grimmoired | END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

The Story Continues...
END OF CHAPTER 3 - WEEK 329 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. Yamatonokami Yasusada appears, flanked on either side by suits of armor, escorting him to his punishment. His expression is one that may be difficult for anyone who isn't a sword spirit to read, but he seems to have accepted his fate.

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 third execution post!

Please see here for the results of yesterday's voting. In addition, make sure you fill out your CR Chart for Chapter 3!

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[ Sitting on the ground, it feels like all the strength leaves him all at once, and he lets himself slump forward and lower his head to the ground, fists balling beside his head and he takes Sanji's advice to breathe

to draw breath, so he can wail out all his sorrows, screaming into his arms because that's the best he can do it hold any of it in anymore. ]

I don't have to what?

[Sanji's tone is far from snappy -- he doesn't seem perturbed by that attitude]

Worry about you? Tough shit, I'm gonna.

[... Sanji doesn't say anything.

He just sits next to the kid with a hand on Natsuo's shoulder as he cries himself out]

[ Right. She-- she'd promised. She'd needed to be there for him, and even as Cardia blinks back more tears, she slowly nods and obediently takes a deeper breath.

Sanji's right. This... is all she can do right now. ]

[ There's too much snot in his nose to breathe through it. He tries, though, and it's a gross wet sound, futile, but the distraction is enough that he opens his mouth and is forced to breathe properly through there, so at least he doesn't pass out. ]

... Take care of me. That's what I was going to say.

[ Sanji's is a much nicer sentiment, and a lot less condescending than whatever Varian might've thought. ]

Sorry.

[ Give him maybe ten minutes to cry enough that the wails subside to dry sobs, hiccups and erratic breathing, sleeve sticky and stiff with the snot that he keeps trying to wipe from his nose but it doesn't end. ]

[That's all any of them are gonna be able to do, Sanji thinks, but doesn't have the heart to say. Instead he smiles and pats her on the shoulders as she calms down.]

There you go.

You're gonna be okay.

... She's gone.

[His voice goes quiet, and Sanji looks. tired, for a moment.]

Honestly, you could stand to be angry.

[What, Sanji making himself a target so Varian can feel better?

Lies.]

[... Natsuo really is his captain in appearance and spirit. Sanji nearly laughs, but he can't find the energy for it. Instead he sighs and eventually pulls his hand back, looking the other over.]

Better?

[The answer is likely no, but still. He's gotta ask it.]

[That's a mood, Souji. The only reason Sanji is standing is because he's been moving since the bodies hit the floor. Now that more people are taken care of, he'll move his sights to the swordsman leaning against the foyer wall.

... Why is this the second time he's gotta offer condolences to this poor man?]

Hey.

... I don't know what I'm feeling.

[ it's candid, and at that, he looks at Rapunzel's body. hanging. ]

Death by hanging is how Corona deals with its worst criminals. [ there's a pause ] I think that's why they picked it.

No.

[ It's the answer that Sanji expected, but even though Natsuo says it, he looks a little better. if by better, he looks just utterly exhausted instead of shell-shocked like before. ]

Nothing will make this better.

[ sure okay here's also a green for post near-death reactions; Ion's gathered himself together as much as he can, with possibly better results than if he hadn't already been so pessimistic going in.

Still, he's definitely still slightly dazed, or dizzy, or out of it from so many phantom deaths. Even if both he and Souji are actually fine, or some measure of it, it's hard to actually get your body to listen to that.

So after he lends the medical brigade attending to Steph some of the bandages he's been carrying, you'll find him either continuing to try to collect himself against some of the furniture in the foyer, or slipping outside into the gardens for fresh air. ]

[he'll stay with natsuo for however long he needs.]

[... That's.

That's dark.

~~What the fuck I thought this was Disney~~]

... Hanging's usually what befalls a pirate when they're sent to the gallows.

[...]

But that's not fitting for her. I'm gonna ask Tiger-sama to take her down.

No, nothing will.

[A quiet hum of agreement.]

None of them deserved this.

[He's cursed and everyone he loves dies, that's why.

But really, Souji at least looks more put-together than he had earlier, somehow. He's worked to string himself together some amount of poise, and he holds it in a vice grip. Sanji's greeting earns him a nod, gentle and somewhat careful, as he pushes himself away from the wall.]

--Are you holding up?

[Far be it for Sanji to shatter that image. Given everything that's happened, Souji's earned the right to handle this as he wants, and so the chef refrains from the aggressive concern he'd shown the others.]

-- I'm here.

[Better than he can save for some of the others. His eyes close, briefly.]

What's that shitty saying: When it rains, it pours?

Something like that.

[ ~~it's in the movie because KIDS~~

... hm ]

Thanks, Sanji.

[ They don't, and that's what makes it feel like a knife twisting in his gut, and he want to throw up to get rid of that festering pain. ]

...It was only two a week before. [ the words are mumbled, and he doesn't look up at Sanji at all. ] This time, I let six die.

No, it's alright.

[He looks at her, his expression pained, but gives her a smile nonetheless.]

It hurts...I know.

[patting him on the shoulder

then pausing before he goes--]

... I'm sorry.

You're not a god.

[Softly, not really looking at Natsuo]

You're just a kid who can fight decently.

And if you keep thinking like you got the power to take the world on your shoulders, you're gonna keep failing, and breaking into pieces.

Why aren't I—?!

[ He spits out the question, a little flare of anger and frustration that only frays his nerves even more. ]

I don't care about the world! How come I can't even protect forty people!?

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END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

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