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

[ratingspoint]

I didn't - to put it nicely, I'm a kill switch.

If no one moves on an incentive, I'm supposed to. It keeps things interesting, and gives me a nice game to play with all of the rest of you. It's my job to keep things entertaining, and once you stop being amusing, I'm here to try to get you all killed.

I've got no idea what you did this week to make him so mad, but I'm basically here to make sure you all die, or die trying. It's not like I have anything else to do with my time, and my world is dead.

[garudynamic]

But... you can't tell me all you get out of this is amusement?!

[notjustawriter]

This is just like von Zell.

Some people get a sick amusement out of hurting others.

[ratingspoint]

I didn't get any perks or anything, and I was in just as much danger as the rest of you on a weekly basis.

Like I said, I didn't really have anything to lose, anyway.

[garudynamic]

I don't... I don't understand...

[His voice cracks into near tears at the end. If he was saving his own life or his world at least that'd be something he could see. But this? This was madness]

[notjustawriter]

So I take it no one bit at this latest incentive, is that what you're saying?

[garudynamic]

...well it was pretty much a repeat of an old one. I'm not surprised.

[notjustawriter]

Aqua had to die for this.

God dammit.

[ratingspoint]

What I'm saying is that I was told to kill someone this week.

I don't know why. It's just what I was told to do. I was also told the incentive wouldn't be one that I'd have to care about, it would just be something vague.

[cherryblooded]

...So that's the answer to C, isn't it. It's your job to kill us. It doesn't matter what the incentive is or whether it appeals to you or not, or whether you hate someone or not, because you're not playing the same game as the rest of us.

[ratingspoint]

You've got it, darling!

[...Damn, he is not seeming to find this awkward at all.]

[cherryblooded]

I'm going to have to vote for you in a few minutes.

If you could honestly tell me what you thought of me before I have to do that - that might make it easier for me. Consider it a personal favor.

[Tell him you hated his guts. Tell him there was never any friendship between you, much less any real affection.

Please.]

[sleepingkogoro]

So you really were an accomplice. Damn it. I really should have held onto that theory for as long as possible but nooooo, I had to let it go, like the idiot I was. Just great.

[Yeah, he is now angry with himself too]

Is that why you killed Aqua? Because nobody else moved to kill somebody this week?

[ratingspoint]

[About that.]

[amygdalae]

So... you never really cared at all in the first place.

[Bruce's voice is just. So tired.]

[ratingspoint]

[Ah. That...gets a pause, albeit briefly.]

...I...Well.

[He shrugs after a moment.]

It looks that way, doesn't it!

[amygdalae]

Right now, at least.

[Bruce honestly just kind of... deflates. Because he can relate to not having anything, to having lost his world - if his dreams are to be believed, then it doesn't matter anyway, because with what he's done...]

The five people you mentioned - could you ever bring yourself to kill anyone of them, if you were ask to?

[pokexplorer]

[What.]

He certainly does seem to want a way to get blood every week no matter what, doesn't he...

[ratingspoint]

He does, yes.

[captainobnoxious]

[Woooooooooooow.

Wow.

Was not expecting that.

But you know what? If there's one thing Sigrun hates, it's betrayal, and this-- this is--]

You're a bastard!

[It's not wrong for her to feel more than angry about this, right? No, of course not, and even if it hurts herself she's kicking Mettaton, though there's no... there's no hate or killing intent, admittedly, she's just hurt already. What's a little physical pain to go with whatever the hell is going on her chest?]

A kill switch? A kill switch, and you still-- I-- I liked you, I trusted you, I wanted to bring you home, and that was all just an act? A game? Was it fun?!

[ratingspoint]

I...

[He actually flinches back at that, and it takes him a moment to recover himself, and he isn't making eye contact when he does speak; he's not going to look at her for the time being, absolutely not- ]

...I meant what I said about my performances in front of you.

[That's all he's going to say on the matter, if he has any part of this decision.]

[captainobnoxious]

[That he didn't perform in front of her.

... All of that was genuine. And he still did what he did.

He doesn't get much choice in the matter; she's taking his face in her hands like she's done once before, just so he can see how upset she is. Sigrun isn't a crying woman by far but... her eyes are a little wetter than she'd like, sure. She can pin it to frustration.]

You were my sun, my star, and my sky. That's what I wanted to tell you. I had an entire date planned out where I'd tell you, it would've been in the music room and I was making a song for you and-- [hold on, she's got this, deep breaths] and it was going to be fun. I was going to make Echo Flowers for you too, and constellations from my world that you'd be able to see when you got there.

[Yeah, her voice is cracking a little, and she's shaking a bit.]

I hope this is still a surprise, provided you didn't peek under anything but-- I was making something nice for you too, chest kind of thing that was your second form, and inside were so many glittering hearts you would've lit up yourself, Mettaton. Our colors. Orange and white.

[Hold it together. Hold it together, Sigrun, and... she's going to step back, if he'll let her.]

I don't know if I can forgive you though. Or if you're welcome in Dalsnes anymore.

[isafraid]

[Kch.... kcchk....!]

Bastard...! This is just madness!!

[ratingspoint]

...Probably, actually.

[isafraid]

Everything you did... it was all for a fucking show! And that bastard Kingmaker just wants to keep himself entertained...!

[Speedwagon's voice is surprisingly even... until it comes down on his podium again. His teeth grit in anger and a small bit of pain..... Tears are also poking a bit in his eyes.]

I hope you're happy with what you've done!