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

[ratingspoint]

[He just smiles at that, really.]

I told you I knew for a fact that it wouldn't be you - didn't I, sweetheart?

[capyper]

I... Thanks. It means a lot to me to hear that...

[ratingspoint]

Now really isn't the time, is it? After all, two people did die for this - or, well, one did, and another is going to! So really, we can save the dramatic irony for later.

[captainobnoxious]

I'll bet ours aren't half as fancy as what you're hoping but... Yeah, I can do that. Anywhere you'd like it?

[... hers tend to be stone-based. but she try something special for him.]

[cherryblooded]

...We're going to talk about this. Later.

[wokeupdead]

If you do then never say that ever again! That's an order, okay!!?

[STOP... TRYING... TO DIE... ALL OF YOU.]

[notjustawriter]

We....

We'll talk about this later, okay?

[capyper]

... Well, as Mion would probably put it, the cards have already been dealt and the hand's been played. I can't take it back at this point... but you guys will be fine. Really, I believe in you guys. You'll get over this, stay strong, and — and survive for sure.

[ratingspoint]

I'm sure we will.

[Anyway.]

[amygdalae]

[...for a moment, there's certainly surprise, and then after that Bruce just laughs again, and this time it's tired and bitter and sad.]

I didn't think there'd be anybody who would be as much of an idiot as I.

[capyper]

... Hey, can you do me a favor? I know it's supposed to be the other way around, but... [ Anyway. ] You remember those stuffed animals? I started making some patterns for different animals... one for each of us. You and Black can work on 'em together.

... Only if you want to, of course.

[bloodisthicker]

I don't care. It's really not like you're expendable here, so don't treat yourself like you are.

[ratingspoint]

Oh, don't even start. I'm nowhere near as stupid as you are about it.

[...well, okay then.]

There are some people in this Vault I want to protect. That's all.

[captainobnoxious]

[Hooooly shit.

... Sigrun can't find a reason for wanting to keep Mettaton around outside of "I don't want you to die" and she struggles to bring the shock off her face, but it's just... Well, she's not that good at hiding her emotions.]

You're not allowed to do that again either.

[that is all she's got.]

[bloodisthicker]

...How many people considered volunteering here.

[capyper]

[ ... He wasn't going to cry but now they're hugging and Lynne is crying and Yato is also crying and he really didn't plan for the conversation to go like this. ]

... Thanks, Lynne. You... stay strong, alright? I believe in you guys, and especially in you.

[capyper]

[ ... He's not crying, he just poured a bunch of eyedrops in when nobody was looking, you guys — ]

... I don't really deserve this from all of you guys. But... thank you, and — you'd better survive, alright? And eat regularly, too.

[ratingspoint]

No promises.

[And that's...flippant, because it's easier to have the emotions off and the empathy shot straight into the ground right now.]

Don't look so upset - I'm fine, sweetheart. Promise. And it's not like I particularly want to die or anything.

[capyper]

... In the games room, if that's alright.

[ Then it can also kind of be Mion's altar as well. ]

[ratingspoint]

I told you that I was sure someone did.

[captainobnoxious]

[... That's a sweet gesture, she gets the second bit.]

Consider it done then.

[bloodisthicker]

...well, obviously we will. Your faith isn't misplaced.

[...he sounds confident, but there's kind of a forced element to it...]

...at least do us a favor and try to do something about whatever's in the pit.

[penduli]

[ It's raining in the courtroom, right. This place is weird anyway, who says that totally couldn't happen, right?

The "eat regularly" bit makes him laugh--is that really the thing to be reminding him about right now? ]

I will. [ For both things.

...it's going to be so much harder pressing this button than it has for the other two trials, even if he'd been understanding of their plight because they were twins like he was. ]

[wokeupdead]

[GOOD. HE DESERVES IT.

She'll just cling to him until she feels slightly more grounded. This could take a bit. This was the opposite of how she wanted to end this week...]

Of course I will- I'm the best... detective in the world.

[bloodisthicker]

...

I might not exactly have wanted to connect those dots.