IC: Dreampostin~

[thekingsgambit]

[A small child fidgets with his shirt collar, waiting as politely as he can outside a door and holding a box with a piece of red ribbon tied loosely around.]

... She should be ready by now.













((Warning: Post contains graphic scenes. o/))

Comments

[ascendthethorns]

[Is walking around through the room, like she's searching for someone.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Despite the enormous crowd, he has almost no difficulty locating his missing sister and quickly makes his way over to her, catching her cape as the first thing.]

Who are you looking for?

[ascendthethorns]

[Distantly:]

Euphie, Clovis, father... I can't find elder brother Schneizel or Nunnally either.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

There's too many people for Nunnally to be here, and I wasn't sure if elder brother Schneizel said he was coming. But the rest should be here soon.

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

[Whistles! It's loud and piercing, but doesn't disturb a single member of the crowd beyond Lelouch and Cornelia.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

They'll catch up. Come on, Mother has something we want to show you.

[Tugs Cornelia back toward Marianne.]

[ascendthethorns]

[Does follow, but is obviously reluctant.]

Are you sure about this, Lelouch? I don't think I belong here...

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't elder sister belong here? The entire family is going to be here.

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

[Laughs; somehow, the sound of her voice reaches the pair as though she was standing right in front of them.]

Lelouch, darling, just bring your silly sister over here please.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[They pair reach Marianne a moment later.]

She was looking for the rest of the guests.

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

Is that so?

[Gestures to the door, where Charles, Clovis and Euphie stand.]

They're right there, Cornelia. You really didn't need to rush them, they wouldn't miss this for the world.

[ascendthethorns]

If I may ask— miss what, exactly, Lady Marianne?

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

Oh my, that's right, you still haven't the faintest idea what's going on, do you? Well don't fret; the rest of us are a little confused ourselves. I think Lelouch believed he was throwing you a surprise party in celebration of your promotion to Lieutenant. It that what this is, my treasure?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Seems a bit surprised himself and then laughs a little.]

Ah? Mother is only going to confuse elder sister more like this. Elder sister Cornelia is much higher than that. She's become a captain.

[ascendthethorns]

Captain?

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

No, no, no Lelouch— you're thinking much too far ahead. Though I suppose it's to be expected. You were such a dear little boy before, and then afterward... well! Let's just say that it's little wonder you made such a careless mistake.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Afterward? Mother, I don't understand what you're saying.

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

It's neither here nor there, sweetheart.

[Cranes her neck a little to look behind them, and smiles more broadly.]

Cornelia's gift has arrived. I'm sure she'll be more than glad to share it with you.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Mother?

[ascendthethorns]

[Grabs Lelouch's arm.]

Come, Lelouch, we must—

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

[No.

Where once the siblings were draped in flowers, they're now restricted by heavy chains that slowly tighten around their necks. If either would turn, they'd see their elder brother holding one end of each chain in each hand, stepping backward away from them, his expression entirely devoid of emotion, but perhaps neither does, leaving the sight of Marianne's body being riddled with bullets the last they see before slipping into the darkness of unconsciousness.]

[saintdarwin.livejournal.com]

[When Lelouch recovers, he will find that the reception hall has been cleared of all its guests and clutter, with the exception of the dead Marianne and a scattering of bullets and shells, the still-unconscious Cornelia now chained to the floor, and the large chandelier that conceded its spotlight and now casts the entire room in an equal white-light glow. In the immeasurable time that passed since the party, the room has filled with a thin, pink and gray ash that further mottles the marble floor and twists with dust into cobwebs that hang like streamers from the ceiling, the thickest of which extend from the chandelier to the grand entrance doors which are held open by an invisible force.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[The sight of his mother prone on the ground, blood pouring underneath her body forces a horrified scream from the child. Too much in shock to rise to his feet, he scrambles back from the corpse, still on his backside. His eyes search frantically for another soul in the room and when they finally find the unconscious Cornelia, he nearly throws himself at her body, pleading with her to wake up.]

[ascendthethorns]

[She doesn't stir; not even the speed of her breathing changes.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[He shakes her again, several times more, screaming about how Mother needs help, how she's hurt, about the blood. His tears are making it ever harder to see anything. At last, realizing she can't help him either, he pulls away from her, with a miserable hiccuping sound. Taking one last frightened look around the room, he runs out of it as fast as he can, finding the double doors unlocked. Still screaming for help, he spills out in the massive hall.]