15 Strangers AU - Post-Execution -> Deadland

[godspiousjasper]

[ Once Zero agreed on who was to be his executioner?

Roland absolutely let it happen, resigned to his fate and whole-heartedly accepting whatever method Hubert chose. There was no running. Infact, he vaguely remembered hearing the other man make a request to Zero to let everyone who didn't want to see this leave early. He was only focused on those cold, angry eyes.

Then the sharp gleam of the blades caught his gaze, moments before one lashed out. Another followed. Pain wracked his body each time a cut was made, and at some point something was poured onto the blades. Something that caused a vicious, stinging burning sensation which lingered but no matter how much pain seared every nerve?

He didn't run. He didn't complain. It was something he deserved.

Roland didn't know how long he was there, or how many cuts soon covered his body. It was only as those cuts grew deeper, more ferocious that he began to feel light-headed and a particularly deep cut to his thigh had him falling back onto the floor. Another glanced along his collarbone, two more into his chest deeply, blood beginning to darken bright blond locks an ugly crimson color.

Arms. Legs. Chest. Probably some on his back by now.

So much blood. A searing, fierce burning agony. A laugh bubbled up from deep within his throat. He could repent this way. Good. Green eyes began to turn a bit glassy, coughing up some blood. No longer did he have the strength to move his limbs, and Roland was infinitely glad that Alastor hadn't stuck around to see this. Vaguely he could hear Hubert speaking to him, vision spinning but he couldn't form any words.

Steps. One. Two. Three.. coming closer. ]

Hu...bert..

[ That was all he could say, vision swimming but registering that Hubert knelt near him. A flash of something silver in his hand and Roland closed his eyes, just as a sharp, quick pain lanced across his throat. It hurt, and he was... so, SO cold. He choked on the air he couldn't take in, and death finally came quick.


What felt like mere seconds later? Roland's eyes snapped open and he sucked in a breath, but he didn't immediately move. What was this? It wasn't heaven... good. He was where he belonged. It'd take some time before he even wanted to move, though not even sure this afterlife was something even he deserved after everything that had transpired. ]

...How cruel... O Lord you truly have indeed forsaken me...

Comments

[godspiousjasper]

[ Even here, when he had been the one to take her life? She was the one speaking kind words that rung with truth to them, still knowing that in the end he'd tried to be good with his actions.

Roland truly had believed that an unkind person would have just let her slowly die, prolonging her suffering on the way to death. He still was beating himself up for what he'd done and she still thought of him as a good person, so didn't that mean he wasn't completely irredeemable? ]

The... hostages should be safe now. Olivier and your brother included.

[ He pushed himself up enough so he could get up and walk over the short distance to her, sitting near her but not moving any closer than that incase it bothered her at all. ]

I believe in everyone there. They'll manage to keep the rest of them safe and find a way to fix everything.. but... as for what you said before? [ Roland nodded slowly. ] Thank you for still seeing the good in me, even if a part of me doesn't quite believe I deserve it.

[exequte]

I know.

[Her voice is very small, and though her face is hidden, her voice is thick as though with tears.]

A-and that's... that's good. At least.... At least there's that much.

[And she doesn't pull away from him, though she also doesn't move closer.]

[godspiousjasper]

Your life has a lot of value to it, Akane. It's worth more than you think.

[ While such may not be of much consolation he can't help but try and offer this much to her. Especially since he's sure she's crying but it doesn't feel like it's his place anymore to be able to offer her comfort. ]

So many others on that ship likely would have given anything to be the one in your place now. To be the one killed so you could have lived.

[exequte]

I....

[She hesitates at that, because it's not like she can say she's glad it was her, because she isn't. She hadn't wanted this. Didn't want it still. But here they were, right? And so there was nothing to do but to move forward.]

I think....

I think we must still be here for a reason. So maybe it's not the end. Not really.