graveyard.

[foxhounds]

You remember dying. In fact, you remember the exact feeling and fear of how you died, and yet in the next moment, you're suddenly standing in a cold room. You're not sure how you got here at all, but it's as if you were suddenly put here the moment after you died. As you look around, the first thing you'll notice is that you're standing in front of an open casket. And you're inside. The corpse inside the casket is definitely you, and it's also definitely dead, which certainly makes this confusing. Luckily, here's someone here to explain. When you wake up, there's footsteps walking closer, and then a familiar face appears. Iván is here, or someone that looks very much like her is. All she starts off with is two simple words— "You're dead." Which would seem obvious, but she explains that you have been before you ever arrived to the island. The shipwreck and the island are't real, after all. This is purgatory, and the Hunt is a way to judge the souls of the living. People show their true nature when they're put in a stressful situation, so it was deemed that this was the way that these judgements would be passed. She explains that you'll know your fate when the game ends, but if you really can't wait that long, you could always ask, but hope isn't lost. After all, the "killers" are on your side. If they can win the game, then everyone can come back to life. They know this, and it's why they're fighting so hard to win. It's a shame that the odds don't seem to be in their favor, but that's also part of the Hunt. — Exploring your new surroundings, you'll realize that you're likely at the bottom of that giant sinkhole, at least if that light far above you is any indication. You no longer feel the need to eat or sleep anymore (technically, you never did, but the habits of being alive are hard to break), so it's a good thing there's enough to do while the game continues. You can watch the proceedings of the Hunt in one room where there's plenty of comfortable couches to sit in and lounge, as well as a fully stocked bar, if you feel like indulging. Another room offers a game room with cards, billiards, and any other games you'd like to play in a group. If you ask your host nicely, she might provide more, but for now, there's not much to do other than to watch and wait for the Hunt to end.

Comments

[snackoosniper]

It was... surprising.

[ She won't elaborate why, but her gaze wanders as if distracted. ]

I've seen a lot of unusual corpses, but I never thought mine would be the most outlandish of them all.

[inspiritus]

It was.

Did you believe you may have made someone cross with you?

[ He is kinda curious, because other than her screaming DETECTIVE all over, he had thought it might be a possibility as well. ]

[snackoosniper]

[ She wouldn't deny the possibility. Even she knows she can be hard to work with, but... ]

No. It's much more likely that they zeroed in on my job as a detective. It's just my luck that earl boy over there had to trip down a well and force me to reveal that information before the game had even begun.

[ It's not like Alois is within earshot or anything?? ]

[loosetongue]

[Wow he's not going to come over and interrupt but he'll throw a rude gesture her way!! first of all how dare you]

[inspiritus]

[ You spoke too soon, Ema. He would've said something a moment sooner, but he caught that gesture as well. Kids... ]

Well, that is simply unfortunate. I would have liked to work with you more beforehand.

[snackoosniper]

Well, if the General and his hounds are really the key to bringing us back to life, then I almost prefer being double-dead. Goodness knows how I'd feel if I found out I killed our second chance at living.

[inspiritus]

[ That's true. ]

And then we'd have never had the chance to finish what we set out to do before we landed on this island...

It is a wonder how we somehow managed to get ourselves just killed before that, however.

[snackoosniper]

That is the question. We can't be in too bad a condition if we really can come back to life, but...

[ A sigh. She sounds so ridiculous to herself right now. ]

None of this makes any sense. What religion ever taught that we would graduate purgatory by playing a murder game!?

[inspiritus]

[ If he had a foul mouth he'd have said, "A piss poor one." Because it'd be true. ]

It'd be certainly a very sadistic one.

Either way, I'm going to presume that since the woman here has said she does not know how we died exactly...that someone else must have had a hand in the occurrence of our first murder.

[ If she's not lying about not knowing, that is. But going through that insipid game as it is, Sephiroth will just take her words for now at face value. ]

[snackoosniper]

[ She huffs. ]

It's always murder with you people. Sometimes people get a little too drunk and walk off cliffs too, you know?

[inspiritus]

... So that is something you might've done?

1/2

[snackoosniper]

No! I'm saying that people watch too many crime dramas!

2/2

[snackoosniper]

It's always murder this, murder that. Have you ever shot anyone, Ema? Have you ever gone undercover, Ema? Have you ever defused a bomb, Ema? Hah! Half of my job is standing around crime scenes and making sure none of the fangirls get their shoeprints all over the evidence.

[ how did this turn into a work rant ]

[inspiritus]

[ He has no idea, but it's amusing. ]

It sounds like you have had a variety of crime scene experiences.

But, seeing as you're getting upset over this, we could always quit the discussion of murder and share a drink instead.

[ He's not serious, though. ]

[snackoosniper]

[ Huff huff. ]

You know what? We might as well. Heaven knows we deserve to unwind a little after all that nonsense.

[ She waves a hand vaguely at that before striding off to the bar. Taking you seriously, bro. ]

[inspiritus]

...I--

...

[ Before he can say or imply he was joking, she's already off, so he supposes that he's on his way too, and thinks... why the hell not. ]

...And even though I haven't looked at anything too closely there myself, an earlier glance seemed to suggest there was quite a variety.

makes casual assumptions about bar layout

[snackoosniper]

A bigger variety than I know what to do with, to be frank.

[ She disappears behind the bar as she crouches for a look into the fridge. ]

What are you having?

[inspiritus]

[ Looking over just a bit. He spots something called Goldschläger... but he doesn't recognize these brands at all. Spoilers he's not really too much of a drinker. ]

Whatever you're having should suffice.

[snackoosniper]

In that case... Ah! We're in luck.

[ She reappears and thumps a container of orange juice on the countertop. Then she turns and scans the alcohol selection before picking out a bottle of champagne.

Half orange juice, half champagne. This is... ~*~The Mimosa~*~. She pours for them both, then pushes Sephiroth his glass. ]

Voila! Enjoy.

[inspiritus]

[ He drinks the down the whole glass, because it tastes better than he expected and why not. ]

It's not bad. A drink combination from home? Or did you just come up with it right now?

[snackoosniper]

[ OH NO YOU DON'T get over here mister. ]

Did you really fall down a well on your own?

[loosetongue]

[don't JUDGE him!!]

Maybe, maybe not. Why does it matter now? No one missed me out there, did they?

[snackoosniper]

Well. One of the girls seemed a little teary-eyed over the apparent loneliness hidden in your letter. Quite an interpretation of a crude drawing captioned "eat shit".

[ Girls. ]

[loosetongue]

[... He needs a moment. Oh my god.]

The what! Which one? I certainly didn't talk to anyone so weepy.

[snackoosniper]

Brunette with braids. Seemed like a nice girl.

[ This is what you get for being sympathetic, Anna. LAUGHED AT. ]