END OF CHAPTER 1 ; EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... END OF CHAPTER 1 - WEEK 134 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. Ann Takamaki appears, flanked on either side by suits of armor, escorting her to her punishment. She stares straight ahead with each step closer to the group that they take. A moment later, the Tiger appears on the foyer's staircase. Her hand trails down the banister as she sashays down it, and she takes her place at the head of the group, standing in front of what appears to be a wall. "Come along, darlings," she says. "The execution awaits." You blink, and then it's there — a door leading to the outside. The Tiger steps through it. You have no choice but to follow. Welcome to your second execution post! Please see here for the results of yesterday's voting. In addition, make sure you fill out your CR Chart for Chapter 1! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Danielle (Discord DMs preferred, then entrappings), 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

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[randori]

[ Oh. It takes him by surprise when something warm and heavy drapes over his shoulders, like getting a hug from behind when his position makes it impossible to give or receive on otherwise. ]

Thanks... Are you sure you don't need it? It's still cold out.

[disclosures]

I'm glad we could take your mind off it for a little while.

[She adjusts, stretching her legs out and glancing over at him. It's best to let him cry and not mention it. Rebecca would hate it if somebody commented on her crying.]

Tell me if you get hungry, okay?

[londonstar]

[ for the love of christ and all that is holy-- ]

I came here to see how you are doing.

[finethanks]

An Emperor doesn't break so easily. I may not be someone who's used to physical blood on my hands, but I'm no stranger to war, either.

[Sort of. Anyway,] The world is not a kind place. I knew this already, so...

[So... he should be fine. And yet, he's not sure how to manage to cope with this.]

[finethanks]

[At the very least, it's a very clearly strained smile, thin as ever, and his eyes never hide what he's really feeling. They're hollow.]

Of course. [He'd like to not need anything, but he knows how to prioritize his life if it comes to that. Still, with Souji... He eyes him with worry himself before he shifts, moving to stand.]

I'm sorry that you had to watch me do something like that, Souji-san. I couldn't stop at all.

[finethanks]

Perhaps all of this is what they call karma. The cold, Natsuo-kun, the trial, and now this.

[He's had a rough week.] But it's selfish to think of it that way. This isn't an enjoyable event for anyone here.

[finethanks]

[Eichi is quiet at that. Of course it's harder. It's incredibly hard, which is why he has to do it. But, in response, he'll at least cover the hand on his shoulder with his own hand, appreciative.]

Who was it that hit you, by the way?

[finethanks]

Shhh, don't harm yourself by attempting to move too much.

[He brings his hand to Natsuo's cheek, resting there in an attempt to keep him calm.]

You can vote for me. It won't break my trust when I know that you're simply avoiding a true decision.

[randori]

I'm good.

[ relatively speaking, anyways ]

I thought it'd be something much worse than this, like solitary confinement. I wouldn't be able to see anybody, or talk to anybody, like I can still do now. But if I'm like this... I can't be there for people. Akechi. Eichi. I can't go to them.

[randori]

[ His cheek is damp. He'd been crying, though none of it shows in his eyes anymore. ]

I don't want to... [ It comes as a whine, and he knows he's whining, refusing a perfectly good solution and scrambling to find some way it wouldn't work, like Eichi's blessings don't matter when it comes to the guilt Natsuo will feel either way. ]

If I keep voting for you every week, Tiger will catch on. I know she will.

[axilium]

I honestly have no idea what you mean by the Emperor stuff, but if you say so.

... But even if you know the world sucks, that doesn't always make it easier.

[axilium]

I'm not volunteering to be your personal scratcher. I like you, but that's just awkward.

[disclosures]

It's been a bad week for you. But nobody's happy to be stuck here or doing... any of this.

... At least Natsuo's mostly okay now. [Other than, well, the stocks.]

[randori]

[ He can't even kick somebody in the face for calling him out on crying; this really is the worst. ]

Yeah, I will. [ Not the best time to wish for karaage though- he wouldn't be able to properly enjoy it like this, but the thought that he really did make it out alive to share that meal warms him a little inside. ]

It's cold out here, and kinda boring, so you don't have to stay out here with me, you know? I'll just sleep or something! I'll be okay.

[disclosures]

I'm not just going to leave you out here alone.

Besides, I've got some company. It's not that bad.

[function]

[ she shrugs. ]

The cold doesn't bother me.

[ as always, there's an unspoken component to her words that she refuses to say aloud: "you need it more than i do." ]

[randori]

Are there different levels of "like"? What do I have to do to get on the "personal scratcher" level?

[randori]

It's still cold even if it doesn't bother you!

[ It's not like he can pick it off his shoulders and give it back, but even though he should be saying thank you right now, he still looks a little compromised. Being taken care of really isn't something he's used to. ]

Why don't you take this back, and get me another one? Then we can sit and talk and both be warm.

[randori]

[ -ugh, he appreciates that a lot, even if he doesn't say it out loud. ]

It's a lot of hours from now until sun down. If it were the weekend, I'd take the train back home and be out playing with my friends. Or I'd stay inside and read manga. [ Very normal things. It feels like a lifetime away. ] What do you usually do?

[disclosures]

During the weekend? I'd usually hang out with my friends and get drunk on wine. You shouldn't do that, you're too young for it.

[axilium]

What would someone else have to do for you to scratch them?

... Actually, don't answer that. Your standards are probably lower than others'.

[wagashis]

I doubt they would-- but I'm sure you'll have people here either way. You'll just have to rely on them a little longer.

[because he's not going to stay the whole time. that's not an offer he can make.]

[randori]

Is it fun? Getting drunk?

[ He's only seen Gi-Gan and Jae-ha drink here, way back. But they weren't drunk so much as they just drank. ]

[disclosures]

When you're with friends and you can bitch together, yeah. Getting drunk alone is just sad.

[randori]

[ answers anyways ]

Nothing! It can be a stranger: "scratch my back and I scratch yours," right? That's the principle of things!

[ What standards? There are no standards. ]