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chroma2022-03-20 11:42 am
saturations) wrote in chroma2022-03-20 11:42 am
Entry tags:
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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his own emotions are mostly quiet focus. a little concern mixed in, at that anxiety and grief coming from vax. but he's maintaining something steady, at the least, in hopes that'll help.]
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though he hasn't moved much, beyond laughing at garou doing his best and trying not to lose his shit externally, vax's fingers tighten into fists at his sides, as they walk in. it's the wariness in vin's voice that he recognizes, and it's just heartbreaking.
quietly, under the mess of all that emotional nightmarish grief, there's a little solemn solidarity, too - ] ...She'll get it done.
[ almost under his breath, quietly, and much more to atsushi and vin: ] ... don't take too long.
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but he doesn't say anything aloud. he's close enough to lean against, but doesn't reach out himself yet.]
I shall trust your assessment, then.
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[ whatever that might be.
...vax watches the fireworks as they spring up into the air - new flashes of bright color, lights and warmth. watches vin, the most, though his eyes flick to atsushi, too, that swell of melancholy sadness and warmth all at once just utterly bittersweet. nostalgic, in some of the worst ways.
...
he shifts a little, and leans his shoulder into emet's arm, and just watches. ]
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he supposes something like this throws that into stark relief, doesn't it? his own emotions are a little muted, he's busy tamping them down a bit for vax's sake and trying not to think is this really the time to say such things. he's not sure if voicing something like that now is actually a kindness. if any of this is one. he has a suspicion that when the inevitable comes, it will be all the worse.
vax leans into him, and he lets it happen, a hand on his shoulder.]
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the hand on his shoulder means emet gets to feel it when he gasps, a short, sharp inhale through his nose, as vin dodges the bullet. he's got faith in vin's skills as a fighter, and her abilities in general, and he knew this was going to end up happening from having been in her shoes before.
those sweet, bitter positives (and the faintest sense of appreciation and warm, there and gone again) get wrapped up in a swoosh of fear as vax half attempts to step forward, knowing he can't and realizing it just a second too late, then exhaling, again, loudly. ]
Fuck. [ fuck. lower: ] Come on, Sneaky. Come on.
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[just a quiet reminder.
and okay, maybe that arm settles around his shoulders after vax tries and fails to move. he's focused, again, as he watches this truly begin.]
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not at the arm but actually at vin. his emotions, topsy turvy, swoop back towards resolve and - well, pride, again, too. warmth. he's trying to project it outwards over the unhappiness, like maybe it'll get to vin. have faith. he has faith. ] 's my girl.
[ dagger dagger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ]
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Evidently so.
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he knows vin can take a hit, too - they are cut from the same cloth in many ways besides daggers - but when the firework goes off, he can't help it, starting to try and lunge forward again. ] Vin!
[ as the emotional vibes dip back into fear and anxiety and frustration, too, that he's fucking stick here. he knows she can do it, he knows she can pull this off, but he doesn't want to stand here and fucking watch her in pain, either, powerless to do anything. the relief is there, shaky, when she lands, but it's small. come on. get up, get up, get up. ]
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this isn't you.
what a horrible sense of deja vu. the emotions get worse - fear and adrenaline, but misery and pain, too, like a weight. he's almost vibrating when atsushi lands next to her, now. (didn't he do that too? try to avoid hurting percy, until it was too late? desperately trying to hold on, like maybe - like maybe he'd snap out of it?) ]
End it, V. Come on - come on, he's suffering. [ almost a whisper, now, strained, especially when the dagger strikes its target and knocks the gun free. ] You can do it.
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there's a brief little glow of orange as he quietly presses something small into one of vax's hands.]
...this will be as it should.
[ok actually with that update he's just. holding that hand, actually, so they both get those calming vibes.]
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the phrase gets him to stop, as that horribly monstrous feeling rises up in his chest - he thinks about orthax, at first, head whipping to percy in fear and violent concern, but.
... as the little orange object touches his palm, the waves of calm wash over him, and he lets the words, too. as it should.
he inhales. squeezes emet's hand, and ruby's, hard.
and as he focuses on the scene in front of them, eyes back on vin, he thinks for not the first time how fucked up fate can be, and feels the ache of bone deep, crushing sorrow... and the tiniest, basal hint of relief, as he rolls his shoulders back and exhales.
... it won't last for long, though. not until it's over. not until vin comes out, and not until they're all released, the anxiety coalescing lowly as he smooths his expression into something maybe? resembling impassive. it fails, entirely, but he's at least composed. ]