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

[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.

[resumed]

[Right. Good...point...hahaha. Ha.]

In a war, there are rarely people who leave without a little blood on their hands. And anyway I still think there's a difference between meaning it and not. [It's what he wonders about Akechi and Ann, really.]

...can you stand?

[finethanks]

...Yes, I can.

[Or he will, no matter how difficult. It takes him a moment, but he pushes himself up to his feet, letting out an exhale like that was exhausting.]

Do you believe that anyone means to kill someone here? That we're not all being forced in different ways?

[resumed]

[Eichi has a good six inches of height on him so Nico steps back a little, still close just in case he topples or something. He's on his feet though and that's a good sign. The question is a little harder though.]

It depends. [It's not a popular answer, and he knows it.] I believe that we're all forced into the war the goddesses are fighting, but I'm not sure if some mean it more than others. Does that make sense?

[finethanks]

[HOW IS HE SO TINY--

but oh, that does make sense. It's enough to get Eichi to quiet for a moment, considering it. He stays stable, thankfully.]

It does, actually. There's no way of knowing what type of person someone is unless you happen to know them from before a situation like this.

[resumed]

[Being 14 does that to you tbh. But still, Nico...relaxes a little? His shoulders sag in brief relief when Eichi says he understands what he's saying and he nods in reply. It's also nice that he's stable on his feet. It's less worrisome.]

Exactly. And the thing is that most of us don't know most of the people here, so we only have our time here to really judge. It's why nobody thought people like Ann or Sharpay were capable, isn't it?

[finethanks]

[What's a child]

I believe it was Tiger-chan or Dragon-chan that said we were all brought here for a reason. I believe everyone must be capable, at least in some way...

Though you're right that some must be more fit than others. It's why I was told to be cautious, by those who care.

[resumed]

...are you listening to them? [He seems to realize maybe that's not his place to ask, but he does nevertheless. Is Eichi being cautious? It's something he would advise most people who don't deserve to be here.]

[finethanks]

Yes. However, at the same time, I do believe some trust is necessary. If you isolate yourself, no one will trust you, either.

[resumed]

[...yeah, he knows that from experience.] It's a fine line between trusting people blindly and making yourself suspicious. I want to believe most of the people here are nice enough and it's why I doubt anyone would really blame you for what happened...but things will change as people start getting closer, too.

...are you going to be alright since he lived? [It's not even accusatory, he's just curious.]

[finethanks]

[At that, he puts on the tiniest smile.]

Do you perhaps mean Akechi-kun?

[resumed]

Yes. Unless you have someone in mind.

[finethanks]

No, that's exactly who I'd assumed you'd mean.

But Akechi-kun is my partner. I'm better off with him alive than I am with him dead, you know? Those tricks that play out each execution— I can't rely on them.

[resumed]

What would you do if you were ever assigned a new partner? Since that seems to be a thing that happens here.

[finethanks]

What kind of question is that, I wonder? I'd live, and I'd be terribly upset that anyone harmed Akechi.

It doesn't seem as if the reassignment of partners is painless, either.

[resumed]

It almost looks like nothing here is entirely painless. [A light shrug.] But it was just a question.

...he's lucky to have you.