ohthehumanities | catchall; rang lee

[I think about how we're cucked out of Kaveh punching Rang in the face because you're the executioner]

Don't you dare put this on him.

[He doesn't even seem to hear the insult--if there's anything that can stoke his temper back to life, it's righteous fury on behalf of someone else. He lets Rang tear himself away, but he doesn't let him stagger back too far, made bold and reckless and confrontational in his devastation.

Everyone thinks Kaveh is harmless. That he's mostly kind, that he would never do true harm to another person. They have no idea of the ugly truth of his soul; that he can be so harsh, so cruel under the right circumstances. That he's caused so much more suffering than most of them know. That he won't hesitate to bare his claws and fangs on behalf of someone else.]

That boy held onto his kindness until the end. He's better than you or I will ever be.

[at that, rang laughs -- the sound harsh and grating.]

And yet, we're both still here.

[thinks about how execution is over so now i can meta about d

he thinks about d who killed rin. d who had been just as kind and caring, who had been willing to give humans a chance -- who hadn't been as warped as rang was when it came to them. that kindness in him did nothing to save him either, had chained him by the ankle and dragged him down this path that they're all stuck in.]

What use is kindness, when it didn't save him?

[The worst part is, for all Kaveh's anger and grief--grief that is, in truth, about so much more than just Rin, just this place--Rang is right. Kaveh can stand here and say that Rin shouldn't have had to suffer, that he was one of the people here who deserved this the least--but that won't bring him back. Kindness didn't save Rin. (It didn't save his father.) More than anything, it's probably what got him killed. (It's what got his father killed.)

He can't hide the quiet devastation on his face--is in no state to try. He averts his gaze, shutting his eyes tightly and digging his nails into his palms.]

...No. It didn't. [He has to concede that. He has no other choice.] But the people who love him are still here. And I will not let anyone cause them any more pain.

[He can't protect their lives. But he can at least try to make sure that they don't become the sort of survivor that he is.]

[There's a part of Rang that enjoys seeing the hurt on Kaveh's face, even if he knows that none of it is his fault. He hadn't killed Rin, so he can't take the credit for the pain laid bare before him. But it's just as well, that other people are suffering besides him. They all should be.

The other part is annoyed -- angry that because this wasn't his decision, he can't reap all of the hatred that should have come his way. that tomorrow, when he remains, there will be people who will pity him, no matter what he does. that he prefers the look of fury on kaveh's face more than the devastation.

he takes one step back, then another.]

Then tell them to stay away from me.

[because he cannot be trusted around them not to lash out, if he can't be trusted with kaveh,]

Or they'll just end up hearing worse.

[anyway he's going to beat a retreat and hit da bricks, skeleton style. if it's cowardly of him, he doesn't care. he just wants to go leave and keep moving, and follow the pull of a string that he knows has nothing on the other side,]

catchall; rang lee

tags you while you're in execution hehe

beats you up this tag emotionally destroyed me

STOP LISTEN

YOU HURT ME INT HIS WAY... GOOFERIZES YOU