[she reaches out to take the bat, then thinks back to how he stood before hitting with it and tries to mimic the pose - the way her feet are set on the ground, the way the bat should be held.]
[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!
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.]
[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...]
[she doesn't really have much choice but to agree with that, at this point.]
...I suppose it's a better death than it could have been, but...
[as things stand now, she's not sure she could do the same thing. it's true you never know who you're going to die for, but there's so much at stake here that she's not sure she would feel comfortable dying and leaving the rest to the others.
at least if she stays alive, she can maybe get a stab or two in on the nightman if things go pear-shaped. (no.) (unfortunately, she actually thinks that.)]
There are quite a few of them who have been through multiple experiences like this. You don't - you don't think there are more that we don't know about, do you? Or that we just don't remember...?
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...it's something like this, right?
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[she is giving off "BRING IT ON" vibes]
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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...?
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shinnosuke also just stares for a few moments, before he regains his composure.]
... Seemed like an execution.
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she rubs at her forehead. no bullet holes there...]
It did. [a beat.] That wasn't... your memory... was it?
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Did that seem like me? At all?
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Not really, but I had to check... [with a sigh, she just sits down on the ground.] Aaaah... I really may be an idiot after all.
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they glance down at her.]
You just realized that?
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[...but it's said without much heat.
she frowns, shifting her hand to rub at her face.]
I was - in more than one of these...?
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I think I... told them. To vote for me.
[...]
But I can't remember why.
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[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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[she doesn't really have much choice but to agree with that, at this point.]
...I suppose it's a better death than it could have been, but...
[as things stand now, she's not sure she could do the same thing. it's true you never know who you're going to die for, but there's so much at stake here that she's not sure she would feel comfortable dying and leaving the rest to the others.
at least if she stays alive, she can maybe get a stab or two in on the nightman if things go pear-shaped. (no.) (unfortunately, she actually thinks that.)]
There are quite a few of them who have been through multiple experiences like this. You don't - you don't think there are more that we don't know about, do you? Or that we just don't remember...?
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Who knows? We don't have any way of figuring that out on our own, so there's no point in stressing out over it.
[better to focus on what's right in front of them.]
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The good news is that so far, I only remember being in one of these fucked up games.
[excluding his general childhood which wasn't too far off from being a murdergame in some ways.
anyway woohoo a memory plays! i didn't feel like individually linking pages so i'm sorry britt i'm making you read a wholeass chapter.]
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well.
(points at icon.)]
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shinnosuke looks like he needs to flee immediately.]
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Don't punch me for this.
[and then hugs him.]
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HE'S FREEZING UP but after a few moments, he shoves her away. i'm sorry.]
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well at least it wasn't punching.]
Why do you always - do that?
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... Do what?
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Think so poorly of yourself and push people away when they want to be there for you.
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