trusthell | Take Responsibility.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And someone is dead, Mettaton. More could be, if we get this wrong. You could be.

Is that less important than your privacy?

Do you think I don't know that? Aqua was -

[...]

She was one of the five people I told you about that week that you've so kindly brought up in front of everyone.

[...]

Your phone, dear. If you can't trust anyone else with it, surely Sigrun can glance.

[... Ah, same. Aqua became one of those for her, too, and Sigrun taps her fingers against her podium.]

That week aside, since none of us liked it... I could check it if you want. It's not like there's nothing I don't know about you at this point, I think.

[They've shared enough personal things, haven't they? Just an offer.]

[...As little as he likes throwing electronics, he'll throw it across the damn room anyway. It's a brick, it's not like it's going to hurt it if Sigrun completely nat-1s her dex check and goes total butterfingers with it.

That said, though, there's no record of any texts on it.]

[-- 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.

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

If anyone would know that, I would.

[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.