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

[garudynamic]

So the next note is the knowledge base.

[cherryblooded]

Bruce is a doctor, but as he says, he'd struggle with carrying her, and anyway knowing anatomy doesn't always translate to being able to put it into practice. Yato uses a sword anyway, but as you've pointed out, it'd be hard for him to lift her. I might have a shot, but I have an alibi.

There's Sigrun, or possibly one of the detectives... again, though, they might know anatomy well enough but they've probably never had to cut an artery open.

[happysweets]

I must have missed it the first time, Cherry, but, what was your alibi again?

[cherryblooded]

I was in Mettaton's room all last night, and he doesn't sleep, so he confirmed I never left.

[Sorry to disappoint, Misa.]

[happysweets]

That makes sense, then! He doesn't have much of a reason to lie about something like that, either...

[ Not that she suspected you for a second there, but... ]

[cherryblooded]

[Of course not.]

Not at the expense of his own survival, no. That'd be ridiculous.

[It's Mettaton.]

[happysweets]

Yeah. I don't think anyone in here is that self-sacrificing. ...And selfish, really, considering the rest of us.

[garudynamic]

He was with Mettaton.

[happysweets]

Gotcha.

[garudynamic]

Honestly, if I had to say right now I'd go Sigrun, Aiden or [Snort] Speedwagon.

[cherryblooded]

Imagine none of them would have trouble with the lifting part, at least. As far as the knots go... Well, either of them could be self-taught.

[garudynamic]

Tarrlok is big enough too, but he's a politician or something, I doubt he's even seen that much blood before.

[cherryblooded]

Can't say politician is usually an occupation you have to stab people in.

[...Aiden and Speedwagon, maybe.]

[garudynamic]

Not literally, anyways.

[cherryblooded]

...Aiden, did you ever empty your pockets? I may have missed it.

[uro_cyon]

No, but I can. [ He was too busy being distracted by Yato.

Anyway he'll empty his pockets and there's nothing exciting in there, Kingmaker cellphone, his room key.]

[cherryblooded]

[Any of that chipped or damaged at all?]

[uro_cyon]

[Nope.]

[cherryblooded]

Thank you. That's all.

[bloodisthicker]

[...

/internally sweats nervously, he should probably say... something...]

...I mean, I've read my fair share of coroner's reports, but that's not quite the same as being hands on.

[I MEAN, IT'S TECHNICALLY TRUE, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY HANDS ON]

[garudynamic]

Yeah, I don't really think it's you.

...at least I'm pretty sure you'd fake a suicide better.

[bloodisthicker]

...I'm really not sure if I should be offended by that or not.

[even if it's true..........]

[garudynamic]

[Sorry man, have an awkward little shrug and that's it]

[uro_cyon]

You'd be surprised. But usually they have other people do that for them.

[garudynamic]

[Yeah that gets a mean little laugh out of him, oops]