Take...Responsibility?

[kingmakereffect]

Unlike previous weeks in the Vault, there was no specifically allotted time for investigation; for the first time, this weekend the elevator doors remain closed at the end of the first floor corridor. There's no getting down into the courtroom from here – but then, you don't need to. After all, no one is dead. Just the same, however, a crime has been committed; perhaps not one that warrants any sort of death penalty, but one of your number was attacked by someone else still walking among you. The dining hall has been chosen as the allotted meeting place for the day; it's not the same as the trial circle by a long shot, but even so, the portraits of the deceased watch the proceedings from the far wall. Ten Survivors still remain. Let's see who wanted to lower that number by one – or nine.

Comments

[cherryblooded]

[He'll take all that biting if it means Yosuke doesn't do anything reckless - not like he hasn't gotten hurt worse today.

He holds on to Yosuke tightly.]

You're not going anywhere.

[amygdalae]

[...to make this easier for everyone Bruce will move to stand in the way between the Cherryblod/Yosuke and Sigrun/Black combo. Because as much as Bruce is angry as well they're not going to sink to the Kingmaker's level.]

Everyone just stop and calm down. [Ironic for a guy who's been pissed the whole trial, but he is rational enough for this. It helps that he wasn't as close to Black as Yosuke or Sigrun was.]

[isafraid]

He's right.

[Speedwagon's also here, trying to keep the peace, and stand in the way of a intentionally murderous rampage.

He's with you on this one, Bruce. Not so much being pissed at Sigrun, but this isn't right.] We've all got to calm down and talk about this!

[sleepingkogoro]

[Mouri walks closer, just in case Yosuke manages to get away. The more people ready to restrain him further, the better]

[garudynamic]

[Between Cherryblod, Bruce and Gabriel all with their hands on him, and Mouri trying to talk him down.... the trashing doesn't last long.

Instead he just goes rag doll, shaking. He's not crying though- which may be worse]

[cherryblooded]

[Is he done? He's done. Cherryblod moves one of his hands to pet Yosuke's hair instead.]

Can we sit down now?

[garudynamic]

I need... to not be here.

[He can barely move his arms with all the holds on him. But he does rotate his wrist.

And drop the knife]

Please.

[sleepingkogoro]

Cherryblod-san, maybe it's for the better you and Hanamura-kun stay out for the moment. We're not in a trial, he doesn't need to be here if he doesn't want to, but he shouldn't be left alone either.

[If that's Yosuke's wish the sure, go ahead. Shrimp dad should be good company.

Just take all those knives away, too]

[cherryblooded]

Of course. Leave it to me.

[If there's anyone who can take care of Yosuke now, it's him.]

[cherryblooded]

Okay. We'll go back to my room.

[He lets go, only having a steadying hand on Yosuke's back now, and gives a look around the room to the others.]

Please handle this from here.

[amygdalae]

...I understand.

[He thinks anybody can understand, at this point.

Bruce glances around.]

Can somebody keep him company?

[cherryblooded]

I will. You'll all do fine without me.

[amygdalae]

[A nod.]

I'll come to check on the both of you after... this.

[God, what a mess.]

[cherryblooded]

Appreciate it. Thank you.

[This trial is awful and it isn't even really a trial.]

[penduli]

[ ...Black can talk now; he's been sobbing from the second Sigrun talked, and it's not showing any signs of stopping, and— ]

Request. [ Croaked out. ] My—request, Yosuke, my one favor? Can I use that now? Please?

[garudynamic]

[He doesn't look at him, doesn't say anything.

Just gives a half shrug with one shoulder- whatever. He doesn't care anymore]

[penduli]

[ That's fine; he doesn't expect much, not after all of that.

So, after another solid inhale. ]

Can you at least stay and listen for a little while? I promise I won't lie. [ ... ] And unfortunately, I'm a man of my word.

[ It—doesn't matter what happens, because Black's going to try and stand up on his own two feet instead of leaning against Sigrun; he wipes at his eyes, then finally takes his glasses off and hangs them on his shirt. They're too salted to see out of right now. ]

It was... after Caren's trial. I'd asked the Kingmaker about a few things on my mind, and then I lamented to the Kingmaker about my own stupid cowardice—about how I couldn't kill to save White. I didn't know she was dead then, but... well, you know. [ Twins. ] He mentioned there was a way to get more indepth answers than simple "yes" or "no," and I wanted that. I wanted to know how he could do the things he could do, I wanted to know if I could save my sister, I...

[ ... ]

So I told him about our meetings. I even told him about everyone's ghosts and Glory, because he told me later down the line that he'd definitely like to hear about them if they were actually around.

I should've quit. I know. I'm always making deals with shitty people for shitty reasons. [ ... ] I didn't try to kill Mr. Knight because of any of that, though.

I'm afraid of dying. I'm afraid of losing you, Yosuke, and everyone else too, but I don't want to die yet, so I decided I'd try to kill someone to make sure I didn't die. I... [ ...he can't look at any of them, so the ceiling it is. ] I kissed you knowing that I'd be trying to kill someone when the opportunity arose for it, and I'm sorry. I really did like you—probably more than I really should have.

[ ...but— ] Not that any of it matters now, I guess. No one died, so no one wins the game, which means the Kingmaker's going to do whatever the hell he wants, I guess.

[ ...he's gonna sit back down. ]

Sorry. I'd ask for you—any of you—not to hate me, but I know that's impossible.

[garudynamic]

...you couldn't kill him.

[penduli]

...no, I couldn't. [ He's so tired.

If he had just confessed to the whole attempted murder thing, would this mole thing have gotten out? ...it wouldn't have. He's a fucking idiot. ]

I wasn't... lying exactly. Almost everything I said was true.

I was working on Shirazu's dragon and looking over my notes, just like I said, and I did hear someone in the hallway. That someone was Mr. Knight, going to the library. I... I knew that the end of the week was getting closer, and I wanted a chance to win, so I went back to my room just like I said I did.

But it wasn't to stay there. I went there to get a knife, and then I went into the library after him. I'm not the strongest person, and I didn't want a fight or anything, so... I snuck up behind him and choked him until he stopped moving. I was going to stab him, just to make certain he was dead, but I was nervous and jumpy, and I thought I saw someone in the hallway.

So I panicked, dropped the knife, and ran. I went to the bathroom to calm down, then grabbed my things from the dining room. Most of my things.

[ ... ]

Then I went back to my room, hoping that I actually managed to kill him. [ Even though that'd put so many more people's lives at stake. ]

[amygdalae]

[...if there's at least one thing, its the fact the Black wasn't a mole from the start.

Unlike Mettaton, probably. But then again who knows.

And god, Bruce does want to be angry. He really, really, does. But anger doesn't lead to anything as he's seen and known so many times and so no matter how angry he is, no matter how much he wants to do something impulsive... he doesn't.

Instead he forces himself to take a deep breath and let it out, slow and steady. His voice is back to its usual calm demeanor when he speaks.]

We'll need to decide what to do from here.

[Because something needs to be done, sure. No killing, no deaths, no petty revenge, but... something.]

[sleepingkogoro]

First things first: we'll need to restrain any possible communication Black-kun can have with the Kingmaker. Taking the phone is the obvious measure, of course.

[isafraid]

You're talking about a punishment?

[It's...

He's not about to argue about it, Bruce. Not yet. He just doesn't want to see anyone dead today.]

[sleepingkogoro]

[Fantastic. Mouri is seething with suppressed rage.

So much for being strong, eh, Black?]

[captainobnoxious]

[... Well, Sigrun listens, anyway, and plop down beside him, her anger more like burning coals at the reveal that another of her bad choices really had been worse than expected.

First a kill switch, now a mole. What a talent she's got.]

I'm going to curse you and whatever family you have, no matter how distant, for the pain you've caused me. Not to mention everyone else.

[Just starting that out. Let her just... Let her get her mind in order, picking up the book and keeping it in her lap.]

You're not forgiven just like Mettaton's not forgiven. I wanted to protect you, just like I wanted to protect him, but I...

[...]

I'd just like to know what you're gonna do now. Since we know and all.

[Is it clear she's tired? There's, uh. There's some wet spots on the sketchbook's cover, but her hair's hiding her face pretty well. Doesn't hide the shaking though.]

[goodforsomething]

[Stan's been quiet since hearing about White's death. Even after Black's sketchbook was revealed, he stayed silent and watched the younger twin sharply.

Now, he chuckles lowly and shakes his head.]

There but for the grace of God, kiddo. I can't blame ya for that.

If I hadn't remembered what I did when I did, I would've kept up my end of our deal a lot longer.