Accountability.

[ratingspoint]

"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?

Comments

[ratingspoint]

Not all of them were here.

[Alphys.]

Like I said, it was revenge and I knew it.

[greatestcool]

And you didn't tell me because you knew I'd react badly.

[...............]

S-Sorry, can I just... take a moment...?

[He's not going to ditch entirely, but he's going to move further back on the balcony so he's (mostly) out of sight and just... sit there.]

[captainobnoxious]

[... At least it doesn't seem like he's gonna attack Mettaton, which is what Sigrun feared, though she doesn't let up on being tense just yet.

Don't think she won't try to straight up leap up there with a podium and four inch heels, bub. She will.]

[ratingspoint]

[Shit-

All right, look, he'll join you once...well, that's taken care of.]

...I'll leave you alone if you want. But I'm going to at least check on you first.

[greatestcool]

N-No.

[Give him a moment to try to get the sobs under control, alright...]

I don't ever want to be alone again.

[...]

It... it wasn't fair, that they were all there and... and she wasn't, right? S-So you just... you just acted without really thinking about it. A-And... and that's...

[SNIFFLE]

N-No matter what happens, we do it together. We promised. And... and I don't want to lose you. You're my best friend. I... I can't lose anyone else, Mettaton. I can't.

[ratingspoint]

[...Okay. Okay, there we go, just. Let him join you on the floor there, okay.]

You're not going to lose me, sweetheart. I'm done with leaving people behind, all right? I'm not going anywhere without you, I mean it.

[greatestcool]

O-Okay.

[...]

Promise me, alright? I don't care where we go or what we do or what happens, I just... I don't want to lose you too.

[ratingspoint]

I promise.

It's going to work out one way or another. These things always do.

[greatestcool]

Yeah.

[He's settled at least and after he takes a moment to wipe his eyes on his sleeve he holds out his other hand.]

We'll face it together. Like we planned from the start.

[ratingspoint]

[He'll accept it, all right.]

Of course, sweetheart.

[greatestcool]

...Thanks. Not for... that but for everything else. I don't know what would've happened to me if you hadn't been there.

[Now let's go see what our disasters have decided!]