foxhounds | graveyard.

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.

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[ She laughs, but shrugs. ]

Then no, I didn't. But I knew that those swords were out for blood, and your little hideaway was close to where they were hunting. You were second to die that night, save for a hound's kill. Bad luck for you.

[ SCREECH. That is so frustrating. He's more mad that he lost than he is that he died. Stupid swords. ] Has time passed in the world I came from since I've been dead?

[ That's clearly not the question she was expecting, since her eyebrow raises in curiosity, but she at least tones down the sass. ]

No. It doesn't quite work that way, but for what you're asking? It'll be like no time passed at all.

[ She pauses, then sighs, before she adds. ]

—Which, while we're on the subject, a deal is a deal. Regardless of the outcome of the game, you're getting your free pass back. Congratulations.

[ Does it feel like there's a catch with this? There should, at least based on how she's smiling. ]

[ Good. Good, maybe... maybe that means he has a chance. Maybe. He'd given up around night four because it'd occurred to him that there was no way that Gwen was still alive, but - if no time has passed...

As for the rest of that, he squints at her. Suspicious. ] And you always follow through on your deals, is that it?

Of course. What do you take me for?

[ She looks mockingly hurt, but then shrugs. ]

But I hope you're ready to play again when you die, Royce.

[ ... Oh. Well.

Wow, that - makes him angry all over again, and he opens his mouth to reply, hands curling into fists. A beat, and then he closes it. Fuck. He was played, and the worst part is he willingly agreed to it. ]

How many times do I have to play? [ He's going to outlive her. And Hadrian. And when he dies he won't even get to see them. Maybe his voice shakes a little. ]

That is the question, isn't it?

[ She laughs, and it's definitely in that shaking in his voice. ]

What, are you afraid? You should have asked before you talked to Shijima, honestly.

[ Deep breaths. Just.

It takes him a second to regain himself, and during that second he's quiet, looking away, looking at the floor. ]

I'm not afraid, no. [ Maybe a little. More than anything, he kind of just aches. ] So I'll be like her, then. Playing the game over and over until I win?

[ She nods. ]

That's right. It's a fitting punishment for someone willing to accept a mysterious role made solely for killing innocents, isn't it?

[ Ahah is the noise that comes out of his mouth, without his permission. ] Yes, yes it is. Though I didn't solely kill innocents, now did I?

[ But he doubts intent matters, even if he did play the game trying to find out the Generals. ]

You didn't. But it didn't matter how many. It only had to be one.

[ She looks amused as he starts to argue semantics. ]

I told you that you'd leave here alive if you could give that gun to someone that would kill another person here other than the General. And you did. You bought your life back, as promised. It's not my fault you didn't know you were dead.

[ He goes quiet again, leaning back against whatever surface he's nearest. There was too much stacked against him from the start, and he could argue about how it's unfair, but really... it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all.

He still has a life to go back to. He just has to save her. That's all. If Royce can save Gwen, then he'll gladly come back and do this over and over. That's fine. She's the most important thing. ]

Nobody here is innocent. [ But he accepts this. His voice is soft, and he's half-smiling at the floor. ] Will I be the gunsmith again, or the zaroff?

Edited (zard) 2015-08-29 06:43 (UTC)

I'll leave that a surprise. Suspense is grand, you know.

Edited 2015-08-29 15:16 (UTC)

[ Royce stands there for a while, just thinking. ]

What happens if I win? [ He doubts he will, because Shijima's been doing this forever, but. ]

You become the Overseer.

[ So... Still not quite an end. But it's a step closer. ]

Edited 2015-08-29 16:17 (UTC)

Like Iván, you mean. [ He's grinning now. ] Quite the prize. Do I ever get to die?

Of course. It's not fair to give someone immortality.

[ She shrugs. ]

Get killed by Zaroff. It's the easiest way to destroy yourself, in that case.

[ A beat, and then, quieter, like he doesn't want anybody to hear that he has feelings or whatever: ] And that's it? Get killed by a Zaroff and there's nothing, right, I'll be dead.

"Nothing" is the best way to put it. Whatever you believe in, a soul, life energy, it's destroyed. But like I said, that's easiest if you just want it to be over.

[ There's nothing. He closes his eyes and digs his fingers into his palms. There was a chance that he could've seen her again, but not now. ] Alright.

[ He pushes away from the wall and pulls his hood up. ] I'll be seeing you again, then. Do you look different every time?

Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on how long this puppet sticks around.

[ She shrugs ]

I like to steal their face and their name. It helps keep some control over them.

[ Snort. ] You said if I win, I'd become the Overseer, correct? [ good lord can you imagine Overseer Royce and not-Ivan taking his face ] Good luck getting anything done with my face.