R5: ghost hangout

[foundationmods]

[What's this? The fog of the miasma has pulled back, revealing a path down to the basement. None of the living seem to notice it though, only those who are dead are aware of it.

Down in the basement is a large furnished room. It doesn't seem as dusty as the rest of the house, and it actually seems lived in? Or...un-lived in, technically. But the lighting here works and there's plenty to do. Even if the ghosts might not need it, there's several beanbag chairs (brought in by one of the many groups of teenagers who have disappeared into the house), a large couch, and even a jacuzzi. Because even if you're in eternal pain, you can relax a bit, right?

If the ghosts look up, they'll see that the ceiling appears to be made of spider-patterned stained glass. Which is weird, considering that it should be floorboards and such. But the stained glass allows them to look up into all parts of the house and easily spy on the living. What they hear can be hit or miss, especially if the living are whispering, but seeing what they're up to should be easy enough.

Well. Might as well make the most of this space, right?]

Comments

week 5

[dreamshielder]

[The nanosecond Haku is no longer the vessel, he's actually just going to up and leave to try and clear his head. There won't be any feedback into the hivemind here because as pissed as he is, he's not about to go broadcasting it into a psychic well.

But eventually, he'll be going through the house looking for Subete because that sure is a massive elephant in the room. Feel free to run into him wherever!]

[dreamdispersal]

[ Zabuza meanwhile is actively looking for Haku. Their conversation last week was an absolute wreck, but he's still not convinced that the real unfiltered Haku would say the same things to him as the vessel did. He's not sure what he'd do if he did, but at least he's had a week to brace himself for the possibility.

Spotting Haku, he approaches pretty casually. A week to reach that kind of zen.. and yet, it's fragile. ]

Haku.

[dreamshielder]

[he stops when he hears that voice, hands balling into fists at his sides as he drops his gaze to the floor. Their last conversation is something he'd sooner try and forget, though he doubts he'll be allowed to do such a thing.]

.. I suppose this is what's meant by a fate worse than death.

[dreamdispersal]

[ As morbid as it is, the lack of confidence is a relief to see. A sign that Haku is Haku once more, as much as he possibly can be in this context. ]

It really is worse. Being absorbed into this creature, losing sight of all that is ourselves... I can't think of much that is more revolting.

[ He steps closer, placing a hand on Haku's shoulder. He's not a man who would ask for reassurances. It is easier to just test matters for himself. ]

Last week must have been tough.

[dreamshielder]

[The hand on his shoulder makes him tense up immediately, gaze shooting up to meet Zabuza's face in confusion. It's the last comment that has Haku relaxing again, the beginnings of a tiny smile on his lips.]

Only in retrospect.

[There's a deep sigh as he looks away agaim.]
But it all of this would have been worth it if you survived.

[dreamdispersal]

[ Zabuza is inclined to agree, even if he can't say it with just the same certainty anymore that he used to have backing up the sentiment. But if he'd survived... well, he had been genuine when he told everyone at the trial that he didn't want Haku to have died in vain.

Except now he did, and it's an uncomfortable truth between them. ]

No use thinking about what-ifs.

[ Having died is kind of a sore spot. ]

We're here. I'd have preferred to die at home, but there's nothing we can do now.

[dreamshielder]

I should have left her hanging on the wall.

[It's stated somewhat wistfully, his eyes not meeting Zabuza's. A lot had been regrettable about his actions that night, but having tried simply isn't a regret at all.]

I just thought... she deserved better.

[lightreaching]

[ She can't grab on the edge of his clothes to stop him, which would be her go-to unobtrusive attention-catcher, but she can stand in the only pathway out of this room.

At the moment, she's looking out the window, but she speaks up when she hears him walk by. ]

One moment.

[dreamshielder]

....

[Haku pauses when Flayn stands between him and the exit. He's gotten through worse obstacles, of course, but that's not the point. The number of people to whom he owes at least one moment keeps increasing and as much as he doesn't like the feeling, he's not a coward either. He nods at Flayn.]

You can have as many as you need.

[lightreaching]

[ Flayn sits on the windowsill and thinks for a moment.

It still hurts. Her lungs are still struggling to work, she can't breathe, the hole in her chest is burning. She took her stone back from Seteth but the spot where it is feels empty, empty, empty-- ]

...had I done something to anger you?

[dreamshielder]

[>Physical pain is one thing, but just the handful of words is enough for Haku to decide that this is worse. Flayn isn't the first person he's ever put to death, and somehow this curse has managed to ensure that she isn't the last even after he took his last breath over a week ago. But all the same, she is the first person he's ever killed in cold blood to demand answers. The punishment seems fitting, really.]

No. You didn't.

[Just like with the others. None of his kills had ever been personal, but he doubts that'll come as much relief.]

You were nothing but kind and good.

[lightreaching]

[ ........... ]

Then...why?

[ She knows why he took the motive, of course she knows by now, but why her? It's a selfish-feeling question, because if it hadn't been her, it would have been someone else in the house, but she still wants to know why. ]

[noneforall]

[Some people run and hide from elephants, and some people sit back and contemplate the element of elephant as it stands before them, and occasionally a stampede of elephants runs through the area in the background and honestly I don't know where I was going with this analogy. The point is this: Subete isn't at all hard to find.

In fact, he installs himself directly into the space as soon as he finds his way there, so he's just. Out here chilling in the jacuzzi in a lazy sprawl whenever Haku gets around to looking in the obvious places. It would probably look lazier or more relaxed if not for the subtle tension in his shoulders and down his torso, but them's the breaks when you're the cursed dead.]

Hmm. Looking for someone?

[It's hard to miss the guy questing around, but he doesn't move from his spot; there's something quiet and unvarnished to the way he kicks the elephant, so to speak.]

[dreamshielder]

[Haku comes to a pause when he does finally get around to looking in the more obvious places. If it weren't for the laundry list of things that are wrong about this scenario, it could almost be like this happened a couple of weeks earlier when things weren't nearly as awkward. Alas. Butt whatever hesitation he feels, it doesn't really last for more than a beat. Coming up to the side of the jacuzzi, he speaks up, a little flat toned but he meets Subete's dead eyes. Then again, maybe that's just the easiest place to look considering how the guy had died.]

It's a shame more didn't join you when you attacked. I don't know that it would have worked, but it was better than meaninglessly biding their time.

[noneforall]

[Well. Things were always somehow a little awkward here, weren't they?

And as always, Subete manages to blithely talk his way through it anyway, much like the last time Haku caught him in the bath (or the shower, so to speak). He doesn't have his lamp life (or not-so-life) on full display just now, but the way he holds himself accounts for it, along with the nice slice it took out of his torso. It's fine.

His stare is darker and flatter than the last time they spoke, but not by much, at least. Hard to get much darker in the basement life.]

I didn't expect much from them anyway. [it could have been mocking, once, but now it just carries the flat note of fact] The Vessels have all of them cowed, or they're much too busy holding on to what they have left, instead of to what they could steal back.

But I'm sure you understand exactly what their natures are by now. Haku-kun.