chroma | WEEK FOUR: EXECUTION

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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[She's watching, her face...surprisingly emotional, crushed. For someone who usually stands her ground, she's no longer a steel wall of emotion like before.]

I knew it.

[The vibes are absolutely sorrowful and heartsick, here, mixed with anxiety, a seemingly new emotion for Hot Pants, thrumming under the surface. To see these two fight....its devastating.]

[she's standing close to her - yes, she deliberately wandered over to get stuck here - and when hot pants speaks, jiuqing touches the amber stone on her hairpin and projects calm vibes to try and help ease some of those bad vibes in her.]

[The calm vibes are a bit of a surprise, and she glances...and, ah. Now she knows.]

[After a moment, she reaches out a hand to touch her shoulder, gratitude wafting through the sorrow, but also overwhelmed.]

[she stays there (not that she could leave even if she wanted to since they're stuck - but she doesn't try to shrug hot pants's hand off her shoulder, either).

there may not be anything she can do to affect the outcome of the combat, aside from hope that it turns out the way it did for percy and vax last week - but she can at least try to help people stay calm while they watch.

so, that's what she's here to do.]

[She's a good doctor. That's what she should do, Hot Pants thinks.]

[All she can do is watch, though. Watch, and see what happens.]

[They're helpless, here.]

[watch and wait.

it's frustrating not to be able to do more than that, but when she catches herself feeling it, she takes a breath and composes herself.

calm. just be calm.]

[me seeing hot pants getting Smad in other threads but not wanting to threadjack you so here i am again

anyway, jiuqing pulls her hairpin out of hair and presses it into hot pants's hand so that she'll get the calming vibes from it directly. shhh.]

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[...

Lightly, she touches the back of her hand. Nogiku's emotions are honestly a terrible mess right now. But despite that, she tries to project some sense of strength — for both of them.]

...

[The touch draws her glance, and then she moves, slightly, to open her hand. Offering to hold, as if she's not the one out of the two who needs it right now.]

[She looks down at her open hand, and after a brief second of consideration — she wordlessly takes it. She won't let go until Hot Pants has decided she's had enough.]

[Time to hold hands. It stabilizes Hot Pants slightly, and with Su's calming effects, it gives her something to focus on.]

...Thank you.

I'm not... really doing anything.

[But she squeezes her hand, gentle.]

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[ Just peers to see if she's doing better (physically, not emotionally, never emotionally) today. ]

[Yeah, emotionally is just. Look at this pot full of bees. Great.]

[Physically, though, she looks much better! No bandages at all, today. Even her finger is moving the way it should.]

[ Nods. Good. She'll be okay.

Again, physically. Emotionally? Who's to say. ]

[ There is a swirl of worry, uneasiness before it's washed away by her usual calm.

Her tone is very gentle: ]

... Hot Pants.

...Roxana.

[Is the level reply, though her emotions are nowhere near that. She glances over, giving her a nod. Trying to be strong.]

[ Hot Pants, you are crying in your other threads.

There is steady thrum of concern. Is Hot Pants staying strong? ]

... I can't say everything will be all right.

[ Especially as Atsushi confesses and what Vin says in return. ]

But I hope they don't feel alone.

[ Even as they prepare to fight to the death. ]

[Let a lady cry, she's a complicated female character(TM).]

[She doesn't say anything, but at this point, with the confession, and then the sudden attack, she's watching it all with a sudden renewed fury under the surface. Not at them. Its directed everywhere, as if she could somehow tear the Prism by herself, if there was a way.]

They shouldn't have to. None of this should be happening.

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[There's that same flicker of emotion from the day before as he looks over toward Hot Pants, but he'll reach out a second later to lightly tap her arm, stretching from where he stands. He's quiet.]

...

[She looks over at him, gratefulness peeking through the restless blanket of emotion.]

Kashuu.

[A little nod; a projection of something meant to be comforting.]

One step at a time, right?

Right.

[The fireworks, though, make her feel a new wave of sorrow. This beautiful sight, and knowing what it will lead to...]

[Her eyes are watering.]

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[ over by kumon, but sends her some concerned but calming vibes. ]

[She shoots a grateful look back, with an emotion that isn't quite easy to parse. She nods.]