EVENT #3: AN EXECUTION OF SORTS

[abraxasmods]

THE EXECUTION

As if performing a vicious mockery for what should be a somber day, the sun shines brightly in the sky. The rays of sun catch the iron brackets that hold up the gallows that have been erected overnight for the occasion, the gentle breeze causing the noose to swing ominously. Public executions do not happen frequently in Thorne, so a crowd gathers in strained anticipation of the grim sentence.

The welcome guests, who have up until this point been free to come and go within the confines of the castle, have been mandated to view the execution. It is meant to serve both as an example of Thorne’s power as well as a lesson to those who might think to try the same. The courtyard, which was buzzing with quiet murmurs, turns silent as Ambrose strides up the wooden steps of the gallows, flanked by two guards and a haggard-looking Jonathan Sims, arms bound behind him. As the guards march their charge to the trapdoor that will serve as executioner and position the noose around his neck, Ambrose turns to address the crowd that has gathered- willfully or not.

“Citizens of Thorne, our esteemed welcomed guests, it is with disappointment and a heavy heart that we’ve gathered to see to the execution of one of the very guests we sought aid from in our time of need. In a selfish and distrustful act, I was attacked, an action I cannot abide.”

He turns halfway toward his charge. “Jonathan Sims, you are charged with assault and intention of lethal harm. The punishment is to be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the gods have mercy on your soul.”

Ambrose raises his arm to signal the executioner to pull the lever to release the trapdoor beneath Jon’s feet, steely expression locked on the prisoner’s face one last time.

MEANWHILE

Several miles away, atop a hill in the forest, two figures meet between portals. Oliver, tall and lithe, steps out to stand next to a petite waif of a woman who looks at him with a familiar smile. Her voice is lilting like a songbird’s when she speaks up, turning her gaze back over the city.

“Find out anything good?”

He hums softly, his hands clasped behind his back. “Two dozen prisoners, give or take. The one I met was very grateful for our assistance.”

“That’s good. Perhaps her gratitude will endear our cause to them.”

With a nod, he takes a deep breath and then sighs. “It’s time, Elizabeth,” he says, lifting one hand to open a new portal.

She nods and raises her arms above her head, eyes closing in concentration. Her arms begin to glow green while the grass around her begins to ripple in rings. The very ground seems to surge with power that radiates outward from her, and it isn’t long before the castle and the town are engulfed in a heavy air of intense magic. It courses from her in shockwaves.

Satisfied, Oliver steps through the portal.



In the wake of the magic flood, the walls of the dungeons seem to shudder for a long moment, and the doors suddenly clink open. No guards come rushing in to shut them, and in fact, all ambient noise in the dungeons seems to stop as the whole of the people of Thorne freeze in place. The hall becomes lit by daylight as a portal opens at the end of it, showing them the crowd of welcomed guests and Jon alone on the platform.

In the portal, alone stands Oliver, hand offered to the prisoners in welcome. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes, though this seems to be by nature rather than intention.

“Please come with me.”

CHOICES

Everything is happening quickly.

Once through the portal to the execution yard there's a moment of chaos and confusion at the sudden arrivals and then it stops. Everything and everyone has stopped, save for the guests, the prisoners, and the two mages who have come to their aid. Guards freeze in place. The attended mages are still as statues. Banners lifted by the wind remain where they are and even the noose hanging from the gallows stills.

"Time for them is halted." Oliver addresses the assembled, his voice projected to be heard but his tone calm. "It will remain so for one hour, no more. An hour is all you have to make your choices. Remain here in Thorne, or take a portal to either Solvunn or the Free Cities. The portals cannot be traced by the Thorean authorities, so no need to fear them giving chase.”

Elizabeth emerges from a portal behind him, which closes as she enters the yard. They both raise an arm and two white circles spread through the air, showing new towns in the distance on the other side. There is an ethereal glow around them.

“The Free Cities are martially powerful and seek to destroy the Singularity,” Oliver narrates, gesturing at one of the portals. “Solvunn is reclusive and claims neutrality, both in politics and in regard to the Singularity. I advise that you think hard about your choice. Travel between cities is not exactly easy."

He turns back to the crowd with an almost apologetic smile. “I'm sorry you don't have more time to make this decision. We’ll meet again.”

Opening a third portal with the wave of her arm, Elizabeth, who has not spoken a word, gives the group a wink and leaves with Oliver. Their portal closes behind them, leaving everyone to begin making moves.

Now is the time to make serious choices. Two portals stand in the courtyard, one courtesy of Oliver and one of Elizabeth. The Free Cities and Thorne are enemies, Solvunn watching both to see where the cards end up falling. None trust one another, none work with one another beyond trade through middle-men in Solvunn. The clock is ticking.

Someone should probably get Jon out of that noose.

Comments

sam wilson | mcu | justice.

[falcony]

THE YARD

[ when sam is confident enough that martin makes it to the portal, to jon, he turns his attention to the counting clock. there isn't much time at all, he knows that, and so sam starts off in a run - to the portal, to what he can see of the dungeons. god, this is too easy, way to easy, which puts sam more on edge than he needs to be. he has people he needs to find, and more he needs to make sure get out, and for that - well, sam is slipping into captain mode, stopping each person, sometimes going as far as to grab their shoulders just to get them to take control.

are they staying, or going. because they have to choose quick. time is counting down.

even so, sam is apprehensive, if only because he has no way to know what actually he actually is sending everyone into. no way to know for sure if it's safe, or even where they say it's supposed to be. but sam has a feeling, and if it means getting everyone else out of that dungeon, he can't really question it. he has plenty of questions, but there are also too many prisoners. too many guests. ]

Listen, I'm not gonna force you either way. But if you do want to run, now's your chance.

[ he is also going to step in, if anyone tries to do anything funny with the frozen thoreans, and he will also be very disappointed. ]

WILDCARD

[ sam is going to be a little all over the place for basically the entire hour they have until he makes it through the free cities portal. his plotting comment is here but also feel free to have just about anyone run into him, or have sam approach y'alls kids. he will be trying to touch base with JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER and i can roll with just about anything! ]

[cointosser]

[It's not exactly hard to find Sam, who moves through the crowds like a whirlwind of his own. Jaskier's mind is so singularly-focused on getting out of here -- to accepting that his prison breaking plans with Hector have gone to shit in about the space of half an hour -- that he simply doesn't realize he's looking for Sam until he spots him through the crowd.

Jaskier has a deathgrip on his lute case and all its treasures inside, shouldering through the people he's spent a season learning and meeting. People that, now, are splitting up as well. Some who barely give a glance back.]

Sam! [He calls out, waving an arm. Perhaps Jaskier is not so hard to miss either, wearing bright colors and a very worried expression, which is so far out of the realm of the normal for him. Jaskier just manages to snag his arm before a passing runner knocks the bard over, and he holds onto Sam for leverage.]

A spot of chaos, isn't it? I wanted -- you know, I'm sure we'll meet again, but I suppose this is goodbye for now, my friend.

[falcony]

[ if sam is being honest, the chaos feels a bit like home - a role to play, a goal to meet, movement, change. he wishes, more than anything, that he had his wings. but he can make do with his legs just like anyone else. it's the other people that keep him moving, the need to check in, to make sure that those who aren't exactly prepared for this level of adrenaline to get where they need to go, and fast.

he hears his name before he sees jaskier, head turning quickly to the sound of it and making his way towards the other man just in time to reach for him when the passerby nearly knocks him off balance. sorry jaskier, but sam is immediately reaching for him, one hand on jaskier's elbow and the other on the back of his neck, all but entirely manhandling him out of the way of the worst of the crowd. ] You okay? There's a mad dash happening to-

[ but of course jaskier can handle himself in it, has already got his footing under him, and sam feels a twinge of almost embarrassment course through him at how protective he felt. for the fact he's all but shielding jaskier from the crowd even now. after a moment he takes a step back and squeezes his hand, once, on the back of jaskier's neck before he lets his hand move to his shoulder. ]

Listen- I'm going to the Free Cities. If you wanna head that way and everything goes right, I'll find you on the other side of the portal. [ he gives jaskier an optimistic sort of smile, but then a flash of something more serious crosses his eyes. ] Make sure Geralt and Ciri get out of here. Thorne isn't going to be happy about how any of this went down and will be looking for someone to blame.

[cointosser]

[Normally Jaskier would shout about being brutalized as he's being manhandled, but at this moment he could sort of use it so he doesn't get lost in the throng... or run over... and, for a moment, one can imagine how startlingly similar it is to how Sam held him in the Horizon.

Except, you know. Much more rushed.

Jaskier prepares for disappointment, but then his brows shoot up with surprise.] Ah, my destination may be the same. I simply have to -- to find my company. [They hadn't really discussed it in length; after all, Geralt and Jaskier had not preplanned their escape by expecting magical portal interference. However, he had mentioned the Free Cities were as far from Thorne as one could seem to go, and the least likely to return to them to the kingdom they'd escaped from.

He barks a laugh.] As if you have to tell me twice! Sam, I'm no fool. Once I find them, we're getting the fuck out of here. [He does take Sam's arm and squeezes it, though.] And you had better make sure you aren't stuck here, running about like a chicken with no head. If you can't find me over there, I'm sure we'll meet in Horizon again. Remember, you invited me back.

[falcony]

[ there is also a very fine line between being manhandled and sam needing the physical contact. in the rush he's always been that way, a hand on shoulders, stepping in close. thankfully, in this scenario it works in a variety of ways, also helping jaskier out of the main rush of people and to a place where sam can just check. just a quick moment.

the second jaskier's brows shoot up, sam is rushed with a feeling of relief. okay, okay that's good. he hadn't wanted to force anyone (correction, anyone other than bucky and peter and mal and alina) to a place they didn't want to go, but knowing that jaskier is headed in that direction, that he can probably get geralt that way too, it gives him a kind of genuine...well. relief he hadn't known he needed.

and so sam smiles, and a bit of that feeling is easy to read there. ] Okay, no, that's good. We'll see each other there. The portal's just opened up from the dungeons that way- I can't imagine Geralt and Ciri and what's her name will be far behind. [ does sam care that he actually does genuinely know yennefer's name, but chooses not to use it? not at all. at least not with jaskier. ] If you wait over there, they'll be coming out soon.

[ jaskier barks a laugh and squeezes at sam's arm and sam's smile only grows, though only marginally, given the circumstances. he nods again, appreciative of the worry in jaskier's words. ] Once I know everyone who wants out gets out, I won't be far behind. Promise. [ at the mention of the horizon, though, sam lets himself let out a laugh. ] You said you'd come, and I'll hold you to it. [ they should part ways. it's an understanding that sam feels on the back of his neck like an inch he refuses to reach for - that they should part, that they're running out of time. but some part of sam feels too much like this could be goodbye and it has him hesitating, just a moment longer. ] I still have to take you flying.

[cointosser]

[What's her name. Jaskier's distaste only shows momentarily in a wrinkle of his nose, because he's quite sure he knows who she is, and how unfortunate it must be that Sam must have met her. He'd apologize for her, but Yennefer is hardly his responsibility.

Jaskier much rather chooses to revel in the idea that there is a friend here who will miss him. Even if they do become separated somehow. Well, it isn't the first time, but goodbyes have never been so simple a thing.]

Hmm. I'm holding you to that promise. Both of them, even. [He does believe him, at least; Sam, from their conversations before, must have no desire to remain in Thorne, either. But my, he must have many those he wants to look after, too, if he hesitates like this.] Speaking of flying, before I leave.

[Jaskier steals one of Sam's hands, opening it flat so he can cup both of his hands together on top. There's a pull of magic, sparks of blue, and when he lifts his fingers the magic begins to craft itself. When it's done, a bright red bird perches on Sam's hand, moving up to his arm, the talons gripping his skin gently.] You mentioned your red-wing. [And without much description, Jaskier has imagined it must be some sort of bird. His is certainly a little flashier, with blood-red feathers and a few that are silver in between the red. It's not as cute as his little songbirds; the beak is curved, more like a hunting hawk, the talons sharp.] Well, you should have a companion for next time you fly.

[Who knew all those weeks spent practicing this one spell would reward him so well? Again, diligence strikes the iron hot, leaving its imprint upon him.] In case I cannot be there.

[falcony]

[ goodbyes are always tricky - sam has had his fair share of moments where he wishes he never had to say anything, as well as moments where he wishes he had said anything at all. those are the ones that haunt him, and those are the moments that drive him now. it's maybe a bit ridiculous, knowing that they are going to the same place and will probably see each other. but the fear still grips him.

jaskier says i'm holding you to that and sam just smiles. just nods. alright. he's got a promise to meet, two promises. of course nothing can happen now, right? he's about to leave, then, too. to turn and head back into the thick of it. but jaskier says speaking of flying and sam hesitates. he's glad he does, too, because it gives him a front row seat to jaskier performing his magic, to the spark of blue, the sudden rush. the bird.

the bird. sam's eyes widen at the hawk-like bird who suddenly appears in a flash of red and silver. he barely even hears jaskier over his own surprise at it, watching the bird take off and circle them both before it hands on his shoulder, the talons sharper than he expects. ]

Wait- since when? [ a smile breaks out across his face, bright and a little young. ] Did you- Jaskier, what? Who is this little guy?

[cointosser]

[It's not exactly the reaction he was going for, but it is still quite the reaction. Jaskier gives him a smile, clasping Sam's other arm companionably, but also so he isn't swept away by passer-by. The chaos is growing, but he wants to stay in this moment between them for as long as he can.

The bird suits him, he thinks. Somehow, it simply does. (Particularly because the bird is partly him.)]

Since when what? You seem adorably confused. [He loves it. Jaskier can tell.] It turns out that working for months on end on one spell lets a man become quite efficient at it. [He gives the bird a pat on the head, as if to demonstrate quite how real it is.] I call him Radzimir, but you are, of course, free to rename him. He's your little friend now. [What's that bit about not forcing pets upon people who don't ask for them? Oops. Jaskier never received that lesson. Besides, Radzimir can be easily dismissed if he is no longer needed as a companion.] And I'm sure he's quite eager to help you as you need. If this sight is to show us anything... [He roundly gestures at the chaos behind them.] You may need him sooner than later.

[falcony]

I knew your magic was growing, but this is something else.

[ the compliment comes easy, all the while sam's eyes are on the bird - bright, open. even with the chaos and the ticking clock, sam takes the moment to watch, to hold jaskier here for just a few seconds longer. jaskier gives the bird a pat on the head, calls him radzimir, and sam laughs. ] How about Red?

[ red looks at sam for a moment, his head tilting quickly from one side then the other, before he spreads out his wings and takes off. part of sam is worried he'll lose him in the chaos, but then the other part reminds him it is jaskier's magic. and just like jaskier found sam's horizon domain, he has a feeling red will find him too.

which reminds him - the portals. the bird. sam blinks for a second before it falls into place just how helpful red is going to be in this moment, and he gives a bark of a laugh, reaching out quickly to pull jaskier's face close and pressing a kiss to his forehead. ] You're a genius. He's perfect. [ his eyes lift back up to where he can make out red's sharp wings, the silver and red through the sky, and he's filled with what feels a bit like a sudden wave of energy. to get this done. to make sure everything is fine. ]

Get through the portal. I'll come find y'all on the other side.

[ and that's when sam is going to end up letting go of him, then. no matter how much he may want to linger, the settling reality that he has a lot more of this castle to check and very little time is weighing on him. ]

Take care of yourself.

[cointosser]

[Ah, has he failed to mention what a dutiful student he's always been? Perhaps Geralt is going around making everyone think him a total fool, but he excelled in the liberal arts -- all of them, thank you -- for a reason.

For someone quite used to praise, Sam's is shockingly warm to him. His smile is far too pleased with himself. If only more people recognized him for what he was! A genius! (He may take that to the grave with him.)

Jaskier's head tips back to watch the bird soar, its sharp wings hooking the air with grace.] Red is a fine name, too.

[A bit simple for his liking, but Sam was missing his redwing. Jaskier brushes his forehead, where the kiss is still warm and alive.]

You had better. And be all in one piece, if you please? [He gives Sam a pat on his arm, and a little wave to him and Red. Though he loathes to leave, he cannot afford to lose Geralt and Ciri in this chaos.] Goodbye, Sam!

yard yeehaw

[piqure]

[ mandated to view the execution. that’s what they were told.

the execution. is this for real? peter’s heart is in his throat, wildly beating at the thought alone. this isn’t right, nothing about this is. he doesn’t know exactly what happened, no, and maybe thorne’s laws were different about this sort of thing but a public execution everyone was forced to look at seemed a little too much like a villain showing them his power. showing them what stepping out of order will get them and peter parker has long skated the odd line of being a reckless vigilante so this didn’t seem good.

to a point, it reminded him of thanos, in a nauseating sort of way that he can’t put a finger on, that sent his ears ringing and in that moment he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to help ambrose at all.

his eyes search along the crowd, a little desperate to see a familiar face, anyone he knows at all.

he’s new, he gets it, but as he stands in the courtyard watching the gallows in the bright sunshine, his fists clenched white-knuckle-tight, jaw set and feet set in a posture that suggests he might leap to action at the slightest provocation, he tries to think of strategy and comes up with white noise.

he gets so far as to come up a little too close to a guard, who sweeps in his path and tells him to stop and peter levels him with a sharper frown than normal on the boyish face and he opens his mouth to say something and then —

and then? everything just stops. the guard freezes in place and when peter spins around, he finds that almost everyone else is - save for the guests of the courtyard, save for the prisoners and he sees the portal beyond, hears the announcement, the choices and his body acts before he does, springing into action that peter’s nerves were itching for to begin with.

he takes off running, running past unfamiliar faces, hops and jumps and vaults over whatever he needs to in order for him to cover more space.

he catches a familiar cadence amidst the ambient noise of whatever has erupted, amidst the magic and the portals and pivots towards it. senses ring, going into a habitual overdrive and it should worry him how much he needed this.

when he vaults over a bannister and lands close by sam, there’s relief and conviction both that are written loud in his posture. ] Hey — Sam! So this time stopping thing is a really neat trick, but —

Are we staying or leaving? Have you seen Doctor Strange?

[ we — he would still be a little concerned about so quickly assuming, but they’re here together and he isn’t leaving without knowing that everyone’s okay, either. he can’t do that. ] Who else do we need to get?

sparkles at

[falcony]

[ no, it's not good, and that anxiety that peter feels leading up the execution isn't only his alone. sam spends the time waiting, for what he's not exactly sure. a way in, a break in the tension, something he can take advantage of to stop this from happening and maybe, just maybe, save jon's life. it's a little selfish of him to think he can do something at this point, but what else is there for him to do? petitions had gone unanswered, his own standing in thorne now in question for how loud he'd been against the decision, and now?

sam is so hyper-focused in those moments, leading up to the execution, that he doesn't see peter at all. doesn't know how far he is in the crowd, or what he's thinking. and maybe he should have - he's supposed to be a leader now, isn't he? someone who should be worried about the group as a whole, the team. his people. but even now, sam's eyes are focused on jon. on the rope. there has to be a way

and then it all stops, and sam - on a hairpin decision - reacts. he gets jon to safety. hears the the story, the options, portals to other places. sam has something to do now, and with the adrenaline comes a familiar feeling of confidence. this, he can do. this, he can work with, and that's when peter appears - vaulting over a bannister and just ending up there. part of sam nearly flinches, not expecting the speed or agility, even though he should. they've fought against each other, after all. he should know how fast this kid can move. ]

Peter- [ and he's talking. sam's eyes scan behind him, the group, then back to the portals. their saviors are gone, whoever they are that's a problem for another time, and sam brings his attention back. ]

Leaving. Free Cities. [ because he's made his choice, and maybe he should have asked peter where he wanted to go, but at the moment they're running out of time. ] Listen- I haven't seen Strange yet, but we need to get everyone who wants out, out. [ sam is facing peter fully, now, hands on his shoulders. they don't have much time, but he needs peter to understand the plan. ]

Find Strange and tell him where we're going, okay? And anyone moving- tell them what those two said. Make sure they know their options. We don't have much time, okay? Check on anyone you can find, and then get through. You have thirty minutes. [ they have more than that, is sam is being totally honest, but he doesn't want peter pushing it. ]

Thirty minutes, Peter. I'll meet you on the other side of the portal. Got it?

[piqure]

[ sam doesn't hesitate in responding, in launching instruction and direction and a part of peter is terribly relieved, even if that feeling is shoved to the back of his mind in place of more pressing issues.

he nods, follows sam's attention to the portals and back. ] Okay - okay, I can do that!

[ thirty minutes. he doesn't have a watch but he can guess, can just focus on covering enough distance and enough faces before he can get back to the portal and maybe a part of him knows he'll push that thirty over to forty but so it goes. he's not going to leave anyone behind who doesn't want to stay behind. which brings him to what sam says, to i'll meet you on the other side and panic flares back up his spine before he can push it back down into something more steady.

his answer comes rushed, pinched brows and a quick frown. ] Wait but - I'll meet you here! We should go through together - [ and he isn't exactly going to give sam enough time to try and make him agree to anything otherwise, because peter is tapping his elbow in final confirmation and taking steps back to start his task.

he's not leaving here until he knows everyone is through to where they want to be. and safe. that includes sam! ] - I'll be right back!

[falcony]

[ he is - well, honestly, he is relieved by peter's reaction. if only because he feels like the kid is actually listening to him, and will listen to him. and that gives him hope - that maybe this can work. that there are enough people to split the load and let them all get through.

peter's agreement has sam nodding in return. okay, okay - if peter can use his abilities to get through the castle faster, then he's going to use that to his advantage. ] I'm going through the portal to the dungeon, so you stay up top. Anyone moving means they're one of us.

[ sam is about to get going when peter follows up his bit, his we should go through together and sam barely has enough time to turn back to him. because no, that's not what he said, god damn it god- ] No! Through the portal- Peter! [ but he's gone before sam really gets the whole of that out, and if he's being honest, he's can't really blame him. he's in almost the exact same boat.

still - they have a job to do. they can come back to this whole not listening to orders but later. ]

[piqure]

[ peter takes off, hears sam shout a disagreement and lets it fall on deaf ears. it isn’t that he knows better than him, isn’t at all that but every part of him wants to dig his heels in at the thought of the perceived risk of separating.

selfish, maybe, but he doesn’t want to get stuck somewhere alone. thinks of that lonely ruined red planet, thinks of tony’s face and emptiness and knowing what future lies in wait and while this isn’t the same, it might as well be at heart.

so peter sets to sprinting with strong resolve. nothing is attacking, at the very least, no monsters or aliens or explosions and at least that’s a silver lining, at least all they have to fight against is time right now.

he’ll stop by whoever is moving, ask if they want to stay or go, and direct them to the portals in a rush. tell them they don’t have a lot of time to decide, he doesn’t think.

he doesn’t know where the portals lead, not really, but maybe it’s to places that don’t force mandatory public executions and that’s all he can say. all he does say if someone asks why that is a better option than staying, but he doesn’t press the issue as he moves on.

he runs by the woman he’s met in the dungeons, a vicious display of power and magic and he thinks of wild summer storms as he sees her stand and guard ambrose and thinks that that’s as loud a choice as ever. and yet, he’ll try to catch her eye, throw a quick, uncertain smile and a thumbs up and hope she knows what the hell that means before continuing weaving through.

by the time he covers the top level, he thinks it’s been enough time to start heading back. he’s a bit out of breath, though not nearly as much as you’d think someone would be from a thirty minute run.

with that, he’ll retrace his steps, pausing to make sure he gets everyone the news. then stops to peer at another frozen guard, wondering just what this power really was. he hasn’t seen anything like it before. it would - okay it would be really cool to be able to do something like that. It doesn’t look like it’s hurting them, and that’s pretty neat.

thinks then that maybe moving weapons away from the guards would be a good idea. what if they come to and attack those who decide to remain? should he tie them up?

no, that will take too much time. but what he still does do is gingerly take some swords away, as careful as possible to slip it out of their belts or grasps as he can and by the time he comes back to the portal, he’s carrying at least six swords and an axe to dump them into a dark corner somewhere, before turning around to look for sam with an anticipation returned as he reasons under his nose: ] - Okay, okay. I think that was thirty minutes?