probe | GRAVEYARD ✨

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.

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[ law is far from going to complain about that. he has experienced only one other ""massage"" and that ended poorly as anyone could imagine. ]

Is there more to the laptop that I should know? Or even this "internet"?

[ because right now his impression of the internet is....lacking. it'll be fine, he supposes? (then again the internet is filled with meme so maybe it's actually better this way. ] ]

But sure, we can do that too, if you'd be interested in cooking for me. I'm not one to be particularly picky about how my food tastes. [ he just doesn't care for bread...though oh. give him a moment.

maybe not the best memory because of what the ending context would lead to but—there's always a chance to recover from all of that. ] I did miss your "brunch" you made with Omi that one week.

The internet is endless, you know. I should introduce you to WebMD and see how that goes. [ The meme... ] But you can pretty much look up whatever you feel like. And "whatever you feel like" is arguably bottomless.

[ Steven does hum a little, stepping away from Law. He wants to take a closer look at this kitchen. ] I don't really do a lot of cooking for others, but I could make the exception. Though, you shouldn't preface with "I don't care how my food tastes", that doesn't do well for my confidence, you know?

[ It's a tease, don't worry about it. He does snort a laugh about the brunch. ] So I mentioned! You looking to play some catch up on what kind of things you might've missed? [ He finds the kitchen knife. Decently sharp, it's alright. ]

[ law going through webmd sounds like a riot and he'll just raise an eyebrow at that. as tempting as it is to try to find out what that is on his own, he can wait. ]

What better what to make use of the time we have here? [ casually and without any hesitation. ] I'm not about to spend whatever time I have left in this place wasting around and being miserable.

[ he says with absolutely no concern that things might actually end badly for them. maybe they won't find a way out of this place and will be vored slowly by the station after everyone's left. ...then again, if that's what happens then law isn't too worried about that either. he made his peace and whatever he found here is...

well. he'll get up from his seat to lean against a nearby wall. come on steven, show off your skills. ]

If you're confident in your cooking then you shouldn't have any reason to worry.

[ While they were both here, why not? If they only had so many hours in a day, the least they could both do was make the most out of it all. ]

Alright, hot shot, but I'm going to need the ingredients. [ Snorts. ] I'll let you pick what it is you want to challenge me with, and then I will maybe feed you some stuff that hopefully maybe also doesn't taste as talc-like.

How about that?

[ there really were only so many hours in a day. ]

Isn't that kind of dangerous to leave it all up to me? What if I pick out all of the strangest ingredients?

[ does law even know what ingredients would work well together? what are flavors.... he just gets food make for him (probably). ]

But if you're going to stick to that, then I might as well do so.

[ WINKS IM GLAD YOU CAUGHT THAT because I'm still hung up on that ASW thanks.

Steven just shrugs, the knife still in his hand! ]

I'm counting on you to have some common sense! You're not stupid, unlike most people. [ Who the fuck is he railing on with this statement? ] If all else fails, just get straight up fruit. You can hardly go wrong with that.

And reminders that you're the one who's going to be eating it, anyway.

[ you're welcome...and if law is supposed to be concerned about the knife in steven's hand he is most certainly not. he trusts that steven won't randomly come out and stab him after everything. ]

Here I thought that a cook would try their dishes first before serving it. [ he teases before giving a shrug. who is steven referring to with that statement? dunno... seems like it could be a lot. ] Fine; I'll be back with whatever I think might be interesting together.

[ and cue law moseying it out of the office to the grocery store for a bit because obviously there wouldn't be food just randomly stocked in an office??? eventually, he'll come back with an armful of some basic ingredients: some fillets of fish, potatoes, carrots, an onion, a tomato, a sprig of rosemary, strawberries and....two apples. ]

This work?

[ It shouldn't, wow. He's good with a knife, he isn't going to accidentally throw it into Law. Though if he did you'd be fine, physically. Emotionally??? WHO KNOWS. ]

I said I can cook, not that I am a cook, even remotely. [ He says with a handwave, before Law goes off.

He just lounges around, maybe looks at the laptop some more until Law returns, and he looks up at what he brings. It's not a bad spread, to be honest, though he does pick up the strawberries with a bit of an amused look. This is definitely the most out there of the bunch... and the one sprig of rosemary? He holds it and looks at Law wryly. ]

Well, it's not bad, definitely workable for sure. What, were you thinking of fruit as desserts or something? [ Is this flirting? Here's me, as in Lowe, closing my eyes. ]

Feel free to sit your ass down then and see what happens.

[ dunno maybe law will think he deserved it......just pirate things? either way he'll make a face when steven questions his selection. he did okay, didn't he? nothing was that strange. ]

You mentioned fruit if it should fail, so here's some fruit.

[ i'm upset that law isn't going to pick up on that what so ever....what's wrong with strawberries!!! though he's amused when steven just tells him to sit down and watch. ]

Oh? You're not going to put me to work? That's fine with me, too.

[ and law will sit himself down in front of the laptop, though his attention is still on steven regardless. ]

You might be good with a scalpel but if you've got nothing to contribute to a kitchen, then stay out of it. That's the usual rule. I have a housekeeper back home. She's very kind and I like her immensely, but even she'll shoo me out if she's busy doing something in the kitchen and she doesn't need an extra hand.

[ He'll keep idly talking about that while he gets to peeling and chopping the vegetables, his fingers deft and well trained with the knife, it seems. Vegetables, in the pan, cooked. Fish fillet, sliced manageably and follows. Even using the rosemary in it all since Law bothered to bring it back, anyway. He sits back leaning on the counter, carving one of the apples in his hands as he looks back with dry amusement at Law now that his attention is a bit more free. ]

Do you really have nothing better to do?

[ law holds off on his commentary immediately as he lets steven cook in peace for the meantime being perfectly content to watch him work. seems like he did a decent job of picking out things that could work together. but housekeeper he said, right? hmm. ]

Self-conscious now that you have someone watching you? [ he'll tease now that steven's attention isn't completely focused on cooking. ] I guess someone like you would have a housekeeper. I don't have that kind of luxury with my Polar Tang.

[ is he going to make apple bunnies..... ]

As if, a lot of eyes are on me all the time these days. If I start underperformimg because of that, I'd be a failure as a support and subcommander.

[ WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S CARVING YET. You'll find out. The fish, on the other hand, does still smell muted, but there is the hint of that nice vegetable and fish fillet steam slash fry scent underneath. Thank God the food got a little better again this week. ]

Now, pray tell exactly what is "someone like me"? And tell me what the hell is the Polar Tang, too, while you're at it.

Then you shouldn't mind a little bit of staring.

[ he jokes lightly. ]

Polar Tang is the name of my submarine; as if you couldn't tell, I'm not the typical kind of pirate. [ he says with a shrug. how many pirates double as a doctor nevertheless as a surgeon? ] As for someone like you...

[ law starts off in a teasing tone with his arms crossed against his chest. remember steven, you asked for this? ]

A perfectionist and a workaholic who is polite enough to people's faces and a side that not too many people get to see. A privilege for only a select few. [ law is careful not to sound too fond about that point. ] Perhaps someone who lives a that others might dream of on the surface.

I feel like I'd be taken care of if I ever get to visit Hellsalem's Lot if you wanted to show off.

Hm? [ He pauses in his carving and makes a face. Wow, he didn't mean it literally when he said tell him -- at least, not so sincerely. He has the gall to make a slight face about it, frowning.

He's not entirely sure what to make of that assessment of him, and he just turns around. There's a clatter of a plate and the scrape of a wooden spatula on pan, and he just comes back and puts down the food without a word in front of Law... his free hand shoving down the brim of his hat while at it. ]

I don't know what you're talking about and don't know what "I feel like I'd be taken care of" implies. Don't get used to me cooking things, I'm not a housewife.

[ He says that, but he did actually make apple bunnies. Pensive. It was a memorable part of the morning brunch Law missed. Is your tsun rubbing off on him... goodbye. ]

[ THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE TSUNDERE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP.

and even if the office is small and this doesn't matter in the end, law will reach out and grab a hold of steven's wrist before he gets too far away. he'll pull him down just enough so that he can quickly land a quick kiss as he pulls off his hat with his other hand. sorry he's not going to get the chance to do that twice in a row. ]

It means we'll have a good time together. [ and now steven's free to go about his...whatever. ] ...and I'm okay with that; I don't need a housewife. No house.

[ haha...? ]

[ YOU SAY THAT AND THEN MAKE IT WORSE. It's worse.

Steven's partway offended by Law turning it around and smooching him when he punked on him, and it's just a little bit too fast for him to get a counter nip in there just for the sake of it before Law's talking again. Steven's got a big "tch" energy as he shakes his head. ]

Oh, but won't say "I don't need a wife", won't you...

[ ...But fine. He can't really be mean, or even stay mean in any regards this week anyway. So he just leans into it instead, following the kiss with something a little bit more leisurely. Doesn't care that this is a technically public space. ]

Now eat your damn food before you waste my efforts. [ Ha-ha. ]

[ LOOK. IT NEEDS TO BE LUST...so they lust...??? ]

I've never thought of needing a wife or a husband. [ and law will definitely help himself to the food cooked for him. also muse over the apple bunnies. he hadn't expected that from steven, shame he only learned about this in death. ] Opinions change all of the time.

[ of course what he means by that is related to the promise they've made. law hasn't considered it a bust yet. but!! about this food? ]

Still tastes bad, but not as bad. [ and he's going to do this because of who he is: ] Can I get another chance at this should we get out of this place?

[ DON'T... IMPLY THAT YOU WOULD WANT A HUSBAND? IN FRONT OF HIS SALAD? He just waves it off, going right over.

But he does blink once at the question. And quietly goes over to the other chair on the opposite side of the table, sitting himself down idly. ]

...Maybe. I guess it's easier to actually get around to cooking when it's also for someone else.

[ HE DIDN'T??? he just said it wasn't something he thought of before, which is true. law has not thought about marriage even for a moment.......until now i guess. thanks?

anyway he's going to go back to eating the food even if it's still not great. ]

I'll look forward to it. [ so much for not getting used to him cooking for him, hmm? though law has to point it out. ] What are these supposed to be?

[ gestures to the apple bunnies. ]

[ Hm? ]

Apple bunnies. [ LIKE. DUH, LAW? ]

My housekeeper taught me how to do those, she does them for her kids all the time.

[ STOP. some people didn't have exposure to things like this??? ]

I've never seen them before or had anyone make them for me. It's unexpected.

[ "and cute" but he doesn't say that part.

he'll pick one up to marvel at a little closer to examine the knife work before taking a bite out of it. rip bunny head. ]

Brutal, such is the fate of being a little fruit animal.

[ Everyone always just RIPS OFF THE HEADS. Shi Qingxuan did that too. ]

Yeah? So, how would you go about it?

[ cue law holding up an apple bunny to him??? he's not feeding steven....but he's also not not?? feeding him??? if he wants to look at it like that... ]

[ He plucks it from his fingers! He could just lean over and let Law feed him but, that would be missing the prompt and also awkward, given how apple bunnies tend to be structured.

And he snaps the ears off and eats them first lmao. Then eats from the peeled side. Shrug! ]

Easy.

[ tch.

but hmm. ]

Is that any less brutal? You ripped off its ears off first.

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