grimmoired | END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

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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!

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yamatonokami yasusada ; t͞o̶ ͡b̕e c҉ơnt̨in̸ųed̵

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 Yasusada and usher him forward.

This is the part where, judging by the other two To Be Continued executions the group has witnessed, his appearance ought to change - but it does not. Instead, just as with Ann, Yasusada and his armor escort come to as top on the lawn, and the Tiger moves to join them, her gait graceful but her smile sharp. She looks back to those on the stairs, contemplative.

Then, eyes glittering, she beckons to someone in the crowd.

"We were going to go along with vote," she purrs. "But we heard a very convincing argument to do otherwise. Souji, darling, why don't you join us?"

Souji 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.

"Don't you feel lucky? You get to fulfill his dying wish." She claps her hands together. "How delightful! Now, don't worry... we'll provide what you need to carry this out. You simply have to make a choice. But choose wisely - whatever you pick must be used to execute him. No takebacks!"

With a wave of her hand, she procures a sheet of parchment with three lines written on it:

The Deer and the Heart
The Fox and the Woodsman
The Goat and the Vine
What will Souji use to send Yasusada off to his happily ever after?

2b & rapunzel ; the ties that bind

That isn't the end.

Souji is made to rejoin the group, but the rest of them find themselves unable to move - except, that is, for 2B and Rapunzel. Much like Souji, they find themselves heading down to join the Tiger on the lawn, their legs moving for their own accord.

When they arrive, they 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—

ŗ̕͟AP͢ų̷͠n̡Z͝E̵̛͠L̢̢
ţ͡͠O͜͢ ́ţ̛H͘e̕ G̢͢A͏l̨͝l͟҉O̷͟͏w̡S

2b҉
҉f̧̢̕A̛c̶̡E̷͢ ̶t͜H̸̛E̛ ͡s͏̨̕t͏Ơr̵̢̕M̡̛
The words echo in their minds, and in the minds of the onlookers.

There is nothing anyone can do.

They blink, and the gallows appears - a wooden contraption with steps leading up to where a noose awaits. The suits of armor that had escorted Yasusada to the lawn push her forward, urging her to climb. They help her place the noose around her neck. They tighten it just so. A moment passes, then two - Rapunzel will have just enough time to sweep her gaze over the crowd - and then one of the suits takes a wooden lever into its hand, and pulls. The floor falls out from under Rapunzel, and her bare feet dangle over the ground as she hangs.

Dark, tumultuous stormclouds roll in over the area, and 2B's head tilts upward to look at them. There's a sense of something almost electric in the air, making everyone's hair stand up on end - and then, in a flash of lightning, 2B is struck. The roll of thunder reaches their ears with only a second's delay, followed by another and another as lightning strikes not once but twice more. When the dust clears, 2B lies on the ground, her fingertips twitching as if something is misfiring - and then she goes still. Clouds still hang over the group, but no more lightning strikes.

Rapunzel and 2B have followed their partners into death.

Edited 2018-07-01 09:38 (UTC)

[Following the execution of Yamatonokami Yasusada, Rapunzel, and 2B, 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 crimson ink and from another, a larger amount in purple. Finally, gold ink flows down to join in as well, more than the crimson but less than the purple. When all three colors mix into the container, it appears to be black. The Tiger watches the ceremony with her lips pulled tightly together. It's hard to tell exactly how she feels about it.

Souji and Ion 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 them together before it's gone - almost like a trick of the light.

The Tiger, having watched them with narrowed eyes, smiles thinly.]

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

[But that isn't quite all. Stephanie is beckoned forward. She will find herself compelled to walk toward her, if she doesn't plan on doing so already; when she comes close enough, Tiger looks her up and down.]

Unfortunate. I'd love to take it easy on you, but I don't give multiple warnings for the same broken rule. Voting for yourself will not move this story forward. Maybe this time, the lesson will stick.

[It happens quite quickly. Tiger's claws extend and retract in a slashing motion...and all at once, Stephanie's leg is gone, severed from the knee down. At least she...took the leg that was already broken.]

I'd encourage anyone with bandages to come forward quickly.

[The Tiger will remain for questions.]

[For your reactions and subsequent threading for Sunday.]

[When Yasusada appears, he looks different.

His sword, of course, is missing, as he'd given it to Okita before being led away in the aftermath of the trial. His hair is still down, whether by choice or forgetfulness. But most importantly, he's lacking the pale blue haori he'd only removed once before, these past three weeks--for the same purpose with which he's done everything. For Okita.

He looks apprehensive, understandably, but when Tiger speaks up, a seemingly out-of-place smile blossoms on his face. There's genuine gratitude when he looks at her, and he offers a small bow.]

Thank you, Tora-kun.

[Looking back at Okita, his smile turns bittersweet with melancholy--but it does not fade, and he does not tremble or tense with fear. Whatever Okita chooses, he will accept without protest.]

[ lmao remember when i said she went a week without getting injured what's up

she does step forward out of her own will, mostly because she knows that tiger is probably going to force her to walk to her anyway. stephanie does her best not look at the remaining narrators and instead focuses it on the crafter. this is fine? everything is fine. this is fine!!!

at least, it is fine until she realizes about two seconds before it happens what's actually going to occur. there goes the leggy!! stephanie screams, loud, before falling over. bye guys. ]

-- Shit.

[ he knew damn well this wasn't going to be as nice and clean as Stephanie getting put in the stocks like Natsuo was, but that doesn't mean he wasn't hoping vaguely in the back of his heart. Hikage looks absolutely exhausted, but he's clinging to life for the time being - and he's about to "bleed out" if they don't do something about Stephanie. He runs up to catch her before she can hit the ground and get even more injured. ]

Someone--!!

[Souji, on the other hand, has tied his hair up for once today. It's pulled out of his face and held back with a thin strip of cloth, and over his shoulders is the haori that Yasusada is missing, the blade brought along with him too. If it weren't for how entirely exhausted he seems, it would almost be the way things were before - back in the days they'd spent time talking about over the night.

He may be propelled forward by some unknown source, but for Yasusada's sake, he moves with all the grace he can muster. His expression is soft but difficult to read; he can't quite manage a smile back just yet, but hopes that's enough to convey everything he doesn't have the words for.

To Tiger, he just nods a little, maybe in acknowledgment of her words. In any case:]

...The Deer and the Heart.

[Yeah uh Tiger-sama he's got a question]

Take her down.

[Oh wait was that supposed to be a question--]

... Please. Rapunzel-chan is already dead.

[ okay so. so there is a lot to react to, here. his eyes are stuck on rapunzel's swinging body, mouth open, in disbelief. he's riveted on it, really. his hands shake as he stands there, useless.

and then there's stephanie's scream and he turns to look and-- okay, admittedly, his first reaction is to go deathly pale himself at the blood. but then he mouths the word "ink" to himself, because if he thinks it's ink, it's fine. it's psychological.

and obviously it's not ink. he knows it isn't. but he-- she'll die too. she'll die too. she... she can't die too. ]

Someone, someone-- go get alcohol and bandages, I've--

[ they have to stop the bleeding. first. (it's ink.) so all of a sudden he's bolting to Rapunzel's body as it hangs there and he grabs the frying pan he knows she's always carrying around. he was there when she first took it. she's famous for it back home.

(what is corona going to say if she doesn't come back? oh god.)

he's running back with it in his bandaged hand and taking out the fire striker at the same time as a scroll and let's all pretend it makes a fire for long enough that he can heat up the pan in an amount of time that doesn't let steph bleed out because it takes like. uh. a few minutes for a leg amputation. WE ALSO COULD'VE DONE A TOURNIQUET :) FUN FACT? IT'S TOO LATE NOW I'M COMMITTED ]

It's going to, I'm sorry it's going to hurt it's going to hurt a lot--

[ he's babbling, and he has to wipe at his face with his shoulder because he can't see clearly? oh he's crying. that's fine. anyway.

let's put that heated pan on her leg to close the wound! science died today. this is extremely painful. sorry steph.

I'M NOT EDITING THIS A SECOND TIME!! ]

Edited 2018-07-01 17:33 (UTC)

[Tiger watches the two of them, and like with Ann, when Souji makes his choice, the other options disappear from the parchment before that vanishes as well. In its place, she produces a blade, thoroughly rusted, and offers forward it in her delicate, clawed hands.]

[neither of them looks good, do they. he'll let her partner take care of keeping her off the ground, but he's here in case it becomes too much. with hikage looking that exhausted, it wouldn't do if they just both fell over, here.]

-we'll do what we can.

[with-- whatever the fuck they have. he isn't a doctor? but he's also here if anything needs to be done.]

[Tiger's eyes flash at Sanji's tone, but her expression smooths out in the same instant. She turns away from him and waves a hand, and the animated suits of armor that brought Rapunzel to the gallows gently free her body and lay her respectfully on the ground.]

[Oh he's probably gonna get his ass kicked at some point and knows it but

it's fine.]

Thank you, Tiger-sama.

[He'll nod (as if in apology, wonder of wonders he does feel bad) and take his leave (and actually probably come back later with question after he's fetched some alcohol to so someone here doesn't die of infection.)]

Edited 2018-07-01 17:33 (UTC)

[Well, it's a familiar weapon, at least.

There isn't any hesitation as Souji reaches forward to take the blade that's offered, and little pause before he turns his attention back to Yasusada. There's no way to get a clean cut with a blade this rusted... The kindness of a decapitation is out of the question, then. For that and the state of the blade, Yasusada gets a look that seems somewhat apologetic. He'd hoped to offer something better.

But if this is what he has, then this is what he has.]

Yasusada. [A further softness in his voice. And then, as customary for executions from his own time:] Are you prepared?

[He knows he doesn't need to ask.]

[ waver's barely out of shock when he hears steph's scream in pain. hurriedly, he gets to where hikage, shirasu, and steph are, already taking his coat off. ]

I can heal. Just let me deal with her.

[jfc this whole execution is! a! lot!!!! but presumably as soon as stephanie is Safe and veronica isn't about to puke, she heads over to ask a question.]

Tiger, can... [nvm still a little queasy, but—] What were the gifts of the executed?

[for posterity... and also because she's curious, tbh.]

[ Ion is still faintly lightheaded, dizzy with all the phantom sensations of dying so many different deaths, and so isn't entirely aware of everything happening around him-

but when Varian's voice comes from the general direction of Stephanie, who he knows voted for herself, the haze clears slightly. Alcohol, bandages... again. Right. He stumbles toward the pair of them, unsteadily at first but gaining as he moves- ]

Here. [ he says, forcing himself to focus. ] For once-

[ He pulls back his sleeves, untying a pair of knots keeping the long, thin bandages wrapped around his arms from unraveling as he does, and allows them to slip free from his robes and into his hands. ]

For once someone else manages to fetch any disinfectant.

One had enhanced speed, another could control birds, and yet another could walk the castle freely without being constrained by curfew.

[ someone is holding a molten frying pan to his partner's leg stump right now and waver is only just now saying this?! Hikage's eyes flash (somewhat literally; his right eye looks like it's red??) and he snaps at him. ]

Then hurry it up!

[Admittedly, he'd hoped for one last, selfish wish to be granted. He'd really, truly hoped that Okita would be permitted to use his own blade--to use him, for this. Even if his steel never again tastes blood, he'd wanted Okita to have that much.

But he doesn't protest; he doesn't dare. He's already asked for so much, in the hopes that it could ease Okita's pain just a little. He won't risk undoing all of that just to ask for one more thing.

At least it's a sword. No matter its state, they've been given that much.

He doesn't respond right away; his eyes, as big and bright as ever, search Okita's face carefully, like he's trying to figure out some way to make this easier on him. Would it be better to break from tradition, and reach out for Okita again, like he wants to? Or would it be easier to turn his face away, and simply kneel in silence?

In the end, he gives in to selfishness. That's what got them into this mess in the first place, but...

Then as long as we're both here, I'll hold you as often as I can. As often as you'd like.]

Yes. [Simply, calmly. His hands shake as he reaches out for a final embrace, but just once, and his smile is still real.] Thank you, Okita-kun. I'm glad it's you.

[Kashuu was the one who got to give up his life for Okita, back then. Now, it's his turn. He can only hope that Okita understands how relieved he truly is, that he can fulfill his purpose and serve his master to the end.]

[ why didn't anyone tell him this sooner but it's FINE HE'LL MOVE FOR WAVER he already. did the thing. oops. ]

[belph's glancing in the direction of steph and co. every once in a while, because dear god, but too many cooks spoil the broth, so he'll leave them be.]

... So, can only two partners be spared, or is that something you can't answer?

Don't order me around, asshole! Or I'll press the frying pan right to your damned face!

[ that said, waver does get right to healing. even if the wound is cauterized it doesn't mean that she's out of the woods yet. he'll begin healing, hands steady as he begins to heal steph's wound.

it's not anywhere near perfect, but the burn has probably been reduced to simply very ugly scarring. ]

There. That's all.

[ Natsuo's just like. Hyperventilating in a corner somewhere, choking on his sobs, looking really fucking guilty but he can't help with anything, so??? every weekend I lose 10 years off my life, god ]

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END OF CHAPTER 3 ; EXECUTION

EXECUTION

THE PARTNERLESS

LOOSE ENDS

AFTERMATH

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