Take Responsibility.

[kingmakereffect]

The allotted time for investigating comes to an end, and those elevator doors slide open at the end of the first-floor corridor; it's a bit of a walk down from the fifth floor, but at least the ride down is swift and smooth. To say nothing of spacious. Your numbers are running low. The podium circle, as always, stands out against the black-walled courtroom where it's encircling that pit in the center; Mettaton and Shirazu have joined the ranks of the deceased, photographs in greyscale watching the proceedings from their podiums draped in black. The Kingmaker, too, is watching all of you; as always, it isn't until everyone has settled at their podium that he speaks, his voice sounding out through the room for all to hear. "Sacrificial has been taken from you. Maybe this time the guilty party is going to actually succeed at Rule Seven - but of course, whether they manage it is still up to the rest of you." Eleven Survivors remain. How many are still standing by the end of the day is up to you.

Comments

[cherryblooded]

You know, I always wonder why culprits make us go through this every time.

If it's you then it's you, we vote for you, you die and we survive until another day. That's how it works - it doesn't matter if we've solved a hundred percent of the case or twenty-five. Do you just want a last hurrah before you end up in the pit?

[uro_cyon]

This is all one big game, isn't it? I didn't think you played games to lose, especially ones like this.

[cherryblooded]

Whether it's a game or survival, dead is dead. That's just all there is to it now.

You don't have anything to gain from this.

[uro_cyon]

I don't? I don't think you know me well, Cherryblod. [There's a slightly different tone in this, just a hint of disbelief.]

[cherryblooded]

No, I don't. That much is true.

So tell me. What do you have to get by dragging this out?

[uro_cyon]

[ He's silent this time, but there is just a hint of a smile there. Not telling.]

...paging kingmaker

[cherryblooded]

...Kingmaker, just to confirm, but we don't have to play along with this, do we? We could stand here in silence until you called for the vote.

[kingmakereffect]

And I could just leave you all standing here forever then, couldn't I?

Get to work.

[cherryblooded]

[Wow. Thanks.]

Do we still explode if we fall asleep here?

[kingmakereffect]

You have better things to do than question me.

[cherryblooded]

I'd rather talk to you than talk to someone who isn't worth my time or attention. Could you answer the question, please?

[kingmakereffect]

Focus on the trial, Dedicated.

[The Kingmaker sounds totally done.]

[cherryblooded]

[Rude.]

[isafraid]

[Have a hand on your shoulder, Cherryblod.]

Come on. Sooner we figure it out, the sooner it ends.

[garudynamic]

...

[Giving you a look dad.]

[cherryblooded]

[What? It's true.]

[garudynamic]

[Just don't get worked up. He doesn't wanna break up a fight]

[cherryblooded]

[He's not. There's nothing in this case that does more than make him tired.]

[goodforsomething]

I'm with him. This is a waste of time - you ain't even denying it.

[He's not even eager to get to the execution part. He just wants this over with.]

[cherryblooded]

If we refused to play along, about how long would it take for the Kingmaker to call for the vote?

[goodforsomething]

[Well, that answers that.]

Geez, what an asshole. Should've known he wouldn't cut the show short.

[notjustawriter]

I agree. This is pointless. We all know how it's going to end.

[isafraid]

[Bruh.......]

[cherryblooded]

[He's just so tired of this.]

[isafraid]

[He knows. He's tired to. But.

Should we.... He doesn't know.]