but the Ushiromiyas stayed up quite late. they must have slept in for an extra hour or two."
Erika turns around a chair from one of the desks, taking a seat facing Shannon. "interesting... how about later, then? I took a nap not too long ago, would you be able to fill me in on what the family and servants were up to then?"
"I-" the furniture narrows its eyes in concentration. "moving over to the mansion, I believe."
"okay, okay. and you know how long ago I was asleep, why?"
"well, you probably know. y-you probably know I was around when you fell asleep, right? and-"
"you didn't have to answer me. I already know!" Erika's voice is all saccharine and fake. "I didn't fall asleep with a blanket on me. but I woke up with one. isn't that funny?"
"funny? I thought- I thought you might have gotten cold..."
"no, no, I'm not so sure that's the full story." you wanted to give me a message. you'll admit it for me. I'll make you. "you're blushing. you were watching me sleep."
the servant struggles to maintain her gaze on Erika. "I. I merely passed through the room. I wished to sit with you for longer, but- I. I couldn't."
the detective looks at Shannon closely, inspecting the words she's offered with no trace of her appraisal shown.
"okay. well then, you didn't cop a feel or anything, did you? I'd know if you did."
"n-no! please, will you let me clean in peace!?" the furniture hisses, looking at the ground.
"fine. I'll go if you really want, but just so you know, I'm not upset with you. do I look upset to you?"
Erika looks normal. just normal. inquisitive, if anything, if Shannon thinks about it, but faces always mean different things to different people and they don't always mean the same thing all the time anyways.
"you don't. my apologies, Erika-san."
before long, Shannon is left alone in the library, cleaning up the books Erika and Battler used. it's about what she expected, looking as though they'd gone through a couple atlases and maps as well as the few books on mystical topics that were kept outside the study. it's always the same ones, so she remembers exactly where to put them without having to thinking twice. making good time for herself, she leaves the library without a book out of place.
in the hall, it's no surprise that Erika is still sneaking about, uselessly searching for something to lead her closer to an answer. as cute as it is watching you struggle, your efforts are getting in my way.
"Erika-san? you're not joining everyone at the mansion?"
it's only an observation, but Shannon's words carry a suggestion with them. Erika would have some interviews to conduct, or something of the sort, wouldn't she? as if given permission, she looks back at the servant.
"...ah. yes, I was going to make my way there after my nap. I must have forgotten." she changes directions; are you discouraged with the lack of evidence? should I leave a scrap of a red herring for you? are you satisfied? I am. now that you're not poking around in my plans.
"thank you, Shannon-san."
Shannon smiles back at her without a word.
out of my way. out of my way. now that the sacrifice is complete, everyone that can stop me is out of my way. out. out. the only way for you is forward. there can only be more bloodshed. grief makes way for more grief. the wheels continue to take their violent turns, crushing more and more without end. the only way is forward.