The Final Day

[airlockedmods]

[Friday comes with the usual morning announcement. There's no blood or anything anywhere, and nothing visibly disturbed.

>Investigate...?]

Comments

[in4apounding]

Akira-

[She's. Coming back. Slowly. Not exactly moving, yet, but at least registering his presence.]

We can't- we can't just leave her, they- ...I'm so sorry, Roxy.

[le_mat]

They won't take her yet.

[Not till after the trial. They have the living to think of]

Come on... we have to warn the others.

[in4apounding]

...Not yet.

[Penny slowly sits up, kneeling. She stares at Roxy's prone body for another minute before turning her attention to Akira, processing what he's saying, what it means.]

Akira, where's- ...Shovel-kun. Where is it?

[le_mat]

Don't you dare.

[Not after Thomas, he can't]

We're not doing this. We're done.

[in4apounding]

Not- not like that.

[Could she even take herself out with a shovel- ...well, maybe, but it wouldn't be the most reliable method.]

[She shakes her head, looking down.]

Not like Mister Thomas. Like Korra. Yuri. Chloe.

[le_mat]

... yeah. Yeah.

[It's near by, and he takes it up, offering it]

I'm with you.

[in4apounding]

[She nods mutely, rising quietly and taking it, before pulling him into a tight hug.]

I'm so sorry-

[le_mat]

This... wasn't you. She was saving me.

[He hugs her tight, trying to not cry- she doesn't need his grief right now]

[in4apounding]

She wouldn't have needed to if I wasn't so- I was just- I couldn't just let them threaten all our homes like that- and- I was going to- I wasn't going to do anything alone, but-

[le_mat]

I know.

[He untangles himself, standing and offering his hand]

We gotta get ready. Once the others see her, they're gonna call the trail. We don't have a lot of time.

[in4apounding]

[She nods, mutely, looking back at Roxy.]

...What do we need.

[le_mat]

Get the others. I'll hit the kitchen- see if we can find anything else we can use as weapons.

[in4apounding]

...okay.

[This. This isn't going to be fun. Much less so than battles to the death usually are.]

CECE, can you- do you know where everyone else is?

[airlockedmods]

The Champions of Denial and Explosions are in the Library. The Champion Landscape Artist is in his room, and I believe judging by his vital signs that he is asleep. The Champion Barista has just entered the cafeteria.

[in4apounding]

Okay. Thank you.

[Her grip tightens on Shovel-kun for a second.]

And- CECE. Thank you. For being my friend. ...And if things go badly- I'm sorry.

[le_mat]

[While Penny calls for CECE, Akira heads out to the kitchen to, well... load the fuck up on knives.]