Execution for Week 7

[parasomniacs]

Week 7 ‹ Execution ›

Sunday

victims
   

scapegoat

Once everyone has placed their votes in, the trial finally comes to a close. The dream scenery fades from everyone's sight into the oblivion that comes with those sleeping, and the world of the waking materializes in front of everyone as they wake. The tablet beeps obnoxiously with the words urging them all to head to the Ballroom. Once they all gather into the ballroom, the irritating beeping noise stops and the doors close shut behind all of the participants. The room is much more than large enough to fit all the participants, considering so few of them are left, and yet it still feels claustrophobic, perhaps because the robots from Keenan's execution, the lions who executed Nepeta, and the small monsters that executed Leo, are still here.

...Although everyone will notice that Crow is already within the Ballroom before they even entered. Jesus Christ, is he armed?

((Threads contain Trails of Cold Steel endgame spoilers))

Comments

needs more anime!! and spoiler tags??

[nevergraduating]

Then let's see how much you've changed since I saw you last.

[It was so similar and yet so different. A one-on-one match between them without holding back, but with the looming threat of death hanging over their shoulders. A challenge and a demand, but with their positions reversed. It was a distorted parallel to their bouts at home, but this was fine. This was a long time coming here, not only for this secret alone, but also for all the shit that Rean has kept hidden away in his heart that spiralled down into whatever the fuck this ended up being.

What a goddamned mess. But somehow, he's smiling anyways, even if it might not be 100% mirth or... anything. Still... being able to cut loose like this and just fight was satisfying, in a way.

Crow steps away and lets the blow slide off one half of his double saber, flicking it opposite to him in attempt to send the blade flying out of Rean's hands. He'll be ready to bring his guard up at a moment's notice if it doesn't work, though.]

250% anime warning

[valimar]

[ The similarities hadn't gone unnoticed. It hadn't extended to just their bouts either. Because this time he was the one hiding things from his close friend, instead of the other way around. And he was the one challenging him to take the truth from him by force.

In spite all his frenzy Rean only barely sees through the attempt to knock his weapon away, instead hastily taking a quick step back as he moves to bring his guard up in anticipation Crow's next move. He can't remember the last time he felt this way, felt so alive, exchanging blows like this. Because this was his chance to prove their differences once and for all. This was more than a long time coming, and it was only fitting it'd be settled with a duel between two of them.

It was such a damned mess, and Rean knew he was the cause of it. He went into this intending to go down alone, or maybe with someone else, and yet he managed to bring Crow down with him anyway.

But perhaps it was a release too, in a sense. With every strike, every blow, all the unease, all the anxiety, all the fear that's been burdening him soon drift to the back of his mind, as he lets himself get lost in one last fight. ]

so much fucking anime also purple prose because wow

[nevergraduating]

[Spiralling thoughts of everything that had conspired before at home, in this place - it's slipped away in the heat of the moment. This duel, right here and now, was all that mattered. This present, with blades glinting in their relentless dance, was all that mattered. Maybe it was irony that this was the most he'd felt since he'd got here - the pulse of his beating heart, the breath filling his lungs, the tremor through his arms as cold steel met cold steel - all while on the verge of death.

While Rean moves to the defensive, Crow doesn't hesitate to rush forward, intending to thrust his blade underneath Rean's own at the last minute. If the other doesn't step away, he'll use his free hand to turn that movement into a vertical twirl meant to flip the tachi away.

In the back of his mind, he's still aware of all the frustration that had been building up between them that's led up to this moment. And maybe that was another reason they could add to the pile. They needed this catharsis eventually, and by fuck they were going to get it here, if nowhere else.

In their own little world. Just like before.]

[valimar]

[ In their own little world. Some things never change.

This was a chance to see how far he's really come. It's not just because he wants to prove anything to Crow, because this wasn't all about him - it was also about Rean seeing for himself where he really stands in just how far he's really come. How far he's lost his way, because goddess knew he was a goddamned mess. And he wasn't doing anything to fix it; instead, letting it spiral out of control and bringing down not only himself, but the very last person he wanted dragged into this.

It only makes sense that this is how they sort it out. Some friends opt to talk it out, these two opt to challenge each other instead. He expects Crow to step up his assault the moment he falls back to defense. He's ready for it, deftly stepping aside while using the opening to charge in for a thrust. ]

backtagging for more spoilerssss

[nevergraduating]

[They knew each other's moves too well. How many times had they faced off against one another? Ever since the day that shot rang through Erebonia to leave a trail of scorching flames in its wake... no, even before then. There were the days when they had clashed blades within the deep catacombs of Heimdallr and once again in the murky gloom of Sachsen Mine as the seasons progressed through the height of summer to the first embrace of autumn. And as those times had shifted, Crow had been there to watch Class VII grow in both strength and resolve with every single step they took.

And yet, here they were. In contradiction from everything he's seen from Class VII... no, from Rean, here Crow can only see how wrong everything's gone, somehow and somewhere in the brief time that he had been dead. Maybe it was partially because of his own oversight and failure as a friend to address these issues earlier. Maybe it wasn't. But they had the chance to put some of it to rest and he'll be damned if he doesn't take it, here and now.

As Rean makes his own move, Crow takes a sidestep himself, spinning his weapon to help deflect the thrust.]

Is that the best you're going to give me? Come on!

[The moment he's recovered, he'll be back on offense, following up with a barrage of slashes, all aimed towards knocking the tachi out of Rean's hand by pure force. All the while, there's a challenge in his eyes.

'Show me what you've got.']