Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

The elevator doors slide open at the end of the allotted time for investigating, and the ride down is quick-paced and smooth; there's a lot more space in here than there was at the start of the game, that much is obvious. But then, perhaps that's to be expected with almost a third of your original number dead. The doors slide open when the courtroom is reached, the podium circle waiting as always in the middle of what still seems to be an endless dark void; Yato, Taichi and Megumi have joined the ranks of the dead, their podiums draped in black, greyscale portraits set upon them. Watching the proceedings. And as always, they aren't the only ones watching. The Kingmaker waits until everyone is settled at their podiums to begin speaking; it's still impossible to tell where his voice is coming from – other than, perhaps, 'everywhere.' "Protective has been taken from you. Looks like the guilty thought their secret was worth more than her life... Or maybe they just wanted out and decided to be the one to succeed at Rule Seven where everyone else has failed. Whether they succeed or not is up to you." Nineteen Survivors remain. How many are still alive at the end of the day is your decision.

Comments

[bloodisthicker]

...well, it was about the second week here, and I was doing laundry late at night because I didn't actually want anybody to see me wearing that hideous jumpsuit. Unfortunately, someone witnessed my shame, but he was washing something... a bit odd.

[...he gets the feeling that this is Deep Dark Secrets territory and not just a hobby that's more acceptable in the Year of the Horse than it was in generations past. It... feels kind of shitty to do this, but at the same time...

He wants whoever killed Megumi and dumped her body right in the room next door to him to be brought down. He couldn't do anything then, but he sure can now.]

I didn't get the closest look at it, but it was definitely a whitish grey wig, from what I could see. And the person I saw doing this...

[...something about this... feels right, actually. He feels better than he has in a week. He points, maybe a little too enthusiastically, at Norman Bates.]

Well... do you have an explanation for this, Mr. Bates?

[psychoh]

[he looks up just a little too fast, a perfectly confused expression on his face. he leans a little more of his body weight onto the podium.]

F-For what?

[sleepingkogoro]

Norman-kun.

[Boy is Mouri getting angry now. Now that he thinks about it...]

The candy wrappers. You already said they were yours. The candy wrappers in the incinerator room, you left them behind, didn't you?

[psychoh]

Th-Those could, they could be from anybody! Th-They're, um...

[goodforsomething]

You eat those all the damn time. We've all seen you.

[notjustawriter]

That's right. You always have 'em.

[bloodisthicker]

[Tarrlok grins like a shark that's just encountered a half-dead whale.]

The fact that you've just become a suspect in this murder, of course. I doubt you'd actually have that wig of yours to produce for us, seeing as it's evidence... but maybe you want to explain why you have it to begin with?

[psychoh]

I... I-It's... I mean, it's...

[god, he's not good at this. he's never been good at this. why does it always...

he's so tired. his head is spinning.]

... I d-didn't do it! You'll all... you'll all die, if you vote for me, can't you see that? I didn't kill her!

[goodforsomething]

You didn't kill her?

[Stan mimics Norman's inflection, half-mockingly.] Then who did? You got any bright ideas? You're the guy with a wig, right?

[isafraid]

Then you'd best start telling us why it is that you didn't kill her!

[This has gone on for too long already.]

[bloodisthicker]

Maybe you want to prove that you don't have any bruises for us, then? Or, perhaps, give us another good reason why we shouldn't suspect you.

[psychoh]

[GOD THERE'S so much yelling. so many loud voices. he can barely hear himself...

Tarrlock isn't yelling, even though he's easily more terrifying than any of the others. so, that's who he directs himself to.]

Ah... No. There's, um. Bruises. Lots of 'em. I [he giggles here, high and breathless] really, really did a number on myself...

... I helped. I covered it up for her. B-Burned her clothes. Tr-Tried to frame... I always cover it up for her.

[goodforsomething]

[This is getting a little weird.]

...cover it up for who? Y'know you'd die too, right?

[psychoh]

I'd, I'd die for her. I'd die a thousand times... [seems a little unsteady, a sort of dreamy look on his face...]

[notjustawriter]

Are..... are you talkin' about one of the ladies here?

[Because signs are pointing to no.]

[notjustawriter]

....Helpin' a murderer means you'd die, too.

[Something about this is creeping him out.]

[psychoh]

... I know. Knew the whole time. Was, um... just trying. Just trying to keep you all off the scent. Off her... [sways a bit...]

[bloodisthicker]

...

[...the predatory look in Tarrlok's eyes does not fade, but... man, it's like he's just suddenly noticed there are some funky-ass parasites in that whale and is no longer sure if he wants to eat it after all.]

Who... is "her," exactly?

[...it's obviously not Sigrun or Aqua.]

[psychoh]

... Mother.

[he smiles.






and then falls backwards in a dead faint.]

[neverafters]

The King asked, c-couldn't someone have taken the wig from The Inviting?

[ Unlikely given how few knew about it to begin with but--he couldn't just say nothing when seeing someone be as scared as he normally was. ]

[goodforsomething]

Then why wouldn't he have brought that up already?

[neverafters]

Ah... that is...

[psychoh]

[he appreciates the thought, smol bird man.]

[goodforsomething]

Hey, don't -

- we'll talk later, okay?

[notjustawriter]

"You" didn't kill her?