trustfelled | Take Responsibility.

The past several weekends have been an unrelenting barrage of death in particularly disturbing manners; either the method or the number of people, sometimes both, have been particularly extreme. This week has seen fewer dead than the last; however, the way that that one kill seems to have happened...

It's not a particularly good tradeoff.

Either way, however, expectations still need to be met and investigations still need to be carried out; once the allotted time has passed, those doors in the center of the second corridor slide open once again, the sight managing to be at the same time familiar and unwelcoming. The fluorescent overhead lights of the operating theater beam down, flooding the room with bright and steady light as soon as the first person walks in; the seats surrounding the podium circle in the center of the room remain as empty as ever. Four more are gone, their absence notated by their portraits joining the others in watching the proceedings through greyed-out and unseeing eyes, Kogami, Madison, Sakura Matou, and Osomatsu's podiums all draped in black.

Once everyone has found their place in the circle, the public-address system comes to life once again in a light crackle of static; the Transmitter can be heard throughout the room shortly thereafter.

"Fraternal is dead. You guys...you know what to do. Put together what you've found and try to seek out the guilty. You know what'll happen if you can't.

Good luck."

Eleven Patients remain. We'll see how many leave at the end of the day.

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If you wish to prove the best of yourself, do not do this.

[Asgore no longer looks like a snarling rage monster, but he's clearly pretty fucking tense about this whole thing]

[Asgore's words actually do seem to be having some kind of effect here, as the hand holding the gun shakes ever so slightly.]

... They said they wanted a show. So I have to give them one. That's what they... what he always wants from me.

...What?

"He"?

[Danny doesn't even seem to acknowledge the question, sort of focused down on the gun he's holding here as he talks to himself.]

It's my fault... I was selfish, disobeyed as one of his angels... or at least I thought I was, but it wasn't me in the end... ha... ha ha...

That... Zack guy?

Zack... ha. Of all people. Even though I did everything that was asked of me... but the one time I decide to do something for myself, I'm just another ugly soul in the eyes of God...

And here you said you weren't religious. That priest got you, it appears.

[At that, Danny freezes, as if he actually expects the reverend to come bursting out of the wall or something here.]

I'm not--there is no God in this wretched world, but he... I stayed alive because of him, until...

[Until Rachel. Until he lost his memories here and, while still not really a good person, had to start over.]

...The world is painful. I thought that was all it was, because I went further than anyone else had to prove it. But even in a place like this, Matsuno believed that his bonds meant something. And you... Your bonds betrayed you, didn't they?

... Yes, but it's fine. I'm used to that sort of thing.

Being accustomed to this doesn't make it any better.

[What is she saying? No matter. She knows it's all true.]

...your soul is no different from any other humans'.

[Danny pauses at that, before he asks quietly.]

I've been meaning to ask about that. What color is it?

It is purple.

[Like Sakura's, but maybe that comparison wouldn't be welcome right now.]

[ Asgore gets a curious look here, but he'll save it for after all of this mess. He's been meaning to ask him too. ]

... Ah. I see. Heh.

[There's a pause, and then...]

I could try to shoot everyone here. Save myself, or do it out of spite to take everyone down with me...

[But Danny... finally lowers the gun, and steps back away from QQ, tries a smile that's kind of disturbing.]

... But you know what? Dying might not be so bad the second time. I'm interested in seeing what kind of disgraceful death I'll be given here. I have so many wonderful ideas they could crib from if they need some inspiration... what do you think, Miss Transmitter?

[AKA go ahead and announce the vote, for the love of god do not let this man start talking again]

(no subject)

transmittable - 2017-07-23 02:19 (UTC) - Expand

positivespin - 2017-07-23 04:06 (UTC) - Expand

...who is "they", Doctor?

[He's choosing to focus on that one.]

[There's a long pause, before Danny laughs, bitter.]

Who else? How do you think I found out that Osomatsu was the one spilling secrets here, if it wasn't from seeing his tablet?

Did the Risen tell you how to murder him or did you come up with this on your own?

[There's a long pause, before he finally speaks.]

... He wasn't supposed to regain consciousness. He wasn't supposed to--

[But then he stops, and then he laughs, sounding on the verge of hysteria.]

Oh, forget it. It doesn't really matter, does it? You all just think I'm crazy anyway. Just another ugly, worthless being, like all of the others. [Ha, ha ha...] It's no wonder the Reverend shot me with that damn crossbow of his... I should have just stayed dead, but no, I had to be put through this stupid game instead...

[Honestly that seems to have been what he expected.]

I wanted you to tell me yourself. It is better that way.

So they had more than the two. Of course. Enlist three, and you'll know which one is lying.

It makes sense, doesn't it?

If you've got a blind spot, cover it.