GRAVEYARD

[maladied]

THE MUSEUM

GRAVEYARD

LOBBY
THE LANDING. EXHIBIT #04
COMFORT. EXHIBIT #09
VIEWING. EXHIBIT #03
GARDEN EXHIBIT #--
???

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.

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Comments

While Controlling Critter

[apoisoncary]

[ Maomao is sitting there with a mirror. She is going to pause to turn away from it to look at the others. ]

Siffrin is expressing his greetings and wants to thank everyone for their hard work.

[vogelfrei]

[ That at least gets a proper reaction out of McGillis. ]

I'm glad they are hanging in there.

[apoisoncary]

They are doing much better than they were before.

[ Or maybe they also put their feelings inside of boxes to never look at again ]

[vogelfrei]

[ He didn't know about the freak-out on account of being dead and in transition for it, but he can roughly imagine... He thinks. ]

Good. They're going to have to hang in there a while longer.

[apoisoncary]

Are you two close?

[vogelfrei]

That's an apt descriptor. Through living together, we have developed an understanding.

[ A strange situation where they know nothing about each other but understand more clearly than anyone else how fragile the other can truly be. ]

[apoisoncary]

I will let them know you're here then.

[ It may help Siffrin a bit more? ]

[vogelfrei]

Please do.

[ And when Siffrin answers about the notes... ]

The message Ramuda sent me did not go to waste. I should be grateful to Siffrin as well.

[apoisoncary]

[ There is a pause ]

They said thank you for the notes.

[lollidrops]

Things are gonna end soon one way or another.

[ ramuda glances over briefly (he hates staring at a mirror like this actually, but whatever, still smoking.

he's putting on a real good show over there but he is one uneasy pink critter. ]

[apoisoncary]

[ It must be rough for him... limited to one words and only able to be around his honey as a toy ]

That is true.

[ Whether it ends with them all dying or some how escaping... she won't put any hope in a particular option. ],

[lollidrops]

[ well it's progress! ]

We just gotta be on the winning side. [ it's fine, he will.

ignore how feral it looks. ]

[renjou]

( ...

assumes he's probably excluded... )

[apoisoncary]

Is everything okay?

[renjou]

Ah, no, just...

( ... hesitates... )

... Ser Siffrin is not very fond of me, is all. I hope they are not ... further bothered by my presence.

[lollidrops]

[ at some point when ramuda bunny is all nestled up to lobelia, there's some notes & words exchanged and ramuda just.

starts to laugh and laugh and laugh.

oh god give him a second and he will probably explain. he's dropped his cigarette again, it's fine he will light another one in a second. ]

[apoisoncary]

[ what kind of laughing ]

[lollidrops]

[ the insane kind, it's cool. ]

[apoisoncary]

[ you go off king, she'll just listen when he decides to talk ]

[vogelfrei]

[ ... this is the kind of laughing fit he had when Ramuda told him he killed Amaya. That's... Hm. ]

Find out something interesting?

[lollidrops]

Hahaha, interesting...yeah, I guess you can call it interesting!

[ he snubs out the cigarette with his foot and pulls out another one from his pocket, twirling it between his fingers. ]

Interesting and ironic and hahaha!

[ sorry he doesn't quite have the words yet, but he's doing his best, give him another moment. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis' initial impression seems to have been apt - it's the kind of laughter for when you're out of other feelings to give. Don't worry, Ramuda can have some space for it. ]

Like someone is playing a cosmic joke on you?

[lollidrops]

Hmmm...kinda! But I mostly played the joke on myself, I'm such a dum-dum, hahaha!!!!

[ he lights the cigarette, fingers shaking a little.

more nicotine will help because if he's taking a drag he can't just start laughing again. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Well. McGillis watches his fingers tremble and simply waits. ]

[lollidrops]

[ thanks, you're a real one.

ramuda takes several drags actually, finding his center or the best approximation he can get of it. Okay, right.

His eyes flicker to everyone else around but eh fuck it. ]

So my lollipops, I need 'em every few weeks. I looked real hard for 'em the first week we were here and didn't find any and while going without one week is just peachy and two is fine, three is...

[ bad, it's bad. ]

So when Lobelia invited me out on a date the second week, I took him up on it of course! And I told him what I told you even if I reaaaaaaally didn't wanna, but since they were here first and could get things we couldn't, it was my best shot. And like, if he wanted to keep going out on dates with me, he couldn't do that if I was dead, right?

And so later that week, I found a lollipop in my pocket! So I assumed [ and oh my god he's an idiot and he looks like he's going to laugh again but he stuffs it back down. ] it was from him. Who else could it be? I only told you and Nala about 'em and you guys just thought they were regular candy, so you'd have just given 'em to me the normal way. Plus I don't think either of you could slip something into my pocket without me noticing!

But he still can use his audiomancy which can do aaaall kinds of things, so. [ it was a reasonable assumption. ]

And I was gonna ask anyway! But not too soon cause it's not good to ruin a good thing you have going, right? And then so many things happened so I just...didn't.

[ so many things happened and i let him get closer to me out of survival that actually was founded on a false assumption. ]

But I remembered just now to ask him if he was the one who gave it to me. And he wasn't!

And isn't that just—

[ yeah, he's laughing again but he holds onto his cigarette this time.

he's sure mcgillis will get it. ]