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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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Don't try this at home, kids.
After a moment he blinks, yawns... looks like he might be contemplating going back to sleep again... oh, hey, he recognizes that head of dark hair. Much easier to spot in the daytime, really.]
Hmm? Oh, Koutarou. Are you lost?
[Usually people come riding into this forest! Never mind that Jack doesn't have a horse either.]
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No, just enjoying the scenery
You should be careful in high places
The fairies like playing pranks
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Once he gets down to one of the lowest branches such that he doesn't have to holler and Suga isn't writing PSA announcements on note paper:]
I've become quite acquainted with the fairies despite my short stay so far. As I imagine you have. Though, I'm quite used to falling out of trees.
The scenery itself is much better enjoyed on horseback. I recommend it.
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I'll keep that in mind for home though
[Suga's always been a relatively expressive person, to make up for the lack of expression that a voice brings. His face right now is neutral. Not 'deliberately masking an emotion' neutral, just... neutral. No strong feelings.]
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But hey, there's no real murder here, so maybe it's an improvement?]
For trail-riding, and with someone else to tack and handle the animal? That is doable in a single afternoon, I assure you.
[Green eyes watch him from the green-and-golden canopy, transparent as some of the leaves and just about as expressive.]
I am sure many of us are familiar enough with it.
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C-ta's from the city and so is Riku
Yor doesn't seem like she'd be gentle enough with the reins?
[Please press f to pay respects to any horse Yor tried to ride.]
Pericles almost certainly doesn't ride horses
And I'm not really close enough with anyone else to ask for favors
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[He looks like he's seriously considering this, and seriously feeling sorry for the horse. For real, there might be horse glue needed somewhere in there. To glue the horse back together.
Unfyortunate scenarios aside...]
The Professor, however, has proven himself capable of making a bed and other bizarrely human pursuits, so I would not discount him so quickly. That being said, I am certain William is familiar enough both with horses and this side of the realm to give you a proper tour.
Why not seek him out?
[This is totally about horses and not Suga's questionable taste in company at the moment.]
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[So he'd rather not seek out his company willingly.]
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I don't hate him or want him dead or anything
But he thinks he's smarter than he actually is
I don't get along with that type of person
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[That totally wasn't an eye joke? It totally wasn't an eye joke.
Except the bizarre twinkle in Jack's eye says it may have been an eye joke. Genuinely why is he like this. Still, he thinks things over for a moment and then:]
Is it simply people who have an inflated sense of their own intelligence you don't get along with, then? That makes me question your acquaintance with the Professor and several others, but...
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He's capable of a lot of humility at the appropriate moments, with the right people
[That letter had proven that, more than anything.]
Who else?
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[Bias, he means, bias. There's so many ways to interpret the same set of flaws; or the same set of strengths. Maybe it's just that their tolerances are different, but then, Jack's tolerances perhaps shouldn't even be given the word lest they distort its meaning.
By this point he's stretched out along the branch of the tree, and Suga likely simply holding up notes to the sky. They make possibly the most absurd picture in the history of the universe.]
Edelgard. Alexei. Mind, I don't dislike these examples, but they do have a tendency to prattle on.
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Edelgard and I aren't close
She's alright to talk to about some things but I feel like we probably wouldn't connect on a deeper level
Alexei has a much lower opinion of himself than Moriarty does
He's more like me than Moriarty really
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[For real, though, Suga! You were there for that trial at the least!!
Also nothing is more absurd than pitchfork-kun.]
They are all different varieties of self-absorbed, though they all have their better qualities as well.
[I'm sorry he's just here dragging your CR but it's also his CR so it's fine(?????).]
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I haven't seen Moriarty's
That's not to say he doesn't have them, just that I don't have a reason to like him yet
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[He doesn't seem actually that interested in arguing, though -- there's another yawn, though he doesn't seem especially sleepy, just lazing. Basking?
It's still a very nice golden afternoon.
After a moment he lets himself slip down from the branch to land lightly on the ground.]
Well, after all this talk about horses, I think I shall see about a ride. You may join me, if you'd like.
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You don't mind?
I don't dislike you, but we're not exactly close either
[He's not thinking that Jack might throw him off a horse. Mostly he's thinking it might be awkward.]
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So long as there is no conflict to spook the horses, anyone can ride together, I would say. After all, we will both be staying here for a little while yet.
[Jack's look is increasingly amused, but there's no malicious intent to it -- truthfully, there's never any perceptible malicious intent from him.
Maybe it's a strange thing, in and of itself.]
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Thank you
Lead the way
[He'll need Jack to show him how to get on, to start.]
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[Having led the way back to the ranch and then the stables: The Situation™, which is definitively not cursed at all, finds Jack contemplating the corner where all the horse tack is stored. Looking back and forth between Suga and all the leather equipment.]
We are the same heightโ [like literally the exact same height this is the funniest thing] โso that should make tacking up much smoother. If youโd like, you can pick out a horse and Iโll take care of the rest.
[I donโt know if the horses here are the same as the horses on the other side but they are still cute and important. While Suga is picking, Jack will lead out a pretty palomino because itโs Monday and he is in a state of mind to match his horse today. ☆]
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Hmm.......]
They're all pretty so it's hard to decide
But I like this one
[A black one. They also match.]
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An excellent match.
[In various ways? Jack will move around and double check the health and temperament of the horses -- you never know, but these ones don't seem given to skittishness. They have probably seen a lot, especially down here. Then he sets to getting everything ready, blankets and saddles and bridles and all
It's quite the process, and presumably he would have had stable hands back home, but he moves through it with both practiced and absentminded ease. Finds time to continue the conversation, even.]
We'll circle the paddocks a time or two before making for the woods; you'll need to learn to handle the reins. These should be as well-trained as those on the other side... Ah, yes. You wouldn't know how to mount or dismount yet.
I suggest you watch closely, then.
[One foot in the stirrup, hands on the saddle -- he vaults up lightly, with seemingly no effort. A nod at Suga to try in his turn; it's a bit more gymnastics than one might expect, but at least the horses don't seem like they'd mind a bit of tugging and yanking from a novice.]
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[His expression says: slightly less noodle than expected, but perhaps they both know that by now? Not quite enough to pull off all that he'd been speculated to pull off on the other side, still, but Suga gets an approving nod for his ability not to immediately slide off the horse on this side. That sure is the important part.]
It may be difficult to write while you're beginning to ride, but you may just follow me. Keep your feet in the stirrups, and a hand on the reins. I think you know this already, but there is no need to yank.
You will be guiding with feet and reins, like so.
[Just going to start directing his horse over towards the fields with a quick kick and a slight tug of the reins; they're not liable to get above a walk unless there's really some shenaniganry going on with the rider's directions, at least.
Maybe Suga will get good enough to write on horseback soon?]
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