( closed ) oh, injury

[periastron]

WHO: Alex, James, Six
WHAT: Dead of Knight assignment
WHEN: harvestmere!!! sometime that is gently flexy to work around everyone's assignments, ayyyy
WHERE: Churneau, Orlais
NOTES: autopsy/gore/death, violence, general disaster.

Alexandra is standing in front of a body, laid out on a table in the cold cellar. Even securing the chance to conduct an autopsy had been a battle, one only won because old mate Templar had vouched for it. Seemed like he had to take a lot on faith, doing that, and she hopes to Christ she manages to get something to show for it. Their being here, doing this investigation, seemed to be setting people on edge. She swallows uncomfortably. Biomed, the study of human anatomy, and the aspiration of going to medical school before opting for veterinary science felt a long, long way away.

Just as well the others were searching rooms and getting into looking around, and had been alright with leaving her to do this alone. She wasn't sure she'd be able to do it with someone watching, autopsy on a person. Surgery, that was one thing, the person was living (or, in her case, the animal was living), and even when she'd needed to do autopsies on pets, that was something she was familiar with. This was to do with murder, and trying to keep an army stable during a war. No fucking pressure, or anything.

The room is silent, she's done the best she can to ensure hygiene in less than ideal conditions, and checks the gloves and the mask over her mouth for the umpteenth time as she looks down at the naked body of Dame Ines, and sets a hand on her shoulder. "Hey," Alex starts, voice quiet. "I'm really sorry about whatever happened to you, and I'm really sorry I've gotta do this. I understand it ain't... it ain't really something Andrastians are down with. I wanna find out who did this to you, but. I'm gonna do the best I can."

A little nod, determined, and she exhales slowly as she picks up the scalpel, and starts with the first incision.

Comments

Meanwhile ...

[judgemewhole]

James had staked a lot of his reputation on Alex being able to find something with her 'autopsy', something more than 'well she just keeled over from plague'. His being a Templar, making sure they knew that the body would be taken care of properly and was only being looked at for 'ill humors that would interfere with the consecration of the Maker', was the only thing that got Alex in that tent. To distract the troops, James and Six headed off to be - well - inquisitive for the Inquisition.

Right now, James was being as soothing as he could be, when he asked to see the cook's tent, as she was the only one not available for immediate questioning. Which was ... odd.

[swordproof]

Six looks a touch more awkward than James does, if only because that is how she naturally looks. There's an edge of something a touch more intense about her than usual, a furrow in her brow and a sharpness to her features, but she does her best to appear less like a threatening bodyguard and more like... A person here to just ask questions. To learn a little more. She's not sure how successful she is, but -

a warm, kind woman. Her nose wrinkles.

"Perhaps there is another entrance." It's said quietly, softly. "To investigate a little more."

[judgemewhole]

James nods his head to the arguments made that the cook is 'the warmest, kindest woman in the world and would never hurt a fly', keeping that carefully stoic expression on his face that means he's Listening.

He tips his head towards Six, and gives a faint nod in agreement, before saying more loudly. "We'll just check the grounds for any signs of possible demonic forces at work, then."

There, that ought to scare most of them off. AT least long enough for them to investigate the back of the cook's tent in peace.

[swordproof]

None of this sits right on her shoulders, all of this talk of how warm and kind and gentle this woman happens to be. When it comes to cases where someone is hailed so greatly while they still live - martyrdom is something else entirely - then there is always something suspicious about it. Six would like to believe the best in people, but there's an edge to her that makes it almost impossible for her to do it.

She had learned young and fast.

"This way, ser." She nods towards James and moves around, beginning to search for an alternate route. "I think they will leave us be, at least for a few hours."

[periastron]

Back in the cellar, Alex is frowning behind her mask (some cloth tied across her mouth), reaching to bring a candle closer. She's got as many candles as she can for lighting, but it still leaves a lot to be desired, as she tries to go between making notes and doing some exploration.

"What the fuck?" Her voice is quiet, barely audible, as she leans down to examine more closely. The tissue is not just discoloured, it's black, like it'd been charred or dipped in ink, and the blood in the esophagus—

"What happened to you?" she murmurs to the body, swallowing. "I— shit, were you poisoned?"

She doesn't see the woman emerging behind her from the shadows, doesn't realise her presence at all, until she feels a rope pull tight around her neck, as the person behind her pulls it back hard, so its cutting into her throat. A gasp, and her elbow jabs back into her assailant's gut.

Not so easy, though, and her head gets slammed against the table the body is lying on.

[judgemewhole]

James pressed his lips together as they moved away from the other soldiers. He resisted the urge to glower at all of them suspiciously, and keep the same calm demeanor that Six had upon her face. All of this tasted all levels of wrong, truth be told.

He nods with agreement, snagging one hand around the hilt of his sword as they came around to the back of the tent. He swept his gaze here and there, frowning.

"She could have easily slipped away - is that a trace of flour there?"

[periastron]

It's a rough day for Alex, all around. I mean, don't get her wrong, she loves feeling useful. This is just a bit beyond the point where she feels useful and like she's learning something, and more like she's hitting her head against a wall.

Maybe because there is someone currently hitting her head against a wall, who knows. To her credit, she manages to kick back off the wall and knock the back of her head into her assailants teeth. It sucks for Alex, too, but at least she's not going down without a fight.