Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

And once the allotted time for investigating comes to a close, those elevator doors at the end of the first-floor corridor open up; the ride down is fast, smooth, and understandably tense as far as atmosphere goes. You're down to less than half of your original number. The doors slide open and the podium circle comes into view, standing stark against the black-walled courtroom and encircling that pit in the center; Misa and Aqua have joined the ranks of the deceased, photographs in greyscale watching the proceedings from their podiums draped in black. Of course and as always, the deceased aren't the only ones watching; the Kingmaker will make his presence known once everyone has settled at their podium, his voice sounding out through the room for all to hear. "Resilient has been taken from you. Maybe this time the guilty party will actually succeed at fulfilling Rule Seven, seeing as this is the sixth try and all. Whether they manage it is up to the rest of you." Thirteen Survivors remain. However many will be down by the end of the day is up to you.

Comments

[amygdalae]

That much is true.

[He supposes it doesn't matter as much, then.]

[pokexplorer]

[He'll just neatly place his device back in his pocket, giving a small knowing smile at Black. It's a little embarrassing, but it could be worse.]

Appreciated.

[captainobnoxious]

[-- Yikes, wow, that was a throw...

...

Sigrun'll just pretend like she's glancing at it and walk the way around to where Mettaton's podium is, taking her dear sweet time as she is so thankful there's no one on either side of them now, a conflicted look on her face as she fiddles with the textless phone and keeps her voice low.]

Honey, you text all the time.

[isafraid]

....Given the amount of shouting that goes on around here, I'd wager that someone could hear something on the next floor.

[He. He's trying. And he's thinking hard.

And he doesn't want to think about it this way...]

Corr...

[ratingspoint]

[Oh, his is equally low, don't worry.]

If anyone would know that, I would.

[amygdalae]

[...?]

Is there something on your mind?

[isafraid]

Simply put: I have a culprit in mind.

...Just don't feel like believing it yet.

[amygdalae]

...I know that feeling.

[Bruce has an inkling too, but he's not going to randomly point and accuse either.

Here's hoping they're both wrong.]

[captainobnoxious]

[Sheeeee does not want to suspect him.

Of all people. She'd throw someone under a bus for him, really, even if she and Cherryblod decided that not killing anyone would be a better idea. If he lets her she wants to hold one of his hands.]

I don't want to think it's you, Mettaton. I want to bring you home and show you the world. I want you to meet my family and be my partner in troll hunting and a lot more. We work well together. I've never liked someone so much in my life, I think, just my job.

[...]

But, [and she's steeling her voice a little, pressing her lips together for a moment before she sighs and looks up the small height difference he's got on her.] But I need to know if you killed her or not, honestly, and if you're going to make this hard or easy.

[ratingspoint]

If that's all you want, sweetheart, then I can tell you this with absolute certainty: I can't possibly have killed her.

[captainobnoxious]

[She feels so relieved, honestly, but that isn't the time. Please be speaking truthfully.]

Tell me why you couldn't have.

[ratingspoint]

God. Do none of you understand dramatic tension or what? You can't just beat around the bush forever, darlings – the audience is getting bored! It demands – no, it deserves more!

[Mettaton just kind of shifts back a bit, hands at his hips; he's clearly trying to not just roll his eyes at all of this, and he's failing pretty hard.]

Since all of you are so clearly dying to ask but no one is willing to do it, why don't we pick up the pace a little bit – if you think you're so smart, clearly you won't mind playing a bit of a memory game with me! I know several of you have the answers, so it shouldn't be too hard if you've been paying attention!

The rules are simple: Answer correctly... or we'll all die!

[ SORRY, FOLKS, THE OLD SHOW'S BEEN CANCELLED; COMMENCING NEW PROGRAMMING IN ]

[3 – 2 – 1!]

The first question should be easy for those of you who have playing along at home: What's the primary reason Mettaton can't possibly have killed Aqua?

A. Her soul is stronger than his, and she could easily defeat him in a fight!
B. He cared about her like he would family – he didn't hate her, so he wouldn't be able to fight her in the first place, much less kill her!
C. The incentive didn't work on him and so he had no reason to want anyone dead, so he couldn't have struck a killing blow on her anyway!
D. All of the above!

Think carefully! Answer correctly, and it'll lead you to one basic conclusion - I couldn't possibly kill her.

[ratingspoint]

I can do you one better.

[garudynamic]

[haha]

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod wants to answer this quiz. He really does. He wants to say 'D', or literally anything.

Instead he just pushes the bloody objects on his podium aside so he can rest his face on it.

He's really glad Sigrun's not right next to him and it's only Speedwagon who can see exactly how badly he's trembling.]

[captainobnoxious]

[-- What the fuck is this bullshit. She's lucky she's still in his podium, but he's not, because hes getting the smallest of shoves.]

Mettaton, why can't you just tell me!? What happened to not performing in front of me? Just say you didn't do it, give me a reason why you couldn't have, and-- and we'd find someone else!

[Anyone else.]

[isafraid]

[Speedwagon brings a fist down on his podium, knocking the toolbox right off of it. Whoops.]

Is this what you bloody call acting innocent then?!

[amygdalae]

[Well.

Here we go.

He knows that this will hurt - and it will hurt. But they have to do this. There's no way to turn back.]

A wouldn't apply because she most likely didn't attack you back in the first place.

[Not to mention that while yes, she did put up with a struggle, all there are on her are injuries on her.]

[garudynamic]

What's he talking about, not being able to kill if he didn't hate her? Is this some monster thing?!

[captainobnoxious]

Shut up! He wouldn't have in the first place!

[ratingspoint]

[...Smooth, Speedwagon.]

This is what I call trying to make sure we don't all die! That is the penalty for a wrong vote, right?

[isafraid]

[....Oh.

Yeah. Yup, he sees you there, Cherryblod. You can sit this one out, and everything else out for the rest of your life if you can help it.

They can handle this on their own. There will be plenty of crying to be done after this mess is sorted out at last.]

[notjustawriter]

[God, he wants to answer "D", he wants to believe that Mettaton couldn't have killed Aqua, he doesn't want to believe it.

His hands shake on the podium. He can't answer.]

[cherryblooded]

[It's very much appreciated.]

[amygdalae]

I don't want to believe it either, Captain. But there's too many suspicious clues stacked up against him right now.

Either we clear this up right now or let this mistake spell the end of us.