EXECUTION V

[faentasy]

Execution V

The end of this weekend's trial brought many questions and little answers, but like clockwork the time for execution comes like normal. The tune this Sunday has a more cheerful energy than usual, much like the piece that heralded the start of investigation.

It might not do much to change the mood though, given the two men standing in the sealed off space, in the middle of all the mirrors. Raven is there of course, and the man with him is someone else who else who was a fixture of yesterday's trial, Yeager.

Comments

[ideismo]

I told him as much, though not in so many words.

[There's no bite behind it, though. It just sort of is what it is.

He's quiet for a moment, though, once that's out there. Collecting thoughts, from the look of it; trying to find a way to say what he needs to. There's no hesitance once he manages, however.]

I stand by what I said to Makoto, in that your thoughts are yours to do what you will with. You're free to hate or resent me all you want; I've never argued with you regarding that.

But going forth, you're no longer beholden to me. Do what you want; I no longer care.

[scythegun]

[The first part gets a soft laugh from him; it's certainly true. Yeager's certainly never been a good person, and an even worse friend. It is what it is.

He doesn't mind the silence, because it's easier to deal with that than anything else, but he glances back over at Alexei once those words are out. Truthfully, he's a bit surprised Alexei would even bring up what he said to Makoto considering how much all of that was, but this?

He doesn't know how to deal with this. This is the last thing he ever expected, and he just... stares for a very long moment, like he's trying to wrap his head around it. It's been a fundamental part of him since Alexei entered his life again, and to have that so suddenly taken away for no reason Yeager can see is—]

Why?

[It's just one word, but it's bearing the weight of everything he's never said - the anger and resentment, certainly, but also confusion and something that's dangerously close to sounding upset, because after all this time it's just going to end like this?

He doesn't know how to deal with that, and that's terrifying.]

[ideismo]

[Of all ways this could have gone, that clearly wasn't one of the possibilities that Alexei had considered; he just sort of stares for a long moment, because- ]

I'd think it's fairly straightforward, am I wrong?

[This seems to be weirdly upsetting Yeager, though, and he admittedly has no idea why it would - this is so much, good fucking god.]

What else would you have me do?

[scythegun]

[he's having a real normal one, okay]

You could start by... explaining all of that?

[He gestures broadly, which means nothing but also sums up everything as far as he's concerned.]

Why you sent Raven out to kill, why you were willing to die for his wishes, why you're doing this now of all times?

[He's not even sure if he's really expecting an explanation to any of it or if he should just let it go, but he can't just accept that as it is. Not right now. Not when that's the last damn thing that's remained constant for so long.]

cw: he sure was willing to die for this

[ideismo]

Very well.

[He imagines that he owes Yeager an explanation for at least some of that, if not all of it; he feels that some of it at least is none of Yeager's damn business, but- ]

I sent Schwann Oltorain out to kill two people. He told me that his wish was the same as mine. I had reason to believe he lied to me, though I never told him as such, and he was sent out to kill two people in hope that he would use one of them to fulfill that wish he told me about on my behalf, and do as he pleased with the one remaining.

With that in mind, why wouldn't I die on his behalf? As long as my wish would be fulfilled, it wouldn't matter whether it was fulfilled by me or not. You would get what you wanted through my death, as would he. It was straightforward enough to me.

He wasn't complicit in what I did at the trial. He didn't know, and I should have prepared him for it. That was my error.

cw: he sure was willing to die for this (continued)

[scythegun]

[So Schwann's wish was the same. That makes sense, and a second death increases the odds that things would go Alexei's way. Still, being willing to die for it...]

I see. I thought you would want to be there to see your wish followed through, but... I suppose I don't really know what your wish is, milord.

[Should he still be calling Alexei "milord"... Eh. It's fine for now.]

[ideismo]

My dreams haven't changed.

This week has just been a constant reminder of how many I've lost. How many have died because of something I did, or something I failed to do. How many held those same dreams - of saving others from oppression, from exploitation, from immediate threat, from the Empire - and now will never see them through, because I couldn't-

[He cuts himself off. Shakes his head.]

I want a world where dreams like that aren't necessary, because we've found a way to make them a reality. I want to save everyone.

[scythegun]

[...Of course he does.

Maybe he would have been insulted or angry or annoyed if he'd heard it earlier, but right now, that's all he can think. Of course he does, because Alexei's ideals were the ones Casey so wholeheartedly believed in, and her knights believed it too, once.]

As long as everyone's safe, then you don't need to be alive to see it through.

[It would be so much easier if he could be angry right now.]

So then why... why are you releasing me now?

[Because the same trick won't work twice? Because no matter what Alexei tries to do, Hamelin's going to throw a wrench in his plans? Hell, at this point he doesn't know, and maybe he should stop guessing.]

[ideismo]

Because if things had gone as they should, this wouldn't be a concern.

[Because he would be dead, and that would be the end of things.]

Since they didn't, however, you have to receive it from me directly.

[scythegun]

[Something about that doesn't sit right with him, and he's not sure exactly what it is. Is there more to that? Is this some kind of trick somehow? Is there something here he's missing, that would explain this? Because that really didn't explain it.]

I'll accept it, of course, but...

[...It's probably best to just let it be. It doesn't really matter what his reasoning is, right? What matters is that he's gotten his wish.]

...Thank you?

[Is that the correct thing to say in a circumstance like this, he's not really sure???]

[ideismo]

...Please don't.

[Can't you just be insufferable about this, this is so awkward...]

I don't expect this to change much, if anything at all. You owe me nothing, though I reiterate that I would prefer you not die.

[scythegun]

It'd just be pathetic if I died now.

[He isn't really sure how to handle this, but it's fine. He can figure out a plan going forward. Death simply isn't an option.]

But I'll try to remember that, just for you~

[He's. He's trying? Oh god it's a bad try. His heart is really not in being this obnoxious right now.]

[ideismo]

Please don't.

[because man, that was a bad try. ouch.

That said, he glances over to the mirror, where Casey and Dameron are still being their weird uncanny valley selves; it's...]

...I spoke to Raven last night. If we find a way to revive the dead, I have his blessing to do so.

[scythegun]

[He makes a face at that and shrugs, but fine, fine!! At those words, though...]

...As long as that's what he wants, I won't interfere.

[He doesn't like it. It's obvious he doesn't like it. But it isn't his place to decide what happens to Raven, and if he agreed to that, then so be it.

That's... certainly not something he's ready to face just yet, so he'll leave it at that for now.]

[ideismo]

He verified to me that it is.

[...He really does not want to think about how that was verified right now, because he likes not being devastated in front of people, but it was verified and that's what matters.]

Again, thank you for what you did for him today. And for your time, I suppose.

[scythegun]

[...did you just ask him that... You know what, he doesn't want to know. That's Alexei's business, not his.]

Of course. Until next time, m—

[Oh, right. Hmm. Not "milord". "Commandant"? That sounds weird. "Alexei"???? Too cursed.]

I'm sure we'll end up running into each other again~

[JUST GONNA GLOSS OVER THAT he'll figure out what to call you eventually, probably!!!]