It's... quiet. The morning is quiet and dull and even the animals lingering on the fringes of town seem a bit at a loss for what to do. The town as a whole seems to be waiting and it isn't until the Sheriff leaves the station carrying two wooden gibbets easily in his arms that things seem to perk up. He drops them into the dirt, shoves them both in with a grunt and then heads back into the station.
A few moments later both Claire Stanfield and Sara Valestein follow him out, leashed to him by a rope binding their hands and a blindfold around their eyes. In the Sheriff's other hand are two buckets. He brings them to the stick and drops the bucket upside down on the ground, helping them to stand up on it and pulling the noose around their neck a moment after. He uses the excess of rope around their hands to bind them to the stick.
He turns back to the town after, glancing at the few stray animals that have set up on the porches to watch. A crow nearby caws out from on top of the Saloon sign. The Sheriff looks to the hotel and a moment later, the bells on top of the church begin to ring. He calls out, louder than naturally possible,
"Execution time, folks! Zacharias Barnham and Milla Maxwell have been chosen as our executioners. Come on down and watch."
And then, as indifferent as ever, he pops a piece of tobacco.
[He starts to dart forward, mouth curled in a snarl.]
Hey! [But it's too late. It's far, far too late and Percy sees the axe before he can move, before he can think--
--it's over. The cut is quick and sharp and his eyes widen as Harry's head is picked up. The bleeding head is thrown and it's sheer instinct that Percy catches it.
...and he's left to stare at the head of his dead roommate. Why is this the weekend that Percy keeps holding the body parts of people? Why.
So yeah. Harry's head is bleeding on his hands and he's staring in shock, kind of unsure what to do now. What can you do now?
And so. Percy slowly drops to his knees in the dirt still holding Harry's head. Percy Jackson has officially given up for the day.]
[ She's been in something like shock this entire time. She hasn't slept in two days and she could throw up she's so tired, practically weaving on her feet. She wishes she were dead. She wishes she'd been chosen. She is speechlessly grateful she wasn't chosen, and achingly guilty for feeling so.
When the head is tossed - when Percy starts to move - she goes without thinking. Once he's kneeling in the dirt, holding his friend's head - their friend's head - Xion drops her crutch and falls to the ground beside him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and saying not one single word. ]
[Quiet. He's quiet, and he lets them stay there...before forcibly moving forward to shrug Xion off.]
Xion, go back to the others. [Perhaps it's selfish, and he will comfort her later, but for now all he can think about is how this is the weekend that people either a.) inadvertently get killed because of him or b.) they're just people he's somewhat close to. But that's the game, isn't it? That's how these things go.
Above all else, Percy has to remember he's Greek. Tragedy is in his blood, but he can't let it rule him. He can't sit here in the dirt. He needs to go.]
And I won't. [This is still a quiet tone, but louder than her whisper.] But not you. Not after everything. ...Xion, please.
[...given everything, he's pretty worried about her mental state. It's why he wants her to go.] I won't do this alone, but you can't have blood on your hands. Okay?
[ after the initial shock of the beheading dies down. and then like, dies down again like three more times because holy shit?? papika will watch xion and percy for a moment. at least this time she didn't scream?there's been enough screaming lately.
she will eventually walk towards them and kneel down in front of percy. it looks like, at first, that she might wrap her hands around him just like xion has, but instead she will just... grab onto that head and try to pry it out of percy's grip because jesus fucking christ ]
[Hi small child. Percy narrows his eyes when she appears in front of him and takes the head and he pulls back, trying to distance themselves.]
Papika. [The tone is sharp.] Enough. You've suffered enough this weekend so...I've got it. I promise. I'll take care of it. I promise.
[His hands are shaking a little, but he's moving to stand.] If someone else could help me with his body, I'd appreciate it. [The tone is quiet and clipped. But he's firm about it anyway.]
And I will. [It's still a very strange and eerie kind of calm.] But it's...disrespectful, I think, to leave his body like this. We need to do what's right.
[A beat.] Did...you get blood on your hands? [Incredulous, but he's checking because ew. Even as he's still holding the head ig.]
Yeah, well. [He shakes his head.] I'll be okay, Papika. Wash your hands and stay with Damian today for a little while all right? We've all had a really, really long weekend.
[ she'll reach over and give him a quick hug, while. trying not to get the head smushed between them, so it's not the Best Hug but who's rating them anyway. ]
We love you, Percy.
[ she lets go and will. wander off after that since while she was ready to take that head away, she does not actually want to deal with the rest of the dead body pile. ]
[...the thought's appreciated, Papika. There's a noise of acknowledgement because for some reason his throat isn't working quite right, but it's there. Go on, small child. Let him deal with the dead.]
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robowest2017-02-19 02:00 pm
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Hey! [But it's too late. It's far, far too late and Percy sees the axe before he can move, before he can think--
--it's over. The cut is quick and sharp and his eyes widen as Harry's head is picked up. The bleeding head is thrown and it's sheer instinct that Percy catches it.
...and he's left to stare at the head of his dead roommate. Why is this the weekend that Percy keeps holding the body parts of people? Why.
So yeah. Harry's head is bleeding on his hands and he's staring in shock, kind of unsure what to do now. What can you do now?
And so. Percy slowly drops to his knees in the dirt still holding Harry's head. Percy Jackson has officially given up for the day.]
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When the head is tossed - when Percy starts to move - she goes without thinking. Once he's kneeling in the dirt, holding his friend's head - their friend's head - Xion drops her crutch and falls to the ground beside him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and saying not one single word. ]
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Xion, go back to the others. [Perhaps it's selfish, and he will comfort her later, but for now all he can think about is how this is the weekend that people either a.) inadvertently get killed because of him or b.) they're just people he's somewhat close to. But that's the game, isn't it? That's how these things go.
Above all else, Percy has to remember he's Greek. Tragedy is in his blood, but he can't let it rule him. He can't sit here in the dirt. He needs to go.]
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[ ................... ]
You're important too, [ is what she ends up whispering. ] You don't ... have to do everything by yourself.
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[...given everything, he's pretty worried about her mental state. It's why he wants her to go.] I won't do this alone, but you can't have blood on your hands. Okay?
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There are so many things she wants to say. They all occur to her, and they all feel hollow. This isn't the place for an argument.
Without a word she'll grab her crutch, stand, and simply walk away. ]
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she will eventually walk towards them and kneel down in front of percy. it looks like, at first, that she might wrap her hands around him just like xion has, but instead she will just... grab onto that head and try to pry it out of percy's grip because jesus fucking christ ]
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Papika. [The tone is sharp.] Enough. You've suffered enough this weekend so...I've got it. I promise. I'll take care of it. I promise.
[His hands are shaking a little, but he's moving to stand.] If someone else could help me with his body, I'd appreciate it. [The tone is quiet and clipped. But he's firm about it anyway.]
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You need to take care of yourself too, Percy.
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[A beat.] Did...you get blood on your hands? [Incredulous, but he's checking because ew. Even as he's still holding the head ig.]
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she glances at her hands down. some blood, but there is metaphorical blood on them all blah blah whatever]
Not more than you do.
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Yeah, well. [He shakes his head.] I'll be okay, Papika. Wash your hands and stay with Damian today for a little while all right? We've all had a really, really long weekend.
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[ especially considering he just.... lost his goddamn roommate what the heck ]
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I do. I'll take care of things from here and then...maybe swing by and check in.
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Okay. [ ... ] If you want to stay the night you can.
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I'll think about it. Thank you. [No really...thank you, Papika.] I'll let you know later tonight, okay?
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We love you, Percy.
[ she lets go and will. wander off after that since while she was ready to take that head away, she does not actually want to deal with the rest of the dead body pile. ]
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