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

[cherryblooded]

You're right. Let me try an argument of my own.

We spare them and I take - custody, I suppose you'd call it. I won't bring them to anyone's world if they don't give explicit permission. If necessary, I'll stay in this city with them.

I don't want to continue the cycle of death, I don't want to kill just because it's what's expected of me, and frankly I don't want to lose Mettaton again, as selfish as that argument is.

[captainobnoxious]

[beeeeeeeeeeeh]

I... Listen. You can still come to my world, and you can bring those two with you.

[...]

I never said I'd kill Mettaton now. Or soon. Just that I would. He's mine.

It could be far into the future for all I care, but I don't really want either of them to be let off so easily. And I don't want to leave you here, because everyone who does gets a little cracked, and you're worse off than most if that happens.

[cherryblooded]

...Thank you, captain. I'd have missed you terribly, if I wasn't able to see you again because of this.

[captainobnoxious]

I do too much for the people I love, darling.

[It sucks to have favorites. But Cherryblod is absolutely there.]

[cherryblooded]

[Since she's right next to him, he reaches over and sets a hand on her shoulder.]

I love you too, my dear. And I always will.

[captainobnoxious]

[She's still tensed up. Still watching where Mettaton and Ryuunosuke are. But she's smiling a little.]

You're explaining to your wife how you adopted them.

[cherryblooded]

[He chuckles at that.]

That'll be a story, alright. How I came home plus one son and one ward.

[goodforsomething]

...it'd suck not to see you again, Cherry, but if we do this, I don't want 'em anywhere near my world. I got kids to look after.

[cherryblooded]

Understood.

[That's calm.]

Take good care of yourself and them, and if we cross paths somewhere else, I'll be happy to catch up with you.

[goodforsomething]

Doesn't sound too unlikely. I'll head home to check up on them, but I ain't lettin' Bruce go out alone either. We'll be travelin' around.

[cherryblooded]

You're always welcome wherever I am, if I have any say in things.

[goodforsomething]

You would've been, too.

[But not them, and that's just the way it is. Stan doesn't even sound disappointed; he could have expected nothing else from Cherryblod.]

[cherryblooded]

Appreciate the sentiment.

[That's just how it is, and he understands.]

[isafraid]

...You'd really take up this work?

[Not that he doubts it. Which he doesn't, in the slightest.]

[cherryblooded]

Of course.

The only concern I have about it is that I need to see if my wife and daughter are alright and get them out of where they are. If the portal is two-way that's not a problem - I'd just have to leave them in someone else's care for a few hours, at most - but if it's one-way...

[That's. An issue.]

[goodforsomething]

I don't see any reason they'd be one-way, a portal's a portal no matter how you come at it. But I got no idea how these ones work.

And I can't promise anyone any rides. Pretty sure the portal back home got taken apart - it'd take a long time to rebuild, and that's if Ford was okay with it.

[cherryblooded]

We'll see. I'm feeling optimistic right now.

Worst comes to worst, I'll find a witch.

[goodforsomething]

...what, an actual one? Haven't had the best experiences with those.

[cherryblooded]

My daughter's the familiar to one who I know can travel between worlds. I'd owe her a favor.

[goodforsomething]

Huh. That's handy.

[cherryblooded]

What's the point of being a familiar if you can't ask your witch for help now and then?

[goodforsomething]

I think witches' familiars back home are usually just cats.

[isafraid]

...Give your daughter a 'hello' from all of us, when you find her.

[cherryblooded]

I absolutely will. I'll tell her all about the wonderful friends I made here.

[isafraid]

[Look at them, chatting it up like they're not about to drop from exhaustion.]

I'd like to visit myself... just seems like there'd be a couple problems in my way.

[the ocean, for one. Mettaton and Ryuunosuke for another.]

But I'll gladly have you over in my world at any time. It'd be nice.