second investigation [night 7/day 8]

[calloperators]

[So I have good news today! No explosion that will wake you all up at 3 AM! You can sleep in to the morning if you want to.

But if you’re a really early riser, or you stay up really late every evening, it might be worth it to look around.

Especially after that strange phone call you got again. After all, you’ve all committed crime, there could be someone who would trade in a human life for a fabulous prize.

Or sleep in honestly that’s what I would do.

Investigate?]

Comments

[hotlinenpcs]

[A nail has been shot through the lens]

[neverstudied]

[... Venkman didn't really expect that one, but ok. Sure. Can he reach the security camera and pry out the nail? Hopefully without covering his hands in broken glass again?

Is there anything in the area that might have shot this nail, IE, a nailgun?]

[hotlinenpcs]

[Well the security camera is a bit high up, so it might be difficult.

And nope, no sign of a nailgun here ;)]

[neverstudied]

[Wow someone threw a nail into the camera and shattered it

Is there any way to access whatever the security camera sends footage to? Presumably a monitor somewhere in a back room?]

[hotlinenpcs]

[There might be if Venkman looks-

Oh

But before that Venkman might suddenly hear something coming from the bathroom.

It's faint, but it continues as you listen.]

[neverstudied]

[Well that's

hm

It could be Beard. it could also not be Beard. Venkman's not sure which, but he wishes he had a weapon right about now just in case. Considering the number of times he's been ambushed by weird ghost stuff in bathrooms- and the corpse on the floor- that's a pretty fair reaction.

He moves a little closer. Can he make out what it is if he pays close attention?]

[hotlinenpcs]

[As Venkman moves closer, he can start to make out what the sound is.

...

Sounds like...someone...snoring?]

[neverstudied]

[... Yeah ok

He knocks on the door, hard- hopefully loud enough to wake the person inside.]

[hotlinenpcs]

[There's a small snort, like someone being jolted awake. After a small pause, Venkman can hear a nervous, familiar voice. Which, coincidentally, is the only voice you've ever heard in this convenience store besides those from the motel.]

...Hello? Are the police finally here?

[Venkman might also get the distinct smell of weed near the door. It's pretty clear who's inside.]

[neverstudied]

Hi, Beard.

[Deep sigh.]

No cops, man. Just us from the motel. Don't think the cops really give a shit about this.

[hotlinenpcs]

[There's a pause, and the door creaks open. Beard is standing in the doorframe, his glasses askew and an unreadable expression on his face somewhere between terror and confusion.]

Aw, man. My boss is gonna get real mad about this--I just wanted to take a break and then, I heard something and I was too scared to come out, and I was like, alright, well, when it's all over I can come out and call the cops but then I fell asleep--

[A cat runs out between his legs. Beard just stares at the scene before him.]

This is gonna take a while to clean up.

[neverstudied]

No shit, man.

Did you see anything? Or hear anything significant? Aside from a gunshot, I guess.

[Also, far more important than everything else going on here- how are the cats doing.]

[hotlinenpcs]

[The cats are fine, thank God. One of them comes up and rubs against Venkman's leg.]

Uhh, well, it was kind of--um. It's all mixing together, man. I went to the bathroom, when I heard something happening. Lots of banging and stuff. I was too scared to leave, so I stayed until the noise stopped. And I think after that, I fell asleep.

[Beard looks pretty high strung, which is...unusual, given the fact he's really relaxed most of the time.]

Do you, uh, wanna maybe check the security footage? That, uh, might help. And I'm gonna call the police.

[neverstudied]

[Venkman picks up the cat at his feet.]

Yeah, sure. But, uh- the footage might be a little fucked up. Someone shot your cam with a nail.

[He's... a little surprised that Beard is outright asking if he wants to see the footage. Before even getting it to the cops. But sure. You know what. Fine. It's stoner solidarity.]

[hotlinenpcs]

[Beard said ACAB, but he still wants help cleaning up. He doesn't want to touch corpses. It's a hard life being a service worker.

Beard walks over to the counter, then starts fiddling with a remote. He points to a tiny monitor next to the cashier, which shows that the camera is currently nonfunctional.]

Here, just...rewind until you see something. I'm gonna go call the police now.

[And he steps aside to go do just that.]

i love beard jsyk

[neverstudied]

Good luck getting 'em to do anything useful.

[That sounds sarcastic, but he means it genuinely.

Anyway, Venkman does just that! He starts going back through last night's footage, cat still held to his chest.

What does he find?]

[hotlinenpcs]

[Doesn't take too long to find the appropriate footage, since it was the last thing the camera recorded.

At the timestamp reading 12:23 AM, Medic is seen entering the convenience store with a crowbar in hand. The bathroom door can be seen closing, presumably Beard on his "break". Medic is seen puttering about the aisles, then stops to look at a t-shirt on display. The Spuds Mckenzie shirt, specifically. After lingering there for a moment or two, he walks over to the arcade cabinet, putting down his crowbar and leaning it against the cabinet.

"Ach, it's a shame that Pyro couldn't be alive to be here with me," he says in a sorrowful tone. He lets out a heavy sigh, staring at the console screen. “But...I believe they would want me to have this with their dying breath.

...”

He glances down at the crowbar, then inserts a coin into the machine and starts playing. There’s the sound of the store door sliding open, and the feed cuts out.]