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

Comments

EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

ann takamaki ; happily ever after The group finds themselves just outside the castle, at the top of the steps. They are urged to step aside by the suits of armor that guard Ann and usher her forward. This time, the culprit's appearance does not change. Ann remains exactly as she is, and they come to a stop on the lawn in full view of the group. The Tiger moves next to join them, her movements graceful but her smile sharp. She looks back at those on the stairs, contemplative. Her eyes glitter as she beckons to someone in the crowd. "Eichi, darling," she purrs. "Why don't you join us?" Eichi will find his legs moving of their own accord to spur him on to the lawn, though everyone else remains frozen, powerless to stop him. When he comes to a stop, the Tiger speaks again. "Aren't you lucky? You get to bring this Narrator's story to a happy ending." She claps her hands together. "How delightful! Now, we'd never be so uncouth as to make you do it with your bare hands... so we'll give you a choice. But choose wisely - whatever you pick must be use to execute her. No takebacks!" With a wave of her hand, she procures a sheet of parchment with three lines written on it: Hansel and Gretel Jack and the Beanstalk The Little Mermaid What will Eichi use to send Ann Takamaki off to her happily ever after?

LOOSE ENDS

[themodsgrimm]

[Following the execution of Ann, everyone will be led to the grand foyer. The ornate clock opens beneath the face, revealing a compartment in which a large glass container is revealed to the eyes of everyone present. Two spouts lead from the interiors of the clock into the glass container. From one side comes a stream of red ink and from the other the same amount of gold ink. Once it stops, there is a pause - and then a stream of purple ink comes from one of the spouts. When all three colors mix into the container, it appears to be black. The Tiger watches the ceremony with interest, a smile playing on her lips.

Magnus, Veronica, and Natsuo will find themselves overcome with a sudden burning sensation. Many phantoms feelings pass them all at the same time: their feet undergo a sensation like they're being ignited with flame, their heart is going to be pulled out of their chests, and there is the faintest feeling as though a blade is cutting across their necks - the roulette wheel spins for how their death is going to be carried out as partnerless until—

It stops.

They feel perfectly fine, like everything is slotting back into place, and a flicker of a red string is seen connecting Magnus and Veronica before it's gone - almost like a trick of the light. As for Natsuo, a straw doll escapes from his person, slicing to ribbons by unseen means before it hits the floor.

The Tiger, having watched them the way a cat watches a mouse, smiles slyly.]

Lucky you! They've come through for you once more. [She turns back to the rest of the Narrators and announces.] The partnerless have been spared.

[But that isn't quite all. She looks almost regretful as she beckons Natsuo forward once more. He will find himself compelled to walk forward to her, if he doesn't plan on doing so already; when he comes close enough, she cups his cheeks between her hands.]

Ah... I wish I didn't have to do this. But casting a vote for yourself? Such a thing will not move this story forward. This is the first time, so we won't be too severe...

[She pats him on the head fondly - and then waves her hand. Natsuo will find himself trapped in a set of stocks until nightfall.]

This will do for now. Try not to do this again, won't you? [This is directed at Natsuo and the rest of the group.] We won't be able to be so lenient, next time.

[And with nary an explanation as to anything, she claps her hands once more.]

Hmm... that's it, then. Run along now, darlings!

[The Tiger will remain for questions.]

AFTERMATH

[themodsgrimm]

[For your reactions and subsequent threading for Sunday.]

[finethanks]

Wait...

[He's not trying to move, but he's moving anyway, and clumsily, he tries to reach for someone close by as if they might anchor him in place, but it doesn't work. Soon enough, he's with Tiger, staring at the sheet with wide eyes.]

I don't want to choose something like this! Isn't this too much? [His eyes flick over to Ann, like she might help, but that's just as bad, isn't it?]

[varas]

[ Ann is still flanked by her armor guard and comes to a stop not far from Eichi. Her eyes are redrimmed, her cheeks a bit puffy - and, like yesterday, she continues to struggle for breath. By this point, however, it may be more accurate to say she's given up the struggle. She's certainly not hiding it anymore. ]

Whatever.

[ She doesn't look at Eichi, or anyone. ]

Just pick, okay?

[finethanks]

...I'm sorry, Takamaki-chan.

[It's the first time he's addressed her by name to anyone, since he'd been pretty angry at her sellout on Akechi earlier. Now, her fate is up to him? He stares at the list again, still standing tall, now even more focused on appearing confident, no matter what.]

It's going to be a gruesome death no matter what, isn't it? [And so... what would be the best ending to this Story, then?

His heart is beating too fast, he's a little pale from how sick he feels, being responsible for a real death, but he points, finally.]

The Little Mermaid.

[themodsgrimm]

[As soon as Eichi speaks and makes his choice out loud, the other two options vanish, and the scroll disappears. Something happens. In front of the crowd a small, peaceful pond appears before them. The water's dark and deep, silent without the movement of fish and surrounded by tall grass and cattails.

Eichi and Ann will feel themselves being marched forward toward the pond.

At the end of her life, the Little Mermaid returned to the sea and dissolved into foam. The water calls to them to return her home. Eichi's hands itch to help.

He knows what he must do.]

[varas]

[ Approaching the pond, Ann stumbles once. By now, her breathing has crescendoed to a fever pitch. Panic, in addition to the curse, leaves her gasping for air. Fear causes her to drag her feet in direct opposition to the need to move forward; she almost falls and has to right herself at the last second. Her eyes are wide, her lips trembling. ]

Carmen...

[ Help her, please --

But no one answers. ]

[finethanks]

[Again, his feet are moving without him trying, but he refuses to turn his desperate glance back on everyone watching. His hands are itching, there's knowledge burning in him of what he has to do, and that's—]

I thought... [His words are soft, resigned in a way and thoughtful, as his left hand reaches and closes around Ann's neck. His breathing isn't much better than Ann's, though that's all on his illness, and he still moves. There's hesitation in between his movements, but when he uses his hold to push her into the water, dropping to his knees with her to keep her under, it's all fluid.]

I thought you said that I wouldn't have to bloody my hands like this?

[That he wouldn't have to kill her himself if he chose. Instead, here he is, holding her underneath the water by the neck, refusing to let her come up.]

[varas]

[ Her head is thrust under the water and Ann knows enough to hold her breath, but her curse compromises her far sooner than she would like. As her throat feels hot and her need for air gives way, she opens her mouth to the pond. The water flows in, flooding her throat, causing her lungs to burn and her nostrils to flare. She wants so badly to cough it all up, but every convulsion of her throat brings in more water. Her hands begin to pound against the floor, skin stinging and turning red with each desperately smack. She can't reach him. If she could...

Well, she can't.

This isn't how things were supposed to go, Ann thinks. She was promised her world, taunted with images of Shiho's face, made it clear how much she had to lose. She had talked a big game to begin with but she crumbled under their pressure. She's no different from Sharpay.

She thinks of Akechi, his face contorted in animalistic rage, the way his voice had bellowed through-out the garden. Had she ever really understood him? So little of it had made sense, and now it seems like he's the thought she'll carry with her into her last moments.

Slowly, Ann's struggles cease. Her hands grow limp, knees buckling further. Her neck limpens against the edge of the water, head hanging at an uncomfortable angle. Some hair rises to float on the surface of the pond.

And... Ann Takamaki is dead. ]

[themodsgrimm]

[Once Eichi lets go--and eventually he'll have to--Ann's body slips, limp, deep into the water. She sinks farther into the dark water, her body bubbling and dissolving into foam as she does. When there's nothing left, the pond, too, vanishes, and Eichi is left alone on the floor of the Foyer, as if none of it ever was.]

[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]

[HEY GUYS GUESS WHO HAS A BLACK EYE WHILE AT THE EXECUTION, IF YOU GUESSED GORO AKECHI YOU WOULD BE CORRECT]

[there's uncertainty replacing Akech's usual dispassion and distance in his expression today, as he watches his partner hold Ann (Panther, one of Joker's, one of Kurusu's) under water until she stops moving, until her body dissolves into nothing. he can't really put a finger on what he's feeling here. it isn't guilt. . . maybe? it isn't regret. . . probably? it's. . .]

[it's something. it's something that keeps burrowing a hole deep into his gut, keeps making his fingers flex into fists and his eyes twitch with nervousness. he doesn't like it]

. . . and you think me cruel. I at least had the decency of choosing "to be continued."

[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]

[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.

[axilium]

... It does seem to be the better option.

[well, as curious (as distasteful as that word seems) as he was to what "happily ever after" entailed, he still chose "to be continued". it wasn't worth playing with someone's life.]

[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.

[okitactless]

You tried to get Reyna-kun killed.

[DON'T EVEN START, DUDE.]

[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.

[randori]

[ He'd watched the execution this time. It was Eichi up there on the stage, and he could never take his eyes off him then, even if it was a horrible, horrible thing they had him do. Watching that was numbing, so that the burning in his chest and throat when partnerships fell and reformed was almost welcome. Stray lies scattered at his feet, and they blow away in the wind.

And so he's alone.

He walks up to The Tiger on his own accord, leaning a bit into her touch when she pats him on the head, and kneels for his punishment. His hands are cuffed, head bent and made to look only at the ground— and maybe it's better this way, because his bangs block wet eyes, and nobody can see him cry. ]

[hairbrain]

[ well, he's not gonna be alone for long! his fave person in the world is coming to visit. she actually made food and tea to bring to him and is here to keep him company. pascal will climb through to pat his hand, too. ]

Hi, Natsuo.

[ there's nowhere to run now, binch. ]

[axilium]

[seeing natsuo like this is the kicker to an already shitty day.

slowly, he walks up to him.]

... Want some company, buddy?

[finethanks]

[It takes Eichi quite a while to feel ready enough to approach Natsuo. Above anyone else, Natsuo is someone that he wants to have see him as someone kind and smiling, never dealing with struggles like these. He's been poor at it, so far, and so it takes extra strength to put on a smile and walk calmly over.

Most everyone else is already gone.]

Natsuo-kun... Why would you vote for yourself?

[randori]

[ He can't exactly... run... but after he settles down a bit and before she leaves, Natsuo calls out to the Tiger. ]

Tiger, this is... [ highly inconvenient. he's going to starve like this until Rapunzel comes to his rescue. his legs will cramp. it's merciful, considering all else she could have done. ]

I guess I should say thank you? And I was wondering if I could ask for something else.