► audio | un: moiraine

[cairhien]

( they’d had to coach her gently on setting it up. ‘video and think’ was not the most helpful instruction which was why the message ends up voice only.

she tried.

but there’s news to share and she’d volunteered careful words for it )

I’m aware that many observations have been made but there’s perhaps one more that should be noted. I spoke with a gentleman named Noct Wood– ( someone she’d like to talk to again when they’re less pressed in hurry ) Though that may not be the sole name he travels by.

( cutting in comes a curt tone, voicing aloud his musings: ) But then whose body was that?

Illusions, perhaps, or a sibling? ( another that was further estranged. or hidden. or cloned, not that she knows what that is )

Could be the real Noct Wood. Assuming there’s a real Noct Wood. I mean there has to be, who’d make up a fake alias and choose a name like that–

Whoever he is, he was someone that didn’t wished to remain unseen.

( quieter now, as if meant mostly for himself: ) I should apologize for striking her...

( elsewhere, but closeby, there’s a light snort. ) That black eye she gave you makes me think she was okay with it. Though I guess it’s more accurate to call it a green eye?

( there’s a gently-firm look given to both of them. stay focused ) What was found was small but significant: gloves, news of an artifact and some papers. ( a newspaper, moiraine. it’s all one ) Items hidden, kept safe, but connecting.

Hmm. I suspect this may be the thread we need to tug on.

( she nods an agreement to him ) The papers and speaking with him again. ( which is something she’s already considering doing again.

and that’s also where, with some perhaps muffled background of assistance, the audio cuts of )

[ moiraine + spock + clarice ]

video; un: mccoy ; cw for stab wound details

[homeostatic]

( In his cabin, McCoy starts off brusque: )

Jim, Megatron, and I got a better look at the body. I know Jove was said to have scars, but the body had none, and also had no signs of cosmetic surgery that would have removed them. Their technology is relatively advanced, but not quite enough for a dermal regenerator, which still leaves some kinda evidence behind, if you know what you're looking for.

( He's thisclose to nerding out on a lecture on the finer points of regen hallmarks but cuts himself off, continuing grimly: )

It also looks like more than one person might have had a hand in this poor fella's death. He put up a fight– hence the broken nails a couple of you noticed –but the bruising under and around his jaw suggests someone bigger restrained him in the end, allowing the second attacker to stab him.

( He pats the areas of his own jawline where they found the bruising, and demonstrates a sleeper hold on an invisible victim. Got it, class? Then he holds his hands out together, miming brandishing a knife ready to strike, before he drops them to his side. )

Another interesting thing, Attacker Number Two used both hands to stab Jove. ( Pause. ) Or Not!Jove, in this case.

They didn't have an easy time of it, either– y'see, stabbing someone in the chest is more difficult than most people think, on account of the thoracic cage getting in the way, like it's supposed to. You don't get to just slip a blade in the intercostal space and call it a day, you gotta mean it, because there's muscle and tissue to contend with. She/he/they likely didn't know that, so they went for brute force over finesse. Looking at the wounds he has, the knife they used doesn't seem like it was all that sharp either, and Jove would have been squirming, so that just added to their troubles.

( McCoy looks very unhappy about that. )

The last couple strikes look more like they were placed for effect, versus killing blows. He was already a goner after the first few; they went right through vital organs, and he would've blacked out from blood loss fairly quick. Mercifully.

( Right, time for theorizing. )

Attacker Number One would have to be someone big enough to hold onto Jove, while Attacker Number Two could be smaller, with a slighter build, someone who really threw their all into the stabbing. Either one of them will likely have abrasions or scratches on their hands or arms, deep ones that'd be difficult to conceal.

I know our ultimate goal here is the orb, and seeing Clara and Peter released, but a man's been killed. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who wants to see his killer, or killers, brought to justice.