GRAVEYARD

[foundationmods]

[On the instant of your death, you're suddenly outside of your body - probably staring down at the remains it's become.

Yet, you're not alone. For all of you (except Szayel), a young man appears from behind you, his face set into a firm, yet sad, scowl. His shaggy strawberry blonde hair is pretty eye-catching, along with the black and white Shihakusho he wears and the large sword on his back, even as he gently tries to lead you back into the lobby and away from what was once your body. You can still clearly hear and see the living, if you want to try - but they can't see or hear you.

'Welcome to the world of the dead in this Resort,' he says, quietly. 'Looks like you're stuck here with the rest of us.'

He hands you a tablet, just like the one you had before. "You'll need this if you want to keep talking to them,' he explains, looking sad.

It looks like you've passed on, and yet...You still feel like you have a role to play in all of this.]

Comments

[imstuck]

Ludwig!

[Phil is practically crying already after seeing Medic's face again.

Has it really been a month? He barely remembered Medic's face from that execution so long ago.

After being stunned for a few moments, Phil rushes over and hugs him tightly. Perhaps a bit too tight, but he doesn't care right now.]

I'm sorry. I... I completely forgot about you. I just lost it there. Please forgive me.

[blutsauger]

I- you- Phil!

[He tosses the note aside and hugs Phil just as tightly back, rocking him back and forth. He whispers Phil's name over and over again, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

He's crying too, finally- ugly, half-stifled sobbing that Phil can actually hear.]

I- told you three not to die-

[Sure, Medic can bring people back from the dead. Sure, he's been working on learning about gigais. That doesn't mean that seeing the people he cares about die in front of him, one by one, with no way to stop it, with no immediate respawn afterwards-

It hurts. It hurts in ways that Medic hasn't felt in years.]

[imstuck]

[Phil breaks down into tears again. This day was too much for him and seeing Medic again was such a bittersweet feeling, especially like this.]

I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking straight.

[He wipes his eyes and takes deep breathes in an attempt to calm himself down.]

I missed hearing your voice so much. I never thought I'd get to hear it again.

[blutsauger]

It's- don't apologize, it's alright, you're here now- I'm here-

[It's not ideal, and Medic hates that Phil had to die for it to happen, but when he moves his head he can see Phil looking at him, really looking at him, not just looking where he thinks Medic is, and it's enough to finally get Medic to laugh again. He leans forward, pressing his forehead to Phil's, giggling while tears still stream down his face.]

At least I got to improve my English penmanship. Bless these sticky notes, really, they're lifesavers.

[imstuck]

And I can see you...

[Phil can't help but laugh through the tears as well. It had only been a month but it feels like he hasn't seen Medic in years.

This was a shitty situation but they're finally together again and that's all that matters right now.]

You know, I think I'm going to miss you covering me with sticky notes every time you wanted to talk to me.

[blutsauger]

I can still do that, I can just speak to you out loud at the same time! Trust me, I'm never going anywhere without sticky notes again. I'm too attached now.

(Yeah, speaking of attached-)

HUSH-

[... So, hey, what the FUCK was that? For a moment, it looks like something on Medic's shoulder, underneath his shirt... moved. And spoke. As soon as it happens, Medic flinches like he's just been shot, lets go of Phil, reaches a hand up towards his shoulder, and...

It looks like he shoves whatever it is back inside his body.]

[imstuck]

[Honestly Ludwig didn't even need to let go. As soon as Phil hears that he stumbles back in shock, looking at his shoulder.]

Ludwig.

What the fuck was that?

[blutsauger]

... You know, just once- just once I would like to be able to warn someone ahead of time before one of you pops up and gives someone a heart attack.

[He's not speaking to Phil- instead, Medic has his arms crossed and he's glaring at his shoulder.

And then a fucking head pops out from his midsection, under his shirt, complete with a balaclava.]

(Please, mon ami. We both know Scout does not have an ounce of patience.)

[Aaaand the head on Medic's shoulder reappears, this time full formed, pushing his way through the collar of Medic's shirt.]

(Oh yeah? Why don't'cha say that to my face, tough guy?)

(Perhaps I would, if we were not stationary, you-)

Spy! Can you please stop riling him up for a moment?

... So. Ah. Phil, remember that little detail I mentioned about having. Maybe attached my teammates' souls to my body.

[Yeah. This is happening.]

[imstuck]

[Phil stares at all the heads.

Then at Medic.

And he goes between them a few more times before finally speaking]

... Were they watching us make love this whole time?

[blutsauger]

(Jesus Christ! No. Like I told that other guy- Bennings, right? We don't even hang around when you guys kiss, man. That's just weird.)

[Scout looks horrified at the thought.

Spy also looks horrified, but for slightly different reasons. He looks up at Medic, making eye contact.]

(Really, there is no accounting for taste with you. Were Mikhail and I just flukes?)

Oh, shut up. You're one to talk about taste, ja? You fell for me, Spy.

... But, ahah. There's... Seven of them, here. There would've been eight, but I traded one for a pen- shame that that one happened to be Pyro, though I'm not sure how the gas mask thing would've worked in this case.

Uh. With any luck, when I get a new body, they'll no longer be able to physically manifest. For the time being, they've at least been good company.

[Fun fact, trying to keep his partners from finding out about THIS was at least a tiny part of why he didn't want any of them to die!]

[imstuck]

[He groans.]

I'm not even going to touch the fact that you apparently sold a soul for a pen, but I'm glad they weren't watching us... and that if we get new bodies that I don't have to think about them the next time we make love.

[He then glares at the Snake head.]

Hey, I'm a catch!

nsfw text. im sorry god

[blutsauger]

Please. Phil, if they weren't able to go back into my body and ignore things around them at will, I wouldn't have had sex with you even once as a ghost. Especially without telling you! And even then, I don't think I could stand it. Unless it was only Spy and Heavy, maybe. And you agreed, of course. But I would still prefer them physically there-

(Aw, jeez- alright, I'm out, I don't even wanna hear about this-)

[The Scout head retreats. Medic grins at the empty space where he was.]

See! Scout especially is easy to scare off.

... And Spy, be nice. I don't make fun of your civilian boyfriend.

[Spy mutters something under his breath at that, but has enough common sense to keep quiet for now.]

And of course I sold a soul for a pen. I needed it to live another 50 years AND trick a man into dying. It was a very important, soul-worthy pen.

never apologize

[imstuck]

Ludwig, I don't think I will ever get used to hearing whatever batshit stories you tell me.

Yeah I think I would prefer to be with your boyfriends if they were whole bodies and not... head tumors.

[Some offense, Spy.]

[blutsauger]

(As if I would ever-)

[Aaaand Medic slowly pushes Spy's head back into his body with one hand.]

I will talk with you later.

... So. You've, ah, put up with every other odd and concerning thing about me. Is this one... too much?

[It's much harder to hide the fact that you're nervous when you're no longer invisible to the man you're talking to.]

[tacticalespionageaction]

[hey man what the fuck]

[blutsauger]

[Spy takes notice of Snake first, and gives him a nod.]

(This one- I do approve of him. I always did tell you, Doctor, the cardboard boxes are a good tactic. No one ever suspects them to hide a killer within.)

[tacticalespionageaction]

[Oh, boxes, huh?]

That's him, right? Your partner?

[blutsauger]

One of them, ja! Mikhail isn't particularly fond of trying to talk to people in this state, so he's hanging around somewhere inside my body. But this is Spy!

(Charmed, I'm sure.)

[tacticalespionageaction]

Spy, huh?

[Hnrnghghh.]

Isn't that blunt for a codename?

[blutsauger]

All of our codenames are rather, ah, to the point. Medic, Spy, Engineer...

(What matters is that no one knows my true name or identity.)

Yes, yes, of course.

[xenoqueen]

Medic?

[Ripley snaps to attention when she overhears the conversation as she just. Stares at Medic.

...Yeah, okay. This sure is happening.]

What the actual fuck?

[blutsauger]

[From his torso, another head-]

(LIEUTENANT RIPLEY. YOUR SERVICE TODAY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. IF I HAD AN ARM, I WOULD SALUTE YOU, AND ALSO BUILD A MEMORIAL WITH MY ONE DISEMBODIED ARM IN HONOR OF YOUR SACRIFICE THIS DAY TO PROTECT THESE CHILDREN FROM DYING, WHICH THEY SEEM TO BE DOING ANYWAY.)

[That booming voice can only be Soldier.]

[xenoqueen]

[oh my god. she winces, putting her face in her hands.]

...T...Thanks? I think? Not that I did much to protect them, since, as you said, they seem to be dying regardless.

[Then, to Medic in a sotto voice--]

Who the hell was that

cw: brief mention of nazism

[blutsauger]

Jane, please. Your inside voice, bitte.

(Right! Sorry, Lieutenant Ripley!)

[He's still a bit too loud. It's fine.]

Ahahh... Ripley, this is Soldier. Soldier, this is Ripley. Soldier is one of my teammates. We met in Germany-]

(Working together to kill Nazi scum- that's the kind of bond you can't break! The strongest bond imaginable! Except me being physically bonded to your midsection! This is possibly a stronger bond, comparatively!)

[Medic pats Soldier on the head, fondly.]

Yes, those were the days, ja? And then we worked together as mercenaries in the gravel wars...

[xenoqueen]

I'm not a lieutenant, actually, I used to be a warrant officer. But thank you for your vote of confidence.

[Ripley crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow.]

Well, good for you guys. [Sounds genuine! She winces a little.] Uh, if you don't mind, it's--uh, kind of weird to see these heads popping out of your chest. Doesn't jive. With me. If you get what I'm saying.