❥ EXECUTION À LA GRAND GUIGNOL (Volume I)

[stalledrevolution]

EXECUTION

ABSOLUTE DESTINY APOCALYPSE

Once the clock strikes six in the evening once more, once the final sign of light dies, every door and window and archway turns to an elevator, and the lights behind you shut off one by one, the darkness a wall pushing you into an elevator (should you need that forceful persuasion), much like how you were herded to meet the Dramaturge for the first time.

The elevators, however, do not take you directly to where you need to be. All Troupe members are released to the very bottom of spiraling stairs that now lead up to the Rose Garden, and the lights continue to shut off behind them, forcing you to make a very tiring trek upward.

DESTINY APOCALYPSE ABSOLUTE

What awaits you at the top is a view of the Rose Garden platform in all its splendor, but not entrance to the Rose Garden itself: around the Rose Garden is the staggered seating reminiscent of a Roman coliseum, separated from the platform by hundreds of feet and otherwise hanging in the air. The Extras populate the highest, furthest seats— the seats nearest to the Rose Garden has been reserved for the Troupe.

As the final Troupe member takes their seat, the spiraling stairs recede, effectively trapping you in your seats.

Not long after, the a hole opens up in the centre of the platform. Out from it emerges an elevator that looks more like a birdcage, and out from this bird cage step four people: your executioner and executionee, and their respective Brides— all dressed for their parts.

Today, the silhouette of the Chapel falls long over the Rose Garden. Church bells once again echo throughout the tower, announcing both a wedding and funeral.

( OOC: Welcome to your execution! The comment section is split into two parts. The actual execution header is solely for the executioner and culprit, while the audience header is for all your reaction needs as that thread unfolds!

Once the execution ends, there will be a mod comment putting a bow on the execution. This will be linked in the announcements channel, so don't feel the need to stay glued to your screen! )

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EXECUTION

[stalledrevolution]

[desmomenos]

[Stepping out onto the platform with Dehya, Louis finds himself glancing over at the surroundings at the field, the audience and the void that separates these parts. It's as surreal as everything else in this place, but he's had time to get used to it by now--and so, his gaze falls upon one other standing here.

Gabimaru--he doesn't know much about him aside from what precious little was revealed in the profiles and the trial, but he knows what they're both here for, in this moment. And as much as this is just another part in this distorted production, this twisted game, he's not in a position to refuse.

As such, he declares:]

I can't afford to fall here when I still have a duty to fulfill. So I'll get back up as many times as it takes, and cut you down.

[Planting his sword into the ground before him, he positions himself in front of Dehya before reaching over and drawing a weapon out of her, which vanishes with a fiery shower of sparks. With his part done, he retrieves his sword and looks back at Gabimaru, taking a stance with his blade but remaining still as he waits.]

[onhallowedground]

[The stands ringing the rosy field give Gabimaru only the slightest pause-- he knew why he was here, but it figures even this would be made into more of a spectacle. The only thing worse than that is the "bride" following at his heels.

It's one more price for getting caught, he thinks, to have APPle be the one he's forced with.

He watches Louis with cold eyes as he declares his challenge and draws his blade. Instinctually, he knows he has to do the same.]

I'm not about to lay down my life. But I'll sacrifice whatever it takes otherwise. My ideals, reason, sense, even my humanity. It'll all burn before I give up!

[With a growl he crosses the distance he was keeping between them rapidly, pulling at the fruity terror's chest for a blade of his own that dissolves into pink-hued flames before retreating. Except for the bandages peeking out of his ceremonial wedding robes, you wouldn't know he was injured before.

Gabimaru's face twists up while retreating, but the audience has no way to know what, exactly, caused the look. It certainly doesn't seem to be the pink fire that continues to spread along his arms and shoulders, wisps falling to slowly light the grass at his feet as well. ]

AUDIENCE

[stalledrevolution]

( The chosen brides may also commentate here! Though they both are stuck on the platform for the time being, through Ikuhara Magic™ they are audible to the audience, and the audience is audible to them. )

[ohrlyeh]

[Lovecraft is not a bride. Sorry to everyone who was hoping squid would find love.]

[He seems to be a little more awake somehow, but as he simply sits here, looking completely impassive towards whatever is happening here.]

This is...a bit much...

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel sits the furthest back possible for the Troupe, center in the row of seating, but still there, gazing down at the arena, and at the rest of them, from behind. He does not wear his usual teacher outfit, but the dark purple robe, edges tattered, hood up, gold stitching and chains glinting in the light.

He is simply silent, waiting, watching, one leg crossed primly over the other at the knee, gloved hands folded in his lap. ]

[impacter]

[He's struggling to keep pace with the stairs even as their way forward is forced, an unsteady gait and a face blossomed with bruises that were definitely not there during trial. But Solomon is here, Solomon is silent, and Solomon is carefully neutral.]

[liliaofthevalley]

[Not a bride but yes here. The stairs give him no trouble, he's a spry little high school student, but he doesn't look terribly impressed as they're gathered for the final "show" of the week.]

[aspirings]

[He's here, of course, practically vibrating as he sits in the seat he picks out.

Still, he's determined to not look away today.]

[heartstringless]

[The hurried pace required to take the stairs does not bother him, but he remains quiet and staid the entire time. Up until the point where he takes a seat, and P murmurs to himself-]

Why does it all have to be such a display…

[gardenful]

[ Aerith is sitting, head bent down and eyes closed, hands clasped together in her lap as if partaking in a moment of silence.

Or maybe it’s prayer, but if it is, it certainly isn’t to the god here. ]

[hjadningavig]

[ Off to the side, somewhere in the darkest spot (impossibiru challenge), Dainsleif watches...whatever he is thinking, ceases to matter.

His attention is on Louis, Dehya, but also Gabimaru. This spectacle that they have all been made a part of, and the main players who are on the stage of this act, heralding this part's curtain call. ]

[burner4ccount]

[You know when you've done a fantastic job tripping and falling on your face, rolled into a ditch, and then painstakingly climbed out -- only for something else to clock you in the face and send you back down again?

Shall we, say, imagine Sisyphus unprepared?

And so it goes: Elan's composed when he finds himself on the seating in midair with the rest of the Troupe, waiting with his usual patience for things to draw to a close. Of course, then he sees who -- plural -- are populating that platform, the too-familiar bed of roses, and sits bolt upright. Tension runs through his shoulders and flashes in his eyes; he looks like he's about to jump off the seats right there, but ultimately--

Ultimately, for now, there are three of them and one of Gabimaru. He stays in place, but only barely.]

[fouettee]

Terrible...just terrible.

[She doesn't want to watch, but even she feels it would be disrespectful to look away. So Annette does so with white-knuckled hands and a bowed head, reluctantly up through her lashes.]

[pomo]

[ Okay. Well.

APPLe finally stops being catatonic and wobbly floats back up and then



ditches his prince and goes zooming over to Dehya with his little bridal veil and dress (please see Juliet's fanart in discord thank you for the visual) ]

[dokudoku]

[ Yugamu is here, although not as excited as you would normally expect of him. He does have his legs crossed and arms folded as he keeps an eye on the arena, but he feels he’d enjoy the bloodshed a lot more if it weren’t for the circumstances.

He’d be doing a disservice if he didn’t pay rapt attention, though. ]

This is overkill, if you ask me.

[laestrella]

[ Don Quixote, even without her powers, has ridiculous stamina. So she cheerfully just keeps prancing up until they reach the top.

The elaborate duel only makes her nod. Something worthy.

And that Louis stabs Gabimaru while headless? A brave, powerful warrior. Well done.]

[ninedrive]

[ And there it is, isn't it? Beneath any vaunted claims of rationality, of civility, this is what it is.

They tear into each other like beasts; why bother with the pretenses, when it seems to make so many so miserable? At least this is honest. Ah, but will he be like the other bloodsucker, once this weakness and hunger has passed? ]

BODY DISPOSAL (Volume I)

[stalledrevolution]

BODY DISPOSAL

❤︎

SEPARATE YOUR TRASH FROM YOUR RECYCLABLES, PLEASE

Gabimaru's body falls, and the impact scatters every flower on the platform, leaving it bare stone. The roses that once grew from the stone fall through the air, now orphaned. The wind carries them through the audience seats, and for the moment, the scent of the world is sweet.

But— where Gabimaru lands is a red, chalk outline: a perfect fit. The exact pose, the same proportion. As if his death had been inked in advance.

You see something more: across the platform are hundreds (thousands?) of chalk outlines. Bodies that have been here before. Past members of the Troupe, their stories cut short.

The church bells chime much louder and longer than before, as if to establish a sort of finality to every death here.

The platform breaks off into two conveyor belts. One conveyor belt returns the remaining, living Troupe to the audience, now back in their uniforms. That conveyor belt recedes. And the other...

Well, first, don't you have a slightly bigger problem on your hands?

1/???

[desmomenos]

[There's certainly more than a couple of revelations with what's happened to Gabimaru's body, and under normal circumstances, Louis would be paying close attention to that however unpleasant the truth may be.

The keywords being: under normal circumstances.

Because getting plopped back down into the audience's seats hasn't changed much of him besides the wardrobe change--the black veins spread over his body only seem to have intensified since and the ominous glow of his visible eye has not subsided. His fangs, stained with blood, are clearly visible now.

If you're close to him, he'll look at you. There is no trace of any humanity left in those eyes, and it looks like he's ready to lunge.]

BODY DISPOSAL (Volume II)

[stalledrevolution]

BODY DISPOSAL

❤︎

THE ROAR OF THE FURNACE

The platform splits and multiplies into endless, criss-crossing conveyor belts, mottled with those red chalk outlines, top to bottom.

Gabimaru's body is among these, conveyed from runway to runway, further down into...

The Infirmary.

The Infirmary exists below the Rose Garden, and it appears this is precisely why: the buildings pull apart and the Infirmary comes undone, roofless and missing most walls. Every bed-slab within the Infirmary slams open, each as if a greedy mouth. Every plaque says Gabimaru's name.

Now bare, you see something about the Infirmary that isn't normally visible: the Infirmary itself is actually an extremely small room encased within a much larger building, with a very, very tall foundation that extends into the depths of the tower. Now, that exterior structure, the shell and basement, have been exposed: the Infirmary is merely a small platform that rests in the heart of a blazing furnace.

The conveyor belts proceed. Gabimaru's body is dropped into a hungry bed-slab, which slams shut. The sound resounds throughout the inverted tower, chilling and tinny.

The back wall stripped, the slab with Gabimaru's body slides out into the inferno below, as if stolen by Hell itself.

And far below,

far, far below,

you sense something deeply profane.

You see in the fire the the six grand, sprawling wings of a seraph, iridescent white like Sika Madu's hair. (And, strangely, the distant sound of rushing water.) Still, you can be certain of one particular: Sika Madu is eternal fuel for this fire, and to think of this as Hell's inferno is probably not so wrong.

❤︎

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The heatwaves beat against your skin, forcing you into a profuse sweat. The heat fills the windowless tower, the air wavering and feeling combustible and dry. The shadow of the chapel covers everything in the tower below it, leaving you in fire and darkness.

Then, in this uneasy, heatstroke of a moment, the nature of the shadow changes: you see spires and towers and points. Looking up, you see the shimmering mirage of a grand, inverted castle eclipsing the view above. For a moment, you become convinced that this is a view of Paradise; this is where eternity lies.

Then it flickers, and disappears. The buildings begin to right themselves. The Rose Garden returns to one piece, and grows over with roses; the Infirmary hoists back into place, and closes up its walls and covers its furnace, which still flickers with flame.

No one will see hide nor hair of Sika Madu until Tuesday, 6 AM. The Backstage poolrooms are open, but they do not lead to her. You can still request PCs as normal, however; they just won't be set until after Sika returns. There will be some other form of NPC interaction in the interim, however— stay tuned!

meanwhile fandaniel decides to be extra

[trollophoroi]

[ ...and as Gabimaru's body is consumed by the flames of their dear Dramaturg, Fandaniel begins to laugh. What else could he do? Of course, he would laugh. He's always laughing, always smiling, and the laughing only grows into an outright deranged cackle before he turns his attention back to those gathered around Louis. ]

And this is what so many of you moral and upstanding individuals would have done to me without a lick of evidence! Beautiful! Simply beautiful!

[ Okay, looks like he decided to hold a grudge about the vote. ]

My, how it would have been! I wonder if they would have told you that you were wrong once I was dead and all burnt up to fuel Father's little game! Oh, but then I'd be gone, and who, who would you blame next time, hmm? Who would be next to die merely to your pathetic disdain?

[fullswingkiss]

[ Yeah, you all go deal with the vampire problems or with the fantasy villain or whatever-the-fuck.

Someone here is as susceptible to the illusion in the sky as He intends, looking upward with a sense of deep longing until the castle is once again obscured.

Forever, far away from everything....

But no, he knows now. Now more than ever. The only thing that He has in store for him is those flames. ]

[physalia]

[If Annette is still within the safe warm softness of tiddy, she will be the most posed to hear or feel a taut, heavier than normal inhalation as the clouds part, as the upside-down tower hangs above them. Others might also hear this, but there's a ruckus, isn't there?

Then, Cantarella stands up and seeks order. They have wounded to attend to and people to return to their rightful place.]

[hjadningavig]

[ Well, it sure isn't like he's seen anything like this before, not at all.

From the beginning to the end - starting with Gabimaru's death, with Louis' own rampage, and the attempted calm.

Anything else begins to fade to nothing in terms of importance once everything starts to truly reach a climax. When he sees it dropped into a fire, when he sees the inferno, and the rest, including the entrapped individual, something else burns in his mind's eye. That only sears like an open flame, when Eternity gazes back into them. Something about it seems uncomfortably familiar.

Thus perhaps is the reason his eyes feel like they burn, and perhaps it is simply a line of sweat that rolls down his face.

But, the pain in his soul is immense. Whyever is it always the divine, is committed to the greatest betrayal? Why is it that even the profane shadows are not even more soothing than the blinding light, but instead bring more pain?

And why is it that humans, and other beings, are never anything ever that can be that which to be believed in? Is it only the self that can be trusted in the end...when even that can betray?

Who and what can be worth faith? ...Is it nothing at all?

With that, Dainsleif turns away, unable to find much strength within himself. He needs time. ]