First Execution

[lesmodsalouette]

Execution

Ish, your local Witch of Ruin, promised a conclusion to his carnival. So it should come as no surprise that when the clocks strike noon on Sunday, you find yourself magically transported into the Promenade of Reflexion. The hall has been perfectly restored, the glass prismatic and shining, as it was before death befell you. There is only one addition you will find specially for today: a beautiful row of ornamental chairs on the right side of the long hallway. With their handstitched hyperealistic animal patterns, they seem a little too fancy to be meant for actual use, but don't let that stop you from sitting comfortably.

But whether or not you decide to sit or stand, you'll all soon make the same observation. All mirrors, regardless of their position in the room, are reflecting two individuals perfectly. A reflection not of here, but of a grassy field somewhere. The first figure is Chu Wenshan and the second figure is too blurry to make out, though it grows clearer by the second.

Any attempt to leave the Hall or to try to enter the mirrors themselves is fruitless; you are mere observers to this battle to the death. Strangely, the Witch you've come to hate isn't seated with you. Instead, dark and purple snakes encircle the perimeter in his stead.

(( OOC: Welcome to your Execution! The comment section is split into two parts. The actual execution subheader is solely for the executioner and culprit, while the audience subheader is for all your reaction needs as that thread unfolds! ))

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EXECUTION

[lesmodsalouette]

[dumbface]

[ he's not sure what to expect from all of this. the world distorts, changes, and suddenly there's grass beneath his feet. his sole glides across it, grass bending under its touch.

it feels pretty real. just as real as the hard floors of the castle, honestly. should that be more disconcerting?

probably, but unfortunately, he's not all that concerned. they all woke up here when they shouldn't have, anyway. while there's a different quality to it now that they know what the witch is up to, it isn't as if there's ultimately much difference between waking up before and coming to now—the intent was for them to kill each other, they just didn't know that before.

and this is a little more direct than before, he guesses.

eventually, he glances up to look at the other figure. ]

AUDIENCE

[lesmodsalouette]

[remainsilent]

[ He does spare the unusual chairs a look and frowns. He's good with just standing with his arms crossed and eyes trained on the mirrors ]

[allrounder]

[ G’raha chooses to forego sitting in one of the chairs in favor of peering into the mirrors, arms crossed and mouth set into a deep frown. He’s angry that they have to be here, that this is happening at all, but with everything laid out like this… there is nothing he can do.

Being simply an observer is something he can’t stand. ]

[distain]

[Andrew is here, somehow, in a full coverage dressing gown, looking more spry than she has any right to be but sweat-dotted and clad in the rosy flush of someone who's a little overexerted.

She will not be answering questions about yesterday and may actually flat-out ignore you. This is neither the time nor the place.]

Re: AUDIENCE

[perfectpower]

[Well then! He's just going to take a seat. He's not exactly excited about this execution, but he'll become more worried once he realizes what's going on.]

[cleansheets]

[ Though he can't actually fuck off and leave, Angelo is standing by the door, in the stiff body language of someone extremely used to standing at attention.

He doesn't look great, he clearly hasn't slept much at all, but he's preened as expected of him and smells, as always, beautifully of roses. ]

[antline]

[Sariel is slouched in his chair, gangly limbs and all...and his eyebags are more prominent now.]

[He's staring dully at the scene in front of him, though he looks like it pains him to do so.]

[spotsalone]

[ Hickey's never seen anything like a television before, so he takes a moment to inspect the strange reflection, rapping on the glass with his knuckles. Huh. More magic, he assumes, but how odd.

He takes a standing spot near the back of the crowd as the festivities begin. ]

[oncefallen]

[Vanis is here, his usual easy smile replaced with a decidedly more somber expression, his skin somehow even paler than his usual alabaster complexion. Rather than stand, he opts for a seat on one of the chairs and wraps his arms around himself, fingers digging into the loose fabric on his sleeves.

If one looks closely, they may be shaking just slightly.]

[divineth]

[Urianger is another silent observer who is not happy to be here or that this is happening at all.

He gives occasional glances toward Andrew to make sure she's doing okay, but otherwise fixes his gaze on the mirrors with arms crossed.]

[fourtuity]

[ Another silent observer over here. Clover doesn't sit, but she stares at the mirrors, eyes occasionally flickering towards the snakes. The stick in her hands is being held with a white-knuckled grip. ]

[snakeblood]

[ Groggy and hungry as hell because he slept all day after the trial. If any of chairs is particularly creepy he'll take that.

The mirror thing is kind of neat, ngl. But he's too sleepy and has a headache for excitement. ]

[antemeridian]

[ oh. so he does want them all to stay put and watch it, then. Homura is a silent observer, but her expression is so schooled and blank nothing of her thoughts makes it through. her posture is prim, her hands clasped neatly in front of her.

certainly, she does not appear to be shaken by the proceedings, but...

(why was it, that Ish encouraged them to get along at first? was it only for his own entertainment? because it is fun to watch good feelings, tentative trust and teamwork give way to betrayal?

or...) ]

[safetycheck]

[ Lili should be a quiet observer, given the vibes right now – she's not going to be loud about it, but she will make a comment when she sees her roommate take the stage with the guilty. Her eyes narrow and flicker towards where Ish probably should be. ]

Coward.

[siffriend]

[ ...

Everyone's so quiet... But it isn't as if Siffrin's much of a talker in the first place anyway, the other night (morning?) an anomaly as their suitemates can attest. They hadn't really listened to The Witch the first time he'd appeared, but slowly over the days after they'd come to understand it. All rituals needed something. Wishes did, prayers did -- it's part of magic. Sacrifice isn't unusual, really...

... but people isn't right, by most standards.

(It'd be fine if it were you, but only if you could come back like normal.

You don't know if you can. If your Crafts don't work, then... that curse, or whatever it is, doesn't either; it was just the world that looped, and you were trapped outside is as much as they're trapped within.

Still. If you had to do it to break the loop, would you?) ]

[thesharpestroy]

[Shiv wishes she had something with a bit more bite that she could say, another barb indicating how Ish could go fuck himself.

But she can’t pretend to be unbothered. She’s being forced to watch a public execution. All she can do is fold her arms and try not to look too long.]

[smdr]

Really getting tired of the magic-y "you gotta be here" teleportation.

[ but fine! she'll sit down. execution. she'll watch it, with two conclusions. one: even she's not that messed up. and, two:

... well, don't need to think too much about that one. ]

[ocenon]

[ Richard's staying pretty close to Ayaka's side, wherever she decides on sitting in case something was to happen, but otherwise his gaze is firmly locked on Chu Wenshan and Hwylyrn. The interest he's exuding is pretty clear on his expression, even if he's a bit disappointed. ]

It's a shame it's only an image of what's happening.

[ With all that they did, it sort of feels wrong that they're a disconnected spectator to this. ]

[diel]

[ yoru sinks into his chair when the blurry figure becomes hwylryn, as though gone were the tears hwy had shed, leaving behind a crystal clear vision sharpened into something that could take a life. ]

... Hwylryn?

[ in a way, he understands. after all they had talked about, after all hwy has lost. but is this kindness? cruelty, he knows, can be warm, too.

fear trembles in him. he's scared for hwylryn. for his life. for his heart. ]

If - if he's not okay after this... [ he shakes himself, clasping his hands together to hold onto - something. ] But he will be. He will.

[the_obedient_servant]

[Chara sits and watches quietly, apparently blind to the emotional responses of everyone else. Their expression is flat and unemotional, unphased by the horrific nature of the game itself.

This is how it is. How it always plays out.]

[simulacres]

[ ayaka is...here. she's close to richard, but she looks fairly composed as she looks at the mirrors. it's only appropriate, she thinks, after basically condemning the man to murder.

her arms are crossed against her chest, not really sure what to do other than watch. ]

[thesharpestroy]

[Welcome to the “women crossing their arms in discomfort” club.]

EXECUTION END

[calamitish]

[ the meadow fades and not too long after, a certain purple haired witch and dragon (no longer in actual dragon form, no qte for you all today), pop out in the middle of the hall. ]

Ahhhh, what kind of somber mood is this?

[ a reasonable mood for a group of hostages who were just forced to watch a dragon eat someone whole, but it's not like ish really cares about that. ]

See, this is why I need to do things this way. Well, regardless—good job everyone! You've fulfilled another week of murdering one another, and I'm one step closer to my goal. We're all honoring our commmitments, and it's been a pleasure working with you.

Let's do this again.

[ does some of this sound weird? off? ish is more than a little twisted and strange to put it mildly, so maybe it doesn't ring as too odd, but-

regardless of what you think of his words, with a flourished bow, he leaves the hall, unlocking the doors as he does. ish won't be found anywhere for the rest of the day or night, no matter how much you shout obscenities at him or vandalize the grotto. ]

[coldseep]

(

Guess who wasn't told this was being livestreamed...

Hwylryn reappears with Ish, eyes slightly widening once he sees everyone just...? here...?

... He chews the last of ~whatever~ he was chewing, and swallows.

He seems a little like someone who was going to like, scurry off and go have a cry over stuff, but now he's taken up a sort of deer in headlights look because there's just... everyone here... )

🔮

[lesmodsalouette]

[ shortly after the execution, when you've had enough time to shuffle to your suites, get a breath of fresh air, or otherwise try to sort out what you've just seen, something changes.

not in the atmosphere or in the castle itself, but with you. a warm golden glow encompasses you from head to toe. it's probably alarming, but the sensation isn't unpleasant.

what is unpleasant is the sharp twinge of pain in your head that follows a second behind. nonsensical words stream in your ear, and for a moment you might feel like you're sitting down in an overly plush chair talking to someone. ]

"You're the winner of a 'Get Anything Coupon'. What are you redeeming it for? [ do you even know what a coupon is? it seems you do. not the you here now, but the you in your mind's eye. you answer-

■■■■

the next thing you can hear is another question. ]

"So, tell me a fun fact about you!"

[ you answer, and then the person next to you answers, and the person after them and after them—the worlds filter through:

■ likes to drive at high speeds
■ is the daughter of a general
■ does not have a birthday
■ has never set foot on a planet before
■ received an all expenses paid trip to the USA
■ likes to drive at high speeds
■ has been one of the world saving wizards for 90 years
■ the youngest knight captain
■ peaked at 25 years old
■ accidentally used flowers in a baking recipe
■ holds an international drivers license
■ is not Irish
■ drinks Himeko's coffee to help hone his mind and train his stomach
■ rose to fame as a dancer at the age of 16, quit dancing professionally a few years later.
■ Attended Catholic school in Tokyo before transferring to Mitakihara Middle School following an extended hospitalization.
■ Had a twin brother and a dear friend
■ can stuff enough food in her mouth to rival a Noxian warship
■ does not understand what would qualify as being fun
■ was able to find the scabbard of the legendary sword Excalibur while on a quest to find anything to do with King Arthur.
■ can crush someone's head like a chicken egg with his bare hand.
■ nursed a wounded giant fire-breathing shark named Old Bruce back to health and rode him into a battle against a tornado made of flying sharks
■ utterly devastated when a medical check-up revealed he had shrunk 2 mm.
■ finds fishing relaxing but hasn't caught anything
■ the youngest of business titan Logan Roy’s four children and his only daughter.
■ created a prototype power suit out of a Bonta-kun costume.
■ earned the title of Archon for his accomplishments in the field of prophecy
■ fell from heaven entirely of his own volition.
■ was once a knight.
■ household runs a funeral home
■ wears five rings but is not opposed to adding more

the interviewer thanks all of you and then moves onto the next question—

you're back in the present, wherever you were. the golden glow fades. ]

[vivens]

[ well.... wasn't that something?

here stands sabo in an determined location but with a gold card in hand, a tarot card. maybe someone might have noticed it during the circus show what was hours ago and not days. a lot was happening so it's fine if it went unnoticed. a lot is still happening and it's easy to miss things. that was his plan, after all. ...except this didn't entirely go the way he thought it would.

so, well, maybe it should be better said that he was at this undetermined location because once the interview is done and they're back in the present, sabo's gone again.

where did he go? who knows. ]