THE SECOND PROSCRIPTION

[strangerpeople]

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

Most interesting.

[Suddenly, a bright light from above lights up, same as last week, from the bone chandelier. Once more, the light only seems to shine on one individual, as the Elder Steward appears, looking pleased as punch.]


Excellent, excellent. You have condemned The Noodles to die by quite the majority, so certain you were of her guilt!

[There is a long, long pause. Finally, though, the Elder Steward does something unexpected. First, he throws his hood off to reveal--huh. A rather young-looking and handsome figure. Odd.]

But...

[A slow, fanged smile appears on his face, before he turns to Eric, raising a toast with a glass of something that might be red wine-or something else.]

You were wrong. Congratulations, Fast. You have exceeded my and Our Lady's expectations. You have damned an innocent woman to the cruel death you deserve for your crime, and your fellow shall be forced to watch. For this you shall be rewarded protection for that special person, as promised.

Now.

How does it feel to know what you've done, hm?

Comments

cw: literally translated misogynistic AF Spanish cursing

[yonosoymaria]

You shouldn't hang, or - or whatever it is they're planning. Not for me. It was a mistake. There was fire - I didn't know it was him - damn it all, I've -

[With the jerky motion of a puppet badly handled, he turns just enough to face the Elder Steward.]

Kill me instead, you son of a thousand whores!

[icanhearscreams]

[Ushiro’s expression is cold.]

Don’t worry... Princess. As his senior, I’ll take care of it.

[15unknowns]

I'm afraid that won't be possible. You got away with murder.

...

Though, of course, you are free from the...restrictions of everyone else...

[yonosoymaria]

What do you mean, bloodsucker? All of them?

[His eyes narrow, and seem to... go dead, almost.]

Do we count as your Lady's property, sir?

[15unknowns]

Oh, no, you're still expected to carry yourself well. Not destroy anything here.

[And clean up your language, plz.]

I refer, of course, to the restrictions concerning what happens should someone murder you. You are no longer part of that system; you can no longer benefit from it, and should, for example, someone should decide that an unfortunate end should be warranted for you...they will not be punished for it.

[That smile he's wearing is terrifying and dark as he speaks.]

[yonosoymaria]

Good. They have earned the right. I should have said nothing, I should have told him to - I am a son of a bitch, John would call me exactly that.

[There is an unhinged rictus-grin on his face now.]

So. Then. To the matter of my reward.

[15unknowns]

Yes, of course.

[yonosoymaria]

Must I say it in front of everyone, then? It's better if I'm the only target, isn't it, to leave your shield-spell unstressed?

[15unknowns]

Perhaps it is best for you to, ah, spell it out.

[And you all thought the Younger Steward was an asshole.]

[yonosoymaria]

[WELL HEY IF ANYONE HAD ASKED ABOUT VAMPIRES - ]

An invitation, then? Before I'm such a fool, tell me - this isn't the "gift" that bitch calling herself Elizabeth Bartley gave my late fiancee, is it?

[15unknowns]

[a snort]

No. Protection from harm shall be given to someone of your choice, as was stated before. Any other "gifts" you are presuming is foolish speculation otherwise.

[yonosoymaria]

[Of all things, it's a low laugh that leaves Eric's lips first.]

Hardly speculation. Sarcasm, it's the last refuge of the damned. In any case - I've read too many... lived too god-damned many fairy stories not to ask. What are the limitations? I didn't want this - didn't mean to get it - but if I have it, well... John's safe already, I have the whip.

[15unknowns]

There are few limitations. You may choose anyone you wish to be granted protection from any harm that may befall them...save for The Noodles, and those here, of course.

cw: self-harm

[yonosoymaria]

So it's as good as useless, then. God. God, I've... bad enough that it happened, that it was an accident, you add that part after the fact?! Damn you! Damn you and damn this entire damned world!

[He buries his hands in his hair and just as swiftly yanks them back out, tearing at it - not enough to draw significant blood, but enough that there's. Certainly hair that didn't just shed in his hands. He stares at the Steward, eyes wide as a movie-show madman.]

So you can't or won't define harm, then, either? God. Damn it all to hell - it will keep him from getting into trouble now that I won't be there. Fine. Fine, if it's no one here, fine, let my Patroclus be as Achilles should have been, let John Morris be safe.

[necroyalty]

...thank you.

That's what I wanted to know most of all.

Re: cw: literally translated misogynistic AF Spanish cursing

[necroyalty]

I expected far greater things from you.

[yonosoymaria]

You had no reason to believe you were dealing with one fallen to madness. I'm sorry.

[necroyalty]

You would not be the first person in my life to have dashed my hopes in such a manner.

I know not if you were bound by any oaths, Eric, but where I'm from, the gods look cruelly upon those who break them, twist them so that they hurt the very innocents they swore to protect...

The man I thought I loved fell in such a manner only after undeath claimed him. I suppose madness is a bit worse in terms of circumstances.

[notadinosnack]

[Well, he's disappointed, but at the same time he can't say he wasn't tempted at all. But there's a few things that are curious and before they go and kill Eric, maybe they should find out what really happened.]

What do you mean there was fire? Were you defending yourself from him?

[yonosoymaria]

He cast it. I took him for an old enemy and pursued.

[Quincey isn't here. That is not John's father. It isn't. It's Thanatos. Has to be, he took him for Quincey before, and Quincey Morris is twenty years dead - ]

[notadinosnack]

[Well at the very least Thanatos doesn't seem angry or looking like he's out to kill Eric. He just wants to know what happened. If anything, he completely understands the mindset of wanting to do anything to protect those you care about and damn the consequences.]

Can you tell us what happened then?

[yonosoymaria]

I... caught him. When I struck, the body didn't - he didn't - I didn't realize it was him until it was far past too late.

[notadinosnack]

Because he didn't say or do anything to make you think something was off. Well at least you can rest assured that if you try the same with me I'll be grabbing my whip and restraining you. At this point I think all we can do is ensure you will do better and make sure her sacrifice wasn't in vain.

[yonosoymaria]

He fled, I should have known, but...

[He shakes his head, and stops with it bowed.]

I'm astonished there's more than one of you who wants to see me kept alive.

[notadinosnack]

Do you really think it would do us any good to lose another person? It won't change a thing. Maybe it's stupid, but I don't want to see any more people die. I'd already had enough of that before even coming here.