The word onus is often deployed to emphasize a weighty responsibility or burden—whether in the realm of choice, accountability, or proof—imbuing narratives with a sense of obligation and consequence. In many works it is used metaphorically to denote the transferable weight of a claim or duty, as when characters or institutions are tasked with proving a point or accepting blame (e.g. [1], [2], [3]). At times the term is used more personally to express the inner burden of decision-making or guilt, as when a character assumes the entire onus upon themselves (e.g. [4], [5]). Its versatility also extends to instances where the burden is shifted from one party to another, reflecting complex interpersonal dynamics and societal critiques (e.g. [6], [7], [8]).