Round 4 graveyard

[foundationmods]

[When your character dies, however that may be, they will feel themselves floating. For a moment or two they will linger at the site of their death, hovering just above everyone, watching.

Then they will feel a pull and they will get tugged all the way to the studio, through a wall, through the hall, through a door.

The place they end up in looks to be a backstage area. There is an area for storing supplies, a coat rack full of empty prinny costumes, a lounge area, and a place to rest. All of these areas are marked by a green border between the described rooms and the doors that go elsewhere. You will see prinnies come and go, hurrying around as they do their work for the day. But within those borders, some of the prinnies will take off their suits, revealing the human souls within. Men, women, old, young, there is a large mix. They are all very dead, though, and seem used to being dead.

And among all of the dead is one living girl, one who seems to be running the show behind the set. She can be found giving instructions to prinnies and telling them where to put things, but she will always take time to give everyone who arrives the same warning:]

Hi there! I'm Marona, and this is the backstage area. There's a lot to do yet, so if you could help us out I would really appreciate it.

All the areas with the green on the floor are safe to be in as ghosts. Your souls won't get pulled away as long as you stay in the safe areas. If you want to go outside of there, though, you have to put on a prinny suit. And if you do that, you have to follow the rules of the prinnies: no killing anyone, follow the orders you're given by the living, and try not to blow up too much.

If you have any questions, I'll be here! But you can come and go as you like. Just don't give Mr. Dazai too much trouble, okay?

Comments

[arraignments]

[ Well, that makes the two of them? Goro thinks it's so much easier to die than to deal with the deaths of those he cherishes... heh.

He doesn't respond to those words, at first. Instead, he clings on a little tighter, a quiet, broken laugh slipping out. When he finally does respond, it's softly whispered. ]

... For being happy to see you, at all.

[ He really is a goddamn monster. ]

[overconfidant]

Don't be.

[It's firm. Steady. Akira frees one hand and tips Goro's head up to kiss him fiercely.]

I missed you, so fucking much. Every day. Even when you were standing there in front of me it wasn't... there was a wall there. Separating us.

[He presses his forehead against Goro's, swallowing hard.]

I took your letter to heart. I did my best. I didn't want to die. But if I said no part of me was happy to be here with you in my arms, I'd be lying.

[arraignments]

[ He eagerly returns the kiss, eyes tightly closed. He doesn't move to break the kiss, letting Akira choose when to pause the kisses. When he hears those words, he slowly lifts shaking hands to rest them on each side of Akira's face. ]

... I know you did, and I-... I know you are.

[ Goro lets his forehead rest against Akira's, his thumbs gently brushing along each cheek. ]

Mistakes aside... [ kissing his forehead ] I'm proud of you, Akira.

[overconfidant]

[The scar on Akira's cheek is raised and slightly rough under Goro's touch. He closes his eyes with a shuddering breath as Goro kisses his forehead.

The final words leave him shaking a little.

He clings tighter to Goro, struggling to force it down and away. He can't afford to lose it. Not after what happened the last time.]

I love you.

[arraignments]

[ ... He notices that.

Stubbornly, he gives a gentle push, leaning to kiss the scar. To kiss the rest of Akira's face, slowly, gently. ]

I love you, too, Akira. [ small, tired smile ] It's okay... You're okay. I'm here, and I won't leave you.

[ He lets his lips linger on the scar. There's... something in his voice, here: fear. ]

You don't have to hang on, so tightly... Please... I know it's hard. [ voice... straining a tiny bit ] But... try to trust me?

[overconfidant]

[Akira just... collapses a little against Goro. Between the affection and the words. His fingers curl into the back of Goro's shirt. He takes a shuddering breath. His voice is a low, unsteady whisper.]

I trust you. I just- ...I'm scared. You saw what happened, Goro. I broke down once and it fucked up everything.

[arraignments]

[ He swallows past the painful lump, eyes tightly closed, lightly stinging. He bites at his bottom lip... ]

... You remember... when I-...

[ Ah, fuck. He hates this a lot. ]

You remember when the Goro Akechi of your timeline broke down, right? How... much of a mess that was... right?

[ Both hands clutch onto the back of Akira's shirt. He lifts his head to press his lips against his boyfriend's forehead for a moment. ]

It won't happen again. I promise. At least for right now, you're- safe with me, okay!?

[ Wow.

Pretty pathetic... huh? ]

Sorry, that's- ... heh. I guess, in a way, I'm just being selfish.

[overconfidant]

I remember...

[Akira remembers that way too well. But then-

I promise.

Akira ducks his head and hides it in Goro's neck once the kiss to his forehead is over. He shakes in his boyfriend's hold, tears hot and wet against Goro's skin.]

It's fine if you're selfish. I'm selfish, too. I just want to stay with you.

[arraignments]

[ He lets out a breathless kind of laugh - something lacking in actual humor, and the kind that a person lets out when they're afraid of breaking down into tears, maybe? ]

Then let's be selfish together...

[ It's whispered as he pulls Akira closer, running his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. ]

You helped me find something worth fighting for, Akira.

You gave me a home.