sheep_game | Ritual 19

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Ritual 19 - Vengeance

WHO: Sheep
WHERE: The Pasture
WHEN: Evening, Day 54 (to give some buffer to post-rescue talks during the day)

[Well THAT was a trip. But everyone is returned home relatively safely, the mushrooms are under control, and Death's eye is closed. Maybe things can return to semi-normalcy.

Lol. Lmao.

A dark shadow suddenly sweeps across the Pasture, and you'll find yourself forcibly yanked from where you stand, lay in bed, or otherwise where you're minding your business--though, some will be missed, inevitably. Those who get grabbed though get to glimpse at a massive shadow-like demon, wolf like in appearance but with giant ram horns, glaring down at you. His voice speaks as a whisper in your minds.

You will Speak his Vengeance.

If you do not speak it, I will enact it on his Behalf.

A random sheep waddles by, and then shadows overtake it--the poor sheep begins to contort, gasping for air as it's stretched and twisted into an unnatural eldritch mass, but still Very Much Alive. It rolls off to enjoy its eternal suffering.

And just like that you're yanked into the shadows, the demon's Intent clear in your heads. It's Ritual Time.]

[ooc: Please go to your rooms and check in if you are playing!
Daffodil + Teleute
Bluebell + Water Genshin Dude
Lily + Bombay
Thistle +Viscous
Clover + Your Name
Rose +Flare, Jackalope
Peony +Epel, Furina

RULES HERE. NO MINGLE, GO.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not great, but... better than expected. Only one real physical injury left, I think.

[ the fact that he specifies physical is probably not a great sign. ]

[he says nothing more to that but briefly wonders if he should've stayed to help since he had a hand in his injury.

more than a hand.

... he finally looks over at Acheron and notes the weariness. likely from the act he's been keeping up.]

And you?

Despite our line of work... I was not ready for that. Guess it doesn't really matter how much people warn you around here. Until you go through it, it's...

[ Acheron tilts his head sideways, lights from the machine flashing patterns against his skin. ]

Anyway, I didn't get the worst of it, so I'll be fine.

Edited 2024-01-25 23:42 (UTC)

[their line of work doesn't usually involve torture. it's clean. go in, eliminate the target, get out.

this was pure torture. it was distasteful. no point to it. just punishment for going against shit.]

Almost did. You might next time. Your team seems perfectly fine killing themselves.

[and he listened.]

[ and he helped convince him to do it. ]

Oh, they sure are... Thought it was an okay trade, considering the kids. And what everyone says.

[ the "but" is left hanging as Acheron falls silent. And then - ]

I'm coming back there.

[ and he starts to move behind the arcade machines, into Bombay's hiding place. ]

Edited 2024-01-26 00:25 (UTC)

[doesn't protest Acheron invading his space. he's already bothering him anyway, so he knows he won't listen even if he tried.

anyway...

they have kids on their team too. Charon explained his reasoning and while he doesn't disagree with the logic behind it, he still disagrees with it as a whole.]

Makes your team an easy target for other teams to take advantage of.

[they'll just pick Lily thinking they won't care if they're tortured. some people in Lily even seemed a little too comfortable with being made a target.]

Edited 2024-01-26 00:38 (UTC)

[ As he flops down onto the floor with a groan because ow, floor is hard. Shoulder to shoulder with Bombay, Acheron's eyes are sort of unfocused on the wall in front of them. There's a lot of thoughts he's kept bottled up since all that garbage finished, but ultimately... ]

I'm not into being a punching bag. I'm not into them being one either, even if they're fine punching themselves.

[ His eyes flick over to Bombay, head turning slightly. ]

And you didn't deserve to get stuck in the middle like that.

[ I shouldn't have let it happen. ]

[or maybe he did deserve it. all his life he's followed orders. he's killed so many people without protest.

he was the perfect choice.]

Being chosen to input the decisions worked out for them. Not like I did anything to stop it.

[he'd already made his decision back home. he was set to change for good. but now.... he's questioning himself. and not just because he didn't stop it.]

What could you have done? Voted for someone else, okay, but... wouldn't surprise me if that part was intended to be something like torture for you.

[ His eyes stay on Bombay for a long moment as he lets that roll around in his head, his hands feeling heavy and useless in his lap. ]

[his gaze is fixed on the ground in front of him. when he hears Acheron mention choosing another team, his face visibly contorts into something of disgust.]

I...

[the words don't come out at first. they stop dead in his throat.

after a few seconds, his voice drops low. as if ashamed.]

It would've been easier.

[does that mean he really can't change? because it would've been easier killing people he didn't know? regardless of who they are...]

I almost did.

[ Acheron stays quiet, watching the expression on Bombay's face shift to something he rarely sees. What he says doesn't feel great, because of what it implies. But... ]

You had to pick something, I get it.

[that bit of silence is deafening.

he's been conditioned to view death as something inevitable. something not worth dwelling on. and here he is still struggling to not think that way.]

Maybe... I can't change.

Bombay...

[ There's a softness to Acheron's tone as he quietly says the man's name, a twang in his chest that he can't help but feel even if he doesn't know what it means or how to acknowledge it-- ]

[ and then he's got one arm around Bombay's neck almost like he wants to put him in a headlock, or give him a noogie. Again, what is personal space? ]

Like hell you can't. This wouldn't be eating you if you couldn't.

[ their cheeks are almost pressed together, Acheron taking some strength out of the closeness of another person he values so much. ]

Edited 2024-01-27 01:00 (UTC)

[the sudden closeness is mildly annoying, but not... unwelcome. kinda how like Acheron is mildly annoying in general, but he doesn't mind it.

it's familiar. and it isn't so bad. that little taste of familiarity makes his words almost convincing. his actions are still weighing on him, and will continue to do so until he's cooled off fully.

but that weird warmth he feels from his partner is enough to temporarily distract him. and it gives him something that he didn't know he needed.

or wanted?

however, this little burst hardens his gaze, still fixed on the floor while he shows no visible signs or any emotion at the moment.]

... You're really just "fine" with what happened?

[his issues aside, he's not fooled by what Acheron said earlier- claiming he's fine. he's a bad actor.]

Edited 2024-01-27 02:05 (UTC)

[ there's a long, drawn out sigh - instinct is to say yes, but that's a lie. Not that Acheron is above lying, but if there's one person in this place that deserves the truth? ]

Nah. I'm full of shit. Surprised you haven't told me that already.

[ his arm slightly loosens around Bombay's neck but he doesn't move. ]

There's lots of things I can't forget and that's going to be one of them. I don't want it to happen again. That, or putting you in a spot like that either. We're partners, you know? Family.

Edited 2024-01-27 15:34 (UTC)

[it's a relief to hear that Acheron doesn't want team suicide again. but.]

Should probably talk to your team. They won't listen to me.

[he's just a weed. and even though Acheron is his partner... it's being made clear that he can't do shit for him. he's not part of that team. he remembers being told that weeds aren't usually included with teams during rituals, but something tells him if he is again, that he will have little say in how things go down.

... even though he stays in Lily barn, he still feels far away from Acheron.]

Don't worry, I will. But they're not gonna change my mind.

[ his arm loosens again, and now rests on Bombay's shoulder. They won't listen to Bombay, sure. But like hell if Acheron is gonna just lie down and take the decisions anyone else makes if it impacts on this guy right here. The palm of his hand slaps lightly against his partner's shirt a couple of times. ]

Flock or not, we're in this together.

[it's nice to hear, but that's not really up to Acheron. his tired gaze sweeps over to his partner. briefly.]

Mm.

[a small nod, the weariness from the past couple of days finally settling in his bones.]

Think I'm gonna stay here for tonight.

[not because he's mad or upset. mostly he doesn't want to be bothered while he sorts his own shit out.]

Hope you don't mind some company.

[ cause he's not going anywhere if Bombay isn't. His legs are crunched up and they're already aching and there's not enough room to stretch them out but he doesn't complain, he just leans his cheek up against his partner's again. ]

[it's a little cramped back here, and Acheron's closeness isn't helping. it's downright suffocating.

but.

he doesn't protest. doesn't seem to mind it too much.]

Had a feeling you wouldn't leave even if I asked.

[so there was little point in telling him. oddly, some part of him didn't want him to either.]

You're right about that.

[ since when does he ever listen? Besides, this is the best way to keep an eye on the guy. Make sure he doesn't disappear again. He tilts his head the other way so he can sort of look at him more. It makes him feel a little better, knowing that he's physically in one piece, even if mentally, emotionally, it might not quite be the case. Acheron hasn't forgotten that he'd just shot him the other day too...

Why does everything happen so much.

His eyes briefly flicker to Bombay's lips, and he tries to ignore that other thought rising to his mind, which he makes an attempt to disguise by filling some of the space with words: ]

Just try to keep a little quiet with your game stuff?

[ he doesn't hold illusions that the guy's gonna do much sleeping. ]

Your back gonna be okay?

[you know. cos you're old.]

[ has a man ever looked this unimpressed. ]

I think this once I can deal with it, okay?

[nods.]

It's important to know your limits.

[MOSTLY teasing about his back. but also applies... to everything else that happened.]

Ritual 19 - Vengeance

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