Video

[monotreme_101]

[Considering how infrequently Knuckles had made network posts this entire year, seeing him in another one so soon after his first was a little odd. The fact that he looked royally pissed wasn't too good of an indication either. He was in his apartment and the TV could be heard in the backround. Some news station.]

I dunno how many folks knew her, but a student got killed a couple weeks ago. Her name was Charlise, though mostly people called her Kitty. She was a Drifblim, and a member of Lash's Pokemon team. She was a collossal pain in the ass sometimes, but she was still a friend of mine.

It was on the news the other night. No names were mentioned but I went to the Police station in town and checked. I also got a good description of the guy who did it. And how it happened.

So, this is kinda a cautionary tale for Ghost types. If you get killed while you're in Human form, apparently it's for keeps even if you're TECHNICALLY already dead. Least, that's how it looks.

I dunno what's goin' on so far as a funeral or whatever. Was just her Birthday a little while ago too....

[That last part was a bitter sounding mumble.]

[And the public feed ends.]



Caim. You need to think real hard about how to answer this question. Did you kill my friend? Because a tall, dark haired swordsman is the described culprit. You just get back into town and someone winds up dead... Can't blame a guy for wondering.

Comments

[punchtheflowers]

She was Lash's?! Has anyone got a hold've her?

I'd no idea Ghosts could... die...

[monotreme_101]

She's not at school anymore and I got no forwarding contact information. Max might be able to get in touch with her but I ain't seen him since finding out.

Color me surprised too. But when you're a Human, you're a Human, and all the limitations that come with. Including, apparently, being able to die by being hacked up by a cowardly sonnovabitch who likes attacking unarmed girls.

Anon text

[petitedetective]

[Knuckles gets an anon text message a few minutes after the feed ends.]

Suspecting a set-up.

Un-anonymous text

[monotreme_101]

[Frankly, Knuckles had already thought of this possibility, hence he was attempting some kind of discourse with Caim as opposed to punching first, talking never.]

Doesn't seem right, does it? I got a few ideas about this myself. Not willing to share them with an Anonymous party though. You wanna talk, we can talk but I want a face to talk to.

[text]

[trickroom]

That was her? Kitty,, I mean. Didnt think youcoul be offed that way, but hmmmmm.

sucks.

Text

[monotreme_101]

It was. I went down to the Police station and stuck around asking questions till they could give me a name.

It does. You knew her?

[tank_rockarms]

Somebody killed one of Lash's pokemon?

Wow, uh.

I mean, I can tell her that. That's pretty awful. But I can send a message back to Orange Star to let her know.

[monotreme_101]

Vinnie said he was able to do that too, but you've known Lash a while so it might be helpful to hear from you.

But yeah. Charlise. Dunno if you ever met her. If you did, it probably wasn't that nice of a meeting. She had kinda a chip on her shoulder about muscly guys.

[sicklypriest]

So she was a student... Oh, Knuckles, this is just dreadful. How anyone could do such a thing is beyond my understanding.

[monotreme_101]

Can't say I get it either. I mean, I'm not gonna lie - I got passions that run close to the surface and I got a temper. But to stab someone to death - an unarmed girl? You gotta be some kind of sick freak.

[Video]

[travelingbelle]

[There is a girl on the video whose shock was giving way to a much sadder expression. It was alarming to hear that a Ghost type could pass on like that, but even more so that she had been a student.]

That's...

... I'm so sorry for your loss.

Video

[monotreme_101]

I appreciate you sayin' so. We weren't real close - she wasn't the kinda person who let many people get close. But she was a pal and I looked out for her where I could.

[deathboss]

[He wasn't she one of the people he saw at that Ghost Pokemon meeting?]

The hell...you sayin' that was someone from school got murdered?!

[monotreme_101]

Yeah. A student called Charlise. Kitty, to most folks. You mighta seen her around - Brown skinned, with purple and white hair. Usually wore orange lip gloss?

[rivalappeared]

... I saw that on the news. This city's going to shit.

Kitty was cool. Didn't know her well or anything, but saw her around. Damn shame. Understatement. Sorry.

[The thought of a ghost Pokemon dying again shook him. It didn't seem right.]

[monotreme_101]

No need to apologize, man. It's not easy knowing what to say, huh? Kitty and me weren't real close either though that was starting to change towards the end there. Get past that prickly-ass exterior and she was a good person. She had problems but so does everyone, right?

[star_punched]

No one deserves to go out like that...I never got to know 'er...I'm so sorry Knux...

[He's just.]

[monotreme_101]

Yeah. No-one does.

[Private]

You OK? I know you got kinda a... personal take on this so... I mean, you need anything, you got my number. You know that, right?

[ text; encrypted ]

[obfuskate]

Give me every detail you have regarding the murder.

I will be investigating immediately.

[ it's his job, after all, not to mention... people just getting killed in cold blood feels worrisome. he doesn't want this killer to get anywhere near the people he cares for, however few they are. ]

Text

[monotreme_101]

Victim was Charlise, a Drifblim. Ghost type Pokemon, in case you're not caught up with the different species. Already dead, which is the weirdest thing about this mess, but in Human form, we got Human failings so that's that. She was addicted to Green Candies - You can buy 'em from different people, but they're filled with drugs that make you sleepy and give you dreams about the things you always wanted but can't have in real life. She overdosed on 'em once and it was lucky I found her and took her to the Hospital. It was pretty bad. She was probably out of it when she died. Was way off campus. Maybe buying or looking for privacy to use.

She was killed roughly two weeks ago according to the police - Wondering about the timing of that because the body of a humanized ghost might decompose differently than the corpse of a natural born Human or even a Humanized creature that was actually 'alive' before death. I mean, you gotta wonder about that, right?

Witness - dunno WHO the witness is - says that she was killed by a swordsman with dark hair, over six foot tall. Fits the description of someone at this school who killed folks with a sword before and was arrested for it. He's back on campus now. His name's Caim. Suspicious of the timing. He shows right back up and immediately kills someone after last time? That would be really really dumb. Like REALLY dumb. Especially being leverage over him is so easy. Attached to a girl called Ai. Purple Pikmin. He was really clever about avoiding capture last time. Makes no sense for him to be so bold this time.

Police won't give me anything else. Police in this town work hard but suck at what they do. Don't expect much if you talk to them.

[ video; failed attempt at locking ]

[idealisms]

Are...

Are you suspecting the same one I am?

[ his eyes seem a bit red and puffy. yes, he definitely has shed tears for her. the expression on his face is nothing short of grieving and bitter.

it has to be caim. it just has to be! ]

[Under the same failed filter.]

[monotreme_101]

You're thinking Caim, huh?

[NOT HERE]

[stay_classy_cat]

THAT'S OUR WARREN!!!

[monotreme_101]

Video;

[sinister_blade]

[Well this is interesting. She is watching the feed with a level of amusement.]

Interesting... And they said school was safe.

[She didn't look bothered though.]

[monotreme_101]

[Well, hello there Miss Red Hair. He doesn't particularly care for that smirk but whatever.]

It's not. We've had killings on campus before. Fact is though, she was way out in town where any 'school is safe' stuff don't apply.

[trustycrowbar]

You mean the girl they found near the bridge?

[Having already made his acquaintance with Shadow, Gordon figures this aggravated red thing is probably of the same general type. Species? Superspecies? He'll figure it out in context.]

[monotreme_101]

Yeah - that's her. I guess you saw the news.

[Huh. He doesn't recognize you, Gordon - This Echidna does not Science very well.]

You're a new teacher?

[video]

[kumagypsy]

Wait, what? For real?

[Way to stay on top of things, RA!]

A student from here? Goddamn...

[monotreme_101]

Yeah. Charlise. She was a student here till two weeks ago. You probably saw her around even if you didn't know her by name. She wasn't real sociable, I guess.

[forgetbeam]

Charlise? But that was Fujisaki's roommate...!

[She supported the Disciplinary Committee and everything! (Granted, she was being sarcastic, but Ishimaru didn't know that.)

But even if he didn't know her at all, student death is kind of a Big Deal. He can't help but be reminded of certain people telling him about murderers in this very school. But that still can't be true, right?]

Who would do such a thing?!

[monotreme_101]

You knew her roomie?

[There was something he hadn't yet considered. Talking to Kitty's room mate to see if she knew anything.]

Fujisaki. Dunno 'em. What's their full name and grade, if you don't mind me askin'?

And yeah. There's some sick folks in the world. We had a similar problem not real long ago.

Come to think of it, I think I've seen you around in the halls but never stopped to say Hi. Name's Knuckles.

[Private]

[loverofinnocence]

As much as I am sure you would delight in having a reason to put me away again, there was a most peculiar fallacy in the report.

The eye witness evidently claimed to see a figure with dark hair, like mine, and at my height. And with a sword. Majima - I am certain you remember - confiscated my sword and it has yet to be returned to me, even with his departure. I would imagine the campus security team still holds it.

Whoever it was that slaughtered your ally was not me.

[He switches to text too - also private.]

[monotreme_101]

Yeah. You got me pegged. If it was you, that would make this real easy.

Fact is, I know you're smarter than this. That's why it took us so damn long to get you the first time. You're not dumb enough to celebrate being back in town with a murder that was witnessed and so close to your original form.

The sword isn't a good excuse though. You can get them from plenty of places. I have two myself and I've been in the equipment room where they store the spares for classes.

No - You gotta give me an alibi. Two weeks ago from Yesterday - where were you and who else was there?

[action]

[stillawoman]

[ Furiae was warned beforehand that she would be contacted by Knuckles, so she was ready when his message came through to her for them to meet. With the location named, she accepted to meet him and made her way there close to the time agreed.

The fountain, public and yet quiet at that time and day. She was dressed plainly, not in uniform as it's saturday, and with the details of the description Caim gave of her- brown hair, blue eyes, and not particularly strong-looking. As she approached the place, she kept an eye out for this person she was supposed to meet.

knuckles what's up ]

[action]

[monotreme_101]

[If Caim had given her any indication of what he looked like, she'd see him pretty quickly. He was the only four foot tall red guy sitting around on the fountain benches, after all.

He had to admit, he was a little apprehensive about meeting her. He'd told Caim he wasn't going to talk about his previous activities here so it was going to be somewhat difficult to explain why he needed information without lying. And he was pretty terrible at lying.

He gave her a wave and stood up as she approached.]

Hi. You must be Furiae?

[private text; hackable]

[idowhatilike]

I think we should meet.

[ She wonders if this is a smart move. He seemed to be more knowledgeable about this place than her research could ever dredge up. ]

Re: [private text; hackable]

[monotreme_101]

Alright - you're on the security team? When and where?