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

[liven]

It doesn't matter to me either way. After all, I'm already out of play here... [ She doesn't seem upset about him killing Orion???? ] Also, that guy got me kicked out of the game, you know. He was the one who told about my role, the guy you killed.

[ SO HE AVENGED HER completely on accident, apparently, and not that she held a grudge. ]

Ah, I see...well, you're already dead, you know. [ They all are. ] It sounds like at least one of your comrades is a General, by the way. He killed that Horikawa guy.

[yasusada]

Oh? Is that so.. so maybe that works in your favor? I'm still confused on this.. if Generals winning is a good thing.. what about you? Weren't you different from them, I think? How did he learn your role.. if he was the bad.. good.. bad... [ This is really weird! But then again, if she's pleased by it maybe he had done a good thing? ]

Huh?

[ Did that note really have just a list of Generals? ]

Huh? No, no. That can't be true. One of them was Tsurumaru Kuninaga and the other was Hijikata Toshizou. They wouldn't dare do something like that, because one of them is a comrade and the other is a member of the Shinsengumi, it's against the rules to do something like that to a fellow member.

[liven]

...Both of those people are Generals. [ SHE CAN'T TALK ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE ON THE LIST, since she has no idea who else was on the list, but. ] Gi-ne is also a General, but we're not sure about any others besides that.

[ wow... ]

Anyway, the person in charge of the game told the Generals about my role when they wanted to kill me on the second night, apparently. She made them pick someone else instead.

[yasusada]

. . . .

[ It feels like it makes sense.. Part of him doesn't know what to say and at most, he doesn't want to believe it. That takes a crack at his sanity but he's still here, he's not going to be carrying a severed head around but even still.. ]

They're.. they.. they did that and yet.. they're supposed to be considered good people..? ..

[ Those two, they even touched his comrade's body and they were the ones who.. He's sick but he tries his best to remain composed, looking off to the side as he slowly takes it in. It's a lot to take in and it feels nothing but twisted. It's not like he can bark at Shijima that it can't be true and he doesn't want to believe it so he pushes it at the back of his mind. Gi-ne is another story. ]

I'm .. sorry for what happened to you.. I really am.

[liven]

It's fine. [ A shrug. ] ...Sorry to bring it up, I guess? It's not as though it's like they actually killed anyone...you can't kill the dead, you know?

[yasusada]

Ah.. you're right. You're right, I shouldn't be like this considering what you're saying is the truth. It just.. [ A pause as he shakes his head. ]

How have you been biding your time here, will you explain to me what it is that I do now?

[ Like, let me pat you and brush your hair. ]

[liven]

You can write a letter back to the others, as long as it doesn't say who killed you or give away any of the secrets of the game. Other than that, we pretty much just watch the others on the televisions...we don't get to see night actions, but we can see everything going on during the day and trials and things.

[ basically they popcorn. braiding her hair or whatever is also totally an option. ]

There are cards for games, I guess...pretty much everyone just does whatever they please to amuse themselves.

[yasusada]

Is that so.. I see. So what do you like to do, is there anything in particular? I remember a day where you were very happy about the way your hair looked and I'm sure the cause of that is Kiyomitsu. I'm not too good at it but if we find lots of ribbons and bows, I'm sure I could try at your hair.

[ Maybe, he won't be AS good but he does try? Honestly, they can popcorn too which Yamato doesn't mind walking behind them to get a bowl to do just that. ]

It must get lonely for a feline after all, they really do like attention.. are you the same way?

[liven]

He braided my hair for me for two days, before I was kicked out of play.

[ It kept it out of her way! And she hates dealing with her human hair, so...she just kinda leaves it... ]

I wouldn't mind it if you wanted to do that. I can't really be bothered with taking care of it in this form...and going to the other form full time right now would be a pain. Only Kouichi would be able to understand me.

[yasusada]

[ He beams just a little at hearing that her other form probably indicates that she's able to become a cat. Yamato doesn't really have good memories with them .. not that much but if this specific feline was able to make Kiyomitsu happy. ]

Then I'll try! Normally I just throw mine into a ponytail and keep moving, I never have problems with it. [ He sits down finally on the couch beside her as he raises a hand to hold at light locks of hair. ] You really do have a lot, it matches your eyes.

[ He needs a brush doesn't he? And a comb? ]

I don't know, maybe I would be able to understand you. I have a history with a certain cat, I'm sure you're not like that one but I could guess what you were after maybe. Like a scratch behind the ear?