THE FIRST PROSCRIPTION

[strangerpeople]

THE FIRST PROSCRIPTION
(CW: Coffins, claustrophobia in general, skeleton bones)

My goodness! You are all so fascinating. Your convictions change like the tides, your certainty wavers so easily! So many whiffle-whaffles among you!

[Suddenly, a bright light from above lights up. It's a chandelier...made of human skeleton bones and skulls. Despite all of the candles lighting up, the light only seems to shine on one individual, as the Elder Steward strolls forward.]


I must say, for a moment, it seemed all but certain that you would condemn an innocent woman. If only The Embarrassing kept her mouth shut for a few moments more, hm? Then no one would have noticed the mistake that The Enemy had written upon the evidence list!

[A thoughtful tap to the lips, then-even visible beneath the cowl-a cruel smile as he turns to look at Felicity.]

Though I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise that she was so cruel to a young one while attempting to condemn another using a so-called 'moral high ground'. After all-it's not the first person, much less child, whose life she's ruined with her hypocrisy.

Is it, my dear?

Comments

LAST WORDS

[strangerpeople]

[Well...we would actually be surprised if she didn't have any last words, after that.

Likewise, to the remaining Strangers. Whatever you may have to say to her, it appears the Elder Steward is allowing you all to say your piece.]

EXECUTION. (cw: even more claustrophobia, constriction, backstabbing, terrible puns)

[strangerpeople]

[By now the last words seem to be devolving into just struggling and petty insults. The Younger Steward mutters something to the elder and saunters off looking bored. The Elder Steward gestures at Felicity.]

Well. If there is nothing else to say, let us not delay the inevitable. Shall we, my dear?

[As soon as the execution is declared, all of the Titled except Felicity will find their shackles pulling abruptly back on them - back into the coffins, which immediately close shut, leaving them nothing but a small window to see. They can no longer see each other, but they can definitely see Felicity, whose shackles release. That may be surprising, but then something else happens - the ground begins to shake, and stop. Shake, and stop. Something, something they can't see yet, is stomping its way up to her.

But Felicity can see - something monstrous in the shape of a person but three times the size, and rapidly approaching her with its big stride. It looks like it's made of clay or brick, formed as a huge half-skull without a jaw for the face, with big fat fingers on each of its thick arms. In one hand, it holds an enormous chain, the size of a grown man. In the other, it holds a strange wooden box, with multiple compartments, nearly as large as the chain. Though Felicity runs for it once she sees it, as soon as it's close enough, the behemoth golem flings its chains at Felicity, wrapping her legs together and pins one arm behind her back, yet her other arm manages to noodle its way out. The golem squeezes its chains tighter and tighter, but she can reach the box!

Desperately, Felicity's arm reaches for the compartments, but many of them are locked with strange puzzles. She manages to get one open, but it's empty - yet she can see another possibility. Another try, and another, all of them turn up empty, but she's STUBBORN, and there's one remaining compartment she has yet to try. She pulls on the appendage with all her might, and gasps - it's not empty! She can feel something inside! Felicity pulls it close to her body, excited, until she sees what it is. It's... the scraps of a secret.

It is as Akko said. Nothing she did could possibly erase them.

The golem has been watching her attempts, in the cruel way a monster might torment its food. But now that her hope is extinguished, it tightens its fist at the end of the chain. Suddenly, there's a flash of light....

Instead of a chain, something jagged and bladed has now taken its place. Deep, deep into Felicity's back. It almost looks like... a saw. Which is fitting, because those secrets are now...

The last thing she ever saw.

After Felicity drops to the floor, and the golem removes its weapon, her body explodes into ribbons and dissipates. Only one thing is left behind.

A red egg, just like the ones at dinner.]