WEEK FOUR: EXECUTION

[saturations]

EXECUTION: TRIAL BY COMBAT

Sunday morning starts peacefully enough, until around noon, when alarms start going off on your phones. The dreadful noise is accompanied by a reminder of the execution taking place in the Central Node. You can snooze the alarms at first, but they begin to get a little more insistent. If you're being stubborn, you can probably hold out until exactly 1 PM, when an archway opens right in front of you and pulls you in.

Today the Central Node is eerily quiet and empty. There are a few blankets laid out on the grass for those of you who wish to sit instead of standing the whole time. No refreshments have been provided, but the Residents are already there waiting for you.

As the last person enters the node, an enormous archway suddenly opens. This archway once again leads to an area which is pitch black inside, with white and grey dust falling softly like snow. The chilly air feels even colder than before, and you instinctively know you must not approach it. If you try to push through anyway, something is blocking your way. Smaller tears to the same space open in the air, at the very least. You can see what's happening, even if you can't follow.

Because - once the archway is open, Atsushi and Vin alone will begin to walk through as though drawn. All you can do now is watch and wait.

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Comments

[9mon]

[With my three, Kumon is running a fever. When he watches Vin and Atsushi walk in, he curls up so he's not looking at what's happening beyond the archway.]

[dms]

[ bad!!!

kazunari will be right next to kumon as usual, an arm around his shoulders, trying to his best to give calm, reassuring vibes. ]

[9mon]

[He tilts into him, but the emotions rolling off of him are anxiety, stress and worry.]

[dms]

[ kazu's emotions are largely inscrutable, mostly just a thick layer of carefully calculated calm. they expected this, and kazu is focused on making sure kumon has help if he needs it. ]

Just take it easy, 'kay, Kumopi?

[9mon]

[There are real emotions in there, but Kumon just lets himself accept the calm.]

Yeah.

[It's not like he can really do anything to feel worse at the moment.]

[dms]

[ """real emotions""" aren't important right now. ]

There's always a chance that they might make it out again. Don't forget that.

[9mon]

[Right, they might get lucky and get TWO miracles.

...

He can feel the way Kumon hopes that's still an option.]

[dms]

[ you never know, right? so kazu reflects that hope back at him, like he's trying to remind kumon that he's not alone, no matter what happens today. ]

[9mon]

[He looks up at the fireworks... and feels a surge of homesickness and dread. Why does something like this have to end?

He misses Summer, he misses their fireworks, and their leader and the way they could chase Tenma around for fun. No danger, just friendship and each other's support.]

[dms]

[ as fireworks burst in the sky, kazunari's calm veneer cracks.

homesickness, sorrow, and fondness all filter though as he watches the lights in atsushi and vin's sky. fireworks should be for happy occasions, for celebrations... not a prelude to death. he misses that, misses it so badly, and the last thing he wants to see is a sight like this, a special moment between those two, become tainted. ]

It's like Summer...

[ a soft exhale, where kazu allows his sorrow and longing to show for only a moment longer before he packages it back up to set aside for later. ]

[9mon]

[It's like a heartbreak. He loves fireworks, and the start of Summer, for festivals for friendship. And he thinks... this is also Atsushi's way of showing friendship, even here, at the beginning of their fight. It's a kindness.

It makes anxiety worsen.

He misses Summer. He misses Mankai and he misses home. He reaches for Kazu and squeezes his hand.

Somehow, they'll manage to make it back. He has to keep holding onto that hope.]

[dms]

[ a confession under the fireworks... it's sweet. romantic. a moment that should only be shared between those two, not... everyone trapped here to watch through the end.

it makes his heart ache.

kazu holds kumon a little tighter, squeezes his hand back, and reaches for that little bit of hope with him. ]

[9mon]

[There's only so much time... there's only ever so much time. Being here makes it so clear that it's limited. More limited than he thought.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[ mira your ROLLS

Danny stands beside Kumon, hovering worriedly. ]

[9mon]

... I'll be okay...

[Eventually. Not right now.]

[gogoghostpowers]

...you need anything?

[9mon]

[There's a little pause and then he reaches up for Danny's hand.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[ ...yeah. Yeah, of course Kumon can take his hand. Danny gives Kumon's hand a little squeeze. ]

[9mon]

[It's just a little easier to breathe like this. A small smile of thankfulness is directed his way.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[ Danny gives him the tiniest grin back. Everything sucks and there's nothing he can do to stop this public death match, but...at least he can do this. ]

[9mon]

[He hears the word fireworks, and he looks up for just a moment... A ferris wheel and fireworks, and Kumon's hit with a sense of homesickness.

Why does something like this have to end in a fight?]

[gogoghostpowers]

...do you want to watch, while it's still nice?

[ Danny can't tell if that'd be crueler or kinder than continuing to ignore everything.

He squeezes his hand again, because Danny doesn't know what else to do. ]

[9mon]

I dunno.

[Even when it's nice now... it's going to dissolve into violence eventually. He can't tell when the fight will begin, and he doesn't want to see his two remaining roommates battle it out.

He peeks over his knees to watch the fireworks for now. This bit of kindness that Atsushi is giving them. A swell of appreciation for Atsushi, dread, anticipation and stress for what will occur.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[ God. Even with this, this small miniscule thing, Danny can't do anything to fix it.

He sits beside Kumon--falling over on his ass essentially, because there is no elegant or easy way to sit down when both your feet are glued to the ground. ]

How's this: you can watch, and when it starts getting bad, I'll block your view. Maybe even block your ears too, if you want.

[9mon]

[A gentle affection for him, even over all his swirling anxiety.

This battle to the death between friends. The gentle prelude that should be to summer, but instead...]

Thanks... I'll look away.

[Kumon knows himself well enough, that if he had to watch that he wouldn't be able to stay conscious.]