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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.
no subject
He exhales, at once relieved he's not taken to hallucinating entire locales, but that relief is now eclipsed by concern as to wherever this could be. Finally accepting his assessment on Amaya's physical wellnesss, looks about at the city around them, uncertain. )
Almost certainly. Perhaps ... this is another quirk of that museum - that some of its paintings open up to vignettes like this. Perhaps... we ought to find something of the reverse - a frame, portrait, window... that seems to reflect the inside of the museum, or...
( ... )
... Perhaps... we can find a surface that reflects another location we might like to enter?
( Perhaps a way back to [setting]; or, if Amaya and Zvei prefer, another land entirely? - Though Yuki would want to remain in [setting] to help those left behind. )
no subject
...Still, she does look a little more at ease, holding onto something, so he can at least rest somewhat assured.]
An excellent hypothesis, Yuki; I think you may be onto something. It would make sense if we could re-enter the museum through the same way we came here.
...Would you like to take a look around some of these buildings, then, perhaps to see if we can find something like that? [Amaya looks at Yuki, her gaze gentle.] If you need to find somewhere to get your bearings, perhaps we can look for a place around here for that, as well. A place this...perfect, it must have something, yes?
[Either to observe, or maybe some kind of park to calm down; Amaya will follow Yuki's lead, or lead the way toward where-ever he might wish at this point.]
no subject
( Yuki smiles, assuming a fresh look of confidence, despite his unease, not wishing to be a burden. They might just be the same when it comes to these matters ... but Yuki has only recently met Amaya, so he isn't too certain how to read her perfectly. While he cannot be certain if she's truly as put-together in this strange situation as she projects, he cannot fully doubt her, either, and so he will trust what she says.
Regardless, he gently pulls her along, leading her ... deeper into the city proper??? Sure. He's a little boggled by the visual stimulation, but ... Maybe they approach a street that seems to lead to a shopping district??? No money needed but goods given based on good vibes alone ... something something utopia )
... Perhaps there should be some sort of store with art, as well as a place to sit in this direction. Does this seem an amenable direction?
no subject
The shopping district he leads her to sees Amaya with her head tilted a bit.]
...Yes, that should be amendable. I'm certain that we can find something rather quickly...
[Let's look around a little bit for a store--a fancier, artsier one catches Amaya's eye, and she'll gesture for Yuki to follow her, at least for a start. It's not quite the jackpot, given that the paintings here seem to be a little on the strange side, but...]
...I've never seen any sort of art like this before. Are these...meant to be some sort of obscured vision of something or other? They almost feel like something, yet...they aren't.
[The part of the store Amaya's in seems to have more abstract paintings on offer, causing her to tap her finger against her chin as she looks through them. Some of them are certainly interesting...she's definitely a little wide eyed, looking around, but her eyes remain cold and sort of dead despite it.]
Are you having any luck, Yuki?
no subject
Nothing concrete. At the very least - nothing that seems to resemble a place we're familiar with. ( That said, if they enter an abstract painting of [setting], will the end up in [setting], or a stylized version of it? Much to think about. ) These paintings... They're done in a particular style. Have you not seen much abstract artwork, before?
no subject
Not at all, truthfully. I have seen some things that attempt to be very... [What's the word she wants to use...] I believe nobility of Pravitas would call this...avant-garde, or something like that? It's something they would turn their noses up at, at minimum; if it is not a perfectly rendered portrait or a landscape, they usually want nothing to do with it.
These, however...they feel like vague imitations, like something you would see out of the corner of your eye. They're...interesting, I think.
[Hm.]
...What sort of artwork do you like, Yuki?
no subject
I am familiar with such attitudes, if perhaps in an alternate context. Art collectors and those with a bias toward traditional forms of art ... reject that which is new and unfamiliar. Art like this, I believe, intends to capture the essence of a thing, rather than photograph it.
( It's an interesting thought for Yuki, who is a ball-jointed doll - who exists as both an imitation of humans; and yet, exaggerated. His skin too clear; his eyes too glassy; his hair too sleek. There are ways to create a doll that is identical as a human, but he is something beautiful and uncanny; something in-between.
He considers her question, in part because the art has already made him thoughtful. )
... I like art in the Japanese style - it is a traditional style, native to the country in which I was made— Japan. It often employs inks and colored minerals on parchment, silks and wood. If I had to describe it, it is a little bit of a between between realism and these abstractions ... neither a perfect replication of life, but recognizable for what it represents. A more beautiful, harmonious reality. A little bit like what I am, in a sense.
( He brings a sleeve to his lips, contemplative. )
... It is what I was created to like, though, I admit. ( He says this, an idly-voiced thought, considering the abstract paintings, still. ) I believe... I do like these. But I was not created to like art like this. How strange.
no subject
[Still, Amaya listens; Fefello Caelum hasn't ever really had any sort of art culture that didn't revolve around the Dragon in some manner or another, and most of those depictions have been destroyed with prejudice ever since Amaya officially took over. It's interesting, the way Yuki speaks about the art; Amaya tries to imagine it in her mind, and finds she can't.]
...If we find some of those, I would be curious to see them. They sound...intriguing, at least from what I am understanding from you. [Like that's actually so cool???] It does make sense, however; I imagine such art toes a delicate but beautiful line, perhaps almost dream-like in nature.
[It's toward the end of that, that Amaya finds her eyes softening a touch. His wording is familiar to her, and she finds herself resonating with it slightly.]
...I don't think it's strange at all. Most people, they...have the ability to like what is beyond what they are predisposed to. It requires the right moment, the right stimuli so to speak, but it's something anyone can do.
It's what makes us people, at the end of the day. Fleshes us out, beautifully.
no subject
I shall endeavor to look, here and at the museum - if anything, I think it ought to be nice for you to meet a broad variety of styles . . . a broad way of viewing and interacting with the world, each unique to its artist.
( A little excessively poetic? Maybe. But he means it sincerely. And it matches what Amaya says next, softening his gaze. It's a kind and beautiful sentiment, and it shows in the smile on his face. )
... Do I seem a person to you, Miss Sasaki?
( The question is a little broader than if he'd simply asked her if she sees him as human - it's a question with less baggage, and much easier for him to accept. It's intrigued, if anything. )
no subject
[And she does mean it; maybe something in this world will stir something in Amaya's decrepit heart. For as little faith as she has in it, she wants to believe that, genuinely, something here in this place so far removed from all she knows could.
(She doesn't like the idea of the alternative.)
Still, that question...Amaya looks to Yuki with a bit of open surprise, for once.]
...Of course you are? That has never been in question; you are a thinking, feeling individual with opinions and emotions all your own. You are someone who is able to have such conversations and understand their gravity so easily.
Have...people tried to say that you are not?