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.

fefellocaelum: (✟ sixteen)

[personal profile] fefellocaelum 2025-11-29 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Amaya isn't surprised that the endless research is all Zvei needs, but it's the rest of that, that gets Amaya to pause a bit as she stares at him for a moment. Nothing too shocked or suggesting discomfort with this, but...huh.]

...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.
necromants: (✂ 120)

[personal profile] necromants 2025-11-29 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Amaya's got good taste in friends, and it earns a wry smile from him. Yeah, he likes them all too. But he'll leave that for now, focusing in on the latter part.]

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.]
fefellocaelum: (✟ fifteen)

[personal profile] fefellocaelum 2025-11-29 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[...Oh, that's...

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.
necromants: (✂ 142)

[personal profile] necromants 2025-11-29 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
You are. [You are so, so dear to me.] I'll admit I'm not sure how much of it I readily express, so I thought it better to make sure you knew.

[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.]
fefellocaelum: (✟ twenty-three.)

[personal profile] fefellocaelum 2025-11-29 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
...Yes. That is what I assume as well, that you...matter to me.

[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.
necromants: (✂ 23)

[personal profile] necromants 2025-11-29 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Zvei grins at that, lighting up immediately. Though whether it's from the request or the simple fact that he matters and he makes her feel something isn't clear. Maybe it's both.]

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.]
fefellocaelum: (✟ twenty-three.)

[personal profile] fefellocaelum 2025-11-30 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
If you would like. I think I wouldn't mind seeing if you could put me in something different...but I will leave that to your discretion.

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.]
necromants: (✂ 97)

[personal profile] necromants 2025-11-30 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, of course.

[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.
fefellocaelum: (✟ eight)

[personal profile] fefellocaelum 2025-11-30 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, I think I would like that. I've...never truly experimented around with my hair, outside of the once when I was younger. I look forward to seeing what you can do.

[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?