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

[psychoh]

[his eyes open.

the difference is obvious even then; the Norman Bates that stands up and dusts off his shirt moves differently than the one that had fallen just moments before. there is a more confident set to his shoulders, his jaw stuck out and proud. the gaze that slowly circles around the room, taking in everyone around him, is cold and calculating.

and the voice. the voice is not his own. there's nothing of Norman's uncertain stammer there: it's solid, steady, and sure. and it sounds, unsettling enough, like the voice of an elderly, angry woman.]

My name is Norma Bates, and I am being betrayed in the worst way a woman can be: by her own son.

[he-- she?-- slams his hands down on the podium.]

I know he's trying to pin this murder on me, and I refuse to stand for it-- I've never so much as harmed a fly my whole life! It's always been this way, him blaming me for his every sin, as if he's this spotless angel, brought down by his wicked mother. It's quite the opposite, as you can see! After all, he seemingly wasn't content with just having six murders on his conscience; he's elected to add a seventh!

Miss Megumi Sakura... Stupid girl. Foolish girl. I never liked her, but I never wanted her dead! It was Norman-- Norman and his degeneracy, Norman and his lust, Norman and his wickedness-- that spilled that poor girl's blood!

And it's Norman who should be punished for it. Not me. Never me.

[MACHINE GUN TALK BATTLE]
[START]

[goodforsomething]

[STAN BACKS AWAY QUICKLY]

What the fuck.

[psychoh]

Now, where do you think you're going?

[he grins, looking him up and down. slowly.]

You'll stay right where you are. Right where I can see you.

[goodforsomething]

[...he stops. Glances around at the others as if to make sure he's still got company. Then lifts his chin and tries to compose himself.

C'mon, Stanley. You've talked to worse than this, probably.]

Sure. I wouldn't, uh...wouldn't wanna offend a lady.

So...Norman does this a lot, huh?

[cherryblooded]

...Well then. Okay.

[notjustawriter]

Jesus-- Jesus Christ!

[THIS ROOM NEEDS JESUS VERY, VERY BADLY]

[goodforsomething]

[can Stan stand with you at your slightly-more-distant podium, buddy]

[notjustawriter]

[YES PLEASE FEEL FREE]

[penduli]

[ well at least one of us has jesus (hallelujah for crosses)




he can't share though sorry everyone else ]

[isafraid]

[You've taken the words out of his mouth, Gabriel.]

[captainobnoxious]

[well this deserves the flask more than evidence ever did, don't mind if she unscrews one to take a dip in it.]

If you share the body, you share the responsibility.

[psychoh]

Share? [scoffs] What do you think this is, one of your little science fiction picture shows? I am Norma Bates. I share nothing.

[notjustawriter]

You.... you're possessin' his body.

[captainobnoxious]

Not a clue what that is, but it's the body that did the crime.

[sleepingkogoro]

[...this isn't what he expected. This is...]

You!

Say what happened. Now. How did Norman kill her? If you say he is framing you.

[psychoh]

[practically preens god is there anything better than throwing your shitty child under the bus?]

Well, for starters, he was clearly in love with the girl. Not that it means much; he'll fall for anyone who shows him the slightest scrap of affection, the little wretch... But, he's never quite learned to handle that sort of thing. Doesn't know how to express it. Drives him a little... mad.

So, he gets his little toys, the ones he got from the strange machine. The wig. The dress. Makes himself look pretty. Knocks on that poor girl's door. She opens it up, and he... has his fun.

... And then comes the guilt.

He can't handle that very well, either. So, obviously, anything bad in his life must be my fault. He convinces himself of that, as he convinces himself of it every time, and, being a dutiful son, went to clean up the mess.

[smiles] And now, here we are. Having a wonderful time. I haven't felt this alive in years.

[cherryblooded]

I see. Is that how it is.

[Cherryblod's got that thin smile again.]

Miss Bates, it really doesn't matter to me whether you killed her or he did - you're both Inviting, so you'll both die by execution in a few minutes. Perhaps you should have raised your child to know how to treat women better.

[sleepingkogoro]

[...Mouri feels like he is going to throw up. He is no stranger to wretched criminals, but this is entirely new for him. Nothing in the world could have prepared him for this]

Absolutely disgusting. I don't care if you are a ghost, or a second personality or Norman-kun playing a role.

You don't have even a shred of love for your son.

[The son that was despairing so hard, the one that had made Mouri promise not to say a thing. He isn't planning to divulge any of that here, though. Bates did that very well already]

And now you and him are going to die.

PAGING... THE KINGMAKER...

[bloodisthicker]

[...well, okay, it's time to stop heading over, then, because WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS. WHAT IS HIS LIFE.]

...Kingmaker? Are you... are you looking at this?

[HE CAN'T DO IT. HE CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE.]

[kingmakereffect]

You'd better believe I am.

[He sounds... interested, maybe?]

[bloodisthicker]

[...he really kind of hates himself for actually bothering to speak to the Kingmaker in public, but...]

...what do we even do with cases of possession...?

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod snapped out of his 'what the fuck' mode fairly quickly.]

Just to be clear, but - regardless of who or what is going on with Norman Bates, everyone in that body is 'Inviting', aren't they?

[uro_cyon]

Tell us your side of the story, then.

[garudynamic]

...

[Just gonna... stay over here.]

[penduli]

[ y'know what

uh

sssame

hi yosuke. ]