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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[randori]

[ He looks it, and the longer he watches, the worse it is. There's blood everywhere, the screaming that keeps echoing inside his head and replaces everything else— so when Sanji pinches his cheek, he startles so badly, his knees do actually give, leaving him to half jerk away and half pitch sideways. ]

[concasse]

[Yeah that's what he thought.

Sanji catches him -- more by the neck collar than anything, like Natsuo is a distressed puppy, but eventually uses the other hand to wrap around his middle and lower him to the ground.]

This is why I told your ass to breathe.

[randori]

[ 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. ]

[concasse]

[... Sanji doesn't say anything.

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

[randori]

[ 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. ]

[concasse]

[... 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.]

[randori]

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.

[concasse]

No, nothing will.

[A quiet hum of agreement.]

None of them deserved this.

[randori]

[ 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.

[concasse]

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.

[randori]

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!?

[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]

[ 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!?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[randori]

Mm.

[ An acknowledging noise, all he can make as he buries his face in Sanji's chest. He'd been stupid and reckless and hateful and still Sanji does this for him... ]

Okay.

[ A one sided promise, but he'll put effort on his side too- a promise to himself, not to do anything that'll make Sanji hate him, no matter what. ]