END OF PROLOGUE ; EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... END OF PROLOGUE - WEEK 037 Narrators Remain ; It's execution day, naughty murder children. Breakfast is served in the dining hall, all the better to fortify you for what is to come. Wherever you might wander in the castle, you will find yourself drawn to the foyer when the clock strikes not twelve, but ten. In the distance, there is the sound of clanking armor. Sharpay Evans appears, flanked on either side by suits of armor, escorting her to her punishment. She holds her head high, poised and controlled, acutely aware of all the eyes on her. A moment later, the Dragon appears on the foyer's staircase. Her hand trails down the banister as she walks, and she takes her place at the head of the group, standing in front of what appears to be a wall. "Come," she says. "The execution awaits." You blink, and then it's there — a door leading to the outside. The Dragon steps through it. You have no choice but to follow. Welcome to your first execution post! Please see here for the results of yesterday's voting. We whole-heartedly encourage also taking the time to leave notes for the mods in the feedback plurk. In addition, make sure you fill out your CR Chart for the Prologue! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Dana (Discord DMs preferred, then decals), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[holybind]

[ Zelos' smile is pleasant ]

If more blood is required? I think it's pretty clear what's going to happen from here on out.

[ He shrugs, unaffected and seemingly unconcerned. ]

Give it another week, maybe two if we've got a lot of bleeding hearts among us— happily ever after? To be continued? None of it'll matter, I promise.

[ a beat ]

Maybe if everyone thought as little as I did, we'd all be a lot better off. Just sayin'

[finethanks]

Are those who don't care normally so loud about it?

[A brief pause, and then he keeps going.] In any case, it's not as if I can't see the reality of the situation. Rather, by analyzing that reality, I'd like to morph it in my hands as much as I can and create an outcome that's the best for those who can survive.

Of course, I said "if" since it's ideal. If there may be some gift we don't know about that can stop bloodshed, then it's possible to go without some for a week. In the end, though, there's no such thing as "happily ever after." There are only those who will survive, and those who won't.

[holybind]

Should've known you were a control freak.

[ There's something he can agree with at least. In more ways than probably needs acknowledging. ]

That's the nature of war though, right? The soldiers never really win, the most they can do is outlast the other side. Our foxy captors can tell us we'll be rewarded all we want, but in the end we're just pawns. At best, we survive. And worst case scenario—

[ A nod towards the carriage their fair Cinderella once road off in ]

[finethanks]

Do you think so? Well, those who crave control probably have it the least, though.

[He can admit that. He's no Emperor here. Hmm. He'll just have to grab it? If possible.]

I'm glad to hear that you feel the same as me, however. I'm often told that I'm someone who speaks about grim things like that too often. It's simply reality, however...

[He brings his hand to his mouth to cover a few coughs.] So, what does that mean for you? Do you intend to try to survive with that attitude of shrugging and moving on?

[holybind]

Well, it's worked for me so far. Don't see much point in dealing with any of this any differently than I already have.

[ Whether 'so far' means in the context of this place, or in the context of the place before this, he doesn't specify. ]

Everyone dies eventually— and here? Someone dies every week, apparently. People who don't move on get stuck, and I'd really rather not get left behind.

[finethanks]

Well, things are much different for you here, aren't they? That feeling, the idea of dying any day— it's one that I've lived with for my entire life. If anything, this is far more exciting... though, I won't say that with other's lives at stake.

[Even if he kind of just did... He doesn't mean it like that!] But here, your life expectancy is different than it had been at home, I'm sure. Regardless of what it is that you do... Even for me, technically, it's a higher risk.

Generally, that could mean adapting as necessary. Speaking as you are to others could get you disliked, Zelos-kun. [-kun... he's older... but whatever Eichi is doing it] Perhaps, instead, you should say something like "I understand, but this is how I cope."

[holybind]

Nah, it's fine this way isn't it? No one really expects much from a vapid rich boy. It's more of a— "Oh he never learned any better" sort of situation! Nothing worth aggressively hating or wasting your precious time on.

[ Zelos waves off Eichi's "concerns", like quite literally, he waves his hand. ]

I mean, the teaching the spoiled rich kid how to have compassion schtick is pretty compelling too. People love to feel good about themselves— love to feel like they've made someone less than them a better person.

[finethanks]

Isn't that just an excuse? After all, if it's riches we're talking about, the Tenshouin family is at the top of it all. Yet, somehow, I've managed to maintain a basic consideration for reading the atmosphere.

[He crosses his arms as he smiles, tilting his head slightly. Can you believe they're exactly the same height to the cm I hate this.]

Still, someone "less than them"... Is that a reflection of your own feelings, Zelos-kun, or do you have a problem with me?

[holybind]

[ Eichi and Zelos being the same exact height is the exact brand of cursed information I needed to start off this week.

Zelos mimics Eichi's gestures to a tee. I hate it even more. ]

I don't know why it has to be either of those things. Maybe I'm just speaking generally— about people, about their motivations, about heroes and villains and all the other stupid drivel that seems to make this place up.

[ a shrug ]

Nothings gotta' be personal unless you want it to be.

[finethanks]

You should know as well as I do that the words of aristocrats always have deeper meaning.

[Don't tell him he's imagining things, punk!! Hmm, he's frustrated, but maybe it's because he's met a match? It's reminding him too much of Hiyori, so it's leaving a bad taste in his mouth.]

It's not as if I mind one way or the other, you know? Whether it's a problem with me, or a problem with yourself, whatever it is— I hope you're able to move on from it, for the sake of all of us. [His smile seems to quirk up a little more.]