Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

And after a given amount of time, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up; as it was last week, the ride down is smooth and quick-moving, even if there are less of you this week. (Technically, you're only down by one in the elevator; Bruce has ensured that Pearl is with you in some way, albeit unconventionally and by the grace of Ziploc.) However, when the doors open up to the podium circle standing in the middle of that black void of a courtroom, there's no mistaking the fact that there are fewer people present than there were last week – Kamui and Pearl have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed profile portraits watching the proceedings in shades of grey. It's still impossible to tell exactly where the Kingmaker is watching the proceedings from, though it's obvious that he is; he'll wait until everyone is settled before he speaks, his voice coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Devoted has been taken from you. All of you know what the stakes are now, but this happened anyway – looks like someone's determined. Whether they succeed or not is up to you." Twenty-four Survivors remain. We'll see how many are still standing by the end of the day.

Comments

[lackinginfaith]

That's just indignity to remains.

[captainobnoxious]

Never even spoke to her, saw her though.

[amygdalae]

The only time I spoke to her for an extended period was the very first day we all arrived here.

[ignorantly]

Licking the evidence is gross.

[cherryblooded]

Spoke to her twice, once very briefly at a meeting.

[capyper]

I see! So judging by the fact that there was a struggle somewhere else... maybe the fabric got on them if the killer moved the pieces...?

[ratingspoint]

Don't damage her further.

[For fuck's sake, Sigrun.]

[notjustawriter]

Was some kind of cloth used to clean up the scene? Why would you bother, if there's no body?

[isafraid]

And seeing as the most of us are adults, I can see how that method might narrow it down a bit.

[Says the Jojo character.]

Do we necessarily need to... break Pearl apart more then she's already been?

[captainobnoxious]

Her gemstone's not even that big from what I remember about the lady, so maybe not all of it is from that.

[garudynamic]

Yeah, point. Hell, if anyone was wearing white already it could just be transfer.

[captainobnoxious]

[... Fair.]

[capyper]

I mean, I sure would be surprised if that happened ... could be that they weren't aiming for her gem, exactly, and it just happened that they crushed it during the struggle.

[captainobnoxious]

[Yikes.]

Just an idea, just an idea. We can at least give this hammer a swing or two, right?

[ratingspoint]

I'll freely admit that I did, and I have no problems lifting it, either.

[His gloves are white as well, so there's that.]

[garudynamic]

Okay, that helps. If it was something grabbed at random it likely wouldn't be white. SO we can probably assume it was worn.

[cherryblooded]

Why would you bother moving her remains if she'll be discovered either way? It's not as though the stairwell is particularly hidden.

It's possible there's something about the actual crime scene that made the culprit want us to think the murder happened elsewhere.

[notjustawriter]

....That's just disrespectin' the dead.

[prismbloom]

They were in the water--or water was left in the shape of a handprint, as if someone had placed their hand in it and then placed their hand on the floor.

[captainobnoxious]

No... We can just swing this thing around a few times and see if there's anyone who can hit the mark, so to speak. Or at least not go wildly out of control with it.

[captainobnoxious]

So I've heard. Rocks aren't something we usually consider respectful, that's all. But she was a person. [She guesses.]

[wokeupdead]

No need to worry over something like that!

[Stay strong, friend.]

[cherryblooded]

You don't bleed even a little.

[So as far as Cherryblod's concerned, Mettaton's a non-suspect.

Phew.]

[notjustawriter]

I guess that's what we need to find out.

[garudynamic]

Unless Pearl mentioned her... nature? Her whatever, to anyone it's not something anyone would think to aim for.