foundationmods | Round 4 graveyard

[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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ He watches Atsushi approach, watches Akira pet him...

There's a brief pause before he sits up and reaches across Akira to gently tug Atsushi closer. He offers a gentle smile, and there's something shy there. ]

Lie with us... Please?

[ And, if that works, he will be resting his head on Akira's chest. He knows there is work to do. Knows they need to get on with motivating the living... With buttering up those fuckers at Site 4...

... But, frankly, he's barely hanging on by a thread now. He's so run down. Just... let them have this. Just for a little while. ]

[Atsushi's definitely feeling a little shy as well... though there's a hint of surprise on his face as Akira reaches out to pet his hair, as Goro tugs him closer, close enough that he's one shift of position away from curling right up against Akira. He's leaning into both of their touches, and...

....He wanted to. He really, really did. Even if they were incorporeal, he just--]

...If it's okay with you...?

[He'll just... reach over, wrapping his arms around him in a loose and testing embrace, head tucked on his shoulder. He's letting the fingers of one of his hands slip over Goro too, run down his arm to his hand where he grips it gently.]

[Ah. Now tucked between his boyfriend and his cute maybe-something. Akira flushes just a little, bell jingling as he shifts slightly.]

It's fine, kitten.

[ He gives a small smile as he lets his fingers entwine with Atsushi's. He lifts his head to brush a kiss over Akira's cheek, whispering gently. ]

I love you.

[ After brushing his fingers over the bell, he nuzzles into Akira's neck. Then, he smiles softly at Atsushi. ]

You're always welcome, Shi-kun.

[Atsushi seems to relax a little more at the acceptance. He still wasn't sure what this was, but... he liked them both. And he wanted to be close to them, as close as they'd allow.

He settles a little more comfortably against Akira's side, resting his chin comfortable against his shoulder. His hair probably tickles his neck a bit, sorry.]

...Thanks. I just... it's nice. Being close to you both like this.

[His cheeks are a little flushed as well, but he's smiling warmly.]

[Guys, his neck is sensitive? Akira settles after a moment, though. He scratches his fingers along Atsushi's scalp gently and wiggles his other arm free enough to slip around Goro.]

I love you, too.

[Akira sighs softly as he relaxes into the feeling of the two of them curled against him.]

...yeah. It's nice. Sort of peaceful.

[That's not quite the word, really. But it's been so long since he felt safe that he's almost forgotten it.]

[ Oh... he knows! :)

He lets out a content hum as he relaxes a tiny bit against Akira. There's still some tension there that he can't quite shake, in spite of the moment, but he focuses on them. On Akira and Shi-kun. ]

Agreed...

[ There's a pause. ]

I wasn't even... sure I'd ever be seen by you two again, much less...

[ ... hesitantly: ]

Admittedly, it feels like a dream - one I'd wake up from, only to remind myself it's more than I could ever deserve...

... Sorry. I'm just...

[ There's a distinct increase in tension now. ]

[Those fingers scratching along his scalp draws a quiet sigh of contentment from Atsushi, as well as his face nuzzling more firmly against Akira, nose pressing into the crook of his neck as tension bleeds away from his shoulders. Akira was so good at that...

But Goro's words cause him to tighten his hold on the both of them, his grip on Akira growing just a little more secure while his fingers squeeze Goro's again in an attempt to reassure.]

...I don't really know. Maybe we are dreaming, now that we're all... here. [His lips thin a little, and he presses more firmly against Akira, wishes he could wrap his arms properly around Goro as well like this.

'Dead' isn't a word he wants to use. He wants to believe this is temporary, and death isn't.]

But even if it is... It's one we'll all wake up from together. Back with everyone.

[No bulli. Akira shivers just a bit as Atsushi nuzzles more into his neck. But the words definitely bring him down to earth.

His arm tightens around Goro.]

Atsushi's right. Whatever you call this, we're going to leave together. All three of us.

[ His expression softens as he looks at Atsushi, feels each of them tighten their hold on him... ]

... Yeah! [ tense smile, averted gaze ] Of course.

[ Akira knows Goro more than well enough to know that this is clearly him pretending. Atsushi can probably tell he's trying too hard. That's why his expression outright falters before he presses his face into the space between Akira's neck and shoulder. ]

This living side is, primarily, one, huge disaster - hell, this side is a huge disaster...

[ His teeth clench together and he falls quiet. ]

[Atsushi can tell he’s trying too hard, and though it might be hard to tell with his face pressed into Akira’s neck... he doesn’t like it. He knows Goro is wearing down, knows he’s struggling, and he doesn’t know how to help.

After a moment, a long striped tail curls it’s way over Akira, tucking itself around Goro’s waist firmly in a very strange three person embrace.]

We might be a disaster, but we’re all pretty stubborn ones. I don’t think anyone is ready to give up, even if they’re struggling. But struggling just means we’re still fighting. For ourselves and each other.

[And Atsushi would keep fighting for his sake, too.]

Sometimes a disaster is exactly what things need when they're already fucked up. The forums are on our side. And I think a lot of that is because we're messy and disastrous and human.

They can relate to us.

[Akira sighs and strokes Goro's hair. Lets one hand brush Atsushi's tail. The next sigh is deliberately overdramatic and teasingly resigned and full of asshole energy.]

But if you're not so determined, honey, I guess that means I'll be winning the race back. It'll be just like old times.

[ He lets one hand come to rest on the tail, listening to every word...

... But, it's the last part that has something instantly sparking within his eyes, and he's giving Akira a Look (that probably makes it clear that he Hit Something). There's a quiet huff-like sigh as he "grumpily" nudges him a little. ]

Asshole...

[ In spite of that response, however... he looks to Atsushi, a tiny smile tugging at his lips. ]

In spite of how it might seem... I can't say I haven't gotten out of worse situations. [ turning to nuzzle into Akira, and then quietly muttering: ] Thank you.

[ He... Knows What You Did, There. ]

Edited 2019-08-03 07:27 (UTC)

Akira's right. We're human, and we've showed them that, I think. With our feelings, our choices, our mistakes... our deaths.

[That's what Atsushi had tried to show, in the moments before John had killed him. He hopes it helped. Hopes it did something good, for all the hurt it must have caused.

And this too, was human. Holding each other, supporting each other... pushing each other, if the look in Goro's eyes is anything to go by, and he smiles at both him and Akira.

Thanks, Akira.]

Akira might win the race, but I'll throw you over my shoulder and carry you if I have to. And I can, trust me.

[Said a little impishly.]

Round 4 graveyard

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