GRAVEYARD

[retellers]

GRAVEYARD Well, that sucked. But no matter what your death was like—whether it was something peaceful or traumatic, you'll find yourself waking in a completely white room on the floor. Small and empty, there isn't anything else there besides an open door to walk through. But before you do that, you'll probably notice that whatever injuries you may have had, including whatever may have been the death blow, are now gone. That's exciting. Stepping out of the room, it seems that you're in a large... house? with three different floors. Everything from floor, ceiling to furniture is completely white, except for the drawings that are plastered to the walls in each room. These are all colorful, drawn in colored pencils and crayon, and resemble a child's drawing. The other notable thing are the windows. While they're present all around the building, looking out of them only shows TV static. Besides that, everything is furnished with the absolute bare minimum of each room. The first floor is all typical common areas one would find in a house. There's a kitchen, living room area, laundry room, dining room, and a main hallway where the stairs are. There are also helpful drawings in these rooms that show the rooms much more lavishly decorated than they actually are. There's a door that appears to be the way to exit the building, but it leads you to somewhere that's not the front lawn. The second floor consists of nothing but twenty bedrooms. Each room has one queen sized bed, an empty dresser, and an attached bathroom with only a sink, toilet, and shower. Like the first floor, each bedroom has drawn pictures that show it looking much more lavish than it actually does. Thanks for nothing, artist! The third floor only has two rooms. One appears to be a home office with nothing but a desk and two chairs, one behind it and one in front of it. On the desk are some blank pieces of paper along with crayons, as well as a written note next to them that says PLEASE DRAW THE PREFERRED ANIMAL :). It looks like this is how you ask for a meeting with a Leader. The other room is much larger, and it's completely empty save for the many drawings lining its walls— in fact, the walls are covered in them, much more than in any other room. On closer inspection, though, it seems like these aren't actually drawings? The papers seem to be showing scenes from the living area. Everything from inside the hotel to the areas beyond the bridge are visible here. However, when curfew hits on Thursday nights, they revert to being normal drawings! Except for the fact that they're all drawings of stick figures being murdered in various ways. Well. At least there's plenty of things to draw with, if you get bored. As of Week 3, each person has the ability to send messages on their PHS unlocked.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

[heartablaze]

Knowing what it wants, what needs to change... that's important too, Gretel-sama. [She loops around the back of the ladder, anchoring one foot on the bottom rung.]

There's too many here. And even when I rescue him... if I can't do something with what I've seen, my brother won't be the last one to have to suffer.

I love him. He's a dear person to me. And I know he wouldn't want me making a choice without my whole heart being in it.

[Her jaw sets.]

What good is change if it comes from a place of ignorance?

[suddenlybees]

Why, it is good when the situation is such that it can only improve, isn't it? Dragons, with their corrupted hearts, can only be changed for the better.

[ Up one more rung, and this time, he turns around so he can look down on Hikaru on the other side of the ladder. ]

I can tell you about the dragon, if you'd like. But, as with all things, it will come with a price. For each question that you ask, I will answer to the best of my ability. In exchange, you must give me what I ask for.

[heartablaze]

[She doesn't move, if only because she doesn't want Kano to tip backwards off the stage.]

There's only one thing I can't give you. Anything else... you can take, if it means I can make up my mind.

[suddenlybees]

I am not unfair, little girl. If you cannot give me something, I will ask for something else.

[ Tipping becomes a little more possible as Kano climbs up one more step. ]

What questions do you have of me, little girl? In exchange for answering the first, I will ask for your beautiful red hair.

[heartablaze]

[Well. She can't literally give him her hair. But she'll untie the tail from her waist, as it's about the same length as her braid, planting her other foot on the bottom of the ladder. She doesn't weigh much, but at least it's something.

She'll pretend to whip it off the back of her head with the saber, before handing it out to him.]

Why is the dragon's heart corrupted?

[suddenlybees]

[ He takes the tail and loops it around his neck like a scarf, taking care to smooth it down like he's lovingly brushing his new ponytail. ]

Hm... The dragon was not born with a corrupted heart- nobody is. It was not born a monster, either. But it grew up all alone, and in order to survive, in order to live, it had to give up everything that made it weak.

[heartablaze]

[Off in the back row somewhere, someone whispers "What play is this again?"]

You can't have strengths without things that make you weak. That's just... part of being someone.

What did the dragon have to give up?

[suddenlybees]

Things very precious to him.

[ He holds out his hand. ]

Do you wish to know? For an answer such as this one, I will require your eyes.

[heartablaze]

[She hesitates... before removing the long fabric bow from her neck and tightening it around her eyes.

She'll reach out her hand for his, groping a bit before taking his fingers. A pantomime at best, but it's the closest she can give for what's supposed to be a play.

Even though, she feels, this isn't turning into much of a play for either of them.]

[suddenlybees]

[ It's a play... Everything is fake and all in good fun...

Kano takes her hand, but this time, unlike when they'd traipsed across town, his grip is firm, and he doesn't let go. ]

The dragon gave up his naivety. His innocence. His smile, his heart, his goodwill. Everything that made him him, as much a "him" as there could be at such a young age, he gave it up in exchange for his life. He took on a new form and a new role, in order to continue existing in this world.

[heartablaze]

[...

She realizes, possibly, why he asked for her eyes, since all she wishes is to meet his. But she keeps herself level, meets his firm grip with one of her own, her fingers tightening against his palm when something in what he says hits her a little too hard.

A new form. A new role.

...]

...

...What kind of life would anyone have, without their heart? What... what did that new role do to the dragon, that he had to give up so much just to live?

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano laughs, humorlessly. ]

Are you sure you want to ask those questions, with how much you've given up already? I would ask for your smile. I would ask for your voice.

[ Then, she would not be able to ask any more questions. ]

Think carefully of what you wish to ask.

[heartablaze]

[She exhales slowly.]

There's only one thing I cannot give, Gretel-sama. Everything else... you can have. [A strong repeat of what she said earlier, her grip squeezing.]

Please... tell me about the role of the dragon.

[suddenlybees]

[ Anything but what, her life? Maybe she would lay that down as well, for as much stupid, stupid people have told Kano they would sacrifice their life for other people's sakes. ]

...The dragon is the villain, see? Every story needs a villain, a common enemy to bring the masses together in the face of adversity. That is, anyways, how the dragon sees his role.

[ One more step up the ladder, although there has to be some hand juggling going on for both of them to ascend but still keep holding hands for whatever reason. ]

The role of the dragon is to pick off weak little boys and girls and hide them in this tower of his. Sacrifices such as these appeases the gods above, and without them, the entire world will burn. The people of this world are not meant to kill. But a dragon would take that sin upon himself, in order to protect his world.

[heartablaze]

[She only ascends with one foot to the next step. This ladder is gonna fucking fall over with them both at the top and they will both break their necks instantly.]

You're just like...

[It's a whisper, under her breath. But she paid with her voice for this answer. So she clenches her jaw, silent...

... before reaching for his hand with both of hers, keeping her head down and her body level with the ladder. From the back of the stage, the fiery wolf carefully walks on stage, regarding Shuuya before walking to the base of the ladder, planting its paws on the bottom before giving Hikaru's leg a nudge with its snout.

She exhales, then, pressing herself up just a little further, before carefully starting to trace hiragana and kanji into Shuuya's hand.

From behind her, the wolf meets his eyes, unwavering, where Hikaru cannot.]

[suddenlybees]

[ He remains still and quiet at the top of this precarious tower, careful not to move or let it sway while he watches Hikaru's finger trace words across his hand.

... ]

...He can try, but he knows he will never win. He does not know how. He has no faith. As it stands, he must continue if he wants to keep the world as it is, and prevent it from falling into ruin. The dragon does not know what else to do.

[ The grip on Hikaru's hands loosens, though not enough that she would be in danger of falling. ]

For this answer, I will take your brother. Go home, little girl. There is nothing more I want from you.

[heartablaze]

[His grip loosens. But hers does not.

Slowly, she tosses the crown off her head, tosses the saber from her side, refusing to let his hand go.

My brother is that dragon.

If I do not find him, if I don't remember, then I will become that dragon, too.

Take me to him.]

[suddenlybees]

...Very well.

[ It's not a question, but a request. There is nothing else he wants from her, and there is nothing that he owes her. But he takes her hand and steps to the very top of the ladder, where each of their sets of steps become one and the same.

They'd better be very good at balancing. ]

Wh-who's there? [ a sudden switch in tone- younger, fearful- yet another role ] Nobody's supposed to be up here! State your name!

[heartablaze]

[She has a blindfold on, I'm pretty sure we're gonna have to coinflip if this ladder is just gonna fucking fall every tag. At least the dog's here...

She exhales slowly, trying to remember. No name. No lock of red hair. No eyes. No smile. No voice.

...

No brother.

The flames of her mashin start to grow hotter as she steadies her feet... and simply holds out her hands in front of her, silent.]

[suddenlybees]

[ The ladder wobbles at the motion, and man the temptation to shove Hikaru off the top is strong. But Kano doesn't move, doesn't take her hands. ]

I don't know who you are, but go away. There's a dragon that lives up here, you know? The dragon destroys everything it touches- it can't help itself. That's the curse of the dragon, and you should stay far, far away so you can stay safe.

[heartablaze]

[Someone in the crowd boos. The mashin growls angrily from where its planted itself, and several laugh mockingly. Fuck you, ghost crowd, you can leave if you want.

She simply shakes her head. She points at herself. Points towards him.

And holds out her hands.]

[suddenlybees]

[ Looks from Hikaru. To the crowd. To the fire doggo. Back to the crowd.

Something of a smirk spreads across Kano's face as he takes Hikaru's hand in his, and gently guides her into facing the audience. ]

So be it.

[ The grip on Hikaru's hand tightens and Kano kicks off the ladder, sending it toppling while he pulls Hikaru forward to jump straight into the audience, ten foot leap be damned. Ghostly screaming erupts from the crowd as the chairs gets knocked over in their landing and Kano doesn't even try to stick it, they're just going to bowl everything over as much as they can and if there's a time for the dog to burst into flames and set everything on fire, now would be it. ]

[heartablaze]

[And burst into flames it does, standing directly in the middle of the stage. The curtains and floorboards instantly start to warp as all nearby fabric sparks. It's just gonna casually start making sure this whole place is on fire. Fuck the ladder in particular.

Hikaru holds her breath at the tightening of the hand, her feet already braced. But she doesn't yell. She bites her tongue as they meet air, as she's yanked forward and flying directly off the stage over top empty chairs that she can't see, the chaos of ghosts underneath.

In the moment, all there is is Kano's hand in hers. And it's not enough time, to yank their momentum completely and force them into a roll. Not without letting him go.

So she twists her weight the best she can, blinded, letting her shoulder and back take the brunt force of her jump from ten feet and the weight of Kano's momentum as she smashes fully into the chairs below, only losing her grip with him as she tumbles end over end and comes to a painful halt in a mess of scattered furniture.

The stage is now on fire. The mashin is the star now. The ghosts are screaming. It's fine.]

[suddenlybees]

[ Oh god everything hurts and he can taste blood in his mouth. His back is strangely hot? He turns around and stares at the glorious blaze that is all that's left of the stage, at the wailing and screaming that fills the air and only seems to fan the flames. ]

...And thus, the prison tower crumbles behind them as sacrifices are not longer necessary, the little girl and the stupid boy transforming into a pair of dragons to take down God Himself. The End.

[heartablaze]

[Everything hurts. Everything really, really hurts, and for a second, before it snaps back into place, she's sure something must have broken. But the taste of blood and feel of the flames isn't unfamiliar, the pain isn't unfamiliar, and the second she catches her breath, she rips off her blindfold and barrels into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and probably sending them right back to the floor.

She doesn't say anything. But she doesn't let go.]