suitedreams | WEEK FOUR: EXECUTION

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WEEK FOUR: EXECUTION

W̴͍̎E̴̝̊E̸͚͝K̸͕̿ FOUR: EXECUTION

By now, you've all got to be expecting it. Time marches on, and as Sunday morning arrives, you'll find yourself rising from your bed around 9. It starts off as a gentle suggestion, a feeling that you're going to be late for something. Aren't you going to be late for something?

Whether you answer that call or not, eventually, you'll find yourself walking directly down to the lobby, to a room that has so far been locked. All of you stand in front of a pair of golden doors, blocked off by a red velvet rope.

There's a moment of silence, and then a strange clattering noise. The doors fly open, and you'll find that you're standing in a darkened room where rows and rows of blue velvet seats lead up to a stage. The stage in front of you is covered with a pair of matching, rich blue velvet curtains, emblazoned with the logo of the Starlight Hotel.

Welcome, everyone, to the Starlight Theater.

You'll find yourself feeling like you must sit. You can choose your seat, but every seat in the house in the Starlight Theater guarantees a perfect view of the stage - there's no hiding. Should you try to merely stand, you'll find a pair of hands on your shoulders, and your body will move along without your permission into a seat. For those of you looking at your less cooperative friend, you might see the figure walking them to their seat is skeletal in nature, almost dancing behind them as they're ushered into their seat.

In fact... The empty seats in the theater are already filled. Skeletons sit in each empty seat, but make no mistake, audience: they clatter and move around, excited. Some of them are holding popcorn. Some of them look at you, then at the screen, eager. Others raise their arms to flag something, or someone - shadowy ushers burst from the floor and provide refreshments - and skeletons pour drinks down their nonexistent throats and stomachs, slurping at straws in a way that should be impossible.

Eventually, the bone clattering stops, and a hush falls over the crowd. Looking around, you might have noticed that one of your own didn't make it to the theater - Yuri Leclerc is not among you.

Perhaps he's backstage?

You don't get much time to think about it, though. The lights dim, and a pair of spotlights spin and arch across the curtains, as somewhere, a drumroll plays.

Lights, camera, action!

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

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[as the curtains pull back, you're presented not with a live play, but with a screen. there's a soft click, a scratch noise, and then a whirring, as a light comes on and projects something.

the drumroll stops, and instead, a tune begins to play, crystal clear over the speakers. the title screen fades, and the only thing you can hear is music, as your silent film begins...]

Edited 2022-07-10 16:47 (UTC)

[As the silent movie begins, the camera pans in from above, granting the audience a birds eye view of a a convertible car as it makes its way down the road. The car's top is pulled all the way down, allowing the audience to see two very stylish individuals seated on the front, the wind blowing through their hair...

The camera shifts— and there's Sheila, dressed to the nines while wearing a very cute pair of heart shaped sunglasses. She blinks rapidly, clearly startled to suddenly find herself driving — and the car swerves a little, but remains on the road.

A quick glance to the person sitting next to her, and her grip on the steering wheel tightens.]

Ah, fuck. It's time.

[At least the forest is nice? And peaceful. Surely, nothing will go wrong.]

[ there's more blinking from the person in the seat next to her, as yuri realises he's not in the hotel anymore. he's in sat comfortably in the passenger seat -- wind blowing through his hair, and looking equally stylish with a pair of the same heart shaped sunglasses perched on his nose. they're just two buddies out on a very stylish drive, nothing to see here other than their clearly impeccable style.

he peers down over the rim of his sunglasses, looking out at the scenery for a moment and then finally at whoever is driving the car. ]

Ah.

[ "ah, fuck" is about right. he pushes the glasses up a little, and rubs the bridge of his nose with a sigh. ]

Looks that way, doesn't it? [ he gives her a smile, but it's a little tight and doesn't quite reach his eyes. everything about his face suggests he wants them to be anywhere other than here right now.

he glances around at the car after and-- ]

Wait. Is this a fucking Impala?

[ outrage. ]

[Sheila opens her mouth—

Closes it?

And then she takes a good look at the car she's driving, squinting.]

... Pink Impala. Did not expect that. [The audience cannot see that it's pink, but it's pink. Okay.] I guess executions have become more equal opportunity suffering nowadays. Kind of rude, if you ask me.

[They're just two friends, driving this Trauma Impala down this beautiful road. Sheila continues to glance at Yuri every now and then, but she mostly keeps her eyes on the road because she would like not to kill them both in a terrible car crash.]

Okay, so... Here's an idea. I stop the car, you get off, and then I find a nice spot to crash this car and-slash-or stab myself in the brain with something sharp and pointy. Like a tree branch.

Well, I glad they decided equality was the way to go as they orchestrate all these little murder shenanigans.

[ he's leaning out a little to try and get a look at the colour himself. imagine if he fell out and died, that'd be neat. ]

Sheila, I love you and I appreciate you trying to keep me out of this, but I'm not leaving you alone here to stab yourself in the head with a tree branch.

[ he sits back with a huff. ] I don't think they'd make it that easy anyway. It's all about the entertainment.

[ but for the moment there's just... lovely scenery all around. lush forests, a breeze, the sun is shining. it's weirdly unthreatening, over all. it really is just two friends on a drive. ]

[ lol, jk.

there's a sudden exalted scream from in the trees, high-pitched and cracking, like someone has just discovered the meaning of life right in front of them and they can't do anything but shout in excitement and rapture.

the trees rustle, and a woman rushes out into the middle of the road ahead of them. she looks exactly like she just clawed her way through undergrowth to get there, lips split into a smile that looks too uncontrolled, too wide, to be anything reassuring. leaves and branches protrude from her hair, and her hands twitch at her sides.

her eyes are wild and wide and they're staring directly at sheila. ]

Ahead of us -- look out!

[Oh.

Sheila sucks in a breath and immediately tries to slam the breaks, turning the steering wheel in an attempt to avoid crashing into this very sane and normal person standing in the middle of the road.

Unfortunate for Sheila and Yuri, two things happen in quick succession: 1) The breaks do not work and the car continues to speed up, and 2) between the turning and the acceleration, the Impala promptly proceeds to swerve off the edge of the road and down a hill. The car flips over, jostling Sheila and Yuri around like rag dolls but not quite ejecting them thanks to the marvels of seat belts.

When the car finally rolls to a stop at the bottom of the hill, there are visible cuts and scrapes on Sheila but no blood. And without missing a beat—]

—Yuri?! Oh, my god, Yuri!

[She rips off her seat belt, crawling out of her seat to make sure her fellow mean girl is still in one piece. But she will want to make it quick.

After all, if the subtitles are to be believed, there is more screaming and shouting coming from above.]

[ unpleasant.

yuri's had enough of car related injuries this week, but this one is the first time he was in a car when they happened. it's impossible for him not to rattle his old injuries in the crash, but when the car comes to a stop he's sporting some additional scrapes and scratches where he jostled into the sides of the vehicle. unlike with sheila, there is blood splattering the white of his shirt and running from the wounds. ]

I'm alright, Sheila. [ he's been better. ] For the most part. Shit, why does it sound like there's more of them?

[ the subtitles on screen reflecting the screams and shouts are probably getting bigger to indicate they are getting closer.

yuri scrambles to tear off his own seat belt and crawl his way out of the wreckage of the car. he winces slightly as he stands, putting pressure on his previously injured leg, but doesn't seem to dwell on it. ]

I don't think we should be hanging around here any longer than we need to. [ his eyes are flickering around, looking for somewhere, anywhere that can be used as a bolt hole. somewhere to run and get away from these shouting stalkers now hunting them down. ]

[Given that she doesn't seem to be in any apparent pain, despite the very violent car crash they were just involved in, Sheila immediately rushes to help him out of the car and keep him steady on his feet. And as if the ominous shouting wasn't enough, one glance behind them is all the confirmation she needs that they really shouldn't stay here.

A group of shadowy figures have begun to descend the hill, scrambling and running and tripping over themselves to reach them.]

Fuck! Come on, we need to hide. I am not letting anything happen to you because of me.

[This will not be pleasant for Yuri's already aggravated wounds, but Sheila begins to run, pulling him along with her. And while they run through the forest, they eventually come across an abandoned building, several stories high.]

Because of-- [ he looks behind him as sheila starts pulling him along, wincing slightly at how many of them there now are. where were they all hiding? ]

-- Sheila, do you know who they are?

[ as soon as the abandoned building comes into view, he steadies his pace and starts running more alongside sheila than being dragged behind her. he really doesn't want any of those figures to get their hands on either of them.

being out in the open just seems like a recipe for trouble. there are too many directions they could be chased from, too many places for those people to hide. ]

Quick, if we duck in there we can at least try and hold them off. [ there isn't really any other option. they duck in through the door.

the inside looks worse that the outside. broken furniture, stairs with broken hand rails, and chunks of debris line the floor. paint flecks and falls from the walls and he slams the door behind them and scrabbles with the rusty lock. it clicks into place with a tired, painful drag of rust and metal.

the whole place looks like it's done everything possible to excel at looking as utterly abandoned to the elements as it could. every now and again there's what looks like a little pieces of tile broken into splinters on the ground, like they fell from a height. yuri stares at the tile pieces, and then looks up-- ]

... Um.

Sheila.

[ what the fuck ]

Hell no! But it's my execution. So, you know, kind of my fault if you get your ass whooped like a piñata.

[Her execution! Her slut, her responsibility. That is how it works. (No.)

But into the building they go. Yuri grapples with the lock, and Sheila quickly locates a convenient piece of furniture to barricade the door. It's a chair, the wood puffed in with moisture in a way that suggests it's not even real wood — which is how she doesn't notice the beautiful(?) artwork at first.]

Hm? Yuri—

[She turns to face Yuri, following his gaze.

...]

Wow. That is a lot to process. [HELLO???] And I would never wear a bikini in that shade. It's so unflattering!

[Hm.

Anyway, they will want to keep running because? Someone is banging at the door, trying to break it down. Several someones, really.]

Oh, I don't know. I think you make it work.

[ well. they're persistent, aren't they? it takes yuri a moment because he is just. staring at this ceiling art like.

that's something. that's something he didn't need to see.

but then the banging at the door gets louder, and more insistent and he curses softly. ]

Come on. Up and attem, literally. They really seem to want a piece of you.

[ he ducks to grab a splintered and broken piece of the hand rail, before heading up the stairs ahead of sheila. this is a good thing for sheila, but less for him, because when he gets to the top of the stairs, there's an almighty thud that precedes one of these manic attackers bursting through one of the upper doors and directly into yuri.

he's completely unprepared for it, and crashing into the opposite wall with a wheeze and a cut off hiss of pain as his burnt back takes the brunt of the impact. ]

[There's something about what he says, that they want a piece of her, that makes Sheila stiffen.

But there's no time to unpack that, because they have to run up the stairs — where Yuri apparently gets promptly tackled by crazy? Sheila shrieks, jerking back, before her expression twists into one of sheer rage.]

Leave him alone, bitch!

[And then she's grabbing the first, solid and hefty makeshift weapon she can find, which just so happens to be a large piece of debris, and smashing it down on the attacker's head. The debris breaks against their head... and so does their skull, judging by the way they crumple to the ground with blood pouring from an injury on their temple.]

Edited 2022-07-10 18:52 (UTC)

[ ugh. well.

give him a moment here. sheila brains the cultist like an absolute boss, while yuri stops seeing double from smacking his back into the wall and pushes himself upright again. ]

Shit, they're inside too?

[ he looks at the debris in sheila's hands, and then at the attacker crumpled on the floor. but there isn't time to waste. he reaches out and tugs on sheila's wrist. ] Thanks. I think all we can do is keep going now, right?

[ ... right? literally. metaphorically. they're in here now, so they can't stop. he'll give her wrist another tug, and start running down the hallway. there are rumbles, and thuds from the doors along it, and hands start to crack and force their way through the wood<. they grasp almost desperately, trying to grab hold of something, anything. ]

R-Right...! God, why did it have to be a horror movie?

[This is awful, actually. The hands blindly and desperately claw at them, snagging clothes, flesh, any piece of them that they can take hold of. Sheila bats them away the best she can, pulled along by Yuri. A loud thud and a crash rings out from the first floor, signaling that the mob finally broke down the door.

Not good.

But as they reach the end of the hallway, something even worse happens. Another figure suddenly rounds the corner and stands in front of them. Like the rest, there's a manic, almost reverent look in their eyes. Even when they lift the crossbow in their hands, take aim — and fire.]

[ becks 🐺 yuri leclerc Roll: [5] Result: 5

lmao. well.

the arrow sails out of the crossbow and while yuri does move to the side as soon as he spots the maniac with the weapon at the end of the hall, he's not fast enough to avoid it entirely. it sinks into his left thigh not too far from the injuries already there, causing him to stumble with a pained curse as it hits already injured tissue. but he can't stop -- he heard the door crash in behind him. he knows what that means.

he's quick to reach down and snap the long end off the arrow, leaving a shorter length sticking out, but he has to keep going. he stumbles into the attacker with far too much of his weight, balance unsteady from trying not to put too much weight on his doubly injured leg. ]

Keep going. [ please. please, please, don't worry about him and forget about the group behind them, sheila.

he's too focused on this attacker to notice the one appearing behind him, weapon steadied and raised, before letting off a shot. ]

Yuri—

[Bold of him to assume she wouldn't worry about him with an arrow in his fucking leg!

She reaches for him, grabbing his arms to steady him and pull him away from his attack and towards the stairs just around the corner. However...

kyuu mommy? sorry. Roll: [15] Result: 15

Unlike Yuri, Sheila does notice the second attacker.

Her reaction is instantaneous. Sheila shoves Yuri out of the way, pushing him past the corner and towards the stairs so he is shielded by the wall. But there is no time for her to dodge the grapple gun. The hook pierces through her stomach and knocks her flat on her back. And although the movie is in black and white to the audience, they will still notice that Sheila's blood is almost pitch black as it splatters on the floor under her. More blood stains the front of her white shirt.

Sheila does not move.]

[—Just joking!

Sheila abruptly sits up just in time for the man with the grapple gun to start reeling her in, smearing more of her blood all over the ground. She seems to be more offended than in any actual physical pain.]

Seriously?!

[She will make a valiant attempt to rip the hook out of her stomach, but the claws have found purchase on her back — it's impossible without tearing an even bigger hole through her abdomen. Around her, the hands that previously clawed and grabbed at her now reach for her blood.]

Sheila--

[ oh. well. whiplash?

it takes yuri a moment to put two and two together, having seen her fall like that. but as soon as she sits up, shouting, he almost moves on autopilot. the attacker with the gun still stands before them, arm steady as he tries to drag sheila across the ground towards him.

he grabs the nearest, sharpest thing he can find -- something sharp, shattered and broken lying on the ground, and darts forwards to grab the cord attaching the gun to the hook. it's pure adrenaline that has him hack through it, uncaring and unaware of the dark flow of blood from his hand the harder he grips. with the attackers so focused on sheila's blood on the ground, their hands pressing to it obsessively, he has a moment to grab hold of sheila, tug her upright and drag the both of them up the last set of stairs and onto...

the roof.

it's quiet up here. the scenery is beautiful. but there's nowhere else to go. only them, the scenery and a single beautiful blade on a crate nearby. ]

Shit. Shit, now what?

[Well.

Shit.

Sheila locks the door behind them, part of the hook and its cord still attached to her body. Despite it, she shows no signs of pain or fatigue.

Only acceptance when she sees the single blade, and nowhere else to run.]

... Now, you have to kill me. And then movie ends, and you'll be safe for another week.

[Gently. She walks to the crate, picking up the blade and turning it over in her hands, before she holds it out to Yuri.]

Remember how I told you I was immortal? Well... That's still kind of true, but not exactly. [Calmly, she smiles a bit sadly at him.] So here's what you need to do. You take this absolutely gorgeous dagger, and you make sure to stab me through the eye hard enough to kill my brain. Easy.

[There is, unfortunately, not a lot of time for Yuri to think about this. Because they will soon hear multiple someones rushing up the stairs, and trying to break down the door.]

[ ...

there's this feeling of failure. it's instant, and it's intense. with the sound of footsteps and the banging on the door. seeing how high up they are, and that understanding that there's nowhere else to go.

he'd had to try, it felt like. because those attackers, whatever they are, and their fixation on sheila -- the idea of them getting their hands on her was just as bad as the hotel doing this her.

"they can't have her".

he reaches out and takes the dagger with a sigh. ]

I'd sort of hoped something might come to me. Some way of getting you out of this mess.

[ that feeling of failure. knowing he can't lie, manipulate, charm or sneak his way out of this one. he grips the dagger in one hand -- still bloodied, still running on adrenaline, and steps forwards to wrap sheila in a hug. ]

...

I'm sorry. I won't let them have you. Not in the way they want.

[ he knows what has to be done. he's done something like it before. he'll probably do it again. but right here and now, he has to do this and it feels like the worst thing he could possibly do. he keeps his grip on her tight. so she's not alone, and she knows she's not alone in these last few moments. ]

We'll see you soon. All of us.

[ and without a pause he reaches around the back of her head, still holding her tightly, and drives the dagger through her temple and into her brain. ]

Edited 2022-07-10 19:58 (UTC)

[The music swells to a crescendo, playing louder as the picture on screen begins to fade to black. Credits begin to roll for all to see.]

A Diffi-Cult Climb
aka
Sheila Hammond is Dead!

The Dame - Played by Sheila Hammond
The Gentleman - Played by Yuri Leclerc

Filmed on location at the Starlight Hotel

The cast and crew of Starlight Productions would like to remind you that murdering a fellow guest outside of filming will guarantee the safety of your hostage.

Sponsored by Starlight C*ke

[The lights raise up just slightly, barely enough to see the theater as the screen rises up. The body of Sheila lies on the floor, broken and lifeless as Yuri remains frozen in his spot next to her. As the audience watches, a wave of shadows burst from Sheila, scattering around the room and briefly pitching everyone into that same, alarming darkness you experienced Thursday night. You soon hear the sound of footsteps, graceful and steady, but as the shadows clear from your vision you spot the corpse of Sheila making its way across the stage, dagger still driven through its temple.

It walks forward and gives a little bow of gratitude for watching its performance. But it doesn't stop there. As it stands upright, it pauses to look at the crowd before blowing a sweet, gentle kiss. There's love and devotion to the gesture, but it doesn't linger long. It turns then, giving one more wave before beginning to walk once more. Everyone in the theater is paralyzed, and as soon as the corpse steps out the exit the house lights come on.

The shadows and the skeletons are gone. You are once again free to move, but if you attempt to chase after Sheila’s corpse you won’t be able to find her just yet.

When you exit the theater, you will find everything is back to normal. But feel free to visit the Starlight Cemetery to see someone new.

You can check out any time you’d like, but you can never leave.]

[Your reactions go here. You are confined to your seats, but you did get to choose them, so hold hands or what have you. You hear the music from the film, but the dialogue from the two on screen will only be displayed as subtitles. You can't hear their voices for the duration of the film.]

Edited 2022-07-10 16:11 (UTC)

[ sebastian came here by himself this time. he just looks tired and sad as he takes a seat and looks up at the title card on the screen. ]

[ Bradley takes a seat next to him and looks up at the screen. ]

[ hi. ]

[here's harrow, face painted nicely, likely sitting with lup and molly, her expression very carefully stoic.]

[ hi he's here and holding her hand very tightly. ]

[ affection week... is actually... the worst week...!

...it feels like so long ago since he last saw sheila's name on the screen. ]

[Rin is looking a little better than he did last night, but he still looks like he does not want to be here.

He won't try to sit next to anyone though, he's going to take a seat over by himself for now.]

[ She’ll sit like… a seat away from him to give him space.

But otherwise :/ ]

[He tries to watch, he really does. But when it gets to the end and Sheila hands Yuri the dagger, he just can't anymore. He squeezes his eyes shut and covers his hands with his face, unable to see the end result.]

[ the gremlin looks as exhausted as the rest of them today. she just carefully curls into a ball, not even bothering to look at the sceeen. tired. ]

[ diluc is here…canopus curled up in his lap. his eyes are on the screen.

he looks exhausted…also sporting sick bruise on his cheek (face). ]

[ hua cheng is in the seat next to him left behind by kaeya's death, fist propping his chin up and expression displeased.

but he watches as the show begins, silent, for now.

and then the car crashes, and the... screaming gets "louder," and his expression just becomes more severe. ]

Edited 2022-07-10 18:18 (UTC)

[ diluc tenses as everything happens so much all at once. ]

Shit…

[ there's not really time to process the painting of sheila on the ceiling, considering a whole lot of crazy tries to take yuri out. he tries to ignore the empty stomach feeling. ]

I almost miss the comedy of errors from past executions. [ it was ridiculous, and humiliating, and mood whiplash. but this... "shit" is right. ]

[ also ignoring the hunger pains, keeping his full attention on the film in front of them. when the pair make a break for it, he grimaces at the sight of hands bursting out and grasping at them. ]

I agree…these are becoming more real, with each passing week…

[ this is going to end so poorly. yuri's rolls are still crunchy. ]

Whatever is the most "entertaining." [ a little scathingly. they tried last week to subvert expectations and plot twists alike. it didn't work. ]

[ returns with pizza. nina, not diluc. anyways…

this is bat shit bonkers and diluc is leaning forward in his seat now. ]

What in Celestia is going on… [ he watches as sheila is dragged across the floor, fighting to get free from the hook in her stomach. ]

These attackers…who and what are they??

[Estelle will sit at his other side, reaching over to place a hand on his.]

[ he will turn his hand over, to hold hers, giving it a light squeeze. ]

[Estelle is visibly tired and sore from yesterday, but she manages to slump down in a seat and gaze up at the screen.

Everyone's too sad and tired to say it, but I'll just establish right here that despite it all, she thinks they both look very cool.]

[i am oocly feeling ill but lup is here, sitting with a stony look, a leather jacket pulled tightly close to her. she's watching. of course she is.]

[ sits uncomfortably here, moodily eating refreshments because hungry and watching his water bottle go through it ]

[As you watch this movie play out before you, you will find that the skeletons around you chatter eagerly, enthralled by the action. Soon, you find yourself feeling slightly uncomfortable. You shift in your seat. For a moment, it's difficult to pinpoint what this feeling is...but eventually you recognize it as hunger. The movie is almost relaxing, but you can't quite concentrate when all you can think about is your stomach. Good thing the shadows are working overtime to provide you with tasty refreshments. Eat up!]

Edited 2022-07-10 16:54 (UTC)

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WEEK FOUR: EXECUTION

EXECUTION

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PEANUT GALLERY

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A THING