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Ehhhh. Technically, it's three strikes before the batter is out.
[catches!]
... It's not always a bad thing.
[a part of shinnosuke has always wished he could be like that without immediately hating himself for it.]
... It's not always a bad thing.
[a part of shinnosuke has always wished he could be like that without immediately hating himself for it.]
Is that so...
[she has a hard time imagining being simple-minded being a good thing (and she will deny with her dying breath that she is simple-minded; her thoughts are very complex, thanks), but... shinnosuke doesn't seem like he's making fun of her right now.
not that much, anyway.]
Hey, let me try the bat. I want to see if I can hit it.
[she has a hard time imagining being simple-minded being a good thing (and she will deny with her dying breath that she is simple-minded; her thoughts are very complex, thanks), but... shinnosuke doesn't seem like he's making fun of her right now.
not that much, anyway.]
Hey, let me try the bat. I want to see if I can hit it.
[if he were a more simple-minded person, it would make his life easier. he could be truly cruel—if he thought of nothing but his goals, he could sacrifice anything that got in his way.
or, if he didn't think so much, he could just be a "good person", rather than worry each time about how his heart holds him back, puts his objectives at risk.
or if he could just be an ordinary teenager—]
Sure.
[he knows better than to just fuckin throw a bat, so he walks over to hand it to sei.]
or, if he didn't think so much, he could just be a "good person", rather than worry each time about how his heart holds him back, puts his objectives at risk.
or if he could just be an ordinary teenager—]
Sure.
[he knows better than to just fuckin throw a bat, so he walks over to hand it to sei.]
Edited 2022-07-02 05:49 (UTC)
Yup. {he nods, getting ready to pitch.] Ready?
[he throws! it's a decent pitch though not a great one because, like, he's not a baseball player, but.]
[sei swings, and it would be a decent hit, except a shower of stardust picks that exact moment to come down on them. memshare................. 2!
sei actually looks stunned, at that, dropping the bat and bringing one hand up to her head, where the phantom pain of the gunshot lingers. the memory is fresh, and it feels like hers, but it's unfamiliar at the same time.]
What the hell was that...?
Your eyes are closed, and your head is bowed. Your hands are clasped around something small and sentimental, and you're not speaking aloud, but you're full of prayers. Prayers for success, for protection - but not for yourself. You're going to die today, and you know that very well.
You won't run from it.
"Take a seat, fucknuts. Show’s about to start."
The voice prompts you to open your eyes.
You are at the altar of a cathedral. It's vast, filled with pews, and - as you look back - you see people. The same people you've been spending much of your time with, over the last... how many weeks has it been, now? It feels like an eternity, but you know it can't have been. It doesn't much matter, though. Your time is up.
The young boy leading the procedures explains what's happening here, though you've seen it happen enough times to know. You're not guilty of any crime - not here, anyway - but you're facing the same punishment that you would if you had been. You knew it was coming; you'd encouraged it. It's up to you to pick how you die.
You can't really take the method you'd prefer above all - it's not an option. But your partner is going to be the one to kill you. So, you make your selection.
"...the gun, please. Let's make this quick." You smile. "I don't think anyone wants to linger here for very long."
Your partner nods, and steps forward to retrieve the gun.
He asks you if you have any last words, and he uses a nickname. Infuriating, but - this is the end of the line, so you suppose you can let it slide.
"...------ once told me..." Your voice is shakier than you want it to be. Your hands are trembling, too, and you'd dearly love it if you could make that stop. Since you can't, you keep smiling. "...that you never know who you're going to die for. All anyone can do is carry on our truth and leave the rest up to the will of Heaven... and to keep smiling, every day, so that when death comes, you can go with a smile."
You can feel tears forming in the corners of your eyes, despite yourself. You chose this. How can you be crying? This is a choice you made with full knowledge of what would happen, and yet -
You reach up to wipe the tears away. This isn't the time for them.
"I'm not leaving this up to the gods. I'm leaving this to everyone else here. And I'm sure that what everyone here accomplishes will be spectacular."
You bow - not just to your partner, but to the people watching.
"I have no doubts or regrets about what is about to happen, so I hope all of you don't, either. Thank you for the time we spent together... I hope to be able to see all of you again someday."
And it's true, really. You don't regret the choice you made, and you don't doubt yourself for making it, either. The prospect of dying might not be one you're excited about, but it's something you welcome. It's better than the alternative.
You've said what you need to to the others, but you should say something to your partner as well. You clear your throat and say his name.
"Thank you very much for being the best partner I could have asked for. Your master was a lucky man. I'm sure he was proud to carry you with him, and I would have been lucky if I could have carried a sword like you in my lifetime."
You take a breath.
"I'm ready."
...you're ready, but your partner has more to say.
"I know ya guys for what ya are. Just humans trying to live and dream. I can't stand ya guys." He waves his gun in the air. "Aggravating! Every last one of ya! Even you! Always trying to stick things in your mouth and get yourself hurt for others. Stop that." You crack a smile - how many times have you been cautioned against doing that? Well, now you probably won't anymore.
What he says next surprises you, though.
"...But you're not so bad. It's been fun." As fun as your time here could possibly be. "I'll tell ya something before ya die. I've been back in time and forth and I know more about ya guys than ya think. That night in July? Got real tired of going back there and saving all of your asses. I can't tell ya if it's worth it or not. That's for you to decide. But I'll tell ya a secret: The ----------- will be heroes."
Your heart is pounding.
If they will be heroes, their name will be remembered throughout history. His name will be remembered throughout history. Even after you're dead and gone, even after he's lived out his life - he will be remembered. For the hero he is, for the deeds he's done. His name will never be lost to the ages.
You can feel your smile soften, as it tends to do when you think of him.
"Now, steel yourself."
You kneel. You feel the muzzle of the gun press against your forehead, and you know your time has run out.
There's a loud noise, a searing pain -
And then, you know nothing. Everything goes black.
sei actually looks stunned, at that, dropping the bat and bringing one hand up to her head, where the phantom pain of the gunshot lingers. the memory is fresh, and it feels like hers, but it's unfamiliar at the same time.]
What the hell was that...?
[UH.
shinnosuke also just stares for a few moments, before he regains his composure.]
... Seemed like an execution.
shinnosuke also just stares for a few moments, before he regains his composure.]
... Seemed like an execution.
[sei stop dying challenge
they glance down at her.]
You just realized that?
they glance down at her.]
You just realized that?
... Like Jason, huh. [it's a sobering thought.] You've got pretty bad luck.
[it's shinnosuke's turn to enter sei's room uninvited.]
Hey, Seizaburo. Spar with me.
[there is definitely no reason for this. it's not because his heart hurts, or because rupert's death feels like a harder blow than usual, or because dealing with the nightman directly is stressful, or anything.]
Hey, Seizaburo. Spar with me.
[there is definitely no reason for this. it's not because his heart hurts, or because rupert's death feels like a harder blow than usual, or because dealing with the nightman directly is stressful, or anything.]
[no reason whatsoever. sure.
sei, who is fiddling with lila's laptop because she has never once figured out the password for it and still doesn't actually know what's on it, and has decided that for lack of anything she can actually do right at this moment she might as well try to break into it, looks up from where she's seated at the desk and -
well, she doesn't question it.
with a nod, she rises to her feet and focuses; both her daito and her shoto appear at her waist.]
Of course. To the dojo, then?
sei, who is fiddling with lila's laptop because she has never once figured out the password for it and still doesn't actually know what's on it, and has decided that for lack of anything she can actually do right at this moment she might as well try to break into it, looks up from where she's seated at the desk and -
well, she doesn't question it.
with a nod, she rises to her feet and focuses; both her daito and her shoto appear at her waist.]
Of course. To the dojo, then?
[the memories are trickling in. they don't all feel quite in place yet - it'll take some time before they're all there, before she can recall them without actively trying to, but...]
I think I... told them. To vote for me.
[...]
But I can't remember why.
I think I... told them. To vote for me.
[...]
But I can't remember why.
... Do you not know how to use the laptop?
[he has to ask.]
But yeah, sure.
[he has to ask.]
But yeah, sure.
Some kind of self-sacrificial bullshit, probably.
[though despite his choice of words, he doesn't sound judgmental.]
... Looks like you went out with honour, at least.
[it'd be a cold comfort for him, who has no such thing. but as a samurai, sei might see things differently.]
[though despite his choice of words, he doesn't sound judgmental.]
... Looks like you went out with honour, at least.
[it'd be a cold comfort for him, who has no such thing. but as a samurai, sei might see things differently.]
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