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]

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?

[psychoh]

[nods] I'm being truthful. He's killed seven people. So far, of course; I suspect he'll never been pleased with just that.

He's just a wicked boy, I'm afraid. [SIGHS DRAMATICALLY] I did the best I could. It was so hard, after his father died. A son is a poor substitute for a lover, after all...

[captainobnoxious]

[


ew?]

Okay, listen, I'm literally from a world that's pretty much dead and there is no way that isn't creepy and gross and weird.

[cherryblooded]

Amen.

[That is creepy as fuck ma'am.]

[psychoh]

You're one to talk, you diseased harlot! Forcing men to undress for your pleasure, all in the name of investigation... Sickening. Perhaps if all the women here had been as vile as you, this never would've happened.

... He does have some standards.

[captainobnoxious]

Says the woman who took her son as her lover, apparently. What the hell's even wrong with you?

cw: incest just. everywhere. honestly.

[psychoh]

You've no idea what you're talking about, stupid girl. Of course, that's quite the norm for you, isn't it?

[captainobnoxious]

I don't need smarts to know that whoever stutters is or isn't is the one that killed teach! That body did the crime, that body gets the chopping block, end of discussion!

Also, it's still really gross!

[goodforsomething]

Look, it ain't that I don't agree, but this -

[Is not literally Norma Bates. He's pretty sure.]

There's not a whole lot to do now.

[captainobnoxious]

Except kill the body.

[goodforsomething]

Yeah, we're gonna get there. Just sayin', I would've rather had the mother.

[THE REAL ONE THANK YOU NORMAN]

[bloodisthicker]

...she's not the one using her child for some disgusting purpose, you know.

[...is he arguing with a ghost or something else he doesn't even know anymore, the point is

fuck you, lady]

[isafraid]

[...What the fuck, lady.]

"Never would've"... Hang on!

[It's Speedwagon's turn to slam his podium apparently.]

So why'd Miss Megumi have to die then?!

[ratingspoint]

She isn't vile.

[...nor a harlot nor diseased but he figures those go without saying? she's too weird about stuff to be a harlot and if she were diseased she'd be dead soooo]

[psychoh]

You're disgusting, too. Just in case you wondered if that was limited to actual women.

[ratingspoint]

[...wh]

...You know, I'd argue but I'm not even sure where to start.

[cherryblooded]

You love to hear yourself talk, don't you? Even when all you're spewing is garbage.

[He can't even do the very very fake politeness thing anymore.]

[sleepingkogoro]

What the hell...

[This is much worse than he had thought. He did know Norman was covering up for his mother, but...

...this is way beyond his expectations]

[goodforsomething]

[Stan opens his mouth, then shuts it again and glances at the others. Are they...someone please tell him he isn't interpreting that right.]

Uh. Yeah, that's...that's rough. [wow he wishes this wasn't happening!] I know what ya mean, things were real hard after my wife died.

Do you know why he killed Megumi?

[psychoh]

I hardly know what's going on in his diseased little mind... But, if I had to guess, I'd say he knew there was only one way he'd ever have her.

[goodforsomething]

[................okay he's done playing nice now]

What?

[psychoh]

The stabbing was a tad... excessive. Don't you agree?

He was never good at handling his rage.

[goodforsomething]

[Stan grits his teeth, hands curling and uncurling. For a moment, one ventures near his pocket, near that object he was fiddling with in there as they walked in.

He'd intended to hurt the killer a little himself first.

But this? No...no, he can't do this. He turns way towards the pit, folding his arms.]

Yeah. Sounds that way.

Wonder where he got that.

[notjustawriter]

That's disgusting.