#execution day

Spencer P. Jones - Execution Day

Rating: Gen, 444 words, shadowgast, hurt/some comfort, time loop, inspired by this post by @flashhwing

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"When does it reset?" How much time do we have?

"We have time." Caleb said, but wouldn't meet his eyes.

Spencer P. Jones  #  Execution Day

from  ‘Rumour Of Death’ (1994)  featuring Rowland S Howard, Brian Hooper and Conway Savage.

Spoilers ahead. Only read if you have listened to Condos and Matryoshka or don’t mind the spoilers.

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I’m currently listening to Matryoshka again. I had this thought occur to me and I went back and listened to The Story of Huntokar again which inevitably made me realize the thought couldn’t be true. But then, I decided to listen to Matryoshka again. And I am. And god guys I’ve had a realization.

In Condos Hiram comes on Cecil’s show after The Faceless Old Woman because apparently it’s a matter of legality and political candidates are supposed to have equal airtime on the radio to present their campaign. Hiram goes on to talk about why he is running for NightVale mayor and he tells this story.

When we was very young he was in a town. Not NightVale, somewhere else. He hadn’t heard of NightVale yet. And, as he was hungry, he asked a passerby where a good place to eat was. The passerby promptly screamed in fear and ran away. Obviously Hiram was hungry and sad after this.

But then, years later, he had a similar experience in NightVale. But instead of running away screaming the man did a weird thing with his mouth and pointed towards the Moonlite All-Nite Diner.

Hiram presents this as his favorite memory- when he realized he had found a place that accepted him despite his dragonly-appearance. This was why he was running for Mayor- because NightVale was a place he could truly call home.

Then Old Oak Doors happened. Then, Review happened. Then, The Trial of Hiram McDaniels happened.

Then, Execution Day happened.

Hiram leaves NightVale after the devastating accidental execution of his Violet Head. In Matryoshka, he returns, for one last time. Asking the rest of the dragons to leave NightVale alone, to uphold the treaties Huntokar had set in place.

And he says, “They attack me only because they are scared of me. We cannot find forgiveness in relentlessness.”

In short, Hiram McDaniels came to NightVale and thought it was the one place he could truly call home.

But in the end, it ending up being still very similar to the rest of the world. The world that ran away from him, screaming.

And I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I think that’s actually kinda sad. Not “oh shame on NightVale” sad (no hecking way NightVale’s actions were still justified,,, almost all of them anyway), just... it makes me feel sorry for Hiram in a way.

Beau stared at him, emotional whiplash evident. "Yes. How did you know that?"

"You told me so that you would believe me when I tell you I am stuck in a time loop and need your help. And then you said, and I quote, but I probably won't think it's so farfetched that I need proof, that does sound like the sort of trouble you'd get yourself involved with ."

"There's no way my voice sounds like that." She exhaled shortly, then crossed and uncrossed her arms.  "Okay. Time loop. Wow. Yeah, that tracks. Huh. Didja know I was going to say that?"

"Ja."

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