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GRAVEYARD
THE MUSEUM
So, you’ve met your end and regardless of your beliefs, the expectation is that is where things end. Rebirth. Damnation. Salvation. A simple black screen… None of those things happen; how (un)fortunate for you. How jarring it must be to have your last moments not be your final moments. On the bright side, all the injuries you’ve sustained are no longer present. You’re as good as new!
Now, whether you’ve met your end violently, peacefully, or something between the two, you’ll find yourself sat in front of a sprawling behemoth of a wall tastefully covered from floor to ceiling (where is the ceiling?) with various objects on display. All of them carefully and neatly framed or kept safe within a box attached to the wall. Not only that, but there are cages hanging from the “ceiling” that contain even more objects for viewing. However, other than the walls, the hanging cages, and the bench—there is no padding on the bench; only a cold, hard surface that does not give—you find yourself sitting on, the rest of this room is completely empty.
At least, after giving a survey of the area, it will be obvious that it isn’t an enclosed space. There is an opening to a hallway—hopefully. Only one way to find out. Spoilers, there are many, many, many other rooms that make up this place.
Oh, but just what is all out on display?
Well, it varies and depends on who is looking. The hanging cages contain skeletons of creatures from home. Whose home? Your home. It’s the same story for everything that has been framed. They’re all images, items, objects—things—from home. Your home. Fortunately, not everything is familiar as unfamiliar items are included in equal parts. How did they all get here? What are they all doing here?
Have you considered the similarities between a museum and a graveyard? Both are places where the living go to marvel at the dead.
Now, whether you’ve met your end violently, peacefully, or something between the two, you’ll find yourself sat in front of a sprawling behemoth of a wall tastefully covered from floor to ceiling (where is the ceiling?) with various objects on display. All of them carefully and neatly framed or kept safe within a box attached to the wall. Not only that, but there are cages hanging from the “ceiling” that contain even more objects for viewing. However, other than the walls, the hanging cages, and the bench—there is no padding on the bench; only a cold, hard surface that does not give—you find yourself sitting on, the rest of this room is completely empty.
At least, after giving a survey of the area, it will be obvious that it isn’t an enclosed space. There is an opening to a hallway—hopefully. Only one way to find out. Spoilers, there are many, many, many other rooms that make up this place.
Oh, but just what is all out on display?
Well, it varies and depends on who is looking. The hanging cages contain skeletons of creatures from home. Whose home? Your home. It’s the same story for everything that has been framed. They’re all images, items, objects—things—from home. Your home. Fortunately, not everything is familiar as unfamiliar items are included in equal parts. How did they all get here? What are they all doing here?
Have you considered the similarities between a museum and a graveyard? Both are places where the living go to marvel at the dead.
EXHIBIT #04 - COMFORT
Likely the first room that you’ll come across after moving from the initial room. This room feels just as grand and just as empty as that room, but at least the walls aren’t covered in things from (your) home. 
Instead, there will be surfaces to claim, if you wish. Beds, sofas, couches, chaises lounge, bean bags, you name it—if someone could consider it comfortable then it will be present in all shapes, sizes, and variations. The only real catch is that each surface will be displayed individually and cannot be moved. Obviously.
Against one of the walls is a very small plaque that reads:
[ FOR DISPLAY ONLY – DO NOT TOUCH ]
Oops.
Instead, there will be surfaces to claim, if you wish. Beds, sofas, couches, chaises lounge, bean bags, you name it—if someone could consider it comfortable then it will be present in all shapes, sizes, and variations. The only real catch is that each surface will be displayed individually and cannot be moved. Obviously.
Against one of the walls is a very small plaque that reads:
[ FOR DISPLAY ONLY – DO NOT TOUCH ]
Oops.
EXHIBIT #09 - VIEWING
What’s a museum without some sort of media installation, hm?
For this room, there is only one thing and one thing only—a projector. For much of the time the projector being on (you can’t turn it off. In fact, where is the projector?), it won’t be displaying anything but a white light on the blank wall opposite of it.
However, while the wall is blank, every so often it’s possible to hear faint voices coming from above. Especially during the night before—you know.
For this room, there is only one thing and one thing only—a projector. For much of the time the projector being on (you can’t turn it off. In fact, where is the projector?), it won’t be displaying anything but a white light on the blank wall opposite of it.
However, while the wall is blank, every so often it’s possible to hear faint voices coming from above. Especially during the night before—you know.
EXHIBIT #03 - GARDEN
It’s here that you can finally see the ceiling even if it’s still more of a “sky” than a true ceiling. 
Those with keen eyes will be able to tell that it’s an artificial sky, and, for those who are less aware, then how it randomly flickers should help with that. Or not. Regardless, the presence of a “sky” isn’t the only surprising thing about this room—it might not even be the first thing that goes noticed. Despite all the expansive and seemingly never-ending hallways that lead to rooms that are void of anything living, this room is alive. Somehow.
A small plaque on the wall will describe this exhibit as an “interactive” medium with gentle suggestions to not be too rough with anything. This exhibition will be a picturesque garden full of all kinds of flowers and plants with a small pond with lily pads and lotus located towards the center of the room. The only physical structure within this room is a very small and simple gazebo containing two chairs and a small table. Perfect for having afternoon tea—if that’s your kind of thing. However, if you were hoping to listen to any bird song, look at what animals have taken residence in the pond, or generally any other kind of life then you’ll be disappointed.
Those with keen eyes will be able to tell that it’s an artificial sky, and, for those who are less aware, then how it randomly flickers should help with that. Or not. Regardless, the presence of a “sky” isn’t the only surprising thing about this room—it might not even be the first thing that goes noticed. Despite all the expansive and seemingly never-ending hallways that lead to rooms that are void of anything living, this room is alive. Somehow.
A small plaque on the wall will describe this exhibit as an “interactive” medium with gentle suggestions to not be too rough with anything. This exhibition will be a picturesque garden full of all kinds of flowers and plants with a small pond with lily pads and lotus located towards the center of the room. The only physical structure within this room is a very small and simple gazebo containing two chairs and a small table. Perfect for having afternoon tea—if that’s your kind of thing. However, if you were hoping to listen to any bird song, look at what animals have taken residence in the pond, or generally any other kind of life then you’ll be disappointed.
EXHIBIT # — ???
Nothing is on display in this room; all that is there is just empty walls, empty “ceilings”, empty floors…
The only thing that can be found is a small, simple white card free from any kind of writing. A completely blank card. If you try to take it out of the room, it will instantly disappear from wherever it was stored and return to the room.
The only thing that can be found is a small, simple white card free from any kind of writing. A completely blank card. If you try to take it out of the room, it will instantly disappear from wherever it was stored and return to the room.
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I'm certain they just don't want to accuse the wrong person, and potentially condemn them wrongly.
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[He's got nothing better to do. And then the fucking hands show up and the rap battle happens.]
Huh? What the hell, sure.
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( RAMUDA...????? Oh this is bad. He doesn't want Ramuda taken by the hands, and Zvei and Ramuda are both his oomfies... he doesn't want them to be fighting... He seems immediately pensive.
He... does have some reservations about what could have possibly driven Ramuda to kill, however... And it's then that he notices the distortion in the feed. )
... Is something else going on...? This quality of the video wasn't there during the previous meeting.
( The "trial," he means. )
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Could be some sort of magecraft or whatever the equivalent is from his world. Some of it is based on principles so old that they don't transmit well through video.
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"Easy! For my freedom!"
.......
Yuki's hands curl into slightly trembling fists, appalled. )
... I had thought... he was a much kinder person than that.
( We need to establish once more that Yuki's judgment of character is worth jack ... and he's also been blinded by how much physical affection Ramuda drowned him in, )
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No one's that sickeningly cutesy and upbeat all the time. Especially at his age. Not to claim I saw this coming or anything but I'm not surprised that it was fake as hell.
[Beryl's jusy watching this all like lol. Lmao. At least he's not the only uninfected murderer now!]
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Yuki shakes his head quickly, clearly taking it harder the more Ramuda says and the more Beryl suggests this is something unsurprising. He brings his sleeve to his lips, skin paling, as if he doesn't know what to do with everything he's hearing. )
He wasn't like that! ( Like that changes anything. He knows it doesn't, and yet... ) He was truly kind and understanding. You didn't know him.
( ... Well. Clearly Yuki didn't, either.
He feels sick. Maybe this is just a hallucination, too. It doesn't feel real. How could someone who held him so kindly - who was the first to want to and hear him out - be so... )
... I apologize. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you.
( His gaze is fixed on the screen, but... this isn't Beryl's fault. )
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You can yell at me all you want. You don't really know how rotten most humans are, do you?
[Pats him on the shoulder. There there.]
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... I'm... aware they can be, but...
( He's read history books. He's aware of the news. But it's all abstract, and almost fake. It's not part of his little doll house - the small and simple life he lives with his master, serving his duties. )
... I was created to love them. I just can't reconcile... how I care for them, and yet there are those who can... plan to kill, target someone vulnerable and mourning, speak of it so...
( The cold hard truth of it is at complete odds with his metaphorical programming, so to speak. But this...
Though he was not given the half of Choushichirou's soul that knows betrayal, it feels reminiscent, like a phantom limb - and he tries to send the feeling away. Stop. Stop. )
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[We're on this again.]
I don't hate humans. They're fun to watch because they're trying so hard to convince each other than they're normal when none of them are.
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... Some are good. Some are truly good. ( Maybe he just wants to believe that? No - he's met many. They exist. ) But I want to believe those who are not still have the propensity for good. There is still hope for them. How can you believe none do?
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What does it mean to be good? Do you think that's something people are or something they do?
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( He hesitates. He's obviously never had to think of it in such nuanced terms before, and his mind is already in disarray over Ramuda's confessions. It's... )
... It's... intent, conjoined with action. I believe it must be. Goodness cannot solely be judged by action, lest cruel peers determine a good action as bad. But it cannot be solely be judged by intent, lest one's reason become misaligned with reality.
( Something he has ... personally experienced, given what he did to Reiju, and what he tried to do at trial - let me protect you, he had said to them all. It sickens him. )
... It is something you can become, and lose, and regain.
( So a combination of both things Beryl said, but at least he explained his reasoning. )
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But then it's even harder to pin down than that, you know? It's not just people trying to paint a so called "good" action as bad out of spite. Something "good" to one person isn't to another.
Like, say you and I were walking down the street, and someone came along and threatened to kill you, and I had no choice but to kill him to prevent that from happening. Is that a "good" action?
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That's— There have to be things agreed upon as universally evil. Murder is one. As such, it could never be good in any context.
( foolish yuki for not establishing a premise to his argument-- )
But— if it were a Robin Hood matter, for instance. ( Steal from the rich, give to the poor... ) There is a little bit of goodness in that action. Whether or not it is gauged as overall good or bad, I believe the person is at least a little bit good for it.
( Now, why doesn't this apply to murder for a good cause, extremity aside? Don't worry about it. That said, he didn't explicitly call Beryl's hypothetical murder in self defense(?) an evil act. )
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So the "good" thing is for me to not retaliate and let him kill you? That doesn't make sense to me.
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If you have the means to kill them, surely you have the means to incapacitate them instead. Must this scenario end in a death?
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( Looks at Beryl "i kill for a variety of reasons" Gut, )
. . . then I would take that into consideration. If the intent was good - to protect, and to spare the assailant's life - then . . . I believe that has value. But if it were truly me in the scenario, I would feel the weight of the victim's life on my shoulders. I would not want this outcome.
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Well you beat me to the point I was gonna make. Obviously, if you killed someone in defense of someone else, it's relatively "good" to that person. But say that person had a family, kids to feed. They don't care about the person you protected. To them that was an "evil" act because you killed their dad!
Most things are like that. Anything "good" is going to be "evil" from someone's perspective.
[A beat, before he adds]
But also I never said people were evil. I said they were rotten, broken, abnormal. It's all on you for deciding that something like that couldn't do or be "good" sometimes!
[He could have said this right away but instead just tormented Yuki with an ethical quandary first. For fun!]
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... And what do you think it means to be "broken," "rotten," and "abnormal"? Aren't these positive qualifiers, to you?
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They're all different, though. Something rotten doesn't have value in the first place. I'm not interested in that. I was to see something worthwhile or perfect break down. Abnormal things can have value too. Mash was like that... She was never "perfect," but rather a hollow homunculus masquerading as a human being. That's what's so appealing about her.
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This Mash, though... He's not personally familiar with homunculi, but he's aware of the general concept. )
... Did she see herself as human?
( Clearly, Beryl does not. As for Yuki ... hm. )
And what makes you believe she is hollow, regardless?
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