Non-Peace Weekend - Investigation

[mockmods]

[Two weeks have passed since your arrival. The Researcher has delivered a pair of motives, promising to reward some or punish others if rule 7 is not enacted by the end of the week.]

[Today is Friday, the deadline for your incentives. There is no morning announcement today.]

[Maybe It's nothing, but you might notice a faint, odd metallic scent in the air as you exit your bedrooms this morning.]

[Proceed with caution, Participants.]

Comments

[mockmods]

[It'll take some searching, since everything's a mess, but there is one cardboard box that's been ripped open in obvious haste.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Ooh, neat! I mean, possibly relevant! What kind of box are we looking at here? Is it labeled?]

[mockmods]

[It's clearly labeled for your convenience and safety! It's a box full of First-AID kits.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Oh! That is convenient and safe! Or it will be, assuming there are actually any kits left. Are there?]

[mockmods]

[The box is still pretty full! Looks like whoever opened it only took one.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Hm. One first aid kit must not have been enough to reattach Yaiba's head before he died. Tragic, really.

She takes a picture of the box, then a picture of the room for good measure. Then she removes one of the first aid kits to take with her in case what's in them is important and also because she's never actually used one before and they seem interesting.]

[mockmods]

[Use it responsibly, Meredith.]

[windowsexplorer]

[SHE IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE.]

[mockmods]

[Sounds fake, but okay.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Well, it doesn't look like much more is happening here, so it's time to go find Penny. She watches the cameras, right? Maybe she'll give them some hints. Or some unintentional hints from her phone Meredith is really sorry but it really keeps seeming like a good idea.

So she'll leave the supply closet and go knock on the door of the security room.]

1/2

[mockmods]

[Tiptoe carefully around the crime scene, Meredith, there's still a lot of blood here.]

[It takes a while for a response, but eventually the door cracks open.]

2/2

[in4apounding]

[OH GOD THERE'S OIL AND HYDRAULIC FLUID EVERYWHERE but no, it's just Penny, very hesitantly opening the door.]

...Meredith? I shouldn't be- I'm sorry, I can't-

[windowsexplorer]

Penny? Are you all right?

[YOU'RE DOING HER A CONCERN]

[in4apounding]

...No.

[She sounds pretty shit? Basically the only thing stopping her from crying from sheer anger and grief right now is physical inability, sounds like.]

I saw- when it- ...I wanted to stop it, but-

[windowsexplorer]

[Okay you know what Penny's getting hugged. Meredith doesn't say anything, just hugs.]

[in4apounding]

[Penny just kind of lets out a quiet choked sound as Meredith pulls her in, not fighting it.]


...I'm sorry. I'm sorry. He said if I- you'd ALL be-

[Ah, and there's the anger. Good thing Meredith's another robot, cause Penny squeezes kind of hard for a second.]

[windowsexplorer]

[It's fine. Meredith racks her brain, trying to think whether there's anything else she can do to help. What would Susie do? ...give her a hug, probably. That's all she's got.]

It isn't your fault. You didn't do this.

[in4apounding]

No, but- I could've- I should've been able to stop it. But-

[After a moment, she pulls back from Meredith, pacing a little.]

I just. Wanted to help you all, but now-

[She stops, rocking on her toes a little, hands wringing. Glancing up at the camera inside the office.]

...I can't help you. [hic]

[windowsexplorer]

[Meredith follows her glance. Hm, the cameras...]

You've already helped us a lot. It's not your fault if the Researcher won't let you do any more. May I come in? [Meredith you're already in...]

[in4apounding]

[Penny bites her lip for a second, unsure.]

[And steps forward to take Meredith's hands.]

You- probably shouldn't. I'm sorry. There's- this is going to be bad, and I'm not allowed to help you.

[She glances between their hands and Meredith's face a few quick times, squeezing for a second so Meredith will definitely feel the cool, hard object she's being handed.]

[windowsexplorer]

[Oh!

Meredith clasps Penny's hand with both of hers, so she can more completely cover the object. And let me tell you it is taking every scrap of willpower she has to not immediately hold it up to look at it.]

...I understand. But just seeing you helped a lot, okay? Thank you, Penny.

[in4apounding]

..thank you. Be careful.

[Penny squeezes one last time, and hesitantly releases Meredith's hands.]

[...and pulls her into another quick hug.]


It goes to that locked door. Just. So you know for sure. He can't get mad if you have the key. Please be really careful.

[And then releases Meredith for real, giving a sad sort of wave as she steps back into the security office.]