END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

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! 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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[concasse]

Because you're a shitty human and life doesn't owe you anything.

What, you think just because you want it badly enough that everything's gonna fall in line?

[Sanji didn't come over here to be nice, it seems, and glares lightly in Natsuo's direction.]

We all want it badly, to save everyone. And none of us are getting it, either.

[randori]

[ This isn't the time or place for it, but sometime later in the day whenever Souji is taking a rest or is otherwise distracted, Natsuo has an owl deliver him a bundle of notes, a hundred or so separate scraps of paper, all unsigned, all singing praises for Souji. ]

[randori]

[ He did think that. He had absolutely believed, with all of his heart, that if he just tried hard enough, he would be able to figure everything out and stop everything from happening and make sure everybody, no exceptions, comes through alright.

And every week had been a slap to the face, telling him he never had a chance from the start. ]

Why not... Why can't it happen? Why can't I do anything- change anything- help in any way— what's the point of any of this? Why am I even here!?

[sanguinairy]

[That's definitely an unfamiliar saying to him, but boy if he doesn't get the gist. It's just been one thing after another this week...

He doesn't laugh, but there's a thin, tired smile offered in its stead.]

Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to get a little bit of sun after this.

[Everyone looks like they need a 10 year nap, honestly.]

[concasse]

[He's thought it before, but he thinks it again -- how much Natsuo is like his captain. But the difference is Natsuo is a child. He's not made of rubber. He's no pirate. He doesn't have the strength of a thousand men to make his wishes come true.

... He's just got his big heart that's breaking, and Sanji doesn't move to stop the process.

But:]

I never said you couldn't help.

[Correcting the other.]

I mean-- no, maybe there's not a damn thing you can do to keep people alive, no matter how hard you try, but people here care about you. You want a list of everyone who lost their shit when you died? It's like the light of the castle had been snuffed out.

... You being here... It gives them hope. It gives them something to smile about.

[Still staring off into space]

Why do you think I spend so much time cooking? [A shrug] Sure, it's my job, but sometimes people'll come into the kitchen and ask for something to eat, and at least for that moment, I was able to help.

Even if I can't stop them from dying, I did something to give them hope.

[discardia]

No one... no one deserved this.

And yet...

[ He's right. It absolutely hurts. ]

[sanguinairy]

[Thanks for CRUSHING SOUJI'S SAD BROKEN HEART.

...But he'll keep the notes, folded and tucked away in his room, and not bother trying to find their sender.]

[alchemenace]

... Yeah. Me too.

[ that's about all he's got. ]

[randori]

[ He'd stopped crying before, but Sanji's words make him tear up again and he scrubs at his face with the heels of his hands before they can fall. His death isn't something he likes talking about, in part because it felt so unreal to him who doesn't remember a lick of it, and in part because it's always brought up how hurt people were over it, that fills him with joy and remorse in equal measure. However useless he'd been in the entire time he'd been here, he had made friends, had made people smile and heard them laugh and that was what always kept him going too— he was grateful for them, for their existence, that people gave him the time of day and thought of him and felt for him. He loved them, truly loved everybody, convinced that it was one-sided on his part.

And now, it would always only be that way.

He laughs, watery and bitter, still hiding his face behind his hands, but they're not enough to stop the tears that break past his hands and roll down his cheeks. ]

I can't be hope anymore. I can't help anybody and I can't make anybody smile anymore. And I— I fucked up yesterday, Sanji. I just wanted it so nobody had to suffer like I'm suffering anymore. I fucked up. Nobody's going to like me anymore.

[psychedelica]

... Yeah. I've done it before.

[ because she's always getting into stupid trouble like this. Hikage heaves a sigh, then gingerly shifts his hands to her back and what's left of her knees so that he can pick Stephanie up properly. The exhaustion on his face is entirely mental, it seems. ]

I'll bring her back to our room.

[doublecrows]

[THERE'S. . . so much to take in at once. Yasusada's execution, that Akechi watches with calm indifference. then Rapunzel and 2B's; those take him off guard, cause him to stagger back in surprise, one hand pressed against the side of his head. and then there's Steph's punishment, and. . .]

[for a moment, he's just. frozen in place, watching the aftermath. watching Rapunzel hang from the gallows, and 2B's smoking form lie unmoving on the ground. watching Steph bleed out as others crowd around her, shouting commands, and he just. . .]

[decides]

[that he'd rather be anywhere but here]

[Akechi turns sharply on his heel, shoulders pulled taught, and immediately flounces]

[concasse]

-- What.

[Oh god. This-- mmm.

Okay he won't laugh, not when Natsuo is so clearly drowning in his snot and remorse, but a smile breaks out before Sanji can stop it, shaking his head]

Well first off, I still like you.

Ion still likes you.

-- Both of them, in fact, though I'm pretty damn sure you gave the younger one an ulcer.

Rebecca-chan and Veronica-chan both like you too, and are just worried if you're okay. I bet the same with Eichi, and Stephanie-chan.

Even though they've passed on now, Monika-chan cared, and so did 2B-chan.

Those are just the people I can name off the top of my head. I guarantee you there are more.

[...]

I know it hurts, Natsuo. But don't go around insulting the people who love you like this. If you still feel sore, go apologize. And if it ever feels like you can't pick yourself up, come find me.

[randori]

[ Dooooooooon'tt say those names, because every new one makes him sob even harder, and he already can't breathe through his nose. They're all people he's terrified of losing— people he'd already lost and would be so disappointed seeing him like this, crying his eyes out like the child that he is. Being hated would be worse than dying, for him, the chance that they hate him- he can't bring himself to ask them yet, to give them the opportunity to refuse his apologize.

He's such a child. He hates it. ]

...Right now. I need you right now.

[discardia]

I don't... know if that's true.

[ She feels anything but okay right now. But-- ]

But I... I promised Yasusada I'd take care of Souji.

[ She has to do at least that much. ]

[fonlines]

[ Ion, still mildly dizzy, stumbles towards her before straightening himself out as best he can.

This is a long shot, but Belph has been throwing plenty of questions the Crafters' way. Why not. ]

Miss Tiger...

I thought I might ask. If any of the other parties involved in this game, such as the Historians, are lost... Would we be told their roles, afterward?

[ or only their titles, as they're erased from the list? ]

[themodsgrimm]

[She considers his question, regarding him with...worry?]

I...can reveal the additional roles of the deceased under certain circumstances. Only if the role will no longer play a part in any capacity for the remainder of the war.

[fonlines]

I see.

[ It's wan, but he smiles politely at her. Phantom deaths are... something, when you are already dying. ]

Well, thank you very much for that, then. [ ... ] Ah, are those certain circumstances in fact 'if the role will no longer play a part,' or did you mean that as an additional condition alongside whichever circumstances would be necessary in the first place?

[ he never did press the Dragon that hard for any clarification, that very first time. he sort of regrets that now, but there's nothing for it now. ]

[themodsgrimm]

The role no longer playing the part would be the circumstance.

[She gives him a polite inclination of her head.]

Do you have anything else you'd like to ask me?

[fonlines]

[ he hesitates, seeming unsure for a moment, but; ]

... Would you like simply to talk? It doesn't have to be about anything important, if you don't care to, or if it's not allowed. I'm a fair listener, I would like to think. My counterpart mentioned speaking with the Dragon, some time ago...

I wondered if you would care to do the same.

[themodsgrimm]

[There's evident surprise in her expression, but she gracefully evens it out into one of her regular smiles.]

Oh, yes, I would be delighted to share in your company. If you ever hope to speak with me, my door shall appear to all who wish for it.

LATE BUT HERE,,

[alttitude]

[It's true - a lot is happening. Jae-ha flits between everyone that he wants to take care of. Souji is the first person he goes to, but after witnessing what happened to everyone else that he cares about, and who has people fussing over them and who doesn't - he ends up going back to Cardia.

Even if maybe he shouldn't, but he does.

He goes in front of her, as if to take her attention off of everything else happening and immediately reaches for her hands - ]

Cardia. Breathe, just breathe. With me, just follow me -

[As he tries to demonstrate that calm for her, even if at the moment he understands entirely why it feels out of reach.]

[discardia]

[ It's hard to breathe. She almost doesn't want to, lightheaded enough to think that maybe it's better this way, with everything dulling around her, no more screaming, no more panicked shouts or sobs or Rapunzel's body gently swaying from the noose.

She doesn't want to.

But Cardia's body, instinctively, betrays her and she takes a deeper breath. And wheezes, hands automatically clutching at his. ]

[alttitude]

[When her hands clutch onto his, it anchors him in place, even if he's not sure if this is the best idea he's ever had. Regardless he doesn't intend on leaving her side until she asks now.]

Right - just breathe. Eyes on me.

[Everything else is awful right now. She doesn't need to see that if she can't handle it.]

Do you want me to take you away from here?

[discardia]

...

[ All she can really do is nod. She wants to help, she wants to support them-- but at the moment, she can't do that, and she's very well-aware of it. ]

[concasse]

[Natsuo can hate it all he wants, but that's part of the reason so many love him so dearly -- he's a kid making the best of this, and just so happens that's all they need to him to be]

C'mere kid.

[Because that's all the warning Natsuo gets before Sanji drags the poor kid into a hug, lightly thumping his hand on the other's back.]

I promise you this -- nothing you can do would ever make me hate you, alright?