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shifted_logs2010-07-19 03:27 pm
realitymods) wrote in shifted_logs2010-07-19 03:27 pm
The Thirteenth Match
Characters: Cally, Ai, Spectators
Location: The Coliseum.
Time: Two days after the last fights.
Summary: The thirteenth of the death matches.
Warnings: Character death warning.
Those who had visited the king and the liar would know by now that arguments and banter were their main method of communication. But this argument was different. As they rose from their seats, their voices lifted too, until the argument rang out loud and clear.
And for once, the king argued for life.
“—but a child, not meant for battle or for death.”
A cold laugh from the liar. “And all the others were? Why must your conscience guide you only at the worst of times?”
“This is unthinkable cruelty. Have they not wits enough to end this by now?”
“Evidently not. I know thinking isn't your strong suit, but remember what is at stake here. We cannot afford forfeit, not this game, and we haven't time to argue. We have to start the fight.”
“I will not allow this.”
“Then this is for both our sakes.” The liar fired two bullets into the king's chest, and in the moment of the king's staggering, the liar drew the king's sword from its hilt and severed the king's head from his neck.
Mercury was everywhere.
In distaste, the liar discarded the sword. He walked up to the hourglass as if he had not noticed the silver blood splattered all over him. When he smiled, he smiled as if he had not just beheaded a man. And he spoke as if he did not announce something terrible. “Callindora Alynn. Ai Haibara. I'm so sorry.”
The hourglass started counting out the seconds, and the liar knelt by his king's side, sorting through his deck of cards.
Location: The Coliseum.
Time: Two days after the last fights.
Summary: The thirteenth of the death matches.
Warnings: Character death warning.
Those who had visited the king and the liar would know by now that arguments and banter were their main method of communication. But this argument was different. As they rose from their seats, their voices lifted too, until the argument rang out loud and clear.
And for once, the king argued for life.
“—but a child, not meant for battle or for death.”
A cold laugh from the liar. “And all the others were? Why must your conscience guide you only at the worst of times?”
“This is unthinkable cruelty. Have they not wits enough to end this by now?”
“Evidently not. I know thinking isn't your strong suit, but remember what is at stake here. We cannot afford forfeit, not this game, and we haven't time to argue. We have to start the fight.”
“I will not allow this.”
“Then this is for both our sakes.” The liar fired two bullets into the king's chest, and in the moment of the king's staggering, the liar drew the king's sword from its hilt and severed the king's head from his neck.
Mercury was everywhere.
In distaste, the liar discarded the sword. He walked up to the hourglass as if he had not noticed the silver blood splattered all over him. When he smiled, he smiled as if he had not just beheaded a man. And he spoke as if he did not announce something terrible. “Callindora Alynn. Ai Haibara. I'm so sorry.”
The hourglass started counting out the seconds, and the liar knelt by his king's side, sorting through his deck of cards.
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Her expression was as calm as ever even if her own thoughts were a whirlwind in it of itself. Depending on how this would end, Haibara had the suspicion that her safety measures she secured back home were necessary. One could never be too careful when it came to the prospect of death knocking at your door. An idea the girl was far too familiar with. And for someone who spent her life, now, running and hiding from her past, she managed to find the will power needed to face her future head on in this one brief moment.
I'll come back, she reminded herself as she gripped the tin again. This isn't running away. I couldn't allow Kudo to risk himself against Vermouth so this is entire situation is out of the question. Granted she had really had no grand delusions of justice or even any desire to get involved in matters like this. It didn't sit well with her already guilty conscious though to have someone die in order for her to live.
Closing her eyes, Haibara could picture Akemi's face from the last time they spoke before the last of Shiho Miyano's life was stolen from her. Maybe I'll be able to see you, onee-san.
A twitch of a smile lasted for just barely a second before she opened her eyes again to face the other woman.
"I had said before that you won't have to make a decision about this match and I intend to keep my word."
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She winces as the other man’s head comes off, the only concession to emotion that she’ll actually make upon this day, presses her hand to her heart in a mild prayer for his soul and then, finally, turns back to her opponent – a wry smile lifting the edge of her lips, but only just. “Well, at least they’re sorry – we have to take what we can get at the moment.”
Which isn’t much – she might come back; but she’s not quite sure how she feels about that. How it’d feel to, technically, be the zombie this time instead of the one in power.
She wonders if she’ll have tales to tell to the other necromancers after this, she wonders if she’ll get a new lease of life after this, she wonders if her questions don’t matter and she’ll just get eaten by The Goddess anyway… And, above all, she wonders if those she’s leaving behind will be alright.
Actually, she more hopes that they’ll be alright – perhaps she won’t mind being a technical zombie so much if she gets to see them again; River, Tuomas, Satoshi, Sophia… No, no – best not to think on that. She can resist emotion; she’s a necromancer – it’s in her blood.
There’s no point in thinking about it; it’s entirely out of her hands.
So instead she sets her shoulders high; and gives Haibara a faintly regretful smile. “But what if I’ve already made my decision?”
The sword that she stole, or borrowed – the terminology doesn’t really seem to matter at the moment, lies hidden in her skirts; blade razor sharp.
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She stares at the pill with her forehead wrinkled... But she certainy hasn't figured it out; pills aren't so common in her world.
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It was a lie she was only half-convinced of though. But it was one she was teaching herself to believe should that day ever really come. Far too often had she felt their presence. Too many times did she dream of Gin or Vermouth finding her and executing her. At least with Vermouth she could bargain to spare the lives of others-- it was Gin that she had to teach herself this lie.
Plucking the pill from the tin she didn't even blink as she popped it into her mouth. Calculations from the previous experiments that she could remember from old data told her that she had seven seconds before it would take effect the moment she swallowed.
"You really shouldn't believe everything you see," Ai stated before swallowing the pill dry.
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She blinks at the pill swallowing, narrows her eyes in thought for a moment at what exactly that pill will do... But then dismisses it; the point of the blade is already over her heart and she's too busy silently saying goodbye to actually care that much.
It's scary, terrifying actually, but it's better than she thought it'd be.
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When she opened her mouth to respond, instead of the words she was aiming to speak in response, out came a painful sounding cough. Her hand flew to her throat as the familiar fiery sensation over-took her body. The deafening sound of he heart beating filled her ears when Haibara clutched at her heart, her every bone in her body aching as if they were being crushed from within.
Unable to stand the child fell to her knees, hunched over with only her hands for support to keep her from collapsing onto the ground, coughing violently. Already her vision was blurring and specks of blood could be seen on the coliseum floor.
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She stands for a moment; her eyes wide and faintly shocked, her mouth working the air as the blood spreads across the front of the dress... And then she slumps, there's no other way to describe it. It isn't graceful, it is particularly dramatic - it's just a slow fall into the dirt with crumpled skirts.
"Wh- wha-" she tries to ask of Haibara, tries to ask with her nails clawing marks in the dirt... But no, it's far too late and far too painful for speech; no matter how hard she tries she can't force herself to make the effort.
She's already dying; there seems little point.
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"A-aaah!"
Fingers were now digging into her shirt over her heart while the child struggled to breath in between the cries. Coherent thoughts were replaced with frantic ones, desperate to cling to something in order to the ignore the pain, anything at all. Just something long enough to last the remaining moments of the poison before it would finally end.
Flinching as she gasped and tried to swallow another cry, she forced herself to open one eye only to see the other woman clawing at the ground.
"--I--idiot!"
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Stomach twisting and twisting, she's late and she didn't mean. She's here.
She has a seat in the coliseum, a seat - a bed. Not long after she'd tried to sit down, she lay down instead, shoulders tense and fingers curled into fists, hard enough that her nails dig into her palms. Her eyes shut and open erratically, sometimes hiding her head behind her arm - like hide and seek, can't find can't watch. She's here for (Cally), she's here and she's - analyzing, watching the openings. Pressure applied here. A blow to the neck there. Estimated time of death 4.8 seconds.
A recurring loop of 4.8 seconds, over and over and she didn't want to be here, doesn't, shouldn't have come, came for Cally. To see Cally, before, in case. In case she goes and doesn't come back.
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He knew them both to an extent. They were friends of his Creator. He also knew this would upset his Creator and hoped that he would not come to this match. While Argentine was still groping blindly in the darkness of emotions, he knew enough that this would be horrible on his Creator. Satoshi. Argentine idly considered giving him a hug after this match. Both Rose and Cally seemed to support them.
For now, however, he was content to watch, face blank as the two discussed the possibilities before them. More emotions he didn't quite understand, such distress and sacrifice. Yet he felt an ache inside of him that was unexplainable at realising one - or possibly both - would soon lay broken in the dirt.