Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

For the third time, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up at the end of the allotted investigation period; the ride down is, as ever, smooth and quick-moving. You're down by five. When the doors slide open, the podium circle still stands in stark contrast to that now-familiar black void of a courtroom, and once again, it's changed to reflect your losses – Caren and Mion have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed greyscale profile portraits staring out at the rest of you. (The portrait of Pearl hasn't been removed from her room, but it seems the Kingmaker has replaced it with another; either way, her photograph is in the courtroom along with the rest.) As before, the Kingmaker waits until everyone is settled at their podiums before he speaks; he still isn't visible, but he can clearly be heard, his voice coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Capable has been taken from you. I'll confirm one thing for you so no one will waste time asking – the killer wasn't me. Looks like the guilty decided to take a shot at Rule Seven after all – and whether they succeed or not is up to you." Twenty-two Survivors remain. We'll see how many the group has lost at the end of the day.

Comments

[garudynamic]

[Sorry man, have an awkward little shrug and that's it]

[ratingspoint]

[He's not without his share of silver metal parts, admittedly.]

You can check all you like, sweetheart. You won't find anything, though - it's a waste of time.

[bloodisthicker]

Well, the Kingmaker wasn't terribly clear on the terms of this week's motive, given that I wasn't entirely sure if I could volunteer myself if it was necessary or if he'd expect any willing death to involve Rule Seven in some way.

I mean, you never know with him. He probably considers inciting someone to murder to be polite.

[garudynamic]

I'll keep that in mind. No reason to go that far yet.

[pokexplorer]

[Dang.]

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be part of the device. So no need to check everyone's.

[bloodisthicker]

Well, you know, great minds do think alike...

[capyper]

[ ... ]

Are you going somewhere with that line of thought, or just chewin' the fat?

[amygdalae]

I suppose it was a bit too far fetched to think it might be the case.

[garudynamic]

...

[Yato is acting weird. And has been since they really got to talking about the metal. Yosuke tilts his head at him and mouths: 'what is it?']

[pokexplorer]

Indeed. Now if only our great minds had made a discovery...

[capyper]

[ Yosuke's going to have to try harder than that, because while Yato sure isn't having fiery throes right now, but he sure is in the throes of... something that's got his mind occupied. ]

[bloodisthicker]

Well, you keep subtly correcting everyone on how the sequence of events may have played out... and you're familiar with swordplay, and you know a variety of knots but don't seem like the sort of person who routinely goes around hanging people.

It's nothing concrete, but it certainly looks suspicious.

[garudynamic]

[It doesn't occur to him to think Yato has figured something out- no, he's thinking he's freaking out due to stress. So he slips away from his podium to go check on him]

Hey man, you okay? You need to step back for a second?

[capyper]

You've been paying so much attention to me, wow! I'm super flattered!

... But you're right. It's nothing concrete.

[bloodisthicker]

...well, you win some, you lose some. Besides, we at least discovered that this... isn't from the device.

[cherryblooded]

It's not. Though... if I was going to bet on anyone to defeat Mion at a game of cards, a god of fortune wouldn't be a bad bet.

[capyper]

[ He seems surprised when Yosuke approaches him, but surprised in a good way. ]

Oh, nah, I'm okay! It's just... getting to go on for so long, that's all...

[capyper]

... That would make sense. If I were a real god of fortune, that is.

[cherryblooded]

[Blink, blink.]

You're not?

[garudynamic]

Yeah, we are kinda running in circles, huh? You were giving Mouri-san the stink-eye pretty hard though.

Still, if you need to check out a bit for awhile that's fine. We won't figure anything out if we freak out, right?

Paging Mods

[sleepingkogoro]

[Mouri suddenly stops doodling on the surface of his podium. Yato? The culprit?

Several tiny details flashed in his mind, specifically one. What was up with Yato focusing on the pen Mouri was holding? And hadn't there been said...

"So you have one of those pens too, huh?"]

Whoever has that metal piece thing, give it to me!

[As soon as he receives it he's going to compare it to his own pen. Does it seem like the piece could have come from a pen?]

[capyper]

Did I say I wasn't?

[ Ah yes, now is the time to become a literal genie. ]

Anyway, I'll tell you something irrefutable. Mion beat me every time that we played cards with each other.

[pokexplorer]

Ah, right. Here, Mr. Mouri.

[Passing the piece over!]

[cherryblooded]

[Yes, now is absolutely the time to become as much of an asshole as possible.]

...That might be true. But you've pointed out repeatedly, we don't know the exact order of events. So that might not even be relevant.

[trustharder]

[...It does.]