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

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...?

[kingmakereffect]

[Seems like Cherryblod's got an idea...]

[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?

[kingmakereffect]

That's correct. I'm glad you figured that out so quickly.

[cherryblooded]

I see. And as we vote by title, it's not a requirement for us to figure out exactly 'who' committed the crime.

Which is good, because that might be difficult.

[goodforsomething]

Not even worth talkin' about competence, huh.

[He means mental competence and is trying not to say it outright.]

[neverafters]

... The King... doesn't know if it would have made a difference. [ At least, probably not to the Kingmaker. ]

[cherryblooded]

It's the Kingmaker. Do you expect mercy?

[goodforsomething]

Nope.

[cherryblooded]

That's what I thought.

[notjustawriter]

None of us should expect mercy.

[bloodisthicker]

...well, I'm glad we cleared that up, then, because otherwise this would've been kind of a mess to figure out, yes.

[isafraid]

Small miracles and all that, eh?

[bloodisthicker]

...Can we really call it that, though?

[...it's feel really bad for the killer because something struck a nerve even though the culprit actually had it worse than you, holy shit time again, god damnit.]

[isafraid]

Might as well call it a bloody nightmare by this rate.

[Just.

He doesn't want to be down here anymore.]

[bloodisthicker]

...

[There... was a lot of adrenaline going when he cornered Norman, but now that he's seen what a sad fuckin' shitshow this is, he's just...]

I'm so tired of this.

[sleepingkogoro]

I'm sure everyone is tired of this.

[This is emotionally tiring in every way possible]

[bloodisthicker]

Is... anyone handling things after this? I guess I can try and make pork buns or something.

[...he's even starting to feel a touch of regret.]

[notjustawriter]

[Gabriel's too tired to even be angry now.]

This can't keep happening.

[bloodisthicker]

...You're right. It can't.

[...but what can he even do? He just... what the fuck, he doesn't even know.

Every damn week.]

[isafraid]

We can't let this keep going on.

[Speedwagon lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding.]

What's stopping us from asking for a vote call, right this second?

[ignorantly]

Yeah, let's just fuckin' vote already. I don't wanna listen to that garbage he's spewing anymore.