week 5 - execution

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE CAPTAIN'S LOG: WEEK (5)

sunday EXECUTION (32) survivors As voting comes to an end, a song filters in played so loud that it becomes distored and fragmented. If a participant checks their datapad, they will see the the victim and suspect chosen by majority's pictures displayed. If they attempt to scroll, they will see a list of characters and their votes in alphabetical order.

victim



culprit



Character Statuses
Setting
Rulebook
Votes

Comments

[thanatosincarnate]

{ After talking with Kazuma, Arumat's only half-paying attention to what is playing out on the screen in front of him. For some reason, half-way through, he closes his eyes.

Arumat doesn't think he'll forgive him. This was... even worst than last week's trial, as selfish that may have been to think.

Whenever it ends, the man sits in his spot, hardly ready to move. His expression was impassive, like how it usually was, even as he felt like a weight had been shoved right onto his chest. It felt suffocating, but there was so little that could be done. He has many regrets this time, not only because he trusted in the wrong person and voted for someone innocent.

He'll probably take awhile before he'll begin to think about standing to his feet and exiting though. }

[breakshot]

... Arumat.

[ gently places hand to his shoulder, with a concerned yet clearly weary look. you all right... ]

Come on. Let's go. ... I think we've had more than enough for one weekend.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Machias' voice and decision to bother with physical touch makes him actually decide to look at him, returning to "reality". If... it could even be considered as such.

Yeah, this trial had gotten to him. He doesn't even seem too bothered by the touch, other than the frown that tugged at his lips now. He's too emotionally drained to get rowdy about it this time. }

Hmph. Are you sure you want to bother?

{ With him, that is. But he moves to stand to his feet and lightly moves away Machias' hand, so it's progress. }

[breakshot]

What are you saying?

[ Machias pulls back, but he'll respond with letting loose a deep sigh and giving Arumat a look, though somber, also reflected a bit of comforting. Really. What is he going to do with you? ]

What happened wasn't your fault. ... No matter what, that much for sure I can tell you.

[thanatosincarnate]

I had no indication you could be so perceptive, lad.

{ He turns his head away. It's true, he was blaming himself a little for this -- he was sure he could have prevented it and he believes one of his conversations with Kazuma could have pushed him into doing it more. }

It's hardly worth talking about, either way.

[bloodbiter]

[approaching him as he's about to leave]

Arumat... Will you be alright?

[thanatosincarnate]

I will be 'alright'. { But he's not alright now. } He was a fool, nothing more, nothing less.

{ He almost seems back to his usual, but his eyes are a whirlwind of emotion -- mostly aligned with that of sorrow, regret...and a good amount of guilt for various reasons. He doesn't want to appear too broken up over it, but he is. It's messed him up. }

...Concerned?

[bloodbiter]

Of course I am concerned about you. You are my friend.

[thanatosincarnate]

... Would you still wish to be a companion of mine if you knew that all who get close to me are eventually condemned to death?

[bloodbiter]

I don't understand what you mean.

[thanatosincarnate]

...

It's nothing. Forget it.

[bloodbiter]

If it were nothing, you would not have made such a serious statement. You can be honest with me.

[thanatosincarnate]

... Everyone who winds up as an companion or ally of mine eventually will die. It is the fate of anyone who becomes close to the Grim Reaper himself.

{ Or so he believes. }

It's occurred to my crew, who were all killed by monsters, and now others.

[bloodbiter]

You mentioned you were in the military, did you not? It is... I am very sorry to hear about your comrades, truly, but it is hardly a position without risk.

[her voice is gentle, sympathetic]

And here, they brought us here specifically to be killed. Have you been very close with all the victims? They didn't die because of you, they died because of the foolishness of the killers and the cruelty of those who incentivized these crimes.

[thanatosincarnate]

Of course it is.

{ He grunts, irritated. Some part of him knows she's right. But he blames himself for what he feels was at least partially borne of his own impotence. He couldn't protect his comrades or guide them to victory, watched most of his people die over and over, and...that's not even everything.

It's never enough... he never seemed to have enough power. }

I hardly knew the ones from the first and second trial.

{ He figures he'll say to at least be honest. That said, there's a reason why he didn't wish to have this conversation so he'll just choose to fall silent. }

[bloodbiter]

Arumat...

[a frown, and she reaches out to put a hand on his arm carefully.]

You cannot blame yourself for something like this. None of this has occurred due to your actions.

[thanatosincarnate]

{ He tenses at the physical contact as always, although not only because he dislikes it, but because he also was not anticipating it in the slightest. }

...

{ For once, words are stricken from him -- he is not sure what to say. After all, she's not the only who has just said it. But maybe it's because now a second person has, it feels like he should begin to re-evaluate that part of him...even if the idea of self-blame had rooted itself deeply in his own psyche. }

Adelina.

{ ... Yet, he should at least thank her for putting up with it. }

It is a good thing we at least crossed paths.