Elect the Executioner

[Cephrir]

/sure whatever

[Cephrir]

You should vote for me because I plan on writing an elaborate death scene!

[Cephrir]

Yesssss. Thank you, my children. You will be among those spared.

[Cephrir]

Guaranteed survival for whoever gives me that last point, what more could you ask for~

[Cephrir]

3 points to Titus

I'm only doing this so I don't get a strike!

[Cephrir]

Why won't you let me have nice things

[Cephrir]

I will accept requests to add something to my write-up in exchange for points. You can try to make me incorporate as silly a thing as you like and I will do my best to drop it in smoothly.

[Cephrir]

Well, I guess I'll just

give 3 points to Piggy

as a form of begging her for my pathetic life, then. No elaborate execution for you.

[Cephrir]

Well, if that was supposed to be trippy, then it worked.

[Cephrir]

I'm a side now D:

3 to Titus

[Cephrir]

This decision is not going to be difficult

[Cephrir]

(When I get home, probably~)

[Cephrir]

(If this is too late, fine, but I wanted to write it anyway)

Cephrir did not stalk his prey. He didn't like to think of it that way. They both knew the score. For Cephrir, the world's most polite assassin, it was more than another day on the job. More than a few months on the job, really. He didn't enjoy the work he had to do, but he did everything he could to make the best of it. He knocked on his unlucky victim's door. Though he usually took this moment to plaster a pleasant expression on his face, today he did not try to hide his grim demeanor as the door was answered. "Good morning, my friend," Ceph said, presenting the poor unfortunate soul with a bouquet of flowers. They were mostly carnations. They both loved carnations. Ceph wrapped his arms around them and squeezed. "Do not be afraid," he said sadly. "Though I will miss you in this life, there is much in store for you on the other side."

It was a strange bond they'd built, but not the first such for our troubled killer. After only one night, his target had understood their fate. Ceph had demonstrated his prowess, made it very clear to them that they had no hope at all, that there was no way to escape him. It was best if they'd just enjoy their time together; up to a point, it was alright if they didn't want to go until they were ready. There was no point in running or seeking help -- they had used to try, but he'd learned the art of persuasion after many trials. He much preferred it this way.

Though the target had found themselves developing a morbid side and a deep abiding sadness over the past few months, they greeted Ceph with a smile as well. Theirs had been an excellent time, and truly, on some level, it had all been worth it. They'd spent days and weeks getting to know each other, taking long walks through the wilderness, speaking of days long past, days yet to come, and what each thought were the greatest things in this life. They had played tennis together, talked long into the nights, even gone on an exotic cruise to the great unknown and seen mysterious new lands together. The target knew it was their last day, and they would try to enjoy it, but they had to admit that would be difficult. It would not be like the days the two souls had spent together before, in the early days, before the specter of death began to loom over their heads all the more perceptibly.

"Ceph, I know you were planning to try to make this easier now, to take me through my last day as gently as you have all my others, but I just can't do it. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and a day of lasts will not help to sooth the pain. My affairs are set in order, my story will be heard, even if no one ever believes it. That's okay with me. Just... stay with me, please. Hold my hand. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, I think our friendship would have endured the ages."

"I thought you might wish it so. You probably think I say this to everyone, but I don't -- you are right, I'm sure of it. I've made many friends this way, and to have them torn away -- though I know they go to a better place -- it hurts me, too, deeply. I fear I will always live this way, solitary, doomed only to be truly known by those with only a few months to live. I wish there was a way I could set us both free. You know how often I've considered ending it for myself, too, to stop the mad turmoil that my existence is. This time was the worst one. Last night, I thought I might just start running, hopelessly, knowing I had no hope but choosing symbolic resistance, giving you a few more days. But in the end, logic always prevails. I know they would only replace me with someone quicker, more efficient, cold-blooded. The greatest mercy I can do for the world is to carry on with my burdens. I am so, so sorry this happened to you, of all people. The world deserves your light."

The target sighed sadly. "Come on in, then... for one last time."

A few moments found them arranged as they had always known they one day would be. Cephrir sitting at the bedside, a glass full of clear liquid in one hand, the other clasped around the hand of his friend, who lay down, looking nervous but tranquil.

"Are you ready to start the next great adventure?"

"I am not, but that will never change." It was not the first time they'd had this exchange, but it would be the last.

"All the same. Don't wait for me, please. Go and experience all there is to experience. I'll be along."

"I know."

"Then drink." His eyes dripping tears, Ceph held the glass to his friend's lips and coaxed the stuff down.

"I am so sorry,

JDGA

," he said quietly, tightening his grip and watching as she breathed her last.

[Cephrir]

^oops

[Cephrir]

3 points to Axxle!

What a bro.

[Cephrir]

all glory to the hypnobandwagon

[Cephrir]

That reminded me of a poem I wrote once. Excellent.

[Cephrir]

3 points to spread the love to Mist!

[Cephrir]

Aw man that's just rude

[Cephrir]

3 points to PrivateI

!

[Cephrir]

Meh, y'all were boring as shit anyway.

[Cephrir]

Do we get to do jury questions?

[Cephrir]

I'm going to assume I get jury questions.

I'd like both of you to tell me what you did that made this game any different from rolling an X-sided die to determine the winner and then writing some fanfiction about it, because really, it didn't seem to me like anyone even tried.

[Cephrir]

Cephrir rubbed his palms together nervously. He stared at the glass cover, like a huge upside-down wineglass without a handle. "It's time," he said, a tremor in his voice. He reached out a trembling arm and tried to lift the cover, but it would not budge. Then, steeling himself, he swept one hand at it, carefully angling his strike to send it flying without disturbing its prize. The cover sailed off the crisp white tablecloth, flying off the balcony and into the night. A faint crash and was heard below, along with the yowl of a surprised cat. He reached out and laid his fingers around it. An owl hooted in the distance, over and over again. Cephrir gripped the object. It was smooth and cool against his skin. He shook his hand and rolled it -- the deep blue stone tumbled onto the table, its faces spinning, and finally it stopped.

"Four. Four wins."

There you go, I just simulated another game of this. Good job, four.

[Cephrir]

So am I just supposed to vote for whoever wrote better fanfiction, then? That seems kind of silly.

[Cephrir]

You can't technically be sure I did!

[Cephrir]

You just vote for whoever didn't kill you. That easy enough?

No, that's boring.

To answer your questions, Ceph:

What's so wrong with writing fanfiction? As someone who actually writes fanfics in their spare time, your lack of appreciation for the art is kinda saddening. Especially because writing out entertaining stories seemed to kind of be the highlight of the game? I'm just saying, as someone who writes

a lot

of fanfiction, you can't tell me that no one put any effort into writing these executions scenes out. It takes time to write out paragraphs of an interesting story, so yeah, I don't think a single person in this game didn't try. So just, don't.

I wasn't saying that! I enjoyed writing mine too, and it's certainly the entire reason I played in the first place. Writing stories is awesome, but there was supposed to be a game here too, and I was kind of hoping someone would try to play it, but it didn't really feel to me like that happened!

As for the other point, I'll have you know that I only rolled a die on the last turn because my previous strategy wouldn't have worked. What was that previous strategy, you ask? Well, I figured people would probably choose who to eliminate out of the pool of people who didn't give them points (obviously that wasn't a guarantee, but chances were a lot better) so I always just waited until it was obvious who was going to be voted as Executioner and added my points on. Pretty simple strategy, but it got me to the end, so, I can't say it didn't work.

Fair. That was probably the best strategy given that no one seemed to be interested in doing anything that wasn't bandwagoning the first person to get 6 points. Personally, I expected that people would see their early supporters as more valuable, but that didn't seem to happen, so I guess you had the read.

[Cephrir]

Piggy, your jury management skills need work ( ), but I appreciate that you at least had a decent answer.

VOTE: Mist

[Cephrir]

There's no need to be rude about it :'(

[Cephrir]

Well see, you're supposed to align

with

me, duh.

[Cephrir]

yeah i was voting against you D: