Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

For the third time, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up at the end of the allotted investigation period; the ride down is, as ever, smooth and quick-moving. You're down by five. When the doors slide open, the podium circle still stands in stark contrast to that now-familiar black void of a courtroom, and once again, it's changed to reflect your losses – Caren and Mion have joined those with podiums draped in black, their framed greyscale profile portraits staring out at the rest of you. (The portrait of Pearl hasn't been removed from her room, but it seems the Kingmaker has replaced it with another; either way, her photograph is in the courtroom along with the rest.) As before, the Kingmaker waits until everyone is settled at their podiums before he speaks; he still isn't visible, but he can clearly be heard, his voice coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. "Capable has been taken from you. I'll confirm one thing for you so no one will waste time asking – the killer wasn't me. Looks like the guilty decided to take a shot at Rule Seven after all – and whether they succeed or not is up to you." Twenty-two Survivors remain. We'll see how many the group has lost at the end of the day.

Comments

[sleepingkogoro]

Maybe it was not for writing.

Maybe it was for betting. There was a friendship bracelet. What if the pen and the bracelet were bets?

[capyper]

I'm not wounded. We've already established that. Really, if you're going to imply this and that without ever directly accusing me of anything... the least you could do is come up with better reasoning than that.

[garudynamic]

Ohhh, got it. Then yeah, if they were playing something that had a score then it makes sense why one would be there.

[garudynamic]

... that makes sense. Hell, me and Cherryblod were talking about doing the same thing while playing poker a few days ago.

[capyper]

No, I'm just chronically out of money...

[capyper]

...

Lynne, what do you think the bracelet's there for?

[amygdalae]

But if the the pen was used to injure anybody, wouldn't the metal itself be bloody?

[cherryblooded]

...So you're just waiting for a direct accusation, is that it. I'll provide one, if no one else wants to.

Yato. Did you kill Mion, yes or no?

[sleepingkogoro]

You are not wounded right now. You did say you bled. You already said what was the difference between gods and humans, but it is nothing we can trust in a moment like this without seeing it by ourselves.

[The idea of repeating the method of the first trial does seem tempting to Mouri right now]

[capyper]

...

That's what you guys are here to figure out, isn't it?

But thank you for the directness, yes! I appreciate it.

[garudynamic]

...no one was accusing you, Yato.

[wokeupdead]

Well.

It's supposed to be able eternal friendship and all, right? Were you guys really just getting chummy all alone at night?

[How scandalous for the shipper to insert himself into the fray.]

[capyper]

.... Okay, who's got the sword? Come over and cut me, I don't mind.

[cherryblooded]

...You know, even if you didn't kill her I kind of want to punch you right now.

[amygdalae]

...that is the most logical conclusion, yes.

[capyper]

If I keep it to myself, it's totally my prerogative!

[capyper]

I do try sometimes.

[psychoh]

[SHRUGS] It's just, you know... Suspicious. Is all.

[sleepingkogoro]

...allow me.

[Mouri approaches but he is not bringing the sword. Instead he's bringing his own pen. The nib would be sharp enough to cause a wound deep enough to cause bleeding.

He doesn't expect a piece of it to break up like it happened to the pen in the Game Room, but he is hoping there'll be progress here.

As soon as Mouri is there he extends his hand, as if he expects Yato to just plop his arm there and let Mouri do it]

[capyper]

[ ... THE SHIPPER IS NOT OKAY WITH BEING INSERTED IN THE FRAY... ]

I... wouldn't put it that way...

[cherryblooded]

[...They may be literally across the circle from each other, but Cherryblod's just going to start walking around the podiums with a very blank smile on his face.

Anyone want to stop him before he socks a god in the face?]

[ratingspoint]

Oh my god.

[Well, that's getting the slowest of claps out of Mettaton over here, holy shit.]

Well-played, darling, your passive-aggressiveness is absolutely breathtaking! At the same time, I'm not hearing a "no", which would be the easiest way to get out of all of this.

[capyper]

... Are you serious? No, I'm not consenting to being stabbed with a pen.

[ HE IS NOT THE DEATH NOT CHARACTER HERE?! ]

I know how to work a nib pen and trust me, it's not a stabbing implement. Go get the sword if you insist on all this... whatever.

[wokeupdead]

So then what? If the bracelet means something then you shouldn't be so evasive about it. Especially if it's not like that.

[Mostly she just wants one straight answer out of him. Come on, Yato.... She really likes you.]

[garudynamic]

[Yoink]

Cherry, don't.