WEEK TWO: EXECUTION

[hellscapes]

Hello, deadlings.

You really could have voted for anyone, but very noble of you to pick the culprit. Lucky you, the weekend "fun" isn't over just yet.

On Sunday morning, you'll soon hear a sound coming from the dock. There's a large ferry waiting for you, and even if you resist you'll eventually find yourself compelled to climb aboard and set off on a short voyage. The islands around you look fairly blurry, but you don't go very far before you stop at a slab of land with two large buildings stationed. You won't be able to look at the one on the right now, the one you've come to know as the trial bar. Instead, your feet navigate you to the building on the left as the door creaks open. On your way in, you notice some posters hung beside the door, advertising today's event.

Inside is a bar. It's pretty swanky in comparison to the others you've seen, tables and chairs arranged comfortably for everyone to have a seat and spread out however they'd like. The bar is fully stocked with all kinds of alcohol along with an arrangement of bar food for anyone who's feeling a bit peckish. At the head of the room, there appears to be a stage washed in red lights with a wide area for performances.

At a table in the corner all six demons are gathered around.

-Bloody Mary and Midori are seated together, staring intensely at the stage.
-Blue Hawaiian and Malibu Sunset are draped over each other, phones in hand and slightly covered by Cosmopolitan.
-Rosé is seated nearby, looking impatient.

As you find your seats and get yourself something to drink, darkness begins to fill the bar and a banner unfurls over the stage.

TODAY'S PERFORMER:
LAVI
10AM
Enjoy the show

No matter where you look, you will find that Lavi is not amongst you. But there isn't time to look further before the lights dim and the curtains draw.

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EXECUTION

[hellscapes]

[ as darkness settles around the room and the red lights glow brighter, two figures walk across the stage. the lights adjust, making it difficult to see who they are at first, but a soft shimmer appears around the area to create an impenetrable barrier.

whatever's about to happen...well, the audience may look, but they can't touch. ]

[bookpapers]

[Lavi is dressed in his Exorcist uniform as he walks across the stage. As he walks, the light bears down him, lengthening the shadow underneath his feet. It immediately takes the form of a man of small stature, standing behind him.

Lavi glances behind at it, though his expression is neutral.]

...Punctual as ever, huh.

[then he glances away, focusing on the figure across from him instead,]

Let's not drag this out, yeah?

[birdeater]

[ … The figure across from him steps onto the stage, the light shining down on him, with both hands in his pockets. He’s dressed in his usual all black attire, hoodie drawn on his head with his bandages peeled off his face to reveal the black fangs poking out from his skin.

His shadow seems to twist underneath his feet until it takes the form of a woman smaller than him; arms coming to encircle around his neck in a protective, almost motherly, nature. ]

I’m not here to torture you.

[ That said, he draws his hand out from a pocket and promptly cracks his knuckles one-by-one. ]

But don’t just lie on your back, you bastard.

[bookpapers]

[I want to establish here that Lavi can actually kind of see what's going on in the general HUBBUB of the PEANUT GALLERY, but he doesn't pay attention for long. He can't -- not when Junhyeong's right there in front of him, expression dark. He looks at the shadow draped around him, then again at his own.

Taking action, Lavi? Even though it's against the rules?

he rolls his eyes at the words, then settles into a stance.]

Sorry, Gramps. What kinda guy would I be if I left a date hanging?

[anyway yeah he's absolutely gonna stand here and let Junhyeong take the first crack, sorry he's being a bottom on purpose]

[birdeater]

[ Honestly he’s glad everyone is just focused on Itto so they can have this heterosexual drama. ]

Don’t give everyone the wrong impression.

[ Junhyeong, honey, the shadow speaks, her voice shaky. Please don’t fight. Didn’t you promise to make everyone happy? Do you think this will make anyone happy?

His fingers twitch, but before those words sink too far into his rib cage he lunges forward. Fast, pulling a fist back before extending it forward into his stomach.

He promised not to torture him, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to beat his ass. ]

[bookpapers]

[This is fine? This is more than enough.

Lavi moves fast in response -- one arm raised to block the fist aimed at his stomach, then he pivots whipping out with a leg to try and knock Junhyeong to the floor. It's all automatic, instinct. His shadow remains silent in response. Watching, observing. It opens a book, pages black as ink in its hand. Then, speaks out loud.

In Akira's voice, You're just... another person I couldn't ever save.

The words fly off the page, toward his direction, neatly clipping Lavi on the arm as the rest aim for Junhyeong,]

-- Shit.

[So that's how it's gonna be, huh?]

[birdeater]

[ Junhyeong draws his hand back, feet solid on the ground as his arm encircles around the leg swept towards him. He inhales, the blow meets, and he takes two steps back as the words swiftly dig into his shoulder.

Oppa! The voice of a child, small and dainty; the shadow shifts into something smaller and more afraid. Hair styled in a bob as her features reflect that of an insect. Junhyeong-oppa, I… I… ]

I should’ve torn your th—

[ The child’s voice distorts, scratchy and drained: I want meat. I want meat. I want to eat meat… Why did you do this to me? The child-like shadow rushes forward to Junhyeong, which causes him to pause as she begins lapping at the ground. At his blood.

Wait, shit, sorry. Maybe he wasn’t prepared for all this trauma rushing at him at once. ]

[bookpapers]

[...They can't drag this out. Lavi sees the shadow distort, a child's shape, smaller than his Gramps. He hears the voice, the blood -- even now, his mind is shaping dots and connecting them -- even as the words keep coming, formed like arrows as they land on his back -- one after the other

Date, questioning: There’s a place for observers too. But you don’t get bummed out by inaction?

Kura, following: ...You're pretty tough, huh?

Persephone, weeping: You didn't even know.

Lavi curls his arm back and aims a fist right at Junhyeong's face, snarling,]

Keep your eyes on my face, asshole!

[there's no more trauma, there's only a twink (lavi) that needs to be obliterated]

[birdeater]

[ One after another tiny voices begin to trickle in as Junhyeong remains stunned in front of the shadow, watching as she laps desperately at the floor like it was the first meal she’s had in weeks.

It’s all thanks to you that I’ll have a new mama and papa!

I’m going to a new orphanage to be adopted!

I’ll be sure to come back and visit you and Dohwa!

And just as he thinks he can ignore them, these voices of young girls and boys mix into a single chant: MEAT. MEAT. MEAT.

Another voice follows, coy, as if to purposely antagonize the scene even further.

Look at the life you gave everyone with your own two hands, Junhyeong.

That, along with the punch that connects against his jaw seems to wake him. A hidden rage, an alarming amount of disgust, and an overwhelming sense of humiliation. ] Why? [ He growls, spitting out blood as the fangs, similar to a spiders maw, twitch and extend. ] Why!?

[ He then reaches out to grab Lavi by the collar of his uniform with both hands, shaking him aggressively. His words are full of venom, each struggling out of his throat as for a moment his voice breaks; clear as day, this is the last thing he wants to hear.

The last thing he wants to do, wants to commit — he’s so sick of hurting everyone and everything around him. ]

Why couldn’t you leave me alone!? Why couldn’t any of you just leave me the fuck alone!?

[ The shadow slowly stands behind him, again twisting into shape. A woman with long hair and the tail of scorpion, with large pinchers that nearly touch the ground. The heat of his anger has him swinging another punch at Lavi’s jaw, just in time for the shadow to finally strike — the tail extending out swiftly out to search and coil around Lavi’s waist. ]

[bookpapers]

[The blow snaps Lavi's head back, and he coughs out blood -- shadows mixed within, the words bright and fiery, the same shade of Gideon's hair (You should've never been in that position to begin with.)

Oh god, he's so tired. I want to die, he thinks. I want to live. He can't breathe, the tail coils around him, squeezing -- at once pinning him into place and holding him aloft. Tuuri's words, slicing into his thigh, letting him bleed -- Everybody here loves you, Lavi.

No more, please, no more. He reaches up to put a shaky hand over the one curled around his collar. The other sliced by Harrow's voice, I don't care whether or not you're a good person, frankly.]

...Sorry.

[Jingheng, grieving. I know... I know you.]

I wasn't supposed to matter.

[Another slice down his back, Bixing murmuring, Don't just amount yourself to one misstep when you've already run most of the way to the finish line.

...Is this the finish line? Getting close to everyone, dragging them all down with him?

There's an ominous snap as the book closes, and then Lavi's shadow morphs into a serpent of fire, twisting as it lunges for Junhyeong --]

[birdeater]

[ Fingers curl into the fabric of his collar, the other hand forming into a fist as he continues to wail blow after blow at Lavi's face. Anger coursing through his veins, a vicious glare that dares to pierce into the man as the tail coiled around him squeezes. ]

But! You! Do! [ Every word is followed by another punch. ] Shut the hell up! You can't just walk into everyone's lives and expect not to matter! [ His throws become more extended, more drawn out, more fatigued. There's blood in his mouth as the shadow behind raises a massive pincher.

Hey, Junhyeong, when we're older let's go far away from here. ] The second you... the second you open your mouth... You don't just say shit to get on their good side! You care about them, don't you!?

[ You're all I have, y'know? My only friend. ]

They care! They care! Every last one of 'em looking right now care about you! And I --

[ The serpent lunges towards him and he feels the heat of it burn against fabric and skin, instinctively drawing his hands up and putting distance between himself and Lavi.

And as he does, the large scorpion pincher descends down towards Lavi's middle. ]

[bookpapers]

[Stop. He can't mouth the words, but he wants Junhyeong to stop. Stop. Stop. With every blow, more words appear, jagged on Lavi's skin. Rynlan's -- There's nothing I want to get from it that'd be worth seeing you die and knowing I chose you for it. But he's dying now, isn't he?

I have to admit you were one of the better ones here. But he's barely worth it, right Ryo? Childe, holding up a glass. All of us here are a little self-centered, I'd say. I think you've earned the right to be, all things considered. Then can he die? He can get stabbed and hurt, but not like this -- not from a voice that isn't his shadow's, and instead is Junhyeong's, screaming at him. Telling him the words he doesn't want to hear the most,

The abrupt shove makes him lurch, the heat of the serpent sears across his skin the same time as Rosé's voice impales him in the arm.

What makes you say that? You don't think with a do-over, you could change something?]

I -- [and then the pincer lands, stinger slashing right through his abdomen, and he coughs -- gasping in pain. The serpent twists back into nothing, shadows draining to only form words on the floor. So you have to breathe, Lavi. Breathe with me. He can't breathe though. This won't be goodbye forever, just for now. But... It's alright, Lavi.

he lands on his hands and knees, moving his face away from the stage.

Scaramouche, quiet. You really are unlucky, aren't you? Well, of course. He's known that since forever.

Then, In the end, whatever's going inside of you is irrelevant, whether it's pain or numbness. Your actions are more important. A flicker of something runs through Lavi's veins, even as the rest of him winks out.]

This was -- really embarrassing, but... [...] Sorry, and thanks.

[It wasn't drawn out, and it's over. He can be grateful, he thinks, for all of it. He closes his eyes, and lets himself land on the stage.]

1/2

[birdeater]

[ MAN. ]

[birdeater]

[ The fire is distinguished, the shadow that formed itself into Dohwa stabs it's pincer into Lavi's torso without any hesitation. It's driven into him, and he can hear and smell flesh being torn through until she's successfully pierced through to the other side.

Her face is impassive, if a bit surprised, as the shadow itself slowly slinks back for Lavi to drop down onto the stage.

Junhyeong only gives himself a moment to breathe before he's moving; the realization hitting him like a truck. The second that solid sound of Lavi's body dropping reaches him he knows it's over -- another person, who he tried so hard to keep at a distance, has died. Someone that he's made the terrible mistake of giving an inch of who and what he is before it all slips past his fingers.

Junhyeong, honey.

It's his mother's voice again.

He stands above Lavi, taking note of his body, and the fact that it looks so peaceful. Seating both knees on either side of the fallen man's waist before he stares, hands moving to grab him by the throat; instinctive. ]

You bastard... You --

I wish I never spoke a word to you.

[ And with that, before Lavi can die in peace, he leans forward and sinks teeth and fangs into his jugular. Digging into flesh until there's a splash of blood that coats his tongue, running down his own throat as he puuuuuuuuuulls muscle and flesh clean off.

Why did you ever think that you'd be happy? ]

[bookpapers]

[the way ryza wrote "before lavi can die in peace" so lavi's still alive,

His body jerks at the bite, but he doesn't have the strength to do anything else, as Junhyeong's teeth digs into him. He can't think of anything, his mind's a blank. He can only think of the end looming before him, and think about how much better this death is compared to his last.

at least he's dying fast, at least junhyeong isn't dead.

...at least he got to...

....]

[hellscapes]

[ as the final blow is delivered, everything seems to fall silent. the shadows wait, poised and looming on stage, and soon all around is the sound of applause. despite the fact that no one is visibly clapping, the sound echoes off the walls of the bar as the shadows take a bow.

the applause tapers off and the shadows stand upright, fluid movements enhanced under the lights. lavi's shadow scoops up his body, and without another word steps back into the darkness to take him away.

junhyeong's shadow, meanwhile, begins to shrink little by little, returning to its original size and settling behind him once more. it looks like it's back to normal…but who's to say?

the lights are raised in the bar and the door swings open. the table of demons seem to be watching before they all begin to move once more. all six of them seem to gather themselves, taking their leave without another word. this is your time now.

as last week, the last ferry of the day leaves at 5pm. everyone is free to linger around the island for the rest of the afternoon if they'd like. there's alcohol and food available all day, and while the trial bar isn't open the island has space for anyone who wants to find a quiet place to relax a little. you've all lived to see another day…enjoy it, for now. ]