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]

[Well, now that that's taken care of and...Ryuunosuke is done crying all over...]

Do you have a solution, darlings, or...?

[The "or" is a little vague; at least they're present to discuss options, should that be necessary.]

[cherryblooded]

Ah - I guess we should probably clear this with you first.

If we decide to spare you, would you be willing to be under my care, living in Sigrun's world? We can discuss other locations if that won't work, but I'm not sure about other people willing to take you as wards.

[ratingspoint]

I'm not welcome in Dalsnes.

[And that's immediate; there's nothing behind it and it isn't pointed, but it is what it is.]

[cherryblooded]

She said you could come.

[ratingspoint]

[...]

What would we be expected to do?

[cherryblooded]

You'd have to agree to be under my and her supervision - basically what happened with her and Black this past week. As far as what you're doing, as long as you're not hurting anyone else, I don't care how you make a living or if you just bum off of my wages for the rest of your lives.

Don't see a reason why you couldn't still perform. As for Ryuunosuke... we'll work on it. I'm the last person who'll condemn a person just for finding killing to be fun.

[It is fun. Still would be.]

Anything else?

[greatestcool]

[Ryuunosuke runs his sleeve over his eyes again, but once he's done with that he looks calm.]

Yeah. Okay. I don't really care where I go as long as Mettaton's with me. And I'll do what you want.

[He'll be fine as long as he's got Mettaton, he's convinced of that.]

[cherryblooded]

[That gets a genuine chuckle.]

Welcome to being my ward. Your bedtime is midnight except on special occasions, keep your room clean, we'll get along fine.

[greatestcool]

Midnight? Oh come on, I stayed up until like two every night here!

[IS THIS THE TRUE PUNISHMENT...?????]

...But okay. Alright. I'll be good.

[hanging out in poorly-lit rooms in the daytime is not his #aesthetic, jeez]

[cherryblooded]

I'll be willing to extend it to one after some good behavior on your part.

[He has to wait for them to do something to prove themselves, come on.]

[captainobnoxious]

[... THEY GOT RYUU TO AGREE THAT'S GREAT

THIS IS GONNA FUCKIN SUCK. WHY DID SHE AGREE TO THIS.]

Provided we test you as immune, you'll be coming out into the fields with us for some troll training. I'm beefing you up a little too. I'll find a place for you otherwise. My world, my duty.

[greatestcool]

[WAIT NO ONE TOLD HIM THIS WOULD INVOLVE EXERCISE]

...Alright. I'm not gonna lie, I kinda hope I don't have to train with you. I'm pretty sure I'll die.

[captainobnoxious]

[LOOK AT YOUR NEW LIFE, RYUU.]

You'll be fine, you string bean! Otherwise, how do you feel about ships? And being on.

[ratingspoint]

Just one more thing, then.

What are you wanting us to do now? Other than "not kill everyone", I'm assuming that's a given.

[cherryblooded]

I want you to let us all out of the virtual reality we're in. Alive, dead, you two yourselves. Everyone.

[amygdalae]

And help us figure out how to get back to our own worlds using Glory.

[ratingspoint]

[Now that you mention it.]

...You know, even if we've got no idea what we're doing, we have at least one person that probably will.

[captainobnoxious]

[A flinch.

Deep breathes, Sigrun.]

Just because I said I was going to kill you doesn't mean I'm going to do it now or within the next ten years, Mettaton. And... I did a lot of thinking, a lot of writing, when I thought you were dead.

... So I decided that you'd find a home in Dalsnes, if you still wanted it. If you still wanted to see the world with me and perform for everyone. I wanted to tell you that if I ever found you again, too, so even if this is the worst circumstances, it's still true.

I won't forgive you for pulling the pull over my eyes twice now, but you still have a home with me. It's more than you deserve, but it's what I'm willing to give. The both of you.

I know. I'm stupid.

[ratingspoint]

...My one request is that whenever you kill me, you kill him first.

It's morbid. But I'm not going to make him deal with losing me after I promised him I wouldn't.

[captainobnoxious]

[... Whoo.]

I can do that. I'm sure he'll get in the way, anyway, with how much he's been all over you.

[greatestcool]

Make sure it's cool, alright?

[you absolutely do not get to make requests, ryuunosuke]

[captainobnoxious]

What's a cool death to you?

[apparently he does]

[greatestcool]

I'd be willing to discuss that in detail later!

...But I don't want to say stuff like that in front of Mettaton. He doesn't like hearing it, just like I don't like hearing about any possibility of him dying.

[but he is totally here for his own death!!!]

[ratingspoint]

...I still want to see your mountain, you know. The one you told me about.

[captainobnoxious]

[Sigrun chuckles at that, folding her hands behind her back.]

I know. I'll at least let you see the whole of the known world before I even think about killing you two, and that's plenty of ground to cover.

[...]

Especially if we take our time.