4th Trick - Audio [Conveniently dated to allow for all criminal proceedings]

[vengefulshades]

[This message appears as audio/text only on the broadcaster's in. Regardless of how anyone responds, they'll only hear a voice, or see his words transcribed into text.

The communicator it broadcasts from has been hacked to hide the sender's real name. Only his alias will be visible.]

You know, you people really impressed me. I expected screaming, panic, chaos, scrambling from the authorities once they started to notice me. I expected to see hysteria and news broadcasts and exposes... that's what happened last time.

What I didn't expect was for so many people to play amateur investigator on me. I think that kind of perseverance deserves a reward, don't you? Besides, my plans didn't work out in the end, so I might as well reward all the people who were kind enough to loan me their bodies.

I am the one responsible for the recent crime wave committed in Heropa.

[The next part of the message does include video-- a cobbled-together montage of the coverage of Yomiel's crimes. T'Challa, Elsa, Ellie Langford, Jaime Reyes, Shinjiro Aragaki, John Mitchell, Violet Harmon, Kay Faraday, Phoenix Wright and Ruka are all seen from the news footage about their crimes.

Yomiel's voice cuts back in over the end.]

I manipulated all of these people into their crimes. I am the guilty party.

Why did I do it? I don't expect anyone to understand, so I won't waste your time trying to explain.

I also don't expect you uptight tyrants in the court system to release them all just because of what I've just claimed. But at least consider my testimony. You'll find the only explanation for what they've all done is little old me.

Why am I confessing?

[He laughs then, a low and fairly mirthless sound.]

Because there's nothing you can possibly do to me. Even if you find me, even if you lock me up... there's absolutely no way you can punish me.

And last, but not least, I'm sure you're wondering one more question.

Who am I?

Back home, they called me The Manipulator.

Comments

Video

[mercyisweakness]

[ There is slow clapping on her end, eyes cruel and lips lifted in a sneering smirk. ]

[vengefulshades]

You enjoyed all that?

video; private

[iampretty]

Mind answering a question or two before they attempt to lock you up?

private

[vengefulshades]

Maybe. You can always try. We'll have plenty of time before that happens.

audio;

[handwringing]

[Fine, she can go audio, too. Too bad you can't see her eyes and the mix of fury and anguish there.]

You... you did this? You did this and you won't even say why!?

[vengefulshades]

[Now see, this was the one he actually felt bad about. He and Elsa were roommates and she was kind to him.]

Yes. I did it. It doesn't matter why anymore.

I'd like to apologize to you, at least.

voice;

[waiting]

So basically, you're doing this to show of?

[vengefulshades]

That'd be pointless, wouldn't it?

No, there was a reason for all of it. But it didn't work out. So I thought it would be nice to let my friends off the hook.

video.

[isaytheeneigh]

You say that you can't expect us to understand—well, why don't you try us? That's a lofty claim, and wouldn't you like to find some kind of a kindred spirit?

[After all, Jean figures there's a chance he'll tell him, or he's making that claim because of some bigger plan.

Either way, he wonders if it's truly likely that he'll get away with it all.]

[vengefulshades]

[Yeah, nice try. But Yomiel will at least throw him a little bone.]

I was going to help the Imports. All of them.

video.

[heralding]

Let me guess, there's a fate worse than anything they can do to you, right?

Still, I'd like to see if you can live up to that. Where are you? Or are you just going to stand behind a broadcast like a coward? If none of that can truly hurt you, then you should turn yourself in.

Then we'll see how much that's true.

[vengefulshades]

That's right. There is.

I don't care about pride or about people calling me a coward. And I'm definitely not stupid enough to turn myself in for the sake of such things.

( audio )

[abadidea]

[When Isaac gets mad, he gets really mad, and one of the things he hates most are self-important assholes who think they're untouchable.]

What did you do to her?

[vengefulshades]

Sorry. You'll have to be more specific. Who?

audio;

[pacifistaggressive]

[At first, this seemed like something he came too late into the picture for. Something he missed. Until that confession. It seemed to ping the back of his mind, and it took him a moment.

Until he remembered Trucy's broadcast about her father being innocent. And the 'irrefutable proof' they had on him.

Even as blind as he is to the situation, he can add 2 & 2.]

So you're responsible for the little girl's father being locked up.

[Straight and to the point, at least.]

[vengefulshades]

Yes. That's correct.

[It's hard to tell whether he sounds remorseful or not. There's just an odd, careless tone to his voice.]

My plan didn't work the way I wanted it to. So it's time to vindicate the people I used.

text;

[hoboagogo]

i dunno why you'd expect scrambling in a place where everyone's got some sort of crazy power

[A pause because-- wow what do you say to the guy who took your body for an afternoon and threatened to blow a bunch of people up, seriously.]

Weird that you'd fess up now. That mean that you ain't gonna do it again, or that you feel that bad for all've us that took the fall?

[vengefulshades]

Scrambling is a habit of law enforcement, you know. They're worthless no matter which world you come from.

[As far as whether or not he feels bad?]

Well... it'd be rude of me to use you all and let you rot in jail while I'm on the run, wouldn't it? You were all very helpful to me.

I even had fun with you.

auido

[youbastard]

You bloody bastard. [Ellie was going to try to not be mad, but sometimes her temper gets the best of her. This is one of those times. She's really close to making some threat, but she manages to think better of that. Threatening someone might be a really bad idea considering her situation. There's a sharp breath and then a few seconds of silence.]

I have a lot of time you could waste. Go ahead, tell me why.

[vengefulshades]

Sorry, sweetie. I don't think this is the time for that story.

I'm on the run, but that won't stop me from trying to complete my plans again in the future.

audio;

[earnedmystripes]

[Well then. This is...incredibly unsettling, to say the least. This person, this 'Manipulator' has powers that are like Maverick's--perhaps even more dangerous than his. And now he's...confessing, for no apparent reason. What was the point, then? Just to show off? To make people afraid?]

How are you so sure no one will understand? You already said things were different from the last time you pulled this kind of shit.

[vengefulshades]

They were.

But nobody will understand. Nobody could possibly. I'm not interested in self-righteous, ignorant people telling me why I'm wrong.

Particularly when I went out of my way to try to help them.

[Audio]

[hands4healing]

Why would you want to hurt people that way?

[vengefulshades]

It's not a matter of wanting to hurt people. It's a matter of doing what I had to.

None of it's personal. Not here.

[fingerbang]

At least you're considerate.

[vengefulshades]

Thanks. I don't need to be told I'm a bad person, but I can at least be polite.

Voice;

[godly]

After all the distress you've caused, and now, gloating that no one will catch you for it--

[Understandably, Light is hardly pleased. You can hear it in his tone.]

You owe this community an explanation.

[vengefulshades]

I don't owe anybody anything. I've gone out of my way to try and help other Imports, when there's no reason for me to do so.

You want an explanation? Ask the government. People like them created me.

[detriments]

I think what they're really wondering is why you decided to cause such a mess.

[vengefulshades]

As though I just got bored and decided to cause trouble?

I do have that kind of time on my hands. But incorrect, regardless.

video;

[larker]

How bored were you to go through all of that?

[Reckons the guy must have been terribly bored, that's how much.]

[vengefulshades]

Pretty bored. But it wasn't as though it was all just to entertain myself. That would be stupid.

[inmyothertights]

They call you The Manipulator.

Are you kidding me?

That's the worst codename I have ever heard and that includes such fan-favorites like Melter and Egghead.

[He's not even going to touch the falsely imprisoned thing he may burst a blood vessel]

[vengefulshades]

I didn't come up with it. I'd have preferred something a little more interesting.

[voice]

[yatagarasu]

[There's an angry, strangled growl before Kay speaks up. Very angrily.]

Maybe you should be called The Monster instead! How could you sink this low?!

[vengefulshades]

You can call me whatever you like. That's your right.

I have my reasons. None that any of you would understand.

video

[yourpiecenow]

"There's no way you can punish me! Nobody will ever understand!"

[some Oscar-level acting right here]

Bull. Fucking. Shit. And here I thought the person behind this was at least going to be fun.

[vengefulshades]

Sorry, babe. Did it sound like I give a damn what you think?

audio;

[databoner]

"The Manipulator."

How corny.

Confessing without using your real name isn't going to help anyone.

[vengefulshades]

Yeah, I didn't make it up.

And of course it will. I've told them a possibility they didn't have before. The rest is up to them.

[voice]

[glassinine]

[Rather quietly:]

You confess to being responsible for those crimes? No more, and no less?

[vengefulshades]

[Matter-of-factly:]

Correct. I can give you a few more details if you'd like.

audio;

[attainment]

[Barnaby doesn't respond right away, instead observing and listening as other imPorts try to engage this "Manipulator". He'd suspected something of this nature as soon as he learned that the suspects had no memory of the crime. It all hits a little too close to home for several reasons, which is why a small, selfish part of him is grateful that neither he nor Kotetsu were one of his victims.

Finally, though, he speaks, his words slow and deliberate.]

If you consider yourself immune to all punishment, and are capable of taking control of anyone and anything you please, I find it difficult to believe that you've truly given up on your larger goals.

[vengefulshades]

That's an intelligent conclusion to draw. I never said I've given up, after all.

voice

[khajidont]

[There's something to be said for not blurting out the first thing that pops into your head, but this is a lesson that, so much of the time, Jaime has yet to learn.

And honestly, not being able to remember what the guy had called himself has been bugging the hell out of him.]

I knew you had a stupid title!

[This, coming from the guy who runs around calling himself Blue Beetle.]

[vengefulshades]

Forgot me so soon, did you, Mr. Reyes?

[He laughs a little bit.]

I'd have thought you'd remember more.

text; the most private

[hackitude]

Actually, those were none of the questions I was wondering.

[vengefulshades]

Well then. Try me. Maybe you'll get an answer.

audio/

[ktfod]

You have an ass enough to lock up, so I bet there's enough of one to beat the shit out of.

[vengefulshades]

That mad at me, are you?

I'm afraid I can't make it easy for you to find me, but I really hope you do. Come get me.