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GRAVEYARD PT. II
GRAVEYARD
The world is black. And then you blink at your plate.
A portion of your favorite dish greets your eyes, albeit in a form you may never have seen it in before. Encased in a thick, wobbling layer of multi-colored gelatin, the food you know and love now sits suspended in its protein-based enclosure as an eccentric re-imagining of the dish. Furthermore, it only takes a glance to see that the rest of the dining table's spread shares this same theme, as every single dish, sweet or savory, finds itself victim to a jiggling Jell-o jail.
Still, you won't have much time to take this all in before a quiet, high-pitched giggling makes its way to your ears, only crescendoing in volume the longer you sit in this oh-so-familiar dining room. It doesn't take much to find the source of the sound either; unlike the other side, this place is absolutely teeming with fairies to the point where the fluttering of their iridescent wings is clearly audible behind the din of their laughter. As you come to your senses, dozens and dozens of beady eyes watch with their tiny faces stretched out in a wide grin, before speaking in unison.
"Welcome, we can't wait to serve you!"
As the fairies erupt in raucous laughter all around you, at least one more thing is readily apparent: however you met your end, your body is completely whole again. You also have company at the table with you, although whether it's desirable company or not may depend on the circumstances surrounding your death.
In any case, there's nothing stopping anyone from leaving the dining room and roaming freely as usual, and most of the same areas that were available to you on the other side are still present here, albeit with some differences. And though your life may have been stolen from you, it still looks like you have a part in this tale, somehow, someway.
So, will you let your story finish here, or will you write your own ending?
[Welcome to the Graveyard! This is part 2 of the GY post for Weeks 6 and 7. The previous post for Weeks 2-5 is linked above. Please also view the GY doc linked above for a full rundown of the basics. You may also still submit for items and gacha rolls using the GY shop post.]
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[Rika leans forward with a soft smile.]
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[He watches her curiously, returning her ☆ with a half-smile.]
I've never particularly understood your fixation with fate, but as that seems to be quite important to you, it would be impolite of me to speak against it.
What fate is there in a place like this, I wonder?
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[They're both people playing out a charade, so Rika sees no reason to be too nice. So she shows off the sharp iron dagger, a nice gift from Yor.]
Did Hamelin give you and your "friends" the idea that you were more important in this game than anyone else? Or is that just your own ego thinking your wish is just that much more worth granting than anybody else's? I wonder...
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[If Jack weren't tied to a chair, he might be tempted to pat her on the head -- that's the air he gives off here, faint and not at all serious. His head tilts at the dagger and then he looks back at her without any particular change in expression.
His smile widens, in fact, bemused.]
I don't recall saying anything in particular about Nageki's destiny or his death -- either you misinterpreted one of my statements, or simply heard something that wasn't there at all. [a little sigh] As for the matter of importance... I am not the only one with a role in this game, am I?
Did you greet Raven this way?
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Though Raven didn't benefit from keeping me and people I think deserve to make it home trapped here, so you are getting a slightly harsher greeting because of that.
[She laughs, tilting her head a little.]
At least, that's what we were told. What was that outburst from Hamelin on Friday? What reason did he have to recruit someone like you and McGillis? Yuri I can understand given what a creep he is, but does he just want some more blonds to play house with?
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[He's probably going to be the only person here speaking positively of Alexei, isn't he. Well, that's too bad.]
It would truly be impressive if I had the power to keep people trapped here... but I wonder if it matters what I say here? Those on this side seem very convinced of a great number of interesting things involving the caporegimes, after all, and our Don.
[Rika gets a hum and then a curious look.]
... "Like the possessive rat might burn my letters to the lily I miss," hmm? Someone who didn't quite seem to want to antagonize Miss Yuri, so it stood out to me at the time. I wonder just how well you understand her, either?
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[Rika bristles visibly when Jack quotes her own words back at her, pointing her weapon at him with a sneer.]
Fine. Apparently I don't understand Yuri at all. Why is she choosing to defend you people? Just what kind of sob story did Hamelin feed her to make her choose him out of anything?
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[Maybe it's more impressive that he's remembered Marcus' ramblings in the middle of bombs, bloodthirst and blonds but then he was paying very, very close attention to that scene. He doesn't even twitch when the knife is pointed at him, keeping his gaze on her.]
Miss Yuri's choices are her own, and I wouldn't presume to speak for her. I will say, however, that she understands Hamelin and us caporegimes better than any of you ever have, or perhaps ever will. Her choices were informed.
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But the game’s on its way to ending, huh? Tch...what kind of ending is Hamelin hoping for? Feeding us all to that creature to save his skin?
[Rika’s voice turns into a low growl.]
Oh? What is there to understand? You’re all very good at manipulating people, aren’t you? Did you lie to her? Convince her that your little famiglia would help her change her destiny? Why else would she decide to...to care for that rat?
[That’s what Rika can’t understand. Was Yuri really willing to throw her away and let her die here for Hamelin’s sake? Did that kindness mean nothing?]
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[This is still the arrival area; he's still in front of the jello moulds, like the most ridiculous time loop of all time, getting them redder and redder. Wonderful, right?
But there's something wry in his smile at the mention of Ferry.]
Oh, those living, I presume, will get the ending that they deserve. I am not sure about those on this side, but... I think everyone in this game tends to forget that Hamelin is an overseer and not a player. He may have his own role, working in concert with the other entities in Aira Niluc or not, but the fact remains that he abides by the rules of this realm. That I am here is also proof of that.
[It's almost a verbal shrug, it's so matter-of-fact. There's no bitterness, no resentment; none of the possibly expected emotions. A simple statement. It takes a while for him to speak again after that given the extent of her ranting, during which he occupies himself with staring at her in an increasingly unreadable way. His green eyes are usually clear but here they're rather murky, thoughts lurking behind them. Finally:]
I see. You truly don't think very highly of Miss Yuri, do you?
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[Her expression turns into a curious squint at the discussion of the other entities.]
...I know there's an entity here he's working for--what I don't know is what he gets out of this and why. My first assumption was that he was like the Pied Piper in the stories, but luring souls over children. But...if that's the case, it doesn't seem like the souls are for his benefit. Rather, it's for the creature lurking here--
[Oh, Jack just had to say that, didn't he?]
It's you I don't think highly of, bastard. Yuri's a kind person who wants to escape an unkind fate: people like you and Hamelin take advantage of those qualities all the time. So of course I doubt you both. Yuri wouldn't choose such shit-stains over a friend unless you lied to her or offered her an escape.
Unless I've never known her at all, and she's a liar just like you.
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[There's plenty more he could say on the subject, but that may have to come later -- they're much too busy with the affair of the lily, in all senses of the word; Jack hums for a moment as Rika goes on and on, shrugging at the end.]
And I have already told you that Miss Yuri made her own choices with as much understanding as anyone can have. You are the one who has assumed what her choices are; without having ever spoken to her about them, I presume.
You do not doubt just Hamelin and his caporegimes, but Yuri also. And there is no meaning in my saying anything to you about it, it seems.
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Wow! When am I gonna speak to Yuri about her choices, huh?! After her boyfriend's monster boss turns me into a crystal?!
Of course I'll doubt anyone who sides with that man no matter what his reasons...what reason do I have to trust any of you, or any of this?
And Yuri...if she was so certain about following Hamelin, she shouldn't have bothered crying over me and pretending to care if I died! That's just sadistic, being kind to someone you know you're going to throw away without a second thought!
What's the point of comforting people you're planning to hurt?!
[Every time. Every time Rika assumes she's safe, someone else turns on her. It's enough to make her consider throwing away this world and never looking back at anyone in it.
What was she thinking, assuming she could care for anyone here and have it result in anything but pain?]