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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[petalbursts]

[ ruby comes up, after seeing this, and holds tight to vax's hand. giving it a firm squeeze. ]

[daggering]

[ squeezing back! there's a quietly warm, familial affection thread underneath the rest of that mess of emotions for ruby, something more reassuring. ]

[petalbursts]

[ she matches that warmth and then tries to multiply it.

hope. even if it's the smallest bit. it's there. ]

[daggering]

[ oh, the fireworks, and a ferris wheel.

... vax huffs, a little, shaking his head. he doesn't say anything, though, some of his messy emotional vibes soothing out into a bit of affection. he glances down at ruby, and nudges his arm against hers. ]

Better than your teacups, huh. [ his voice is low, a little lighter, gentler. trying to go with what it seems like atsushi is trying to create for all of them and their anxiety hell. ]

[petalbursts]

[ she leans into the nudge, squeezing his hand. ]

It is...it's a more peaceful ride.

[ this one is different from the one they have here, so it's vibes are better. and yeah...atsushi is trying to make the vibes calmer, less anxiety.

she smiles, softly. ]

[daggering]

[ for a minute as this is going, vax does pull his gaze away to watch ruby.

he doesn't really say anything, just... looks gentle, for a moment this sort of bittersweet warmth taking over. ]

[daggering]

[ ... .


he sees that little rose pin


nudges ruby's arm. it's bittersweet, but still. ]

[petalbursts]

[ she blinks...

looks at him. then looks away.

she's just relieved to see it coming in handy. ]

[daggering]

[ he just squeezes her hand, and doesn't say anything else, turning back to watch the execution. boy howdy! things are horrible again! ]

[petalbursts]

[ she squeezes back, moving forward...well she can't. she's stuck. ]

No...

[daggering]

[ same!! haha!!! it's getting intense, now - as vin lands for the second time, he squeezes ruby's hand, tight. reassuring, under all those bad vibes. i'm here. ]

[petalbursts]

[ her hand jerks a little, as she makes another attempt to lunge forward. why do they both keep doing this... ]

She can do this...she's strong...

[ vax's reassuring vibes along with her own reassuring words...every bit helps. ]

[chevaliered]

[ well okay he's seeing that rose and his eyes flicker to ruby with just straight up concern. ]

[petalbursts]

[ she's feeling fondness

until atsushi points the gun at vin, then her emotions flicker to immediate fear. ]

[chevaliered]

[ oofa. he's got a spare hand and he's swinging it out to catch hold of ruby's if it's free, and give it a squeeze. ]

[petalbursts]

[ everyone can hold her hand somehow, this is fine.

when vin yells out her breathing stops, hand squeezing crow's.

this hurts. this hurts so much. ]

[chevaliered]

[ there's not really anything he can say -- "it'll be fine!" no it won't. the poor girl's losing either a boyfriend or a girlfriend today.

so he just lets her squeeze his hand as much as she needs to. and he'll squeeze back to remind her there's someone here. ]