#lcsys save me. lcsys. save me lcsys.

[good-beanswrites]

What are the executions in LCSYS like? How is Es fooled?

Ahh so I’ve actually thought of this a lot! I didn’t want to include anything specific in the fic yet because I wanted to wait for more canon setup, but that certainly hasn’t stopped me from playing through scenarios in my mind all the time asdfdsf…

Most realistically, in a break between trial three and final verdicts, each of the prisoners records a video of them in an electric chair. Since the prisoners aren’t trained actors well versed in death scenes, it gives them several takes and director’s comments to come up with convincing fear, pleading, and cries of pain. Add in some flashing lights and electricity buzzing, and it can cover up any sign of acting. Of course real electric chairs aren’t flashy like that, but I doubt a fifteen year old who is rapidly realizing they just killed someone is going to be considering that the lights and sounds are just for show (plus being in Milgram where so many things are done with odd theatrics). Es makes their decision from a little room by themself, and must watch on a "live security feed" as the prisoners are led into the room "next door" to face their fate.

Since they can’t be 100% sure who Es will forgive, everyone must film one. A few of the prisoners hang around the tiny recording room, offering support and encouragement, and watching the final product back to compliment the actor, but some are too disturbed to stay long / specific friends are too much to handle. Yuno is perfectly composed during everyone else’s, but hearing Mahiru scream shakes her. Fuuta teases Kotoko nonstop about hers, but doesn’t show up on her filming day. Muu is the one telling everybody this type of acting is no different from the mv acting, and ends up breaking down during Haruka’s. Everyone shows up to Amane’s to give her support, but hers really gets to all of them.

The extra angst version (which is a bit harder to swing in my mind because of the prisoners’ lack of acting training) is the same except Es really is in the room with them, able to talk a bit first. They announce the verdict and get the prisoner's live reaction, whatever it may be. It’s way more personal because the prisoners are able to address/accuse/plead with them directly, and this time Es is forced to throw the electric switch with their own hands.

Though the au overall is heavy on the fluff and fix-it, this is the moment where I let myself lean into the angst. The prisoners know how cruel it is to put Es through this, but they must finish the experiment or it will all be for nothing. They have to justify to themselves why it's alright to make Es face such a deeply traumatizing lie, or they try to convince themself that they'll be forgiven no matter what, so there's no lie involved. They study Es' reaction to their deaths, going through a million emotions -- anger than Es would kill them, peace that the reaction proves how much Es cared, but above all, immense guilt that they're putting Es through all this pain.