WEEK FIVE: 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, Roxana and Clarte alone will begin to walk through as though drawn. All you can do now is watch and wait.

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EXECUTION

[saturations]

[disingenuous]

[ Roxana does not resist the pull into the archway. She walks in as she was meant to do this, head held high, as if she isn't reaping the consequences of the actions she sowed. Her hair is pulled back with a small hair pin nestled where the braids meet. A flower crown rests on top of her head.

You will see the blood when someone dies.

She looks up at Clarte with a faint smile, as she adjusts her grip on the paintball gun, her finger already on the trigger. ]

You may be making me uncomfortable today.

[ And before waiting for an answer, she starts shooting at the area around them to build (jan voice) a nice and peaceful place to symbolize the life neither of them had. ]

[georeject]

["i certainly hope you aren't sizing me up in the hypothetical scenario that we end up fighting for real."

"what kind of person do you take me for?"

"someone intelligent and cautious."

"i won't pretend to be otherwise."

funny how fate has worked out this week. they killed an illusion of garou, only for him to end up dead for real; words from long ago echo now, painfully true.

clarte walks in, steady, not resisting any more than roxana does. part of their wing is still torn, but any bandages are gone from their face—and they meet roxana in the eye.]

I probably will.

[when she shoots at the area around them—not at them, not just yet—they take the moment to glance at the gun. the object feels unfamiliar in their hands, however familiar they are with the idea of how to wield one, and what this one does. their heart is calm. still, they do not feel anger or hatred towards roxana, with whom it's like looking in a mirror.

they gaze up at her, before raising the gun. even now, they all feel is heartbreak. for those who have been lost, and for this woman they consider to be a friend.

"i just want a better time for you, in this life of yours."]

... We both wished for a better life for each other, but I suppose that's one miracle that I can't grant you. I'm sorry, Roxana.

PEANUT GALLERY

[saturations]

[ Everyone, your feet are frozen for the time being. You can talk and hold hands or whatnot. This includes your Residents, who seem to be present this time. ]

A THING

[saturations]

[ as you watch this, you feel your insides start to twist in pain ... not that it's anything you're unused to. that feeling of being eaten alive, corroded away from the inside out. you feel weaker, faint. breathing is a concentrated effort you have to make, and sometimes it sticks in your throat, and bubbles up with blood in your mouth. ]

[countermeasures]

[


ISN'T CLARTE BLIND? anyway, jiuqing looks tense, her hands clenched into fists.]

[petalbursts]

[ bends space.

ruby puts her hand on her shoulder. ]

[nightchild]

[Itsuki is tense as Clarte walks in, but the moment they meet Roxana's eyes, he exhales,]

...That's a good sign, right?

[doctor sjq what's your diagnosis,

jan, later: actually clarte can only see vague shapes]

[decisions]

[ percy just looks worried as clarte enters the arch, his arms folded tightly. ]

Damn it, Clarte... [ clearly unhappy ]

[daggering]

[ color vax not surprised, standing next to percy with his arms folded, expression stoic. his wings come out a little out behind him, one framing percy, but otherwise he settles there. ]

... Figures.

[petalbursts]

After everything they've been through...

[ deposits ruby next to him. ]

[pura]

...

Are they still blind?

[Her stress levels just went through the roof, thank you.]

[fleshedout]

They said they were going to use the medbay...

[BIRD BETTER NOT BE BLIND]

[allomantic]

Even they wouldn't be that reckless...

[fleshedout]

No-!

[Yeah, someone is not happy about all of this. She has a strange raised wooden pattern on her arms and neck today, sparing her face, but it seems to be spreading as she stares at this, eyes wide.]

Clarte-! Ugh! It should have been-!

[It should have been me.]

[brotograph]

[ hey gurl hey want some company ]

[dms]

[ hottie :(

he reaches for her hand. ]

[petalbursts]

[ OUR CLARTE. OUR BLIND BIRD.

ruby looks so worried...her hair turning all black. hand clenched into a fist. ]

[dms]

[ well. kazu will be vibing with kumon as usual even though mira isn't here, paint dripping in shades of green. ]

They said they'd get healed first, at least...

[chevaliered]

[ do you ever think about how you accuse a friend(??) of murder while you're being suspected of murder and then you're right and lots of people vote for her and now she's gonna 1 v 1 your blind friend behind the prism costco?

crow does.


anyway he's just here, vibing. the vibes are rancid, and there's purple spiking in angry lines up his arms and under his bandages and creeping over the sides of his face like vines. ]

[allomantic]

[oh this is hateful

she's watching them both go in, tense. clarte your eyes.]

[highrisk]

[ bad, hate it, etc???? im awake ]

[experimint]

[ oh.

oh no this sucks actually.

anyway she's just standing here like usual. ]

[nightchild]

[Itsuki's still pretty covered up, no slutty kimono thigh or collarbone here today. from time to time a flower bud or two peeks over his collar, as his gaze darts from Clarte to Roxana (who i hope are looking very sexy bc i need the serotonin)

he'll probably be near the swords but he'll reach out to hold handsies with anyone]

[aitou]

[POTATO SWORD IS HERE... he looks exhausted, with his eyes raw and his hair down out of its ponytail, still bandaged and slightly favoring one leg. Still, he stands and waits quietly anyway, gaze fixed forward.

His hair, hands and arms are all a deep, deep gradient of blue, with little flickers of light scattered across his skin like stars. They give a nervous sort of flicker as Clarte joins Roxana, but he stays quiet, just watching.]