FIFTH TRIAL

[splitaseam]

[As the Stretching Room descends, there is a long pause before Oogie says anything.]

What? You wanna 'nother speech? You ain't getting one!

[New day, brand new epitaphs for our dearly departed awaiting in this graveyard.

Here lies Demyx
All he wanted was a heart
But he ended up torn apart

Here lies Kiara
Our most beloved kitty
Now ready to sit pretty

Here lies Tip
She wanted to think ahead
And ended up torn to shreds

Only a dozen of you guys left, think you can figure out whodunit?]

Come on, I ain't gettin any younger here!

Comments

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford wracks his brains, thinks of all the horrible things he's encountered in all his years, all his travels.]

There are plenty of things that could have. But not so many of them that would've...skinned her so perfectly. With that much care.

[terribibble]

[Mmmmmmm]

Probably a long shot anyway. I just... I don't want to think it was any of us.

[sixfingeredstan]

Nor do I. But the fact remains...there are a number of us who'd know how to do it.

[The both of them included.]

[terribibble]

[Yeah. He's well-aware it does not look good for him, being one of the people who's very familiar with slaughtering animals.]

Just... why go through the extra trouble? It doesn't sit right with me.

[sixfingeredstan]

Nor I. But it needs to be asked...we need to get it out in the open:

Who among us knows how to skin an animal?

[terribibble]

[Fiddleford raises a hand briefly and then lets it fall again. He's already said as much, confirming is just a formality at this point.]

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford nods.]

As do I. For transparency's sake.

[terribibble]

Never anythin' so big as a lion, mind you. Mainly squirrels. Possums, sometimes. Couple snakes.

[It's good to be honest here, right? And anyway he's a bad liar.]

[kindaruledatit]

[...Weakly raises her hand?]

It was one of the things my dad taught me. Not exactly my favorite thing, though.

[aboyandhiscar]

All you guys? Seriously, is Oregon even real?

[WHAT ARE WILD ANIMALS]

[sixfingeredstan]

I didn't learn it in Oregon, mind you.

[Alternate dimensions are wild y'all.]

[kindaruledatit]

I had apocalypse training, okay! Every Christmas!

[Her family is special. And also pretty much the perfect example of people living out in the sticks.]

[terribibble]

[Don't you judge him, Mike. When you grow up real poor you learn to be grateful that meat you catch yourself is free. Sure, they kept a hold of some of the pork they raised, but a lot of it went to market.]

It's just somethin' my family always did. I never realized it was odd 'til I left Tennessee.

[ilovepuppies]

If I had my magic wand, maybe?

[Not that she'd WANT to in a million years.]

[sixfingeredstan]

Not that you could do it with that whisk, anyway.

[ilovepuppies]

H-hey, my whisk is awesome, thank you very much!

[amadeusrockette]

I don't know how, but I doubt the piano does either. [She swallows.] It's not really concerned with preciseness.

[sixfingeredstan]

I don't think any of us were exactly implying that the piano skinned her.

[amadeusrockette]

I know, but it's clear the piano [ate Tip] was involved in some of Kiara's wounds. I didn't want anyone to think it was so horrible as to skin her too.

[aboyandhiscar]

Hey, Juju, question! Does the piano actually have like...teeth? Never got close enough to check myself. Or is it just like, a chomping lid?

[amadeusrockette]

Yes, but they're not much like human teeth. It has an entire mouth full of teeth like knives.

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou raises his hand as well.]

I was never much good at hunting, but I've definitely skinned animals before. Deer, rabbits, anything like that.

[outsidethecircle]

So that makes three people. That's... not a lot.

[wannagetsmote]

[ Maui lifted his hand, then jerked his head up in a brisk nod. ]

Should be obvious, but yeah, I can.

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou's standing next to you for strength today, big guy. Mind lending him some?]