diff --git a/code/game/objects/structures/guillotine.dm b/code/game/objects/structures/guillotine.dm
index a6e43d856a8..52ca1ffd6f9 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/structures/guillotine.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/structures/guillotine.dm
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 /obj/structure/guillotine/examine(mob/user)
 	. = ..()
 
-	var/msg = "It is [anchored ? "wrenched to the floor." : "unsecured. A wrench should fix that."]<br/>"
+	var/msg = "It is [anchored ? "wrenched to the floor." : "unsecured. A wrench should fix that."]"
 
 	if (blade_status == GUILLOTINE_BLADE_RAISED)
 		msg += "The blade is raised, ready to fall, and"
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@
 	else
 		msg += "The blade is hidden inside the stocks."
 
-	. += msg
+	. += span_notice(msg)
 
 	if (LAZYLEN(buckled_mobs))
-		. += "Someone appears to be strapped in. You can help them out, or you can harm them by activating the guillotine."
+		. += span_notice("Someone appears to be strapped in. You can help them out, or you can harm them by activating the guillotine.")
 
 /obj/structure/guillotine/attack_hand(mob/living/user, list/modifiers)
 	add_fingerprint(user)
@@ -121,10 +121,10 @@
 					else
 						current_action = GUILLOTINE_ACTION_IDLE
 				else
-					var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = buckled_mobs[1]
+					var/mob/living/carbon/human/victim = buckled_mobs[1]
 
-					if (H)
-						H.regenerate_icons()
+					if (victim)
+						victim.regenerate_icons()
 
 					unbuckle_all_mobs()
 			else
@@ -137,53 +137,49 @@
 	blade_status = GUILLOTINE_BLADE_RAISED
 	icon_state = "guillotine_raised"
 
-/// Drops the guillotine blade, potentially beheading or harbing the buckled mob
+/// Drops the guillotine blade, potentially beheading or harming the buckled mob
 /obj/structure/guillotine/proc/drop_blade(mob/user)
 	if (has_buckled_mobs() && blade_sharpness)
-		var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = buckled_mobs[1]
+		var/mob/living/carbon/human/victim = buckled_mobs[1]
 
-		if (!H)
+		if (!victim)
 			return
 
-		var/obj/item/bodypart/head/head = H.get_bodypart("head")
-
-		if (QDELETED(head))
-			return
+		var/obj/item/bodypart/head/head = victim.get_bodypart("head")
 
 		playsound(src, drop_sound, 100, TRUE)
-		if (blade_sharpness >= GUILLOTINE_DECAP_MIN_SHARP || head.brute_dam >= 100)
-			head.dismember()
-			log_combat(user, H, "beheaded", src)
-			H.regenerate_icons()
-			unbuckle_all_mobs()
-			kill_count += 1
+		if(head)
+			if (blade_sharpness >= GUILLOTINE_DECAP_MIN_SHARP || head.brute_dam >= 100)
+				head.dismember()
+				log_combat(user, victim, "beheaded", src)
+				victim.regenerate_icons()
+				unbuckle_all_mobs()
+				kill_count += 1
 
-			var/blood_overlay = "bloody"
+				var/blood_overlay = "bloody"
 
-			if (kill_count == 2)
-				blood_overlay = "bloodier"
-			else if (kill_count > 2)
-				blood_overlay = "bloodiest"
+				if (kill_count == 2)
+					blood_overlay = "bloodier"
+				else if (kill_count > 2)
+					blood_overlay = "bloodiest"
 
-			blood_overlay = "guillotine_" + blood_overlay + "_overlay"
-			cut_overlays()
-			add_overlay(mutable_appearance(icon, blood_overlay))
+				blood_overlay = "guillotine_" + blood_overlay + "_overlay"
+				cut_overlays()
+				add_overlay(mutable_appearance(icon, blood_overlay))
 
-			// The crowd is pleased
-			// The delay is to making large crowds have a longer laster applause
-			var/delay_offset = 0
-			for(var/mob/M in viewers(src, 7))
-				var/mob/living/carbon/human/C = M
-				if (ishuman(M))
-					addtimer(CALLBACK(C, TYPE_PROC_REF(/mob/, emote), "clap"), delay_offset * 0.3)
+				// The crowd is pleased
+				// The delay is to make large crowds have a longer lasting applause
+				var/delay_offset = 0
+				for(var/mob/living/carbon/human/spectator in viewers(src, 7))
+					addtimer(CALLBACK(spectator, TYPE_PROC_REF(/mob/, emote), "clap"), delay_offset * 0.3)
 					delay_offset++
-		else
-			H.apply_damage(15 * blade_sharpness, BRUTE, head)
-			log_combat(user, H, "dropped the blade on", src, " non-fatally")
-			H.emote("scream")
+			else
+				victim.apply_damage(15 * blade_sharpness, BRUTE, head)
+				log_combat(user, victim, "dropped the blade on", src, " non-fatally")
+				victim.emote("scream")
 
-		if (blade_sharpness > 1)
-			blade_sharpness -= 1
+			if (blade_sharpness > 1)
+				blade_sharpness -= 1
 
 	blade_status = GUILLOTINE_BLADE_DROPPED
 	icon_state = "guillotine"
@@ -236,18 +232,18 @@
 		return
 
 	M.add_mood_event("dying", /datum/mood_event/deaths_door)
-	var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = M
+	var/mob/living/carbon/human/victim = M
 
-	if (H.dna)
-		if (H.dna.species)
-			var/datum/species/S = H.dna.species
+	if (victim.dna)
+		if (victim.dna.species)
+			var/datum/species/S = victim.dna.species
 
 			if (istype(S))
-				H.cut_overlays()
-				H.update_body_parts_head_only()
-				H.remove_overlay(BODY_ADJ_LAYER)
-				H.pixel_y += -GUILLOTINE_HEAD_OFFSET // Offset their body so it looks like they're in the guillotine
-				H.layer += GUILLOTINE_LAYER_DIFF
+				victim.cut_overlays()
+				victim.update_body_parts_head_only()
+				victim.remove_overlay(BODY_ADJ_LAYER)
+				victim.pixel_y += -GUILLOTINE_HEAD_OFFSET // Offset their body so it looks like they're in the guillotine
+				victim.layer += GUILLOTINE_LAYER_DIFF
 			else
 				unbuckle_all_mobs()
 		else