Day 7 Execution: Pincushion for the Pushin'

[pandatrash]

[The tablets fire up first thing in the morning with some lovely lounge music to set the mood:]



RESULTS:

Niles: 18
Corrin: 4
Hiyori: 2
Maki: 1
Lux: 1
Erika: 1

[The raccoons are waiting in the auditorium, dressed as precious little cupids, which is to say they have plastic wings and underwear (bloomers and boxers respectively) on, though admittedly their choices of "cupid's arrows" is a little suspect.]



CONGRATULATIONS MURDERFIENDS! YOU CHOSE RIGHT!

((Last words
Execution))

Comments

[locktouching]

[Gripping a bow and arrow. Who let the killer have his weapons back?]

[Well he just looks deeply depressed, in any case, hanging his head down. But he might look up if someone actually approaches the stage.]

...Just hurry up and kill me.

[chosemyfate]

...

[He didn't want to believe it the past day. He didn't want to believe it even right now, when it was confirmed right before his eyes. ]

Niles. ...Why?

[locktouching]

......

I told you... killing innocent people for my own selfish survival... doing anything, degrading myself, is nothing new to me. I've been doing it ever since I was a child, trapped in the slums of Nohr...

But I can't stand it anymore... I'm tired of being dirtied, and struggling to live. Of being let down by people I half-trusted, like you. And Lord Leo... he ordered me to kill someone here... but he had to have known I had no chance. The raccoons obviously wanted me caught.

I'm... I'm alone again, and I can't take it anymore.

[Lowers his head again and puts his hand over his eye.]

[chosemyfate]

...

I'm truly sorry, Niles. I'm sorry you're tired, as well. I truly didn't understand the suffering you had gone through when I thought I did.

More than anything, you deserve peace. [He wants to reach for him but... probably not a good idea.]

[Alone...?] ...No matter what you think of me now, I just want to know you are very much loved by people and will still be.

[locktouching]

[Yeah he doesn't want to be touched. But he wraps his arms around himself, shrinking his profile.]

I can't believe any of that.

[Slowly, he looks back up at Corrin.]

...Still... I wanted to try asking you something...

[Breathes deeply before he continues.]

It's too late for me... I threw away any chance I had... but... would you believe that a damaged person could have a future?

[loveandwillpower]

You really did it?

And I actually thought you were cool!

[locktouching]

You thought too much of me. I've been filthy inside and out since I was a child.

[loveandwillpower]

...I still voted for you. But I figured you were covering for your Prince over there.

[ One of those romantic, noble sorts of grand gestures. But nope, he just killed a guy for a reward. ]

[locktouching]

Yes, I'm a terribly wicked and selfish creature. Why not run off before I penetrate you with this arrow? [Waves it between his fingers.]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . it's kind of a bittersweet feeling. . . for a moment, Akira is quiet, eyes closed, before he shakes his head and lifts his chin]

Hey!

[raising his voice as he trots towards the stage, hands curled into fists at his sides]

Why'd you do it?

[locktouching]

[Niles gives Akira an exhausted look.]

You think you're entitled to know?

[He lifts the bow and arrow, pointing it directly at him.]

Shall I ram a thick arrow shaft into you before I go?

[purrtagonist]

[stares right at him, unwavering, unflinching even in the face of that arrow. he is either very brave, or very reckless. maybe both]

Maybe I'm not.

But Sigma sure as hell is-- and Corrin, too.

[eternalballad]

[ Caius tilted his head over in the man's direction. He doesn't have much to say; they've never shared words. Yet, one idle query still remains.

He decides to give it a voice. ]

Do you believe it was worth it, Niles?

[locktouching]

...

The way I grew up... when your survival is threatened every day, you do what you can to keep your wretched life going... and you don't hesitate, no matter who gets hurt, or how much you risk hurting yourself.

...It's never really "worth it". I'm not worth anything.

[suppressthedark]

[Ah...

This was what he expected, but it doesn't make it any easier to watch. Still, Ichigo approaches the stage, sympathy in his eyes.

He's not going to ask why Niles killed Sigma, so instead...]

...I told Sigma and Santa that, if they're willing to wait until I get my powers, that I'd send them off away from here.

I'll do the same for you, Niles. And I hope...that you'll find a little peace, even here.

[locktouching]

[Ichigo's words don't make sense to him, so he doesn't really react. He just unfastens his cloak and drops it to the edge of the stage, and looks to the raccoons.]

Peace is the last thing I deserve. Maybe I'll get to suffer for awhile.

[suppressthedark]

[Ichigo just...stays silent for a moment.]

Even if you do, I still hope you'll find it.

[ecthelion]

[Ein won't miss this chance. If someone else he'd never talked to is going to die.]

I don't know why you would have done this, and I... I don't think I want to know.

I believed that none of us could have done it, and I still want to.

Whatever your reason is, I don't...

[He trails off.]

I don't think you would have done this if we weren't here.

[locktouching]

Sorry to disappoint, but I have been... I've been killing people for the sake of my own worthless life ever since I was a child, and few of them deserved to die.

[Grips the bow tightly.]

...But... in the past few years... things were different.

[cluelesscavewoman]

[She still doesn't know what was happening, with all the arguing... This is why she only followed orders. It was a lot easier not having to make decisions. Decisions weren't her strong point.

She has nothing to say though. So she just bows at the waist.

...This place is confusing.]

[locktouching]

[Niles looks sort of embarrassed to be getting a bow. He rubs the side of his head awkwardly.]

Ah...

[cluelesscavewoman]

Jud? [She looks up and tilts her head.]

...I apologize for not sharing my fish with you.

[It would have been a nicer final meal than the omelette.]

[piertotumlocomotor]

[They got it correctly. Well that's better than having gotten it wrong, but McGonagall is not in celebratory mood, that's for sure]

I am sorry this is how your life ends. Despite your actions, you do not deserve anything our captors have prepared for you.

[locktouching]

On the contrary, I deserve fantastic suffering. I hope it happens soon.

[piertotumlocomotor]

Do you truly believe that?

[That sounds rather sad, Niles]