WEEK FIVE: EXECUTION

[cluedin]

WEEK FIVE: EXECUTION

Some of you may have slept well knowing you did the right thing. Other of you may have tossed and turned, struggling with feelings of guilt and unease. Regardless of which group you fit into, it doesn't change the fact that on Sunday morning all guests will find themselves compelled to head to the front door. When all have gathered, the door will swing open and allow the group to witness a scene on the front lawn.

Zenitsu has been set out in his metal cage, isolated from the rest of the group. It isn't long before Peach, Plum and Pumpkin (and Pookie, now leashed) appear from another part of the yard, strangely absent of their large wheeled box. Stopping in front of the cage, the trio begins to speak.

"We gather here today to say goodbye to our dear friend, Zenitsu Agatsuma.

Zenitsu Agatsuma was a cowardly guy
If you looked at him wrong, he'd start to cry
But then one night he tamed lightning
And became something very frightening
The wolf went out and was on the attack
But couldn't resist a little midnight snack
So now comes the time we all will dread
Where once again, Zenitsu will be dead."

Three pairs of eyes turn and lock on a face in the crowd.

"Ash, you ready?"

It seems as though Ash doesn't have a choice. The moment the girls summon the chosen party, they will find themselves walking forward against their best judgment. All other guests will be unable to step past the threshold, but nothing's stopping them from leaving either.

Comments

[cluedin]

[Once Ash approaches the girls, they will take notice of the weapon in his hand, along with a small box. Instinctively knowing what this is, they nod in unison and take the box from him. It's Peach who speaks up then and she's...trying not to laugh? Hm.]

We'll hold onto this until you're ready. Good luck. [The girls step off to the side...and Zenitsu's cage slowly swings open.]

EXECUTION COMMENTARY

[cluedin]

[ so some poor fool doesn't get their inbox slammed with notifs ]

[voidbreaker]

[ Ash is. Well. He's got a look going on when he walks up to the girls, and he gives Peach a really flat look when he sees her trying not to laugh. ]

Seriously, Cobbler? [ Seriously? Right now? ]

[ ... Look. It's fine. He's fine.

Ash turns to look at the cage as the door swings open, resting his now familiar axe on one shoulder as he watches, and waits for whatever's left of Zenitsu and whatever's overtaken him makes its way out. ]

C'mon Sparky, let's get this over with.

[not here]

[brokethefirst]

[The robot is not going to be commentating but she's here, just. Tiredly watching from the back of the crowd. Getting down three flights of stairs was bad and watching sunday death tv is worse.]

[swordflash]

[ A low rumbling like that of thunder sounds from the bird cage. What exits is neither fully human nor fully monster, but an amalgamation of both. The meager fur that’s been present since everyone’s transformations on Monday has grown, now colored white and blue, extending to form a pair of wolfish ears on his head and slipping from his neck into his clothes unseen.

Other developments abound: fangs have grown in and protrude out of his mouth while his claws, even longer and sharper than before, claw at the ground. Three tails sprout from the bottom of his spine and lightning crackles around his body like a second layer of skin.

But Zenitsu's face is still his own. With whited out eyes, he watches Ash. Then he kicks off at lightning speed toward him in a manner similar to which he swiped at Luna’s neck. ]

[voidbreaker]

[ Ash gets maybe a split second to take in the changes to Zenitsu; the spread of fur, the change of colour and, y'know, the more dangerous changes. Like the claws and the teeth and the constant sparking. Maybe the suit isn't so bad, y'know?

After that split second though, he's moving. He saw how fast Zenitsu was yesterday, and the plain fact is that he really doesn't have that kind of raw speed behind him. Only, hopefully, luck and skill to keep him one step ahead. Throwing himself almost bodily to one side, he keeps himself moving with that momentum, trying to keep a distance between himself and--that.

He's got some reach on him so, that's the goal for the moment. Keep himself out of the reach of those sharp as hell looking claws, and then he'll just have the lightning to keep an eye on. ]

[swordflash]

[ To Zenitsu, Ash is just slow. He pivots and dashes for Ash again without breaking his speed, the crackling of electricity trailing in his wake.

The lightning is both protective and offensive, but largely ineffectual from a distance. The monster desires proximity and, to that end, it pursues Ash with the sole intent of severing his head from his neck. ]

[voidbreaker]

[ Well that's not what he wants, at all. He really isn't fast, not compared to this. And he could keep running around this area until his energy gives out, and then what? That'd be all of them down a damn head, and that just-- It's self preservation, and he hates that he can make the choice to defend himself when he couldn't do a damn thing for Isaac, or for Nia. But he's not gonna just roll over and become a chew toy for whatever Zenitsu turned into.

Ash grits his teeth, and puts on a burst of speed, before spinning on his heel at the last minute. There's a click, and the end of his poleaxe extends at the blade, going from axe to scythe with a grind of metal, and he swings the scythe out in an arc aiming to try and knock the creature with whatever sharp part of the scythe he can. ]

[swordflash]

[ Guided by the sharp reflexes of the host and monster both, Zenitsu spins away in the very moment the scythe would have met its mark and evades the swing. He lashes out behind him with a clawed hand. The difference in their height is such that he aims for Ash's chest and, beneath it, his heart.

At this proximity, the lightning crackles between them. Ash's rubber suit prevents any damage it might have caused, rendering it nigh useless. ]

[wakizashis]

[ i have nothing more important to say than have a sword with a wholeass WHAT THE FUCK WHY DOES HIS WEAPON TRANSFORM ENTIRELY WHO DOES THAT range of facial expressions. ]

[voidbreaker]

[ There's a moment where things seem go in slow motion, and then Ash reacts on pure instinct, diving sideways as fast as he can. It's... enough to stop the claws from piercing his chest, but not enough to avoid it completely. There's a sharp, searing pain as the claws dig into his forearm and rip through suit and skin, but other than a choked back sound of pain, Ash can't afford to stop moving.

So he does, pushing through the pain in his arm and the burn in his muscles to move himself away from Zenitsu as much as he can, before he spins on his feets again and flings the handle of the axe out this time -- swinging it low, instead of high, aiming for his feet. ]

[swordflash]

[ Small droplets of blood drip from his claws. His hand trembles in place, frozen where it cut Ash. A thunderous rumble rises in his throat, only to be cut short. The light in his eyes flickers like a dying bulb. He shuts his eyes for the first time since he left the cage; when they reopen, the color has returned to them as Zenitsu strains for control. ]

Back off!

[ He isn't paying attention. All of his focus is fixed on himself, to keep the monster at bay. The handle of Ash's axe connects with Zenitsu's ankle and he falls onto his back with a sharp cry. ]

[oathic]

[...

as zenitsu fights to hold back the monster, agni smiles, however grimly.

told you that you were strong, zenitsu.]

[voidbreaker]

[ His eyes go a little wide when he hears what's definitely Zenitsu's voice, but Ash doesn't stop -- as soon as he hits the ground Ash is up and backing off as far as he can. ]

Sorry kid.

[ There's another click and then he flings the poleaxe out and the scythe head just-- keeps going. It extends on a long chain, further and further, in an circular arc until it's coiled in the air around Zenitsu and with another tug of his good arm-- Ash pulls the chain back in. It whirrs around, following the arc backwards at a speed that almost makes it blur like a chainsaw, swinging around and around on its way back, merciless at the body trapped inside of its coils. ]

[wakizashis]

[ WHAT THE WHAT IS THAT. HEWWO???

IS NO ONE ELSE SEEING THIS

hori probably doesn't know what the fuck a chainsaw is, so enjoy the continued baffled faces ig ]

[inaudibly]

[NIC IS EQUALLY BAFFLED ITS JUST THAT HIS FACE IS STILL BASICALLY UNREDABLE.]

[goldpeony]

[He frowns while watching from his spot.]

[wakizashis]

[ sword 🤝 sword user
baffled by newfangled weapons ]

[gitalong]

[ he's staying quiet so Ash can concentrate but

also gently dancing

ganba ]

[shortforever]

[Once again, Chuuya is left wishing he had his own powers back.]

[swordflash]

[ It's a battle to even sit up when the monster rages within him. Fear closes in on him from inside and out, yet Zenitsu continues to clamp down on the animalistic urge to run, to bite, to claw. His legs tremble from the effort as he climbs onto his feet, one foot at a time. His heart pounds thunderously against his own ears—it figures that his hearing would be closer to its usual level now, of all times—when the chain closes in and the monster breaks free.

The scythe rips through his body, tearing flesh and more in its retreat. The monster expels a cry that sounds like roaring thunder, but is otherwise powerless to escape a trap in which it's already been caught. Once the scythe head returns to Ash, Zenitsu is left standing, looking a right bloody mess, for a suspenseful moment before he collapses.

The color returns to his eyes again, yet light miraculously clings to them. His gaze finds Ash in the distance. ]

I'm . . . so sorry . . .

[ The words are quiet. But quieter is the slow beating of his heart. His eyes slide shut and he lets out a shaky breath. Zenitsu Agatsuma is dead (again). ]

[cluedin]

[Well. This was a lot. As Zenitsu lays on the ground and the life leaves his form, the three girls look on quietly. After a moment, when she's sure Zenitsu won't stand, Peach takes the box and approaches Ash.]

...you know what you're doing. [It's more of a statement than a question.] Thanks, Ash.

[And she'll step back to let Ash do his thing.]

[voidbreaker]

[ Ash lowers down his axe? Scythe? What even is this thing who knows. And then he nods. ]

Yeah.

[ Taking the box from Peach, he reaches into the box and after a moment of concentration, pulls out something roughly the size of a cellphone from inside of it. Tucking the box and his injured arm against his stomach, he flips it open and looks almost relieved when he sees a single blue orb nestled into one of the grooves on the inside. ]

... Alright. This'd better work.

[ He holds it out, and glow starts circling him -- thin blue lines that look like code, or fantastical language that slowly rotate as he focuses. It's not instantaneous, it's a good fifteen seconds of nothing as the glow increases in strength. But finally, Ash extends the arm with the device and a blue glow surrounds Zenitsu's body, almost like water and bubbles of light that surround him. It's a bit like someone's rewiding time -- the cuts and marks on his body fade, like they're knitting themselves back together and finally the glow settles into Zenitsu's body, almost like he's absorbing it. ]


....

[ It's very faint, but in the ensuing moments you might be able to hear Ash muttering under his breath. ]

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon...

[cluedin]

[Several moments pass….the glow surrounds Zenitsu and settles into him...and soon he will find himself taking another breath as his eyes open.

Together, Zenitsu and Ash will find themselves rising to their feet, being forced back toward the mansion. As they step through the threshold the door will softly close behind them. All will be gathered in the front hall once more.

Every last inch of the mansion was cleaned from the weekend and all traces of evidence has been erased. In addition, the effects you've experienced all week have disappeared. It seems as though the trials and tribulations of this weekend have come to a close.

In addition, should you try to ring the pink, purple, or orange bells...you will finally receive an answer.

Today is a day full of surprises, it seems.]

mods! said! stick! around!

[miscakes]

[Akechi is a good(?) boy and will wait until everyone is nice and settled after the execution is finished. But once that's done? Everyone is getting dragged to the Ballroom whether they like it or not. He will address the group once everybody is together, the same notebook he carries around during the trials in his right hand. If the chalkboard is still here, he will absolutely use it to jot down notes as he speaks.]

Good morning, everyone. If we're all settled, let's get to the heart of the matter.

[Haha, "heart." This is a joke that only like five people in this room will get. It's fine.]

As we all know, our numbers won't survive another week of this twisted game. If we want to break the cycle, we must find the source, separate Master Blue from it, and crush it. It is only then that we will release ourselves from the house's clutches... and save our fallen companions. The means by which we will achieve this are still unknown, but Master Blue and the sisters have reiterated that we collectively have everything we need to secure our route. Only issue is, we each hold a piece of the puzzle — but not all of us have publicly laid down everything we know.

Over the past weeks, most of us have come to suspect that the room Akira, Missile-kun, Amada-kun and Carbide-san broke into is connected to the source. While this is not necessarily false... our suspicions have caused us to act recklessly. Everyone who has utilized that room is now missing a piece of their souls. Failing to recover those pieces will lead... to an unfortunate fate, according to Master Blue. This is exactly what occurred to those who supposedly escaped the house in the past. Furthermore, allowing the house to devour us has given it an advantage over our group. Plum-san referred to this as a "stacked deck."

[So, that's... cheerful. Akechi himself looks briefly uncomfortable as he says this, but it's there and gone in a second. He continues like mistakes weren't made.]

Luckily, that room isn't our only path to the source. Peach-san said that we need to consider it might not be exactly as we imagined it. When I asked if that means the source isn't tangible, she confirmed that it was. It's just not in the we think it is. We can reach it without being where we need to go. Physically, we have everything we need to find it. I believe that the deceased are currently trying to point us in the right direction. To those of us who received a note on Friday morning, I will ask that we present what we received so we may ascertain the meaning behind these messages.

... I have said it before, but I will say it again. Our group must be the last one to suffer through this ordeal. I refuse to allow the cycle to continue any longer. But in order to achieve that, our collaboration is essential. If we continue to act independently of each other, we will lose everything we have worked for. As Akira stated last week, our worlds are at risk. So let's take this time to discuss what we know. After all, we don't know what Monday will bring. This may be the last opportunity we'll get.

( OOC NOTE: Feel free to think of this as an informal trial! Characters are free to post sub-top levels under this one to share any information they have, or to raise up questions they think are worthy of further discussion. I, too, will yeet some shit under this comment once I'm done dying. There's no time limit for this, so feel free to jump in now or later in the day when you're free. )