![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
GRAVEYARD ✨
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.
no subject
[They narrow their eyes, before reaching out to give a light, firm handshake.]
Ashiya Douman. I suppose...it is a pleasure, Steven.
[Even though their opinion of you is.................Concerned.]
no subject
And if asked, he will say he's fine, because that's all he is in the end. Besides, he only let the other Douman into that knowledge due to Despair indulgences (and, inevitably, an innate deep desire to have someone hold his hand in the dark, make him feel like he wasn't going fucking insane), but this Douman... well, he doesn't deserve to put up with all that. ]
Great. I know everything sucks right now, but it looks like our stories aren't over yet.
It's never too late to turn over a new leaf.
no subject
[They shake their head.]
I don't believe that. If there's a Servant based on the evil deeds I will commit...then that means somewhere, my fate is set in stone.
no subject
Even if in another world, there's a you like that out there, you can at least try to live for the better while you're free and still can.
no subject
How long will that last, though? I'm already weak enough if that thing was able to possess me...
no subject
...You just won't know how things are until you find that you've lost them, suddenly. Like being killed out of the blue.
If every human lived in fear of dying, we'd never move forward or be able to live in the present.
[ Why is HE the emotional support? His Despair/Wrath/Lust combo??? ]
no subject
[YEAH GOOD QUESTION]
I know that, but...I already have a good idea of where things will go. It isn't as if I'm a blank slate, Steven. I've already committed some evils in my time.
no subject
You're making me think of myself being the way you are right now, and I hate to see it. Imagining what a younger me would act like if he could see me now and the kind of future I've walked.
[ He tilts his head. You're aware, aren't you? The way he put himself on a downward path. ]
I don't know you or what you're about granted, but maybe in a sense, I'm just telling you what I would've wanted to tell a version of myself who still had room to be free and separate.
no subject
[The priest hangs their head for the moment.]
...I understand. [And their eyes flicker back up to Steven.] I...appreciate it. These are words that I do not know if I can take to heart and use adequately...but I can try.
no subject
Steven just frowns at them. ]
...As you are, you're just a stranger to me. So. Whatever you knew about me, just wipe it.
I'm not responsible for you, so whatever you ultimately decide is up to you. [ And as it is, at the moment, it really is up to you. ] I just would rather not deal with someone looking that sad, when we're all in the same space.
no subject
Alright. I can't be happy, but I can tolerate as much as I can.
no subject
But also this is just peak "not my problem! just dont wanna put up with it" Steven mode it's incredible. ]
That's the spirit, can't win everything but it's pretty close enough.
[ Pat on the back. ]