chiefexe | [ WEEK TWO – THE SIRENS ]

SIRENS

The message somehow ends up showing up in a bottle washed up against the shore actually. Which is a pretty weird way to deliver a message but of course, it's thematic. Naturally, it'll only show up when nobody else is around. When walking along the beach, Battler, Fie, Raven, Serph, and Vriska will find that bottle right there, waiting for them.

The message Battler, Fie, Raven, Serph, and Vriska receives is short and simple:

Need you for something. Come see me this evening. You'll know where to go.

- Hal

P.S. Put the note back in the bottle. Throw it back. I'll know if you don't.

And that's it. Of course, if they choose to listen to their messages, they'll find a mysterious path in the jungle. They'll find the path as if guided to it, even though it won't be there if they try to show it to someone else later. And at the end of the path, they'll find a small hut, tucked against the jungle backdrop and the two Chiefs standing in front of it. Hal greets them with a flat look and a greeting:

Sirens.

And then he holds out five small notebooks, weather-worn and a little salty. Looks like they've been chosen for one of those roles that were mentioned. Good luck.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So it looks like we've got the who figured out, so... that leaves the how.

[Battler is so uncomfortable with all of this.]

Do you guys have any, uh, preferences on how you want to do it?

It's supposed to be bloody, right?

[She thinks about it.]

A neighboring army where I'm from had an execution method called death by a thousand cuts. You ever heard of it?

Nope. Share with the class! If it's as gruesome as it sounds, it'll probably work great.

First, you take the hands, eyes, and tongue. Then you start with the knife. Usually, the amount of cuts corresponds with the number of people who were hurt by the criminal's actions. Here it's obviously different, so... A lot of cuts. Next comes fire.

If he's still alive after that, we cut his throat.

[She does not sound happy about this at all, but.]

Wow.

[ damn. ]

That sure sounds gruesome enough! That might be even worse than what the Chiefs did to Haru, haha.

...

I hope he's not still alive after that.

[ said rather calmly, but ugh. ]

He'd have to be a damn cockroach. I doubt he will be.

Yeah, I've heard of it. They used to practice it in China, I believe.

[Yeah, he actually knows a lot of weird trivia. Because VN protagonist, I guess.]

Apparently it wasn't as dramatic as a lot of depictions claim, but that's besides the point.

It's definitely dramatic. The version I'm thinking of is, at least. Must've been a tradition that lasted even after we left Earth.

Right. Anyway, it should work as a decent enough starting point. We can do something a little worse next week.

[battler???]

[um]

...I feel like I might have misjudged you.

Huh? What do you mean?

I thought you were the pacifist, but you're trying to get us to do worse than cutting off various body parts before setting someone on fire.

I thought we all already agreed to make the murders as horrible as possible. I'm just going with that.

And I thought you were against the whole killing thing entirely.

I am! I don't want to kill anyone, and if we weren't forced into this messed up situation I sure as hell wouldn't be okay with any of you killing anyone either!

Whoa there.

[she puts her hand up in a placating motion]

Simmer down.

[Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down a little]

...I hate everything about this, okay. If I could see any other way out, I would take it in a second.

[Somehow, that irritates her, and she takes a breath in.]

You think any of us like this? The difference is that we're willing to do what needs to be done.

I didn't- that's not-

[Okay no that's it. That calm he'd just managed shatters as his shoulders jerk, and he squeezes his eyes shut in an attempt to keep the tears in.]

W-what the hell do you want me to do?

What do I want you to do? Get off your damn high horse.

[Her voice is icy.]

The first time we met as a group, you told me that the rest of us might not have a problem with committing murder, but you do. You think I don't have a problem with innocent people dying? We all hate this, and you don't get to act like you're the only one who does just because you're more focused on yelling about things we can't change.

Edited 2017-08-20 03:52 (UTC)

Fine, you're not any happier with it than me! That's great! I guess I'll just shut up and pretend I don't have any feelings, then?!

[He's just plain crying now. This is the guy who just a few moments ago was basically saying that cutting a person up and setting them on fire wasn't that big of a deal.]

That isn't what I said and you know it, but fine. Keep on acting like a child every time someone says something that hurts your precious feelings.

[i am so sorry oh my god]

Sure, and you can keep on acting like a goddamn emotionless robot! Aren't we a great team.

[And he's just going to turn his back to her and walk out because fuck this shit.]

[Normally, she would have let him go, but that... It's not his fault. He has no way to know why that, specifically, makes it feel as though her pulse has halted. Even though she knows that's true, it doesn't stop the way she hurries after him and plants a hand on his shoulder, trying to get his attention.]

Hey!

[When she speaks next, she's still furious, but there's something else in her voice as well. It sounds hurt, even if she's trying to hide it. More vulnerable than usual, to be sure.]

I don't care if you're pissed at me. You are never going to say anything like that to me again. Got it?

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itsalluseless - 2017-08-27 16:26 (UTC) - Expand