VIDEO-ish (cw: torture and murder)

[bloomingdespite]

[Before the ICP flickers on, every passenger hears a resounding, deep voice thunder through every car in the train, carrying with it a deathly—if odd—proclamation:]

PENALTY GAME: HELL REVERSE!

[Moments later, every ICP turns on to reveal a figure shrouded in shadows, holding the unconscious body of Xue Yang with one hand as the Eye of Wdjat blazes on both of their foreheads. It's clear they're in the gaming car, but if anybody tries to enter from either end, they'll find the doors are impossibly locked.]

Passengers of the Voidtrecker Express, I hold in my hands an unrepentant murderer who slaughtered one of your very own: the victim being A-Qing, and the criminal being Xue Yang. While she has returned, this crime cannot go unpunished, and I have taken it upon myself to try and burn out the stain on his soul—or, at the very least, provide adequate agony for all of his victims, both on the train and off.

If you need to see proof of my justice...

Avert your eyes if you do not wish to see memories of the brutal death of a young woman in her prime.

[The screen flickers once again, this time showing A-Qing's murder, although it doesn't have any audio. ((OOC: Additional CW for graphic depictions of murder.))

When it returns to the interior of the Games Car, the shadowy figure is gone, but their voice and Xue Yang remain.]

I leave it to the council to dispense their own punishment, as meager as it may be.

Remember, passengers:

I am watching.

[The ICP clicks off, and the train is deadly quiet.]

Comments

[longforgottenpromise]

I don't think that means you don't understand people. Most people do not murder.

[His voice is firm on that one. Murder is a terrible thing. Most people would never do such a thing and indeed wouldn't understand why anybody would.

Taiki has killed, a face that twists pain through him and he knows his reasons for that. But even such an act of desperation. It had still been a despicable thing to do.]

[swansongs]

Yeah...

[He swallowed, hesitating for a moment, debating how much he wanted to say, and how he was going to say it.]

I just... I lost someone, kind of recently, and...and all of this just...

[Brought him back to that moment on stage, with Moira in his arms. He'd tried not to think about it, over the months since it'd happened, but he was probably going to have nightmares again now.]

I'll be okay though.

[He didn't sound very convincing, but he meant it. He'd been okay once; he'd be okay again.]

[longforgottenpromise]

[At that he gives up on not reaching out and his hand moves over to take Dyme's own if he lets him. His eyes are sad as he looks at him.]

I'm sorry to hear that and I'm sorry you had to see that. [It had hurt him and brought back memories, he said he would be okay but Taiki knew that the road to being okay would be long. He probably hadn't been okay before this, just good at hiding things.]

You don't have to be... If you need to be not okay for a while, then that's alright too.

[swansongs]

[Dyme was definitely okay with that, and gave Taiki's hand a gentle squeeze.]

If I let myself be not okay...I don't know how long it'll take to come back from it.

[The first time had been hard enough, and Salem wasn't here to help him this time.

He took a shaky deep breath.]

I don't want to be a burden to anyone.

[longforgottenpromise]

You wouldn't be a burden. You can take as long as you need.

[He wouldn't abandon someone who is not alright, he is willing to spend as much time as is necessary.

He keeps holding his hand, offering an anchor.]

[swansongs]

You're a good person.

[Taiki was kind and sweet, and Dyme still felt like a burden, but it was hard to blink back the tears. He was trying his best though, rubbing at his eyes with his free hand.]

Maybe I should head to my room for a bit.

[And hope there was no one else there.]

[longforgottenpromise]

[It's not true, but he just looks at Dyme sadly, wishing he could do more to help.]

If you wish to be alone, but don't feel you have to be. I will stay with you as long as you want... even if you don't want to talk.

Um... But you don't have to, I won't force you.