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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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[ just assumes reiju is coming along. ]
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It'll give us a vantage point of the surroundings. Then we can see what we're dealing with.
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[ off they go, ramuda huming along as they do. he's happy to fill the silence with music, though after not too long— ]
...umm, you're not clapping are you?
[ that sure is the sound of clapping in the background far below the cliffs. ]
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She does pause momentarily at his question. In the absence of footfalls, the clapping becomes louder.]
It's coming from below. Should we take a look?
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...no. Let's keep moving. [ the cheery tone is gone but that's probably not surprising.
instead he'll make doublespeed up the cliffs, which start to become glittered with crystals embedded into the rock. both of their reflections cast back at them, but the farther they go, the more it seems to be more ramuda than reiju. ]
...I'm not stopping, I won't stop.
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After yet another glance at a reflection that pushes Ramuda into the limelight, Reiju slows to a stop. She looks from the rock to him.]
Do you recognize this place at all?
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Hey there sweetie! Why don'tcha ditch that defect and come hang out with us instead? ♡ We have a lot of fun together!
[ they sound exactly the same as ramuda and look exactly the same as ramuda, but as they speak they do in unison, stepping out from the crystals. ]
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To his doppelgangers, she smiles. It's all beginning to feel painfully familiar.]
Hello. What fun is that?
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We could go shopping!
We could go out to the movies!
We could go out out for a drink!
We could spend the whole night in bed ♡
Which one do ya wanna do? Or if you wanna do something else, just tell us! For tonight we're your R-A-M-U-D-A ☆
[ not only are they in unison, the four "reflections" take turns speaking, one after the other. they're entirely in sync, more like a machine than an actual person.
and the ramuda reiju was traveling with is silent during all of this, staring at them with a kind of blank expression. he finds his smile once they're finished, like he's done so many times before, voice mostly his normal. ]
...I'm taking care of her. I'll let you know if I need your help. Right, Reiju? [ he grabs her hand, threading their fingers together with a smile so bright and empty. ]
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Freedom, huh.]
Yes, he's been taking good care of me. We have plans for just the two of us this time, so I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer. Thank you, though.
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You'll have a much better time with us! The Party of Words is totally gonna kill him as soon as he gets back anyway, so what's the point? Well, double-kill him hehe, even if he DOES get back.
We're better! Smarter! We don't let ourselves imagine stupid things like running away with someone else. Or thinking we can actually mean something to someone for reals, for reals.
Not to say we don't love you sweetie! We'll remember you until we forget you!
[ ramuda, still with the same smile, starts to walk off, squeezing her hand tightly. ]
What would you guys know? You literally can't know, that's why... [ he's trying for snappy but there's an unmistakable tremble in his voice. ]
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Should we keep going to the top?
[Unfortunately for Ramuda, Reiju knows herself well. She isn't the softest person to be around, either.]
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[ he's not steady at all, very much #fakeituntilyoumakeit.
he lapses into a momentary silence before speaking up again. ]
...aren't you going to ask?
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Do you want me to? It didn't sound like you wanted to talk back there.
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[ well that answers tha- ]
But I'd rather you ask then assume so just ask already.
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I don't have a specific question in mind, so I'll let you decide. You can tell me as much or as little as you want.
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but he's frustrated and more than a little raw, so he decides that maybe at least this is fine. ]
The freedom I killed Amaya for has to do with all of them. I'm replaceable.
...I don't want to be. I Just want to be me.
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That woman feels so deeply. It's a shame that she had to pay the price for someone else's sin. Is it ironic that someone like Ramuda is responsible for her death?
Life is unfathomably cruel at times.]
The freedom to be who you are can be costly. It's no wonder you went as far as you did.
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he doesn't say that, at least. ]
It's literally to live too. I don't care if they don't get it but I doubt even half of them would be okay with dying painfully for someone who's practically a stranger.
Easy shit to say, but they don't know what it's actually like.
[ some of them, sure. but as many people that looked at him like the way they did?
whatever, he's not sorry for it and he won't ever be sorry for it. ]
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Most people want to live.
[Her tone is casual and easy. It's a selfish thing of him to say, but survival is a complicated subject for those who exist under another's thumb. She doesn't fault him for being opportunistic and playing by the domain's rules. (She sometimes wishes he could be the same.)]
Are you still fighting, then?
[To survive and live, even if it's in a murky place like the museum.]
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[ ramuda has a rather curious expression on his face if she looks over at him. almost shy, an unthinkable thing for someone as bold as him. ]
—someone gave me something and I wanna...the important thing is that I want to get out of here!!!
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Then let's find a way out. Do you think it'll be at the very top?
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[ onward they go... ]
I can't even really get pissy at them because they're literally just doing what they're told, they're not capable of doing anything else.
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But you are.
[He's capable of free thought. How did that happen?]
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Didn't you hear what they said? [ he doesn't ever want to talk about this but she literally heard them and he's trying out this new thing called "you're allowed to consider what it would be like to truly have autonomy". ]
Cause I'm defective! They don't have emotions and I do. So if they're told to go jump off a bridge and die they'll do that cause our we're property of Chuohku and nothin' else.
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