trusthell | Accountability.

"Killswitch? I 'left Alphys to die'? Please, darlings, don't tell me you actually buy all these tired old storylines..."

It's been a few weeks since that particular voice has been heard by anyone in the Vault; it's sharp, flamboyant and incredibly familiar, and it's coming from the same place the Kingmaker's always seems to - nowhere and everywhere at once, piped in through some unseen system.

"You know, normally I'd balk a bit at being dragged out in front of all of you for another trial, because I think you all know by now how much I hate repeat performances. Fortunately, there's a difference, isn't there? Between now and then... And if the crowd cries for an encore, who am I to deny it!"

There's a panel of wall behind that balcony, one that slides open quickly and easily; the pair of people that emerge from it...well, they're different than anything the Vault has seen so far, that much is obvious.

The first is reasonably slight in frame, his hair and his clothing bright in color; he's resplendant in...just about every tacky accessory Caren unwittingly brought with her to the Vault - with the exception of the bra, naturally. Because we've got to have some dignity here, clearly, even if that dignity doesn't extend to the fucking leopard-print bucket hat currently sitting on his head at a jaunty as hell angle. His expression is intense and deeply manic, his body shaking a bit and fists clenched at his sides as though he's trying to keep himself from laughing, from lashing out and hitting the wall, from doing something to relieve some of it, but his eyes...

...His eyes, though. His eyes are dead as hell, his stare cutting and utterly devoid of emotion all at once.

And the second...well, he's familiar, though it seems his avatar has changed quite a bit since the last time you saw him. It's something more suiting, let's put it that way.

He's the one leaning over to greet you now, hands braced tight against that railing spanning the length of the balcony.

"Beauties and gentlebeauties, I'm pleased to introduce to you our hosts for the evening! First of all, the Kingmaker, without whom none of this would have been possible!"

And that gets a sweeping gesture to his side, where the ginger just...enthusiastically pumps his fist in the air, and that's when the laugh escapes him, harsh and uncontrolled. "It's about time!"

Mettaton tosses his head a bit at that; he doesn't laugh himself, but he seems pleased enough with it before he continues. "As for me? Well, I'd like to wish you good evening and good luck - both sentiments straight from the King of the Underground! Try to make this good for us, all right?"

"Make it cool!"

"...Sweetheart, really."

...Right, well! Let's begin, shall we?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sigrun is clearly torn -- this is worse than the kill switch reveal, but part of her is happy to see Mettaton, even if the large majority is absolutely fucking upset.]

So much for everything not being a performance.

[It's cold, and-- she wishes she could leave, but the most she can do is just stare at his redhead friend and wonder if Mettaton's always had a preference or if birds of a feather flock together. That's the guy she always talked to? Gods, does he have some issues with fashion.]

[And there's the briefest of pauses before he responds; it's nothing too long or pointed, just kind of. There.]

If it helps you to think of it that way, sweetheart, go right ahead.

I feel like a broken record from like, three weeks ago, but I don't want to think of things like that.

[Her voices is strained, but she'll give him her gaze now.]

But it'll help, yeah. Because I won't vote for myself a second time. I should've gotten over you weeks ago, but all I wanted was to see you again. Even if I thought I wouldn't because of your soul thing.

[... And now she's seeing him again in the most fighting-fit white dress. Holy shit.]

I've told you from the beginning that I know the Kingmaker deserves to die, haven't I?

[He has, and he knows he has.]

That extends to everyone under the title.

Yep! We've believed that since the beginning.

...At least the two of you know that much.

So that is why you two are standing here. It isn't because of any feelings about "being fair". [Yes, air quotes done with fingers here. He is so done] You two are just playing along and don't mind dying in the process if that is how it ends.

It is all about getting to the end of the game, no matter what the end is.

[That explains why they would abandon the safety of anonimity. Yes, things are making sense for the detective, at least he thinks that]

Good job, well done! No matter what the ending is, it'll be cool!

[FISTPUMP]

[...yeah sometimes it really is just that insane, mouri, sorry]

[He has. Makes his unfair question more fair too.]

And you're going to! I was thinking of letting you back into Dalsnes -- not because I forgave you, because I never could and definitely not ever, but because you had nowhere else to go and I loved you -- but you are the one I'm going to kill!

[Ryuunosuke can be killed by the others, but she's marking Mettaton as her own.]

Good.

[And that's...different-sounding, it's cold and distant; nothing behind it.]

See to it that you do, when we're done here.

[... She's not sure how she's feeling about that, but fine. She's not feeling very well herself.]

Of course. I'll give you no higher honor than to be killed by me. [...] The person you loved.

[And that does get him to go quiet for a second.]

...At least you acknowledge that much.

Of course I do. I asked the Kingmaker... Well, I guess it'd be that disaster beside you, about what you used to talk to him about, when it concerned me.

And he said that when it came to that topic, you weren't very sincere. [She laughs a little, shaking her head.] Seeing you even now, I know that's true. You can't hide from me, Mettaton. You hadn't been able to perform in front of me for a while.

[Which makes her happy, really, though a pained smile is what he's getting.]

I don't want to kill you. But I'm going to. I'm going to make sure it's me who does it, because you're mine, and you know you deserve it. Because I love you.

...I know what the Kingmaker told you, because you didn't ask "that disaster."

[...Sorry, Ryuunosuke. She said it first?]

I'm totally not a disaster...

So you're the texts and he's the calling guy. No wonder there's two different phones. Haha.

[Ah... Her face shouldn't be warm, but she can't help it. That's kind of embarrassing. Also, the worst confession scene ever? Just fucking do it normally sometime.]

... When'd you stop performing for me?

(no subject)

ratingspoint - 2016-04-30 01:10 (UTC) - Expand

captainobnoxious - 2016-04-30 01:15 (UTC) - Expand

...You do the texts, hm. ...Well, now I feel worse about asking you if you had a thing for me, that's creepy....

ratingspoint - 2016-04-30 01:15 (UTC) - Expand

cherryblooded - 2016-04-30 01:16 (UTC) - Expand

ratingspoint - 2016-04-30 01:17 (UTC) - Expand

cherryblooded - 2016-04-30 01:18 (UTC) - Expand

[Stan smiles, a sharp and humorless expression.]

And you told me you'd take him out if we all died. That's real funny.

...Isn't it just.

...Was that the truth?

I don't see why that matters.

Just wondering about how much of what you've said to us was a lie.

I've said a lot of things to a lot of you. Maybe some of it was a performance, maybe some of it wasn't. If you really want clarification that badly on any given thing then sure. Why not. Just don't bore me with a recap of everything.

Alright.... start with a simple one. Were you really contacting the kingmaker so much?