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

[dereban]

[ EVERYTHING SUCKS RIGHT NOW but she will take the hug and while he might be shaking, she can't notice it too much because she's trembling as well, even as she tries to put a brave face.

Tries being the key word. ]

... Sorry. I'm really sorry.

[justonezero]

...Was it Rean?

[The other two were already accounted for. There's only one remaining possibility.

If only he could do something from here. If only he could have killed for them, saved them from the mafia now that he knows.

But he can't. He's so powerless.]

[dereban]

[ She nods, quiet. ] He looked unsurprised when I told him that I had a role, so. . . one of the people I told must also be one of them. I trusted too much. I shouldn't have. I should have been the same as I used to be.

[justonezero]

[Yoshi just shakes his head into her shoulder.]

Owain and Makoto. I think... the Barghest took Makoto.

[His voice still shakes, muffled by the hug. But he does bring his head up a bit to speak properly again, even if he doesn't let her go.]

It's 'cause you care so much. Isn't it?

[She stayed prickly, trying to keep everyone at arm's length, but...

She was also the one who called on everyone to talk to him during that trial. The one who kept fussing over the others even as she refused to allow them to do the same in return.]

[dereban]

I told Niijima... after the execution. She didn't know the specifics. I only told one person the specifics, after all. But I did write down the people who I told, in the off chance that...

[ This happened. And now that it's happened, well, she wonders if her message will reach them. If they'll manage to figure it out. Her gaze lowers slightly and well?

When he says that she cares she can't-- ]

Even if that's true. There's no way that they could possibly care about me in return. Not after I've been such a fuck up. Not when they learn what kind of person I really am.

[justonezero]

[That has him pulling back, enough to look at her, though his hands still remain on hers. His eyes are watery - for never crying, he's cried so, so much since he got here - but no tears are falling for the moment at least.

Maybe it's still the shock. But he has enough coherency to speak, at least.]

I messed up over and over... but people still wanted to talk to me.

[She's the one who went and proved that, isn't she?]

If they can like garbage like me, there's no way they'd hate someone as nice as you, Inaba.

[dereban]

You're not as much of a fuck up as I am. I willingly allowed the Jorogumo to murder me. I didn't fight at all. I just let it happen. [ Inaba smiles a little bitterly and shakes her head. ] No. I'm not... I'm really not as nice as what you all think I am.

[justonezero]

I followed Flat out. I knew he was going to kill me from the start.

[His tone flattens out in turn.]

I tried to catch him, but- I knew that if I died, at least it would be me instead of somebody valuable. That was the most important part.

[Because he's garbage. Disposable. The scum on the shoe of humanity, serving no good purpose except to dirty it up, an annoyance.]

But people still got angry with me. They scolded me, got sad for me, acknowledged me.

Told me how much they cared about me.

If they'd do that for someone as worthless as I am, they'll definitely do the same for you. Because even if you don't think you're nice, I'm sure everyone else does.

[dereban]

At least you tried something. That's still better than nothing, you know? I just thought that-- the moment midnight hit, I was chosen to die. I'm familiar with this game, after all. A part of me thought that maybe I should hole up in my room. It'd be safer that way. But. . . I couldn't. If I did that, then that would count as "not playing the game", right? I wasn't going to allow the Cleaner to murder me. I wouldn't let them do that. Besides, my life — it's not worth anything. I can't protect anybody, and I can't save anyone. I couldn't even share the information I learned from those memories on Monday, remember? I'm really useless. No matter how much I try, I only get stabbed in the back in the end. That was what I was afraid of. It's so much easier to just shut yourself out from the world because then you wouldn't have to worry about anybody betraying you. [ She laughs a little bitterly after that. ] I don't know, though. Would they really? How are you going to prove that? Words aren't going to be enough.

[justonezero]

[He regards her silently for a moment after she speaks, and a soft, pathetic smile makes it onto his face as a quiet realization dawns.]

I don't think... I've ever met someone as bad as this as I am too, before.

[They're both worthless good-for-nothings, aren't they?]

But it's okay. [And he reaches out this time, patting her on the head like she's done for him.] I'll... find a way to show you.

'Cause you're the one who showed me.

[And even though it hurts so, so much now, he's learned to love so, so much more. His interest in others is no longer passing, all-encompassing.

Because of her, it's become so much more genuine.]

[dereban]

[ THIS SURE IS THE SAME, MISERABLE HAT, ISN'T IT.... nevertheless, she does seem surprised when he reaches out to pat her on the head, eyes widening ever so slightly as she just doesn't say anything for a good moment before finally speaking up once again. Her voice is quiet. There are tears in her eyes, too. ] That won't be possible. I broke my promises, after all. I can't face any of them after that.

[justonezero]

They'll face you even if you don't want them to.

[That's what they did for him, after all.]

Everyone's... really stubborn. I don't think they'll let you go.

[dereban]

We'll see about that.

[ She says those words rather coldly without a single hint of emotion in it. ]

I should... probably go.

[justonezero]

[His shoulders droop a little, but he nods.]

Okay.

Um... is it okay if I come by again later, though?

[dereban]

I suppose I can't stop you. [ She'll just go and walk away and head back into her room. Inaba's out. ]

[justonezero]

[It's okay, he needs to go scream at some others first anyhow.

He'll drop by later and obnoxiously spend the night with her, possibly with video games.]