Day 6 - Final discussion before the second execution

[pandatrash]

[This morning, a video of Tycoon auto-plays on everyone's tablets. He is in a dimly lit room, and seems to be eating pudding out of a bicycle horn...? Whatever, the raccoons are weird.]

Today’s the day! Are you pumped up? Psyched out? Pissed off? Done in? Hehehehe!

Everybody better vote today for who you want to be PUNISHED! If you don't vote by the time the timer reaches zero, your vote will be randomized! Just like it now says in the rules!

I, Tycoon (only Tycoon), will still answer one question per person if you haven’t cashed yours in yet! Rule clarifications are free, by the way! Also, quit freaking out about the people who are off crying in their rooms or whatever! You already have all the alibis you need to solve the mystery!

((Navigation
Recyclr
Day 5 Q&A with Tycoon
Today's Q&A with Tycoon
Vote! It says midnight Friday, but it's technically midnight Saturday. 11:59 Friday, WHATEVER.))

Comments

TAPIOCA HONK

[purrtagonist]

[IDK WHERE YOU ALL ARE, BUT HEY, HERE'S AKIRA AGAIN!! standing up on a table? on a chair? on something to raise him above the crowds, his tablet raised in the air above him. sorry for making two top levels. forgive me everyone my poor planning]

Hey! Who wants to know what "tapioca honk" means!

[yeah. that'll get everyone's attention, maybe]

Anyway, before you guys write me off and say, "oh, but Akira, the raccoons probably posted a message from Sigma's account just to throw us of." I won't deny that possibility, especially since Tycoon wouldn't confirm whether the message came from Sigma or not. But I think it did-- we already know they're capable of reviving the dead. Why wouldn't they also be capable of delivering us messages from the dead?

[just saying. anyway! once he has everyone's attention, he hops off of the chair and turns to his tablet]

I've got two working theories on its meaning. [he lifts his gaze, scanning the crowds] Two words, beginning with "t" and "h." Those are Hiyori Tomoe's initials. I think Hiyori's theory about the killer being Ulaz is wrong, but he has been pushing it pretty hard, which could be considered suspicious in and of itself. Further, he purposefully brought a bottle of wine to Tsumugi in order solidify an alibi, which he could have done intentionally before killing Sigma so he had something to point to when someone inevitably asked him about his nighttime plans.

[. . .]

But I'll be honest, I think that's the weaker of the two theories. The second I think holds much more weight, especially when you consider it points to the person here with the shakiest alibi.

"Tapioca honk" as an anagram spells "Captain Hook." Pirate reference, you know? I don't know if anyone here is actually a pirate, but there's one guy who kind of looks like one.

[a breath, like he's hesitating, like he isn't sure if he should press forward, until he eventually does]

It's Niles. The most we know about his "alibi" is that he found Corrin asleep in the hallway, and then took him back to his room. There's no accounting for what he did before then. And when you consider that Corrin was asleep for part of this interaction, his alibi isn't really an alibi at all, is it?

[SUCH DETECTIVE WORK FOR A NON-DETECTIVE]

. . . so. That's what I have.

[fineprinted]

EH?!

[ OH HELL NO ]

Akira, you can't--! Hiyori-kun can't be...!!

[suppressthedark]

Tsumugi-

[Yeah, he feels terrible about this - mostly because he was the one who made the connection with hiyori, but he at least has the grace to look upset when he sees Tsumugi's reaction, because...

...Well, they're friends. Or Ichigo considers them friends, and he knew even suggesting this would make him upset.]

...

[purrtagonist]

Tsumugi--

[a flicker of guilt, but he shoves it aside as quickly as he can]

. . .

Truthfully, it's. . . a theory I considered, but I'm not sure it's correct. Yours and Hiyori's story is much stronger than Niles's.

[locktouching]

How rude. I've never been a captain, a pirate, or a hook.

[purrtagonist]

I thought as much.

[ha. he dips his hands into his pockets, demeanor casual]

But can you tell me what you were doing before you found Corrin asleep in the hallway?

[very_good_end]

...Well, an alternate anagram is "Catnip Hooka." Perhaps you can point to a cat who likes to smoke?

I do notice you don't deny the core of the accusation leveled against you. Only that the clue references you.

[flamingprick]

I think the more important question is "would Sigma have thought of this anagram BS"? Because most people wouldn't do that, they'd do a nickname, or something like the other thing you suggested.

[purrtagonist]

What if he couldn't?

[tilts his chin up!!]

A nickname might be a little too obvious for our furry friends. And I don't really think it's a coincidence that two nonsensical words can be rearrange to formulate one that actually does make sense.

[blueeyeswaifudragon]

If he liked puzzles enough. If it's truly a hint from a spirit, what else do they have to do with their time?

Of course, it could be a different code than an anagram, such as a ROT13 cypher.

[eternalballad]

It's possible one of those theories may be correct.

[ ... ]

Sigma would, undeniably, attempt to at least give a hint of some kind as to who may be the killer.

[purrtagonist]

[nod nod!!]

Yeah. Otherwise, why send a message?

And when you pair the second theory with Niles's almost complete lack of an alibi. . .

[piertotumlocomotor]

It's true that making references in the tablet messages may be possible for Klim, but that's only if a certain condition is met: if Klim wrote the first message.

[McGonagall doesn't seem entirely certain about what she'll say, but when has she ever restrained herself from saying what's in her mind?]

A few hours ago I suggested the possibility Klim had posted the message, but Akechi suggested something that makes sense: someone who was being attacked wouldn't waste time on making references about movies instead of sending a request for help, or anything similar. If I understood the reference correctly, it involves a person being attacked, and if it was 'just like that scene', then he was indeed being attacked right in that moment.

[So yeah, she wants to believe Sigma's priorities would be in order while under attack!]

If the first message was not written by Klim, then it's not likely this new message was written by him -- at least that's the impression I have.

[Well, leaving aside the fact a dead person is sending messages, yeah]

[suppressthedark]

I wouldn't say that.

[Hello, Resident Shinigami here!]

It's possible that he was able to send it after his death. We don't know what happens to souls here when someone dies.

[purrtagonist]

[AKIRA ISN'T COMPLETELY CERTAIN, EITHER. he's holding himself tall, with authority, with confidence, but he's slow with his words. like he's mulling them over. or. . . mulling over the potential consequences they could have]

Even if the second message wasn't written by him-- [he still thinks it was, but Ichigo has the "sending messages post-death" part covered, so] -- that only excludes Hiyori as a potential suspect. It doesn't change the fact that Niles has the weakest alibi out of everyone here.

His "partner" was asleep for half of it, after all.

[eternalballad]

I also doubt that first message was written by him. For the reasons you have described.

However, I believe for the new message the circumstances are entirely different. Sometimes the dead have a way to communicate to the living, and it could be that Sigma has found that method.

[insurgeont]

Interesting. My suspicions were on the prince, of the two. I do not follow exactly how this hint leads to piracy [ cultural context and all, who the fuck is captain hook and how does niles look like a pirate ], but if that is the connection, then it is strengthened by Niles's history of thievery.

[purrtagonist]

[annnnnd this is where Akira pauses, because he hadn't considered Corrin at all, due to the TAPIOCA HONK "clue." but now that he thinks about it, that lack of an alibi goes both ways, huh?]

Why did you suspect Corrin?

[chosemyfate]

...

[It's not becoming of a prince to start losing his composure, but DAMN THIS IS GETTING UNDER HIS SKIN, if his clenching fists imply anything. Well. The guy did fall asleep at some point so whatever happened within that period before waking up in Niles room... He could not vouch for Niles about that gap, and Corrin knows it. Akira didn't need to remind him. Somehow he's now feeling responsible for some factors here... That he can't defend Niles any further than what he knows.]

You really are sticking with this theory and not budging, huh...

[And he really doesn't want to buy this. Not one bit. They don't even know who Captain Hook is, either...]

I'm going to sincerely hope this is just an attempt to put everyone in circles. This is going to frame someone really bad, I hope you're aware and willing to risk that consequence.

[purrtagonist]

[firmly. head tilted up, gaze steady]

I am.

[he thought long and hard about this, Corrin. he knows what he's doing. he knows]

But the lack of an alibi for Niles means you don't have one, either.

HIYORI DEFENDS HIMSELF

[respendent]

Ah, what a foul Eve.

The only defense I have is my rock solid alibi and that I always behave this way! It's my bad habit to offend people, and selfishly think only about myself while hatred gathers in the hearts of people around me! But by the same token, I don't have enough self-consciousness to lie even when it's to my advantage, yes! And Jun-kun isn't around to hit me when I say too much, so I just speak freely and as I like, no matter the consequences!

[ tl;dr: I'm an asshole idk what you expected. ]

[truthstranger]

Either of those interpretations of the message seem like a stretch...

[ But he looks like he's considering it, anyway. ]

[cw_suicide]

[well, he's got nothing better. so like.

shruuuuuug???]

So if this turns out to be wrong, don't beat yourself up too much about it.

That goes for both you and Ichigo-kun.

[very_good_end]

[Erika has adopted her calm ladylike demeanor for this conversation.]

What an elegant piece of puzzle solving, Kurusu-san.

[loveandwillpower]

So who's down an alibi? Ulaz, Niles, Corrin, and Hiyori? It's definitely one of those four?