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

[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.

[amygdalae]

[...Stan

Stan what]

Please don't tell me you're working with him, too.

[This is not a Good Day, Stan.]

[goodforsomething]

Nah. I quit passin' him information a while ago.

...it was an open-ended thing. Info for info. I thought I could play him - get more than I gave. And hell, maybe I would've tried to save Ford too. I spent my whole life tryin' to do that, and that first week the only thing I wanted was to see it through.

[Stan smiles bitterly.] Then it turned out I saved him after all. And a buncha strangers I met in a death vault treated me better than my own damn brother did.

[sleepingkogoro]

How long ago is 'a while ago'?

[goodforsomething]

After...after Megumi died.

[The Norman Incident]

I told you what happened that week with me and Ford. I didn't have anything left to go home to. Maybe I shoulda stuck to the con harder, but...I kinda got pissed at him.

[notjustawriter]

He... He's been tryin' to pull us all apart for weeks.

[amygdalae]

[...putting two and two together...]

That's why he got somebody else then. Either by that time you already quit, or the Kingmaker probably was guessing that you wouldn't last long under him.

[Working under him, that is.

Anyway, a long, pained sigh.]

...not that I can't relate. I've probably got more positive human interaction here than the last ten years of my life.

[penduli]

Actually, he told me that it'd be stupid to just rely on one person's information.

[ ...wait, if Stan quit, then he would've only had Black's word to go on, and

...that would just be stupid. ]

[amygdalae]

[...well

here we go I guess.]

...it would. [Even Bruce can agree to that.]

[goodforsomething]

[Stan shrugs.]

It would be pretty dumb. I just figured after Mettaton...

[goodforsomething]

I figured. You remind me a lot of me when I was younger.

[.....]

For what it's worth, I meant what I said before. Even if it were for my family, I couldn't live with myself if I'd got you all killed now.

[sleepingkogoro]

This has got to be some sort of bad joke.

[What other horrible revelation is coming now]

What are you talking about, Pines-san?

[captainobnoxious]

[... Wow. All the fucking spies, and Sigrun just... stares at him, before looking around.]

Anyone else wanna come clean? Have ourselves a little fucking party of spies? Go on, say it, just-- get it out, and we'll group you all together.

[pokexplorer]

[At this, Colress just swallows hard and attempts to avoid the gaze of anyone looking his way.

Ever since Black's reveal, a lump of...something began welling up in the pit of his stomach. He's pretty much looked sick since then.

Stan piping up didn't exactly help.]

[captainobnoxious]

[... Sigrun sees that.]

Got something to add, Colress?

[It's... less of a question and more of a command.]

[pokexplorer]

[There's a grimace from Colress as Sigrun says his name.

There's really no way out of this. No one's going to believe him if he tries to deny it. He realizes that.]

...A week or two into this charade, he gave me an opportunity to do exactly what the others have done. At the time, I was more curious about the situation than anything, so I heavily considered the offer despite the possible consequences.

But I did not go through with it. I promise you that I have told him nothing.

[He sounds extremely serious about this, but it's up to the others whether they believe him or not.]

[amygdalae]

...Colress.

[The first time Bruce is using your name properly, sciencebro.

Please.]

[pokexplorer]

[The importance of that is recognized. He just hopes everyone believes him.]

[penduli]

[ ...wow. ]

You too? [ FUCKIN' TWINS THIS ROUND, MAN. ]

[goodforsomething]

This is a shitty place for twins, huh?

[penduli]

It really is. [ he like, asked KM once if he had something against twins? and he said he didn't?

that's total bullshit, calling it right now. ]

[notjustawriter]

Stan....

[goodforsomething]

I know, kid.

[notjustawriter]

I'm not angry.

[goodforsomething]

You'd have a right to be.

...but hell, shit like that's why I couldn't stick to my guns. I spent all summer lyin' to the kids about who I was, and they forgave me too. That's what it's supposed to be like, not -

[Stan stops himself and huffs.] Ah, nevermind. This ain't about me.