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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 pray that you never lose that spark, Zvei; to float through life listlessly and without genuine meaning is a curse I would not wish upon anyone. That spark is something beautiful.
[She says it so confidently, despite being unable to feel it for herself. But it's exactly because she can't feel it that she encourages him to keep it; it's because of that, really, that she hopes nothing ever happens to make him lose it.
He wouldn't be the Zvei she knows without it, and a selfish part of her hopes that such a thing is just a natural part of him.
That second statement gets Amaya to look at Zvei for a moment, though, canting her head to the side as she considers it. Her eyes end up sliding shut as she does in contemplation.]
I wonder what that would look like, on me. I imagine it would be very jarring to anyone who knows how I am; they may think I've been replaced by something dreadful. It'd likely look like the time that Aneirin tried to teach me how to smile.
[...]
...Maybe I wouldn't mind finding out what it looks like, someday.
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[It's the one feeling he actually understands and embraces, so of course he's going to continue being Like This. But when Amaya looks back to him, his gaze returns to her, and doesn't leave even as her eyes close.]
Come now, I'm sure it would look lovely on you. [Though he does titter a bit at the thought of her smiling.] I suppose Aneirin wasn't very successful?
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Not in the slightest. His is a smile that can light up any room; my attempts at imitating it? Only ended up scaring some of the village's children. Though that I suppose I can attribute to attempting to bare my teeth in a grin like he does...
[She shakes her head a bit, looking at Zvei.]
Even so, it was...interesting, I think, to try. Perhaps we can find something here, that can attempt to spark that curiosity before we leave.
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[Besides, he does want to see if he can make her feel something positive - it was a promise before he died, and he'd rather not bring it up right now, but it's something that's still on his mind. Maybe he won't ever get a smile from Amaya, but getting her eyes to light up in curiosity is just as good, in his opinion.]
Let's see what else this city has to offer then, shall we?
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[Amaya will open her eyes, though, nodding her head at him. Her lips twitch, the slightest bit, and she holds her hand out.]
Let us away, indeed. I would like to see more of what this city has to offer for us; let us see if we can find something truly interesting to research.
[Ready for the ride down the elevator???]
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[Little does he know we have a lot of time here!!! But anyway,]
Off we go!
[He takes her hand first, then inclines his head a bit and lets go, offering her his arm instead. Fiona used to do this all the time - though usually she just commandeered his arm until he got used to it and started offering it to her whenever they wandered anywhere. It's been awhile since he last did it. But it feels fitting with Amaya, for whatever that's worth.]
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But at any rate, Amaya pauses at the offer of his arm but...she does decide to take it, looping her smaller (but quite firm) arm around his, a little unsure at first until the elevator starts to go down; by the time it does that, she's looping it properly around his, her eyes never leaving the bottom of the elevator until they've properly hit the ground.
(She'll never admit that she was a little bit perturbed by the falling sensation of going down the elevator, even if Zvei teases her about it. She just wanted him closer, that's all. ...Which likely inevitably results in her being teased again, but she'll deal with that much.)
Still, it's strange how despite her little bit of fear, holding onto him seems to have produced a more empty feeling that dulls it. Huh. It'll warrant more analysis in time, at least; for now the city's technology and strangeness can keep them going.
...At least, for now.]
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Oh, sure, they've looked for a way out. After all, this isn't reality - this isn't the museum, and there seems to be no connection to the other side, to the living, in this place. But as the days pass, it gets harder and harder to separate this reality from the one where they died, and Zvei in particular struggles to mark the passing of the days.
After all, there's so much here in this world to learn! It became apparent quickly that in order to find a place for themselves in this society, they would have to put in work - but this utopia granted them a home and steady supply of food (things they need here, strangely) once they took on jobs. Zvei's is a low-level research assistant; the sort of thing that he'd never be wasting his intellect with back in Aelios, but given he's not even remotely knowledgeable enough about this place and its technology, it serves well enough. His boss is a researcher working on advancements to communications technology - chips that will be implanted within everyone's heads and allowing communication without the need for an external device like a smartphone. It's downright fascinating, even if the work itself is grunt-level and dull. It's not like it's the first time he's worked on something he doesn't care about in pursuit of learning more, though.
But with time has come knowledge that this beautiful utopia isn't quite what it seems on the surface. Why, even his boss has some less-than-willing volunteers for his work who seem to have been pressured into it by the higher-ups. Those who struggle with work suffer, and that much is quite apparent in who is allowed access to what technology - something that can be seen just about anywhere throughout the city.
It's concerning, but mostly, it's fascinating. While there is a reality they need to get back to... Zvei can't exactly say he's eager to leave this all behind.
He's home from work at the usual time, slipping his labcoat off and releasing the tentacles with a sigh. That's truly the one problem this world has: he has to at least pretend to pass as a normal human and that means no tentacles out. Truly this is hell.]
Miss Amaya, are you home~?
[But he isn't alone. Yuki and Amaya are still here, and they all share the same living space. Usually Amaya's home by now, so naturally he goes looking for her immediately. It's been over a month (two months?) and they've grown closer, certainly, to the point where he often finds himself missing her during the days. Or maybe it's just her reactions. She's quite fun to tease and he can never turn down the opportunity.
Regardless, they're both exceptionally important to him, and they always will be. But do they long to return to that museum...? It's something he hasn't really talked about with them in-depth. Maybe he should.]
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In a way, Amaya's almost thankful for this. She's found some work of her own in trying to help find the three of them somewhere that they can stay; while Amaya's had a hell of a learning curve trying to find something that she could actually do, they did manage to find her a position in agriculture, though it's a lot more streamlined than what it was back in Fefello Caelum. Most of what she has to do is pressing buttons to harvest the specific crops that the city needs to make it's food for everyone, or press a button that helps make specific meals to ensure maximum nutrition. They've managed to optimize everything to a point that it's sort of scary; not one bit of food out of place, not one thing wasted.
...Or so it seems, at least. Amaya has noticed a lot more lately, the conditions of her fellow coworkers and how they seem to be worsening, still coming in but looking sicker and sicker. The tools that they use to harvest mass quantities seems to be failing more often as of late, as well; they barely even seem to have maintenance team, anymore. Everyone's too sick, the machines are too rusted, and supply simply cannot keep up with demand at these levels. Amaya's spared the worst of it by being one of the lowest people on the totem pole, but to say the least, and it feels like they're trying to patch a missing limb with the bare minimum.
Amaya doesn't like it. She doesn't know how much longer they're going to have to stay here, but she's starting to lose faith that they'll genuinely be able to get out. It's why she likes to listen to the stories about Zvei's day, and the things going on in his life; she likes to hear the things going on in Yuki's too, and it's almost a routine at this point. Both of the boys come home after a long day of doing their work, and they get to enjoy some sort of long forged closeness. It's...almost nice; almost enough to induce some sort of feeling, though never quite enough to get anything other than Amaya's ease around them.
Amaya's home long before either of the boys are; she usually gets up quite early and gets home before the afternoon fully settles in, and today is no different. Amaya seems to have finally gotten the hang of cooking those perfectly nutrient packed meals, and she's already got one for Zvei ready in the kitchen, where she pokes her head out from.]
I am indeed, Zvei. Come to the kitchen; I have your meal prepared for you.
[Her voice is about as tired as normal, given that she sleeps about as well as she did on the other side. Read: not exactly well. But her hair's thankfully not a mess, mostly due to Zvei's intervention, though Amaya seems to have it tied back into a ponytail now.]
How was your day?
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[Granted, she does get home earlier, but it's always nice to come home to, regardless. He's glad he doesn't get home first otherwise he would forget to eat and get wrapped up in his studies. While books may be a thing of the past, there's plenty of knowledge to be found across the internet!!
Anyway, he enters the kitchen, humming in approval at the prepared meal. He's never been particularly picky to begin with, so these are satisfactory, and better when prepared by someone who actually has picked up how to use the technology.]
Rather dull, all things considered. Boss was in and out of meetings for most of the day, so I was mainly handling whatever leftover forms needed to be filled out and sent off. [He waggles a hand as if to say "so-so".] But I did overhear something interesting on my lunch break - apparently one of the tests went so poorly that a subject was hospitalized.
[...He may look a little too eager when talking about it, but listen, when your whole day was boring, gossip is interesting!!]
Granted, there's no telling how much of that is truth and how much is fiction, but I intend to look into it tomorrow. From what I've seen, the tests haven't been going particularly well...
[He hums a bit, taking a seat at the kitchen table and drumming his fingers on the tabletop.]
This place isn't all it seems on the surface, is it?
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[There's nothing really in her tone when she says it, but it almost sounds confident. If you squint, at least.
Still, Amaya will finish prepping Yuki's meal for whenever he gets home, the technology at least ensuring that Amaya doesn't need to keep as close of an eye on it now as she used to. It's truly amazing how much technology has been able to thrive in this place; they're practically needless, outside of their rampant need to use currency and use the need of it to keep people working.
Still, Amaya listens; she's...honestly a little startled to hear about the man who got hospitalized, though. It's only a brief widening, though; she's more than a little tired, but considering what she's seen herself...]
...Not at all, truthfully. I do hope that you're able to get some interesting information, however; a rumor like that is bound to get interesting results. But...
It is interesting, to hear that other places are falling apart so. The boss hired another maintenance crew to come look at some of the harvest machinery again; it seems that's yet another one that's been unable to provide any sort of lasting fix for the machine. I'm starting to fear that nothing may be enough to fix it. She already said that she cannot afford anymore mishaps with the machines.
[...]
They've all...seemed rather sick, however. As if they're coming into contact with something that is making them weaker; perhaps we'll have to compare notes, if I can speak to them at some point.
[Amaya will take her own seat at the table, shaking her head a bit as she drinks her cup of coffee she's prepared.]
...I fear that something may happen, sooner rather than later, at this rate. Do you get that feeling too?
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Yes. I have to wonder if all of this is building toward something - a climax of some sort, so to speak. I imagine we were brought here for a reason, after all. Perhaps we're meant to witness however this ends before we can return to the museum.
[Or maybe that's just some sort of wishful thinking. Maybe we're permanently trapped here. Perhaps it's a good thing that he can't be too bothered by it one way or another. Whether he's trapped in this world or dead, it doesn't change that there's still a chance for him to pursue his missing memories. The technology in this world may even be a better option, but there's so much unexplored on the other side that he can't argue returning there.]
Do you miss it?
[The question leaves him before he can think about it, and he blinks before deciding sure, he's going to ask.]
Or maybe it's more accurate to ask if you miss the others?
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She just...]
I miss the others. Not the place we were staying; I've no attachment to that, but...
[Amaya runs her fingers through her ponytail, shutting her eyes.]
...I cannot deny that a part of me could stay in this place. The stress of work and maintaining our existence is one thing, of course, but this life feels so...strangely normal, I suppose.
And you?
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...I think I could stay here for a long time. [Maybe forever.] There's always something new to learn, and though the work isn't interesting, I have both of you. I could spend all of my free time learning and it would still never be enough to scratch the surface of all this place has to offer.
[Maybe someone else would find that daunting or frustrating, but not Zvei.]
But... this isn't where we're supposed to be. I know I shouldn't get too attached, because we will eventually return, I'm sure.
[And if he starts thinking that maybe they won't, then it'll take him by surprise. Best to be prepared for it.]
...I suppose there are some of the others I miss. A little bit.
[He doesn't really get attached all that easily, but... well, some of them have grown on him. It seems silly to say such a thing when he was only among the living for so short a time, though.]
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...Likewise, to missing others. I know not if Seymour or Lobelia would have liked this place, but I would have liked to bring them. Perhaps Alhaitham, as well.
[Still, Amaya pauses, looking out toward one of the windows of their little home...it seems to be getting dark outside. Hopefully Yuki manages to get home safe, but Amaya looks back to Zvei after a moment.]
Perhaps we'll be proven wrong; this place is full of strange things, and it almost seems a shame that it could fall. They truly have everything figured out, and it would be nice to see more of it.
[...]
I didn't know that we were helping you that much.
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Of course? [Like it's a question, because to him it's the most obvious thing in the world—] I don't know what I'd do if I'd been trapped in here alone. You both are quite important to me, you know.
[...Does she know that?]
I mean it. I've learned a lot - about myself and other people - through Yuki; he's exceptionally important to me. His patience and kindness have been immensely helpful and are something I'm always appreciative of.
[Amaya is a bit tougher to quantify. But she deserves to know he cherishes her just as much, so...]
As for you, miss Amaya... Well, "like recognizes like", remember? I have never met another person who experiences the world in a way that's even slightly comparable to my own experience. You're someone quite dear to me as well.
[That doesn't even begin to touch on everything, but he's not really sure how to describe it all.]
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Hang on a second, Amaya has to actually pause at that. She's never been important to anyone outside of the people who could use her. (Which is a lie, girl Aneirin cares for you so much you absolute DIPSHIT--) She's never really been considered a presence that could help others outside of her strength and the skills she's forced herself to pick up. Hearing that come so unbidden from Zvei, it's...
And then he outright describes it and she swears her face is a touch warm but it's...it's fine, that's--]
...I've...never really been considered outright dear to someone, before. [There's whatever happened with her and Seymour that one night, yes, but he's never said it in so many words. Just...the stories of their similar circumstances and the strange kinship that led there, but even then, Zvei's saying this outright and it feels like her chest has tightened.] That is not to say that I doubt your feelings, of course; you're one of the most forthright people I have met, and I've no reason to ever doubt you. But I suppose it's...
[...]
It...produces an empty feeling in me, to hear that from you. And I am not entirely sure why. But...I think it...pleases me, to hear that you have us both.
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[It's a little strange to put it so bluntly... It makes him feel exposed, almost. Like he's shown her a part of himself he'd normally hide - but that doesn't make any sense, as he's already done that plenty of times without this odd feeling. Well, whatever it is isn't important!!]
As long as it's a different feeling, then I think it's a good thing. Better that than the usual, right? It means it matters to you in some way, and I doubt it's a negative way.
[In his esteemed opinion, feeling something is better than nothing, and he imagines this is true for Amaya as well.]
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[She had wanted to deny it when they were separated; hell, she genuinely didn't think that she could feel that way at all. But Zvei and Seymour both have managed to change that in their own ways, and...
How strange it is. How...nice, she must assume. Is that why the emptiness feels so overwhelming now? It's almost suffocating, and Amaya doesn't know if she likes it or not.
...]
Thank you. For...letting me know that. It...
It means quite a lot to me.
...Could I ask you if you could do my hair for me? [She doesn't know why she asks that. Maybe she just...wants him close.] I've...missed the way you do it.
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Of course! The usual style, I assume?
[Not that it really matters to him; as long as he has an excuse to be close, to touch her, it doesn't really matter what she wants him to do.]
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Shall we, before Yuki comes home?
[Amaya will start to get up, leaving the coffee behind and the dinner should be fine on it's own...but she offers Zvei her hand, somewhat sheepish.]
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[He takes her hand with a wide grin, tiny fangs visible. Off we go - he'll lead the way back over to the vanity.]
If you want to try something new, then I'll see what I can come up with! Your usual hairstyle is so cute... but I do like your ponytail too... Hmm. Perhaps a braided ponytail? I think I remember how to do that.
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[They'll be able to make it back to the shared bedroom easily enough at least; it's about this point that Amaya looks out the window, noticing some rather...dark clouds on the horizons. Hm. They seem almost darker than usual, and the buildings in the distance, they look almost...
Rusted. Dead, even. When did this happen?]
...Zvei, did the weather say it was going to storm today?