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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[finethanks]

[He did it. He killed someone. He'd felt her struggling, but even if he tried to back off, it was like he couldn't. There was something strange about it, feeling her life drain from her. The struggling becoming weaker until she was gone, and his hand lingered for only a moment before he pulled it back.

Everything is gone now, and he's on his knees in the foyer with a wet sleeve, breathing heavy and trembling a little. Again, he's just a coward.

He drops his weight onto his hands, too, not sure what he should do after all of that. He's not sure he wants to look back and see the reactions, even if the sound of Tiger's voice saying the partnerless have been spared is reassuring.

He really killed someone.]

[doublecrows]

[when it's all over, Akechi (and his black eye) takes a step towards where Eichi stays knelt against the floor. he hesitates, like he isn't. . . really sure what he's supposed to be doing, here. like this is all so new to him. like he's stepping onto unexplored territory, trying to navigate his way through foreign emotions and gestures]

[but in the end, he crouches down, and touches Eichi's shoulder]

[finethanks]

[The hand, as friendly as it is, makes him flinch automatically. He relaxes immediately afterwards, when he realizes it's nothing harsh, but still doesn't look up from the floor. It's just reflections of the lights, but he could swear he still sees Ann's face.]

What a painful way to die. Panic, the inability to breathe, and attempts to do so automatically only making it worse. It looks peaceful towards the end, but it's quite the opposite.

[doublecrows]

[the way Eichi puts it. . . it's almost poetic in its morbidity. although Akechi finds himself flinching back when Eichi does, his hand falling uselessly to his side]

They forced you into this.

[there's no telling who Akechi means by "they." those who put down "Happily Ever After?" or the Crafters, who wove this game into being in the first place?]

It's crueler than anything I've ever done.

[lol okay Akechi]

[finethanks]

...I was one of the ones who chose this choice. "Happily Ever After." In a moment of rage over her outing you so suddenly, for attempting to drag you down with her...

[His fingers curl into his palms where he stays on hands and knees.]

It's a fitting punishment for me, isn't it? For being so cruel as to do that. My feet couldn't stop moving each time I walked, but at the water itself, it wasn't a forced action. It was a forced feeling.

I couldn't hold back, but because of that, it felt more like I did it myself. [A pause.] I did do it myself, in the end. Perhaps I should have attempted to resist even more.

[axilium]

[...

everything about belph is empty—his face, his voice—as he approaches eichi. he's quiet for a moment, and then,]

... You should go get some rest.

[finethanks]

[Eichi stays on the ground, for now, staring at the floor. He still sees Ann, even when she's not there, and he doubts that's going to change no matter where he goes. He'd rather be around people, in this moment.]

It doesn't feel right to leave suddenly after something like this.

[axilium]

[well, he supposes he can't argue against that.]

... Do you at least want to get off the floor? I can't imagine it's helping you any.

[finethanks]

[He wonders if he can stand after something like that, but he realizes that he absolutely can. He's feeling much healthier than during the cold, but these emotions aren't holding him back enough. Shouldn't he be falling apart? Or is it just his resolve to put on a strong face?

He doesn't know what's normal.

He lifts his head finally, offering a sheepish smile.]

That's right, isn't it? It's just that I was thinking of it, even still... [Her face, there, in the floor, her movements getting drowsier. He shifts, pushing himself up, staring at his wet sleeve.]

Do you suppose I made the right choice, Belph-kun? With the other options of Hansel and Gretel or Jack and the Beanstalk... I wonder, was one more merciful?

[disclosures]

[It was bad to watch it, but it must have been even worse to hold her underwater like that. This game is cruel and nothing about it seems fair.]

I won't ask you if you're okay. [Who would be after all of that? After being forced into doing that?]

But it's best not to linger here.

[finethanks]

[Someone else approaching him, and it still feels too difficult to tear his eyes away from the foyer floor. Ann's lifeless body is burned into his mind.]

I can't just run away after doing something like that. For those who cared about her, and those who are concerned for themselves in this place... I should stay, at least for a while.

[disclosures]

You didn't want to kill her.

The rules of this place are just... cruel. [There's no better word for it.]

[finethanks]

It's true that I didn't want to, but I wonder if they had wanted to kill their victims, either? Aren't we all forced, in this place? Am I really any better than the murderers at each trial, just for doing this in public, openly, as some sort of an executioner?

[He has a lot of thoughts.]

[sanguinairy]

[That was a wildass ride from start to end... Souji's been quiet and somber, watching the entire thing unfold. He doesn't have much comfort to offer even when everything is finished and the pond dissolves into nothing along with Ann, but he'll at least stop by Eichi's side for a moment.]

...Will you be able to return on your own?

[To his room, to wherever it is he chooses to go, whenever he chooses to leave. Souji's not about to try rushing him from the scene, but he won't leave him sitting here if he wants to get away, either.]

[finethanks]

[It takes Eichi some time to be able to respond to that. He's horrified, he's sick, he's staring at the floor and seeing only Ann's lifeless body, or her struggling face, and he doesn't know what to think. How he's supposed to react to this.

It's supposed to feel worse, he thinks.

But he knows he needs to stay in control, so as not to worry anyone even more than he already has. Putting on something of a sheepish smile, he lifts his head to face Souji.]

I'll be fine, Souji-san. I'll be staying here for a while longer, in any case.

[sanguinairy]

[If anything, a smile like that after a scene like this only seems to make Souji's brow knit in a mild display of concern.

...But after a first kill, everyone processes differently. He won't interfere.]

Alright. [A little understanding nod.] If you need anything, will you let me know?

[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.

[nivation]

[ Kyouka gives him a little time before she approaches him. She crouches down next to him and gently tugs on his sleeve, not necessarily to get his attention but more to say she's here. ]

... There is no mercy in being made to kill.

[finethanks]

[Ah, it's the cute girl. She'd been so loudly against Ann dying in the trial, and Eichi feels extra bad about that— but she's still here, at his side? He stares at the floor for a while longer before looking to her.]

Perhaps not. [He knows. He knows...] I could feel her life leaving her body, yet I couldn't stop at all.

[nivation]

[ She noticed that even after his hesitation, his movements were smooth. She couldn't not. If Kyouka had to make a choice, she'd rather let light touch those who show remorse. She can condemn herself, but can she condemn others like her? ]

Death stops for no one. Even if you wished to, your hand would still be forced. A quick death is better than a prolonged one.

[finethanks]

...I thought the same.

[It's why his motions were so smooth. If he had hesitated in holding her under, allowed her to take breaths, it would have been all the more painful. He couldn't be weak at a time like that.]

Are you quite used to death? I didn't expect someone your age to be so calm.

[resumed]

[Normally, he would have ignored this. There was no mercy in death, especially for those who killed...but this was kind of a messed up game that messed with the laws of life and death and magic in ways Nico isn't used to. It's also incredibly unfair to make someone so...normal experience the horror of taking someone's life.

He gives Eichi space but eventually he approaches, crouching in front of him and patiently waiting to see how he'll respond. After a short time though, he'll speak.]

Despite everything...I would say your hands are still clean.

[finethanks]

I... don't think they are at all.

[It's always been "blood," not the actual blood of people he knows, but this is just a seal, isn't it? A physical representation of who he is. Is that why he was called out? He doesn't know.

He looks up, finally, and sees a stranger's face— but he recognizes him from the tapestries, and knows Reyna has said he's trustworthy.]

I can't remove that image from my mind at all. It keeps repeating, again and again. I feel as though I might be sick, but at the same time, it's almost... empty?

[resumed]

I think that's called shock. [His voice is still calm and steady even if the act they just watched was horrific. He doesn't move, dark eyes locked on Eichi's face to make sure that he a.) doesn't actually become sick and b.) to keep his attention.]

But did you want to do it?

[finethanks]

Of course not.

[It's immediate and a little offended. Who would ever want to kill someone with their bare hands?]

In a way... I'm relieved that no one else had to experience that, just now. But it was the last thing I wanted to do. My hands are bloodied, and even if you might be so kind to think they're not, there are others who won't agree.