(no subject)

[foundationmods]

EXECUTION

Just like before, you all get up in the morning...but you know that after today, there will be less of you.

The Lady appears again, leading you all up the stairs to the third floor, just like before. You arrive at the chapel - where a screen near the altar is already playing a video, the sound of the most beautiful instrument in the world washing over you all as you take a seat in the pews.

The Lady puts down some tarp near the altar, as if expecting this to get messy. When she's finished, she sets her gaze on all of you, her beautiful face somehow awful during this moment before someone dies.

"Good morning. Shall we begin this execution?"

Comments

[swordhandled]

[ Owain's struggling to get up from where he's been thrown off when he hears that scream. He can recognize the attack, the damage and his face hardens. ]

Where's my sword?!

[ DID HE EVER GET IT BACK?

But then he hears Akira yell and things take more priority so he forgets that and jumps, trying to use his body as cover for the knife. ]

[justfists]

[Time feels like it stops for a moment when the contents of the vial go down her throat. Her eyes widen, and flicker color-- white, versus their normal red. And all at once her hands go to her head.]

Let me go, let me go let me go

[she’s whispering to herself, and black? Smoke seems to rise from her skin, escape from her mouth, her eyes, the bandage on her face. ]

No, no, no, no it can’t end like this I can’t—

[and then the smoke redoubles around her, grabbing and slicing at her body, like a feral animal that knows something. She screams--]

LET ME GO

[the grip of the smoke tightens, and locks her arms closely to her body, like she’s trapped in a vise. The shape of the Barghest forms around her, its claws digging into her skin. Now that it’s separate from her, it’s easy for at least Akira to recognize the voice it took on.

Sae’s.]

We can’t go down this way, we must win aT ALL COSTS

[purrtagonist]

[ah. . . . . . so. that's what it is. if it's Sae's voice he's hearing, then. . . he can't even begin to imagine what kind of hellish week Makoto has suffered ever since the Barghest took over her body]

[there's another cry of her name, a move driven by desperation, and-- you know what? he promised he'd stop being stupid, and that's a promise he intends to keep, but. . . with his phantom thief writhing on the ground, a creature or pure black smoke digging into her, trying to reclaim her body as its own again, he can't hold himself back]

[Akira bolts forward, right through the smoke, to wrap his arms around Makoto as tightly as he can]

Not again-- not again.

[his grip is tight and if he gets hit by a claw or too, well! oops]

I won't let it take you again, okay? I promise.

[swordhandled]

[ After the Levin Sword has been yeeted to him, Owain is still quick to move, in spite of the blood starting to slowly bloom at his front (did you know jumping on a knife is not the smartest move guys?). He jumps a small distance away and brandishes the sword, proudly. ]

You failed in your attempt to sully my good name, Barghest. You tried to take me from my friends, family, and the one I love. This cannot stand. The very weapon you used to try to frame me will be your undoing you vile spirit. I will send you back to the plane of existence you belong! Fear the power of my LEVIN SWORD. Owain Dark's special attack--

[ and then AS A FUCKING PROPER DEMONSTRATION OF HOW THE LEVIN SWORD IS USED, Owain just simply holds the sword upright in front of him. As those who saw him on the ski slopes will see once more, lightning seems to come down from the air and strike the Barghest not once, but six times in quick succession, because what better time than now is there for Owain to pull a double attack AND for Astra to activate? ]

HOLY LIGHTNING OF THE RADIANT DAWN!!!

[justfists]

[With that-- it breaks the barghest's grips.

And Makoto collapses into Akira's arms, unconscious]

[resortghosts]

[ DING, MESSAGE TIME: ]

she hasn't eaten or slept in like a week!

well i guess we did make her sleep a little last night

we took care of her dehydration already, so get her food and rest!

[imstuck]

[Phil is silent for a moment, before he starts laughing.]

That worked! I can't believe that thing worked!

[xenoqueen]

..Phil.

[Ripley puts a hand on his shoulder.]

What the actual hell just happened?

[tacticalespionageaction]

[With all that went down, Snake can't help but grin a little at Phil's joy.]

You did it.

[Sounding almost incredulous, he places a hand on his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.]

Great job.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira can feel the lightning energy crackling at his back as it strikes the Barghest, but all he can focus on is the way Makoto suddenly goes limp in his arms. he bundles her close on instinct, pressing her face into his shoulder as his hand comes to rest at the back of her head]

Makoto? Makoto. . .

[he holds his breath, listening for the sound of her heartbeat, hoping that however faint it may be it's still there]

[justfists]

[her heart is still beating.

it's faint.

but it's still there. she'll probably need healing though.

... and, well, time.]

[swordhandled]

[ and with that as well, owain collapses, dropping the sword at his side. he's breathing a little hard and he's quickly pulling open his shirt to check his wounds. ]

Oh man, I'm so glad that worked.

[messianic]

[HEY WHOA THERE...

Minato's worried about Akira and Makoto intensely, of course, but you can't ignore someone who was stabbed, like. That's just bad.]

Hang on, we'll get you healed up. Let's see how bad it is.

[CINQUE, YOU THERE? He's already pulling out his Evoker.]

[foundationmods]

[The Barghest - in Sae's voice - screams, dying down into a pained shriek of agony from an animal, smoke and the smell of scorched fur rising in the air. The black wolf staggers, obviously injured and panting, for once not running away fast, ears pulled back as it snarls at Owain, at Akira, at the rest of them, opening its mouth as if to attack and bite -

But the attack never comes.

Instead, with a single SHUNK, the head of the beast falls off - its expression shocked before it hits the ground and dissipates into ghostly wisps. The now headless body wobbles on it's feet, unsteady - and then something pushes it over, the body going the same way as the head.

The music quickly shifts as The Lady closes her eyes, and raises her voice above all of the excitement and noise.]

...Makoto Niijima has returned to being a Peasant. Along with this, The Barghest is dead, and has permanently removed from play.

Congratulations, Guests.

Have a good day.

[resortghosts]

[ Bunnyhoodie is bouncing in his seat!!

GOOD JOB GUYS. ]

[resortghosts]

[More tablet pings.]

At least it wasn't Otamatone this time.

[dolleyed]

[ THE BIGGEST SIGH HERE. ]

... oh thank fuck.

[ This nightmare ride had a happy end, against absolutely all expectations and odds caused by personal fuck-ups. Kohaku is... relieved. Really relieved. ]

I'm getting breakfast, bye.

[imstuck]

[Phil is fucking cheering now.]

I can't believe it! I did something right for once in my life!

[resortghosts]

[An invisible force spins Phil around, puts his hands on either side of Phil's face, and kisses him on the lips in front of everyone, something that still looks really god damned weird to any bystanders that can't see a ghost.

After a moment, Medic pulls away and scribbles out a note.]

are you still mad about the baboon thing

[jumpedtheshark]

We.... we did it?

[Wow. That’s... honestly impressive. Good job team.]

[theycallhimmrpchan]

Oh good, everything turned out... I'm so glad.

[Ryoga pauses, staggering]

Excuse me, can someone please... get the number of that... donkey cart.

[THUNK]

[latebluemer]

[She's cautiously started clapping from where she's still hovering by the stage. Like, is any of this for real? They've actually defeated the Barghest, and they still know who the Doppelganger is, and it's just the Jorogumo out there now...? Wow. It kind of feels like they slid into a different dimension between yesterday and today.]

... The Barghest really had to be dramatic to the end, didn't it? What just happened?

[She's talking about THE SCION OF LIGHTNING LORD LEGEND, certainly, but also how did its head just fall off. Hm.]

[jumpedtheshark]

Right here!

[She was planning on keeping it until after the execution, but times are dire now, so here’s Tsumugi, in a miko cosplay, yeeting the Levian Sword at Owain. This week has been something alright.]

[swordhandled]

[ He's bleeding from you know. jumping on the knife, but he's still moving pretty quickly to grab the sword as it's tossed to him ]

Thanks!

[jumpedtheshark]

[A nod and encouraging smile.]

Make sure to shout a good catch phrase!

[Be the Chunni you want to be.]