trusthell | Taking Responsibility.

Despite the lack of a body, despite the fact that you've initiated the investigation today of your own volition rather than due to some sense of formality and obligation (to the dead, to the rules, to the session), it seems that the Wordsmith is aware of your activities regardless; as such, when you finally leave that hidden area on the seventh floor and move back toward the stairs, you'll find that the elevator is already waiting for you.

Perhaps it's unsettling, in its own way; perhaps it'll only serve to make you more determined.

Either way, the ride up is swift and smooth as always; when the door opens, however, it becomes immediately obvious that the courtroom itself has changed.

The podium circle is still standing in its spot toward the front of the room; three more have joined the ranks of the deceased since you were last here - Mikazuki, Watanuki, and Bruce Wayne's portraits have been set up on their podiums; however, theirs aren't the only ones that have been covered - all thirty podiums have been draped in black, the fabric spilling down over the wood, almost to the point of reaching the floor.

That isn't the only difference, either - Kageshirou is far more visibly present today, in a way that's impossible to ignore. The walls in here appear cracked, much like the one in the foyer, dark silt and shadow spilling down to pool on the floor like contaminated water, like blood. A fair amount of it seems to be emanating from the lectern high above, the one place in this room that doesn't seem to have taken damage like the walls have; regardless, the darkness of the shadow entity spills down heavily from there, constantly pouring down like some sort of waterfall, thick and ugly and thankfully dissipating into the floor before it can touch the circle where you'll be standing.

The circle is one of the few places in this room that's clear of it, actually.

As repulsive as this all may be, however, the lectern remains empty, standing cold and unaffected by any of this; once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard addressing everyone, as always.

"Welcome, Apprentices—I thought it likely you would want to find yourselves here today, and we have now gathered for what I am sure you need not be told may be one final time. Is there perhaps something you wished to discuss?"

There are only eight of you left, and it seems you've reached the end of the line. There isn't much else to do but try to win, in any way you can.

Best of luck to you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is that what you believe a demon to resemble?

I know from experience demons can take many different forms. I did not always look like this. It can take different forms as well. We don't know what Kageshirou looks like, really.

I will grant you the answer that this is close to its true form.

I've actually gotten the chance to interact with the Kageshirou. It seems kind, even if its body is a poison. Does it also have something to gain from this if you succeed? Does it need the souls of those who have passed on?

Kind...?

It does have something to gain--the most important thing to it, in fact. And for that end, it requires an outside force.

In other words, you are correct.

It seemed more afraid of me than I was of it, to be honest. If its body weren't a poison, I would have gladly gotten close to it since it did not seem hostile.

[At least that's how she felt.]

What does the Kageshirou have to gain? What is its most important thing that it requires souls?

It wants to live.

Has it already passed away, then? Or was it never alive in the first place?

It is more complex than that. The second option is closer.

Does that mean it hasn't experienced emotions and it wishes to do just that?

Perhaps the better word is 'exist.'

What you call Kageshirou wishes to fully manifest in this world and show its true emotions.

What kind of emotions does it want to feel? When I interacted with it, it seemed happy that I wasn't afraid of it.

Or at least that how's I interpreted it.

[Or maybe because she wasn't attacking it...]

'Kageshirou' in its truest form is the ultimate expression of negativity.

Hate. Despair. Anguish. Rage. These are all what it carries within itself.

Then does it wish to feel the opposite emotions?

Love. Hope. Happiness. Calmness.

You misunderstand.

It wishes to express these negative emotions on the world and people around it.

[ . . . You know, let's try what Ushiromiya called turning the chessboard around: ]

So right now, does it carry other people's negative emotions inside of it?

It carries that and countless others.

(no subject)

matchbreaker - 2017-03-25 17:43 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:44 (UTC) - Expand

matchbreaker - 2017-03-25 17:45 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:46 (UTC) - Expand

matchbreaker - 2017-03-25 17:47 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:48 (UTC) - Expand

matchbreaker - 2017-03-25 17:48 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:49 (UTC) - Expand

matchbreaker - 2017-03-25 17:52 (UTC) - Expand

feistytrader - 2017-03-25 17:53 (UTC) - Expand

iaspis - 2017-03-25 17:56 (UTC) - Expand

Are you entirely sure? I mean, it certainly is good at expressing those emotions, but never did it really try to express those when I approached it.

It almost seemed afraid of me. Not the other way around, and was perfectly happy being approached.

[In Estelle's world and head, this makes sense okay.]

I am certain. I do not believe you are correct in assigning it motivation.

firstaid - 2017-03-25 17:47 (UTC) - Expand

firstaid - 2017-03-25 17:50 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:53 (UTC) - Expand

firstaid - 2017-03-25 17:55 (UTC) - Expand

[...So they're supposed to stop the embodiment of hatred and rage and stuff with a couple of ice bombs and some pointy sticks. Cool.]

But it can't right now.

[Because otherwise, they wouldn't be having this conversation, right?]

It is not yet fully formed.

feistytrader - 2017-03-25 17:43 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:43 (UTC) - Expand

feistytrader - 2017-03-25 17:48 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:50 (UTC) - Expand

iaspis - 2017-03-25 17:52 (UTC) - Expand

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:52 (UTC) - Expand

oyashiromama - 2017-03-25 17:53 (UTC) - Expand

cw: suicidal ideation

wordsmithery - 2017-03-25 17:54 (UTC) - Expand

oyashiromama - 2017-03-25 17:57 (UTC) - Expand

[...oh.]

So you're willing to enable those destructive behaviors that it has within.

Willing? More than that.

Enabling that destruction is exactly my purpose.

elepe - 2017-03-25 17:45 (UTC) - Expand

.....power.

Its source of power must be souls.

You are, in fact, technically correct.