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

[hexposition]

[Emma's totally been here the whole time, what are you talking about?

There aren't really words for what she's feeling right now, none that she can put her finger on, but does it matter?

She can mourn later, wail into her pillow and hate herself and everything else for how all of this has turned out.

For now...

Jun's dashing forward, but Emma's taller, able to close the distance between the two of them faster than Jun can close the distance between himself and Eric. She throws her arms around his middle, hugging him from behind with all her strength to hold him back.]

No! Don't you dare lower yourself to his level!

[icanhearscreams]

[He freezes, eyes wide. No one's... ever touched him like this before. He's not sure what to do.]

[He can hear the high voice, practically feel the pigtails digging into his back. But...]

He's an enemy combatant. He's already destroyed someone's world. Do you want him to destroy more?

[hexposition]

Of course I don't!

[She's not letting him go, though.]

That doesn't mean we have to be the ones to take him out.

[She drops her head down beside Jun's ear so she can whisper, and he'll be able to hear how her voice is shaking, feel a couple of her tears hit his shoulder.]

We can be the ones to make him suffer. But we don't have to give them exactly what they want to see.

[icanhearscreams]

... I already killed so many people. What's one more?

[... Shit, she's crying. What did Machi scold him about that one time? He lowers his hand to be over one of hers and squeezes it gently, trying to breathe.]

[hexposition]

[She just holds him tighter, keeping her voice low so the others don't hear her.]

That was to protect, not out of blind revenge.

[And she hates to do this, but she has to.]

Is this what Kana would want?

[icanhearscreams]

[Is this what Kana would want?]

[His body freezes up again, and he lets out a sob. Tears hit his glasses and then the floor, and his body goes totally limp.]

[hexposition]

[Well. She's won, but at what cost...?

She's just going to drag Jun back, away from Eric. Eric had better believe she's going to keep her eyes locked on him the whole time, though, glaring daggers.

He'd better hope this was worth it.]