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

I wanna know what the wrench was doing in the restroom, honestly. Her head was pretty caved in and we know that it's the most probably murder weapon.

[...]

You were the last person to see her, you do have her phone, and yours smells a little like the peroxide on your gloves, as fried as it is, and it was left at the scene of the crime.

I believe you for the most of it with the music room and the repairs, since I can see you doing that. It's the everything else that's messing me up. But I know a few things for certain:

You don't hate her, but you could kill anyone... or mostly anyone if you needed to. The incentive might've not been for you, but for someone else entirely. And you're putting on this big show instead of answering right out if it was you or not -- and you've never done this before, Mettaton, you've never made a spectacle out of it like you have now, so as much as I-- I don't want to lose you, what am I supposed to think?

[...]

Think whatever you want, Sigrun. At this point, I don't know what else to tell you, and I know you're going to believe what you want to believe because you're just like that.

It's not a bad thing. It's just how things are.

[Sure feels like a bad thing. Leader first, leader first, if Mettaton's innocent then it's important to be a leader still because letting her feelings get in the way won't help prove that any more.]

If you come clean, either one of us is going to be sitting on the summit or both of us. And I want it to be both of us. But if you really did kill her, for whatever reason-- I know you can't show me my soul without your magic, but maybe you could still try and see if they're around a little after death like they are in your world?

[It feels a little like a longshot there and her face shows it, but she decides to go with it. As tired as she's feeling.]

[He's quiet for a moment, and he doesn't...quite understand where she's going with this, to be honest.]

...Human souls linger after death here.

I've seen them. I won't speak for Aqua's, but I know their souls are still here in some way.

You've never stuck around the bodies long enough to take one. And it'd be weird if you suddenly did that, anyway, but if you killed someone yourself, you'd have a good chance at it. And then you'd be strong enough to save who you wanted to or if not you could maybe save a world you wanted to live in yourself, since there's nothing left for you back in yours. Either way, win-win.

... And this whole production isn't shining an innocent light on you, honey. Really.

[... That's that, really, though she's gonna be speaking out to the Kingmaker too now.]

Out of curiosity, Kingmaker, did this guy ask anything about the incentive you gave us this week? Exceptions included.

He did not, no.

That's one thing solved in your favor, Mettaton.

[Which is a tiny relief.]

... Did Aqua call you anytime this week about it?

She didn't either.

[What else can she ask him--]

Actually, well, one more thing from you. Can you tell whose phone is whose? Because I know we've been running under the assumption that this right here [this one she's still got it] is her phone and his got fried by water or whatever, but if this stupid robot's idea of a good time is just him trying to pizzazz up a usually boring trial by having us use his show to figure out another murderer... Yeah.

I'm not here to help you with trials, Boundless. That's the sort of thing you all need to figure out on your own.

No, you're just being a pain because it'd be boring if you helped us out the way we wanted you to. If you really wanted to help you'd just tell us who it was Mr. All Seeing.

[That aside.

Mettaton, back to you.]

Let me put it ths way: Do you put your bet more on the jerk up there, or on me? Because that's what it comes down to it for me, and... It would be your choice either way, but I'll be rightly pissed if you did this, you know.

....What?

They're still here?

[.....]

That's incredibly depressing.

Yes. Just...trust me, I know they are. I can't interact with them or anything, but I know they're here.

I believe you.

[He's not lying.]

Totally random question - are souls kinda the same thing as ghosts?

...Ghosts have souls, but they're not the souls of dead people.

[...Does that make sense.]

...yeeeeah, I don't think we're talking about the same thing.

[Worth a shot]

Take Responsibility.

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HEY KINGMAKER

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