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

[cw_suicide]

Ha! Falling is what I would like to do so the joke is on them for that quote!

[purrtagonist]

[DAZAI. . .]

In that case, I guess it's better if you stay standing on top of your pedestal.

[cw_suicide]

It's not a very tall one anyway. I'd probably survive a number of falls, unfortunately.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . a small huff]

This may sound weird, but I'm pretty glad you're alive.

[cw_suicide]

[................ literally no one has ever said that before.

he doesn't.

know how to respond to that?]

Really? Why is that?

[purrtagonist]

[. . . HOW COULD NO ONE HAVE EVER SAID THAT TO HIM BEFORE!!]

[he shrugs]

I don't really think you're here, in this kitchen with me, just for that glass of wine.

[Dazai's gone out of his way to talk to Akira, to invite him to stick around during a killing night for a cup of coffee to help calm his nerves. and for that? he's grateful]

[cw_suicide]

[i mean. have you looked at what garbage this guy is?]

... in fact, it was hoping for the bottle and also ice cream.

[how dare you accuse him of altruism.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's friends with Akechi]

[like]

[just saying]

Ah. Of course. The siren's call of frozen dairy was too strong to ignore.

[cw_suicide]

And the alcohol. Seriously.

[he's got maybe one sip left, it's terrible.]

[purrtagonist]

[that's your fault for downing the first glass like a shot!!]

Naturally.

Which, by the way, I'm telling Ichigo I served you a glass so he doesn't give you some, too.

[you're on a strict regimen here, buddy]

[cw_suicide]

[this is why Tsumugi is the favorite.]

Don't bother him with that... he's already got enough on his plate.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . yeah. he can't deny that. Akira's expression softens]

Yeah.

I think this one hit him harder than the last.

[cw_suicide]

That's what happens when a suicide case is selfish enough to beg a good person to end it for them.

[actually. kind of disgusted? but also understands the impulse. but also, this is why he'd never approach any of these kids if he really wanted to punch out.]

[purrtagonist]

[YOOOOO HOLD THE FUCK UP, HE HASN'T HEARD THIS YET]

-- what?

[cw_suicide]

[sighs, stirring his soupy ice cream]

I've already tried to talk Ichigo-kun out of blaming himself for not being able to follow through with the request--mercy kills aren't the sort of thing he's capable of. He's too firm of a believer that people should try to the very end to survive.

So I reminded him that Niles-san willingly took a life knowing the possible consequences of his actions. And I reminded him that while Niles-san died, a number of other people were spared because you guys worked very hard to uncover the true criminal in that moment.

... but it's still going to be a difficult thing for him to get past. And I'm not certain a suicidal person is the best candidate to help him through that.

[reasons for the hand shakes and needing a goddamn drink tho.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira curls his fingers tightly around his spoon, resisting the urge to let more of that anger spill over to the surface. now isn't the time. Dazai isn't the right target. he in no way believes that what happened to Niles was "just." he is in no way happy about the fact that they managed to catch and vote for a killer]

[but his determination leaks through into his next words, firm and unwavering]

Then I'll do it.

[cw_suicide]

[akira-kun what do you think happened to those people who confessed to crimes after you messed with their hearts, tho?]

... mm, that'd be the better option.

[purrtagonist]

[they were tried by the criminal justice system and probably plead guilty to get life in prison instead of the death penalty!! probably. maybe. he actually doesn't know, because he doesn't think about it]

I don't know why Niles killed Sigma. He never told me. And maybe, out of everyone here, I was the one who deserved to know why the least.

[because, you know. tapioca honk. he takes another bite of his ice cream]

But it absolutely isn't fair of him to ask someone else to free him from his guilt before he even sees consequences for it. Not that-- I'm not. . . saying that any of this is justice, because it isn't.

[but!! people trying to escape their guilt!! that's a thing for him]

[cw_suicide]

He was only human, Akira-kun. Humans do very badly with facing their own guilt. That's why he was suicidal to begin with, likely. A person generally doesn't go zero to Kill Me Please over one bad thing.

I don't blame him for wanting to escape the guilt. I do blame him for putting a sense of responsibility on someone's shoulders like that.

[purrtagonist]

[quietly, but firmly]

I blame shitty adults for trying to make others shoulder the burdens of their crimes.

[SO. . . yeah]

[cw_suicide]

[hums almost cheerfully]

You're talking to said shitty adult, for the record.

[so say that thing you said again, I dare you...?]

[purrtagonist]

Uh huh. Real shitty. Feeding me ice cream and taking me aside to talk after each execution.

[SHITTY DOESN NOT EQUAL SHADY]

[cw_suicide]

In order to become a detective, I had my records wiped clean. Didn't serve even a single sentence or pay any kind of retribution for my crimes. You could say I got away with it completely.

Let's see, what was the official record again...

138 conspiracy to murder and murder, 312 acts of blackmail and extortion, and 625 other cases of criminal activity--and that's just on the official government record. It took two years to clear that out, even.

[purrtagonist]

[DAZAI-SAN PLEASE]

. . . and how many of those crimes were a part of an effort to survive mafia life? The life some other shitty adults dragged you into, because they thought you'd be a useful tool?

[taps his spoon against the side of his bowl]

Don't misunderstand me. When I say "retribution," I don't necessarily mean serving out a jail sentence.

Sometimes, true justice is a "change of heart." Sometimes, it's turning your life around and trying to do something good with the time you've got left.

[i.e., being a detective. and helping orphans. HE'S GOT YOUR NUMBER, BUDDY]

[cw_suicide]

[you are SO RUDE.]

Good and bad mean very little to me, for the record. So it's not about that, necessarily.