WEEK THREE: REMOVAL

[retellers]

WEEK THREE: REMOVAL (32 remain) Time to wake up, participants of the Realm. At 8am, everyone will receive a message on their PHS. go to the savanna at 9. yes we checked for scalpels and/or other stabby items. Even if the participants ignore the message (or are sleeping in, shame on them), as 9am approaches they will fall victim to a compulsion to head to the specified location. Three Leaders, Swan, Goat, and Tiger, are already present, Emet-Selch with them. Goat speaks. "... It is time. May peace come quickly." Once they finish speaking, an alert goes off from a PHS in the crowd—specifically, Hansa's. Their PHS displays a simple message. You have ̶been select͘ed͞. Regardless of their will, they will feel compelled to walk towards the scene. No other participant will be able to interfere; should they try, a barrier blocks their way.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

EXECUTION

[retellers]

[ Once Hansa has been selected, Emet-Selch will move against his will towards the open plains of the savanna, before he stops near the edge of a low cliff, a gorge below. Hansa will be made to move as well, until he stands in front of Emet-Selch.

The fall from here isn't too bad, actually... but a herd of wildebeest can be seen in the distance. ]

[robopriest]

[Hansa's face is...neutral. Blank.]

[His work constantly involves the death of others at his hand. Vampires, heretical beings, demons. What is another? And yet...this isn't a demon or a vampire or someone who really, truly deserves it, not for simply defending himself.]

[Hansa stares out at the wildebeast herd, before he fixes his gaze entirely on Emet-Selch.]

Before we begin...

[And his mouth twitches. He has to pause, gather himself. His voice is quiet. Why...him? Why this? Why...any of this? Why...? Why?]

Is there...anything you want to say, Emet-Selch?

[arkitect]

[Where Hansa is blank, quiet... Emet-Selch seems fine, actually. Gone is the bitter quiet he'd held onto last night, and he holds himself tall enough (save for the eternal slouch in his posture.) There's no hesitation in his steps, and while they're slow, they are deliberate.

As Hansa asks if there's anything he would like to say, though, he gives him a small nod before turning to everyone gathered, corners of his mouth turned up in a smile that has no good humor in it.]

'Twould be remiss of me not to offer something, ere I depart... ah, perhaps a few words of congratulations?

[His gaze travels over the crowd, there.]

Ah- but not to all of you.

[he opens his arms wide, there, that unpleasant smile growing slightly wider along with it.]

My sincerest congratulations to our dear decapitator! Why, here I was half-convinced that the outpouring of horror at your methods really would stir this gathering of truth-seeking souls to pursue their vaunted justice. 'Tis being correct that matters most, after all... well, but we had that anyway, didn't we? You all really must thank those who were so intent on determining who could possibly have killed another man to save their own life. Without that hard work, straight through to the very end of the time we were given, who knows where you would be?

...In a better position than we are now, perhaps, but that is neither here nor there.

[robopriest]

...

[He has every right to say what he says. Hansa just keeps his gaze on Emet-Selch, the harsh words hanging in the air. None of this went the way they wanted. Sure, they got the right answer, but....for what? Just for the sake of being right? Because they couldn't work hard enough? Because they wanted the easy answer? It just feels...ugly.]

Indeed.

[Is all he says, nodding as the man keeps talking. These are his last moments before being executed.]

[He can use them all he wants.]

[arkitect]

[He spares a glance to Hansa, there, as he speaks-- but when he just says what he says, Emet-Selch takes that as the permission it is. He's not entirely finished.]

As I will not be here to assist, allow me to offer you a word or two of advice. Guilt and innocence are not the only answers there are. Do not seek them so fervently that you repeat your mistakes on what seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Were you truly so blinded by the promise of gaining more nova that you thought being correct, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was of more import than seeking the rest of the answers that so eluded you?

You were already convinced. You did not truly need me to confess, did you-- and yet it still became necessary. Still we lingered upon it for so long.

[And there is where some of that energy seems to ease its way from him, as he exhales a slow sigh and shakes his head, arms still raised. He lets them drop, then, hanging at his sides.]

...I might encourage you also to listen to others when they make their desired outcomes clear, but we were both aware enough that there was little chance of that.

[Chiron can't see Emet-Selch glance his way, there, or the slight twist in the set line of his mouth, but... he says nothing to him directly.

He just turns to Hansa, then, and offers out a hand to him, casually enough.]

Well? Is there aught else you would say, before we begin in earnest?

[They've spoken, yes, but if there's anything else Hansa has to add before this happens... well. He'll give him the chance for it.]

[robopriest]

[And there it is. A proclamation. To work harder, to do better, to not be distracted by easy solutions. He can't say he wants to add anything to that. Emet-Selch said what he was thinking, really.]

[He glances in Chiron's direction as well when the other does, a meaningful sort of look that he knows Chiron can't see. Maybe its better that he doesn't see. His gaze moves over the crowd, lingering on a few people, before he turns back to Emet-Selch.]

[An offered hand. He gladly takes it.]

Emet-Selch.

[There's a little waver in his voice, now. He's trying to be neutral, trying to be calm. But so much has happened.]

I told you as much last night, but...thank you. We spent those ten years together, and... [A short sigh.] I appreciated every moment. I really did.

[He gives the other's hand a squeeze.]

It isn't fair, that you have to go through this. I don't...want it, I don't. Especially not long after we lost...

[A pause. He swallows.]

I just hope that everything will be good for you, on the other side. That's all I can hope for. [He glances over to Chiron, again.] There are people who deeply care for you, here. And you might be who you are, but...anyways, I don't know if I can ask for happiness, but at least I can ask for peace.

[He draws the man's hands up and places a kiss to his knuckles.]

...Shall we go?

[arkitect]

[--The hand kiss surprises even him, eyes widening slightly, his hand tensing at it before relaxing once more. He huffs out a quiet, humorless laugh at it, not letting go just yet.]

He is not truly lost, so long as you yet live-- nor will I be.

[And at that he looks one more time to everyone assembled, eyes lingering on a few people in particular.]

...Remember what you know of me. Of us. What I have entrusted some of you with over these few weeks, short as they have been; hold to those memories for me here, until we meet once more.

[They all know who they are. There's no need for him to point them out-- those who hold pieces of himself are aware enough already, they know to keep them if he cannot.

But there's one more thing.]

Archer. ...I am afraid you will have to wait longer for your answer.

[And with that, his attention is fully on Hansa.]

Proceed.

[robopriest]

[He nods at that - the mention of "he" makes him smile, ever so slightly, before the weight of all of this settles back into his face.]

We will. We will remember.

[And then another look at Chiron at Emet-Selch's statement - ah yes. He nods. He understands.]

[Its time.]

[He leads Emet-Selch to the edge of the cliff, hand in hand. His gaze fixes on the herd in the distance, now stirring. Its as if something has agitated them, and like a dark cloud, they start to move. Dust starts to kick up, and the ground starts to rumble.]

[Hansa looks at the other man. Another squeeze of his hand, as if for reassurance, before he detaches himself. There's a long pause. And then, in a quick motion, he moves to grasp Emet-Selch by his front, holding tightly onto his robes as he moves him right at the edge. The stampede is getting closer, now.]

...Emet-Selch.

[Is there...a bit of light in his eyes? Hope? His expression might be grim, but there's something in his expression, like he's holding onto something deep inside. His eye fixes on Emet-Selch's face, as if committing every inch of it to memory, before he just lets out a short sigh.]

[He's ready.]

I won't prolong this any longer. That's not fair to you. [And he grits his teeth.] Goodbye.

[And just like that...]

[He makes the final motion, and shoves him right off the cliff.]

[arkitect]

[He moves with Hansa, no reluctance in his steps. He's accepted this, despite all the bitterness he still feels over it-- were it anyone else, he really might want to take them with him, but for Hansa, he lets go. He lets himself be grabbed, and when he sees that spark of light in Hansa's eyes...

When he's pushed, he smiles, faintly.

Emet-Selch closes his eyes as he tips backward and falls-- it is not a long drop, he knows it isn't going to hurt that badly to fall alone, but he also knows what is coming. He waits for the impact, and he waits for the hoofbeats, the thrumming vibration of the approaching stampede.

The sound grows louder in his ears... and then they reach him.]

[arkitect]

[...but as they reach him, the herd parts like water reaching a rock. The stampede simply passes him by as they thunder onward, regrouping after they've gone far enough, and they gallop on into the distance.

Behind them, Emet-Selch opens his eyes and sits up, looking thoroughly bewildered for once in his fucking life.

All that comes out is-]

-what?

[retellers]

[ After... whatever that was, the barriers blocking everyone go down. Goat, Tiger, and Swan stand there blankly for a few moments, before Goat, as if testing to see if the barrier is actually gone, holds out a hand--and Emet-Selch will find himself suddenly up on the cliff once more. Apparently satisfied, Goat then disappears. Swan and Tiger look at each other, still appearing confused, before Swan vanishes as well. Tiger will just have to walk.

...

No, seriously, you're all free to leave now! Looks like no one is dying today.

Later in the day, everyone will receive an alert for the NOVA CHECK app. Looks like weekly rankings are up! Furthermore, the Leaders will be responding to requests at the Planetarium again. ]