[ as darkness bleeds into his vision and a chill settles into his bones, all diluc can feel at first are the searing dregs of anger and resentment—at himself and towards this outcome.
for having failed those dearest to him, and having abandoned his duty. (and for what? to die like a dog in the bowels of some forgotten dungeon?)
but those harsher emotions eventually fade like embers, too, unearthing a choking sorrow. the horror of it all is distant, somehow, even if death is immediate.
(he's failed them, and each fallen name is a regret burned into his mind. regret, upon regret, upon regret.)
the fight bled out of him, diluc finally closes his eyes, and succumbs to oblivion. ]
almost almost almost. it is not the first time or the last time that a life has just barely slipped out of scien's grasp, even though this is the first time that he finds himself able to feel so much about it. he collapses onto the ground and experiences the entire gauntlet. frustration, rage, futility.
in his bleary gaze, he sees yuri. shoma. fallen and out of his protection. he finds himself crushed under the weight of his own care, a heart without a limiter now breaking.
that crushes him far worse than any injury. and this cold, numb feeling is so terribly familiar. he has died countless times.
[As the trio drift into oblivion, they might catch some last sights and sounds before their twinkling snatches of consciousness fully fade. The sound of shouting, of guards and prisoners alike moving away. Bodies are trampled in the rush - maybe even theirs, like god spitting on them one last time.
But if there's one wonderful thing about Death's choking embrace... It's that you don't have to worry about it.
What else is Reliver technology for? The people have long since lost sight of its original purpose: to extend life just enough so that more research can be done to understand and end the curse afflicting the island. Now, death is something cheap and disrespected, and life is even cheaper still. What does it matter if you die? If your loved ones die? What do any of your painful efforts to survive and protect the lives of others matter at all? As long as you do your backups - not a problem at all for Royal Family members and a wealthy nobleman - then the grim reaper can't lay a finger on you.
For one of you, it's rote. A third body. For two, it's a new experience. But sure enough, death doesn't stick, and soon you awaken past the border, beyond death's permanence.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
for having failed those dearest to him, and having abandoned his duty. (and for what? to die like a dog in the bowels of some forgotten dungeon?)
but those harsher emotions eventually fade like embers, too, unearthing a choking sorrow. the horror of it all is distant, somehow, even if death is immediate.
(he's failed them, and each fallen name is a regret burned into his mind. regret, upon regret, upon regret.)
the fight bled out of him, diluc finally closes his eyes, and succumbs to oblivion. ]
no subject
almost almost almost. it is not the first time or the last time that a life has just barely slipped out of scien's grasp, even though this is the first time that he finds himself able to feel so much about it. he collapses onto the ground and experiences the entire gauntlet. frustration, rage, futility.
in his bleary gaze, he sees yuri. shoma. fallen and out of his protection. he finds himself crushed under the weight of his own care, a heart without a limiter now breaking.
that crushes him far worse than any injury. and this cold, numb feeling is so terribly familiar. he has died countless times.
this is the very first time he regrets it.]
no subject
Maybe they'll see the edges of white lab coats dusting the floor as feet run toward them. Maybe they won't. Darkness falls fast in Arpéchéle, after all, and the people here are more beloved by Death than any other in the world.
But if there's one wonderful thing about Death's choking embrace... It's that you don't have to worry about it.
What else is Reliver technology for? The people have long since lost sight of its original purpose: to extend life just enough so that more research can be done to understand and end the curse afflicting the island. Now, death is something cheap and disrespected, and life is even cheaper still. What does it matter if you die? If your loved ones die? What do any of your painful efforts to survive and protect the lives of others matter at all? As long as you do your backups - not a problem at all for Royal Family members and a wealthy nobleman - then the grim reaper can't lay a finger on you.
For one of you, it's rote. A third body. For two, it's a new experience. But sure enough, death doesn't stick, and soon you awaken past the border, beyond death's permanence.]