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

[garudynamic]

I... don't agree. But I understand.

[Maybe he's the weird one. After Mettaton, Black... now Caren. Maybe he's weak for wishing he had died right along with his world instead of having the balls to try and save someone important]

[lackinginfaith]

My country was attacked a year ago. By this person, this self-proclaimed boy-king trying to revive a nation that's been sealed out of the world for a thousand years and his little sea witch harem, they're after people like me to try and summon a goddess and get her power under their control. They've got my sister.

I couldn't depend on anyone else to fix it.

[goingdigital]

Older or younger?

[lackinginfaith]

Older, slightly. We're twins.

[penduli]

[ ...what is it with this place and twins. ]

Just like Kamui.

[captainobnoxious]

[Sigrun's looking at you, Black, but she won't say a word. That can wait until later.]

[lackinginfaith]

Key to the mystery, huh? Keep it. Maybe it means something.

[goingdigital]

Figures. What's her name?

At the very least we can free her, once we finally get out.

[lackinginfaith]

Noel. Of the Arctic Ocean, the opposite pole from my nation.

[goingdigital]

We'll do our best to try and take care of it.

[bloodisthicker]

[...WHY CAN'T HE BE PROPERLY MAD AGAIN HE WANTS SO BADLY TO BE MA...wait.]

...poles? Really...?

[lackinginfaith]

...yes, why?

[bloodisthicker]

The Water Tribe is essentially divided between the North and South Poles of my world, so I guess... we had more in common than I thought.

[...but his older brother's long past saving.]

[lackinginfaith]

Right, your nation. You'd mentioned something like that.

I hope it's safe.

[bloodisthicker]

I'm sure they're fine. They've both got strong leadership that could get them through a crisis if one came up.

...Republic City's the place I'm really worried about, anyway.

[garudynamic]

[He just silently nods. Yeah, no what else could any of them expect?]