maladied: (Default)
grabs by the throat ([personal profile] maladied) wrote2025-11-01 12:05 am

GRAVEYARD


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.

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.

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.

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.



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.

lollidrops: (moves to the beat of my drum)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Awww c'mon! We're way better than him! He's tooootally busted.

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. ]
venomnom: (015)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-28 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Reiju's own grip is light, but steady as she keeps pace with Ramuda. She doesn't add to the conversation in favor of donning the familiar face of impassivity. Whether those doppelgangers know better or not, she won't encourage their behavior.]

Should we keep going to the top?

[Unfortunately for Ramuda, Reiju knows herself well. She isn't the softest person to be around, either.]
lollidrops: (without even time to dye)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
We can't go back down. I don't want to deal with them again right now.

[ 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?
venomnom: (067)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-28 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
[If this were their first meeting, she might've bought it. After the handful of times they've interacted and seen each other, though, she'd be an idiot not to notice.]

Do you want me to? It didn't sound like you wanted to talk back there.
lollidrops: (Making a pink love fall)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
I don't.

[ well that answers tha- ]

But I'd rather you ask then assume so just ask already.
venomnom: (041)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-28 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
[What should she be asking? Everything's just been a familiar observation. She's not interested in prying him open like some sort of circuit, either.]

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.
lollidrops: (it starts to float)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ ................that's a pretty safe response. a response where it's easy for him to flee and like a reflex, that's what he wants to do.

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.
venomnom: (042)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-28 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
[Amaya.

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.
lollidrops: (without even time to dye)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ ramuda voice: that wasn't far, i've murdered before it's no biggie.

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. ]
venomnom: (098)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-28 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Murderers. Murderers everywhere!]

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.]
lollidrops: (Off to a new world)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-28 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
No duh! I'll always fight! And—

[ 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!!!
venomnom: (112)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-11-30 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
[She looks, and it's a look that doesn't not suit him. He has unfinished business, hm?]

Then let's find a way out. Do you think it'll be at the very top?
lollidrops: (let it take you)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-11-30 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
It better be! I don't wanna deal with those guys again if I don't gotta.

[ 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.
venomnom: (041)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-01 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
[That's surprisingly understanding of him. Not everyone can be that rational, she thinks.]

But you are.

[He's capable of free thought. How did that happen?]
lollidrops: (you know right?)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-01 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he tugs her along faster, unless she lets go, he's going to keep a tight grip on her hand. ]

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.
venomnom: (042)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-02 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[She won't let go, even though she wants to stop for a moment. All that's left is to keep moving while watching Ramuda from the corner of her eyes.

He says it so easily. It makes her want to say something, too.
]

Emotions don't make you defective.
lollidrops: (And I’ll shower you)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-02 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ahh, looks like they're stopping.

ramuda looks at her and briefly looks like he might explode, literally like a puffed up pink chipmunk in anger--and then he deflates with a heavy sigh. ]


Whyyyyyy do people keep saying things like this to me! I didn't even kiss you!
venomnom: (030)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-03 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Look at him. Her lips quirk into an amused smile.]

Is that how you usually lead this story?
lollidrops: (sweet candy)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-03 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
I don't ever tell this story!

[ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ]
venomnom: (004)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-03 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Are you saying you don't want to hear it? Then I won't repeat myself.
lollidrops: (someplace with me?)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-03 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah!

...maybe? I dunno!

[ he's still very confused about this. teasing him is a little too effective here. ]

venomnom: (024)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-03 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
[He's so . . . young like this.]

I wouldn't mind a kiss if you ever find yourself poisoned, though.
lollidrops: (there’s more than meets the eye)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-03 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
...what's being poisoned got to do with it?

[ okay, at least he's distracted now! ]
venomnom: (002)

[personal profile] venomnom 2025-12-03 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Maybe that's a good thing. Being relaxed should help him concentrate.]

I'm Poison Pink. It's one of the things I enjoy eating the most.
lollidrops: (my magical lollipops)

[personal profile] lollidrops 2025-12-03 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Poisoned pink's a really cute name!

[ a beat. ]

...wait, isn't that totally bad for you? Or is your stomach suuuper strong?

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