GRAVEYARD ✨

[probe]

POPULATION: GHOST TOWN

You die - and then you wake up.

For a second, it feels as though you can't breathe, and then your head breaks the surface. You crawl out of a pool of blood and into a large, crystalline room. Moving images play across the crystal walls, and if you watch close enough, you'll realize that you're seeing the land of the living; a familiar space station with familiar faces. You can watch these images for as long as you'd like - there are several very large benches (as in, you have to climb them to sit on them) around the room for you to rest on while you do.

Regardless of how you died, it seems as though you're not quite gone completely. You're in one piece, at least. That's good news. However, your surroundings are not exactly what you remember.

When you exit the first room, a bleak, empty city sprawls out ahead of you.

The city itself is large. The framework of it seems to tower higher and higher than you can see, up into the black opal sky that shivers and curls every so often. A river entirely made of blood runs through the city, winding around buildings and ending at the crystal room. The most noticeable thing about the buildings themselves is the fact that thorny vines made of pure white steel dig into the walls and floor, cracking the foundations.

The residential building is worn down and old. It's two floors, and has a few small studio apartments built for one or two people to live in. The beds are extremely uncomfortable. It has a communal area downstairs, but the TV is broken, and the couches are torn apart. Sometimes, this building feels obscenely hot in temperature, and smells like rotten eggs.

The grocery store is your typical convenience store. There's a large selection of food in this area, but it all tastes the same - like chalk. On top of this, every so often there will be bloodstains on the walls, the floor, and the displays. They change in size and location, each time you enter the store.

The clothing store is thrifty in nature. All the clothes here are uncomfortable and scratchy, and don't fit quite right. While you're here, time feels... weird. Distorted, almost dreamy. As you're picking out clothes and trying them on (no money needed, just take what you want), you swear you can hear a gunshot in the distance.

Enjoy your time in this city, and remember...your story isn't quite over yet.

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Comments

WEEK 2 SUNDAY

[probe]

[hello again, graveyard. despair has still been missing, but he does reappear later sunday, after the execution! after he does, those in the graveyard will find that damages to the setting have been repaired.

you'll find him near the blood pool building or in the viewing room, largely, but you do all also get an announcement following his arrival. also please refer to the w1 toplevel for his appearance, i made mistakes not putting it in the main header.]

I suppose expecting you to control yourselves somewhat was too much to ask? Do bear in mind that the more damage you cause to this place, and the more I am required to set right, the lower your chances are of acquiring anything else you might wish to demand.

Now, if there is aught else you wish to speak of, you may ask.

[no promises about answers, but he is back on duty.]

[notaccurate]

[That sure is an appearance!]

...well. I'll do my best, but I can't make promises for the others.

Hello, by the way.

[probe]

[it absolutely is! he doesn't really try to hide any of it, though, save for keeping his wings folded. the underside is basically never visible.]

I'm well aware none of the more reasonable of you can make promises, but perhaps you may still make an effort.

[contain these gremlins, thanks.]

Valentino, was it?

[notaccurate]

[One of these gremlins ate his croissants while he was dying, thanks.]

That's correct. Is there another name I should refer to you by, or will 'Despair' suffice?

[probe]

Despair will suffice. It is what I am, after all.

[they already have his face, he's perfectly content to leave it at that.]

[notaccurate]

Is that so? Lust and Envy didn't mention being their aspects in such a literal sense.

[bachelorbored]

Listen, I know it's your thing and all, but I'm really asking nicely: can we please have food that doesn't taste like beauty products? I'm despairing, okay?

[probe]

I do believe I told you last time that you ought to indulge more, while you are here. Perhaps that will assist you in what you desire.

[bachelorbored]

I'm trying! I even built a simulacrum of a properly comfortable bed!

What else can I possibly do?

[probe]

It is a start, I suppose.

[kaz is trying, maybe it counts for something.]

[bachelorbored]

Exactly! So...?

[he looks pretty hopeful]

[holeful]

[Fukuda is stupid and hasn't really ever talked to Despair, so;]

... Who are you?
[He needs the symbols. He is not that observant.]

[probe]

[he raises a brow, at that.]

There are only so many of us who speak in particular ways, not to mention the wings. Or are we truly so mysterious with our faces covered?

[holeful]

[I forgot about the wings but it's fine.]

... Well, I thought we were in hell, and I don't think you or the other Avatars are dead, so I didn't want to assume.

[probe]

I am most certainly not dead-- however, I am the Avatar most suited to remaining present here.

[holeful]

....
[Looks around. Looks back at Despair.]

Because this place has a depressing atmosphere?

[niceguyferatu]

[ when he's in his new hideous outfit: ]

...Hmm.

It must be quite a feat, fitting all of that under that cloak of yours. Is seeing you without it a privilege only for the dead?

[probe]

I have never fully tried-- it would be quite ridiculous to cover these.

[the wings are always out, otherwise despair would just be a blob of fabric.]

This is the only place I go without it so freely, though, yes.

[niceguyferatu]

[ oh lmao my b ]

Is this entire...afterlife...your responsibility?

[probe]

Unfortunately, yes.

[he sounds so tired when he says it.]

[niceguyferatu]

Was the setting and decor your handiwork too?

Ah, never mind. More pressingly--am I to believe this is permanent and there is no way out of here? Or just that the prior, ah, residents haven't found the exit yet?

[kokytos]

[ Hey Despair. What's up?

Steven walks up to him with his hands in his pockets. It's a maybe-familiar scene, except Steven's replaced his suit with a slightly oversized and not-so-snappy grey hoodie, but it works and not covered in blood. It's fine, he makes it work. He joins him in the crystalline viewing room, silently looking up at the observations before speaking. ]

Is this what you meant, by calling the purple hazy room "familiar"?

[probe]

Not exactly. The space that it reminded me of was quite different from this.

[he gives steven a sidelong glance, but his attention is largely on observation, still.]

[kokytos]

I'm wondering if I'll ever get to learn what significance that room holds for you, if ever.

[ A small silence. ]

The afterlife is calmer than I thought it would be. Still sucks, but it doesn't feel fitting for being Hell.

[ The tilt of his head carries a question. It's not over yet, is it? ]

[probe]

Are you truly so confident in arriving there, upon your death? How highly you must think of yourself.

[it might be a joke? there's definitely a smirk, there, a slight shift in tone, though he just waves one clawed hand as he moves on.]

This is likely no afterlife any of you would know, but it is one I am fairly well-suited to care for. As such, the task has been delegated to me.