Take Responsibility.

[trustharder]

And after all has been said and done and all clues have been found, those large steel doors at the end of the hallway open up. The elevator both is and isn't a particularly nice one; it rides smoothly and quickly and it's obviously been kept-up, but there's nothing on the interior walls, lending a claustrophobic feeling to what's already a relatively small space, particularly with all of you in there. (Well. Almost all of you.) No distractions from what just happened, nothing to take your mind off of considering what might, just you and your fellow Survivors in an unadorned steel box. There's no visible panel for buttons, either; looks like it's pre-programmed; at least the ride is a relatively short one, though it's difficult to tell the distance traveled before the door opens again. You would be forgiven for your initial thought being that it opens into a void. It isn't complete darkness, but it's enough of a visual shift from the elevator that it probably takes your eyes some time to adjust; instead of the usual concrete and steel, the walls are a dark, heavy black, making the room look far smaller than it is. There aren't any corners to it, either; the room is tightly circular, complimenting the setup in the center of it. In the center of the room is a circle of podiums, twenty-seven in total, arranged so that everyone standing at them can see each other. So everyone can look each other in the eyes, if they so choose. The podiums are interlocked - there's no cutting across the center of the circle, and for good reason, it looks like there's a lot of nothing down there where the floor should be, just a massive black pit in the center - and each is bearing the title of the person who's assigned to stand at it. No names, just adjectives, emblazoned across two brass panels on the very top and the front of each podium. Affixed to the podium itself is a glass touchscreen panel; it's dark for now, but it'll probably be relevant later. At least the glass is shatterproof, in case things get heated. In general, though, all of the podiums are identical, except for the one intended for Zagi. The podium that should bear Adaptable's title has had a black cloth draped over it, and a copy of Zagi's profile photo is sitting on top of it, framed and colorless, an image in greyscale. It's hard to tell where the Kingmaker's voice comes from, when it does; it seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, like it's being piped in from someplace you can't see. But he's very definitely audible when he does speak. "Adaptable has been taken from you. Looks like the guilty among you is attempting to end the exercise by carrying out Rule Seven. It's up to you whether they're held responsible for their actions or not."

Comments

SELECTION.

[kingmakereffect]

It sounds as though you've seen all you need to. If you're done cutting each other, shall we move on?

[this is the most ridiculous thing, MOVING ON]

The screen in front of you has everyone's titles. Select the title of the person you believe is responsible for Adaptable's death. Majority rules.

[You'll notice the touchpads on your podiums are now glowing, with the titles and pictures of the Survivors displayed.]

It's time for someone to take responsibility.

[cherryblooded]

I'm sorry things happened like this.

[But he doesn't hesitate to select the title when his screen lights up.]

DEPENDENT

Re: SELECTION.

[sleepingkogoro]

DEPENDENT

[No hesitation, either]

[prismbloom]

[ She's going to take a long, long shower and not come out of her room after this whole thing is done, jesus christ.

Her hand hovers over the selection, and then she closes her eyes and presses. ]

DEPENDENT

[garudynamic]

[Now that the excitement of the trial is dying down, he's... not sure he can actually do this]

We... this isn't right. At all.

[cherryblooded]

It's not.

[Cherryblod will readily admit to that.]

But the alternative is worse.

PAGING KINGMAKER

[wokeupdead]

[She still doesn't feel right about this. She's a detective, dammit. Not a judge.]

And what if we don't vote?

Re: SELECTION.

[goingdigital]

You could have saved us the pain.

[Taichi is internally bracing himself for whatever happens next.]

DEPENDENT

[notjustawriter]

This... this is disgustin'.

I don't care if he would have done it again, murder is murder.

[....he probably needs some convincing, here]

[captainobnoxious]

[ADMIT IT, KINGMAKER.

YOU LOVE HER.

SHE'S A WILDCARD.

Sigrun glances at Kamui for a moment, a hint of a smile on her face as she presses her choice.]

DEPENDENT

[She's still a little appreciative that Zagi died as he lived.]

[neverafters]

[ The King was very grateful that round didn't reach him...

He honestly thought he'd be more angry about a murder, but he doesn't? Know how he feels. Well, for one thing, this podium is still way too tall for him. He eventually clicks the screen, not looking up from it. ]

DEPENDENT

[ratingspoint]

[Mettaton doesn't hesitate before putting in his vote; really, it's not like there's any question about it. Kamui confessed to absolutely failing Step One, so there you go. This part of it...well, things are what they are, and what they are all comes down to a matter of entertaining their captor.

So what if a few people have to die?

That's show business, baby.]

DEPENDENT

[lackinginfaith]

>DEPENDENT

We can't pretend things are fine now.

[penduli]

[ It's their lives or Kamui's, and like Black said: their lives, personally, are more important than a stranger's.

Even if that stranger is someone he can relate to reasons wise. ]

DEPENDENT

[amygdalae]

Not only did you make us find the culprit ourselves, now you want us to indict him as well?

[Just. So much quiet rage here.]

This is needlessly cruel.

[pokexplorer]

DEPENDENT

[Colress doesn't seem to be too hesitant about this, especially when the alternative is Kamui escaping and everyone else dying. He only wishes he could've seen more of Kamui's abilities in action. Shame.]

[clubleader]

[ The hesitates a little, but... it's either they vote or they die. ]

DEPENDENT

[ignorantly]

> DEPENDENT

[ Had it been anyone else, he would have hesitated more before putting his vote in. But Kamui is a vampire, and while those aren't the same as ghouls they're close enough, in his opinion. ]

[uro_cyon]

DEPENDENT

[Considering the circumstances, it's pretty cut and dry. No hard feelings either, especially if he accepts the fact that he's a vampire at face value.

He had to play the game, at least for now.]

[happysweets]

[ Well, it's like Sigrun says. Like Kira says.

This is justice. ]

DEPENDENT

[garudynamic]

[He's said his piece... now time to ball up]

>DEPENDENT

Screw this...

[isafraid]

[Speedwagon is hesitant. First, for the fact that he's new to this technology.

And second... none of this was right. Not at all.

He's nervous, but he tries to steel himself...]

DEPENDENT

[Something tells him what comes next wont be any better]

[devastation]

[Megu-nee finds herself staring at the buttons in front of them, not sure of what to do here. She doesn't want to condemn someone to death, but if she doesn't, then she and everyone else here might die, wouldn't they?

She finds herself looking at her own title instead, and for a moment she's reminded of a conversation she had with Zagi about it. Maybe there's some reason that title was picked for you... well, maybe you'll find out eventually.

...The only way to find out would be to stay alive. She wasn't able to protect Zagi-san, but the least she could do is protect everyone remaining.]

DEPENDENT

[goodforsomething]

DEPENDENT

[Welp. This has been one hell of a morning.]

[bloodisthicker]

[...ugh. uuuuugh. the one time he actually has to convince himself to get on the thing that needs to be done, moral hangups be damned. why the hell did it have to be something he'd have to empathize with.]

DEPENDENT

[He only barely hesitated, but it was enough that he hated himself a little for it.

...]

...Kamui. There's something I feel like I need to ask you.