[ic]

[dormancy]

[In the interest of time and mystery, Vincent and Naoto have met at the overgrown flowers an hour after sunset as promised in a not at all suspicious manner. Luckily, or not, Vincent has found a few becoming flowers for his lady of the evening, and without further ado, they are off to a wonderful evening soiree . . .

The entrance hall is tasteful and elegant with carved wood panels, marble-topped tables, vases with white orchids spilling over. There are four doors in each direction. The door to the right is an open double door with music spilling softly out from it.]

Comments

[dormancy]

You may have something there. So, the question is who was it . . . ?

[genderbinary]

The first step to determining the who is to decipher the why. Did anyone have any grudges towards Grace-san, for example.

[dormancy]

Ah, that may take some snooping. If you'd like to, then I suppose no one would object. Pleasant is a bit distracted, and Owen and Chastity seem to have gone off somewhere.

[genderbinary]

I'd like to start with Pleasant-san, since he was nearest to her at the time of the incident.

[dormancy]

[He gestures her to the sitting room. Grace is set upon a chaise, while Pleasant is standing off to the side, hand to his head.]

[genderbinary]

[addressing Pleasant]

Pardon me, Pleasant-san. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.

[dormancy]

[He doesn't respond. :'(]

Haha, if I may . . .

[Vincent reaches into his coat pocket and presents another card. Pleasant is in a great deal of stress, but notices Naoto's address.]

[genderbinary]

[... turns to Vincent]

Are these cards our only source of communication?

[dormancy]

Well, a doll can't talk, I'm afraid. And you wouldn't want anyone to be hurt, would you? I promise that you can find all that you could care for and more within those cards.

[genderbinary]

[picks up the card]

Since Grace-san is indisposed, I'd like to ask if you noticed anything out of the ordinary prior to her fainting spell.

[dormancy]

[Pleasant didn't notice anything. She drank from the glass then suddenly fainted away. It seems he is deeply worried about Grace's father.]

[genderbinary]

Her father? What for?

[dormancy]

[He is going to be upset that something like this happened to his beloved daughter, of course. The father has been complaining of many troubles in the house. Pleasant doesn't know how he is going to explain all of this.]

[genderbinary]

What sort of troubles has he been complaining about?

[dormancy]

[There's been trouble with the family business, but Pleasant has been doing his best. It seems like he'd rather be left alone now. He's too upset.]

[genderbinary]

[nods, and places the card back in Pleasant's pocket, then turns to Vincent]

Is Grace-san too indisposed to speak with us?

[dormancy]

[going to her and withdrawing a card]

It seems so. It's been a rather difficult night.

[genderbinary]

Then, in that case we should speak with Owen-san and Chastity-san next.

[dormancy]

We're all done with dancing, aren't we? Well, if you'd like . . .

[genderbinary]

If the case is solved satisfactorily, perhaps we'll have one more before the night is over.

[dormancy]

Oh, that'd be wonderful.

[offering his arm to leave the ballroom]

[genderbinary]

[takes it]

They were headed to the entrance hall, I believe.

[dormancy]

Let's go see if they're still here, then.

[When they arrive at the entrance hall, it is empty. However, the door across the hall from the ballroom is cracked open.]

[genderbinary]

[heads in that direction]

[dormancy]

[They head into a parlor with a billiards table, fireplace, and a liquor cabinet—Aha, the pair has been spotted. Chastity is seated in an armchair in the corner and Owen is standing nearby her, engaged in what looks like conversation.]