GRAVEYARD PT. 2 - WEEK 8, FRIDAY

[cyclists]

Graveyard
25 Eliminated

Death has never been a pretty thing, has it? Though some of you may have seen it coming, many of you have been taken by surprise in the last moments of your life.

Fortunately for you, it's not over yet.

The last thing you may remember is dying, but upon awakening you'll find yourself in what appears to be the meeting hall. Warmed by the ever-present fire, the room is empty and the voting box appears to be missing. In its place are three large panels hanging from the walls that allow the newly dead to peer into the lives of the living.

As you step out into the village, twilight has set in over the sleepy valley casting light and shadows as far as the eye can see. The same buildings appear to be here, all in the same order and with the same amenities. The sakura trees continue to bloom, the kitchen remains well-stocked, and the bell at the shrine echos. Likewise, the river flows through the village and the four elemental regions are found at the edges of the village.

The main difference, however, is the appearance of two additional huts that you don't recognize each bearing an emblem of a sun or a moon.

Make yourself comfortable. You'll be here for a while.

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Comments

[globs]

[ they've been mostly quiet, as usual, watching everyone cut each other down. It's brutal, and it's foolish, and, frankly, it's disgusting, to watch this cruelty play out like a show being put on for some uncaring god while they play voyeur to it all. It came down to violence and betrayal, in the end. They shouldn't be surprised. No, they're not surprised; they're just waiting for it to be over so that they can at least go back to the misery they know. Waiting, watching, silently.

Until now - until Shess appeared. ]

S -- Shess... [ a strangled pause. ] Wait. This isn't supposed to happen...

[whitewalls]

[ oh

her eyes widen, and she immediately looks over to cinnabar; they haven't made it a secret how much they like shess. ]

[globs]

[ they knew they didn't like Lune. They knew it. It's a petty, flimsy thought to cling to, but they'd rather get angry than scared. Their hands tense, cinnabar nails scraping against the wood of the table they're sitting at. ]

... He's not human -- he's stronger. So it's not over...

[ right? Their words sound hollow, even to themself, but they can't start thinking that he'll lose. They don't know what they'll do if he loses. They can't think about it - they can't. ]

[whitewalls]

... mm. They can still do it.

[ her voice is firm, like she actually believes what she's saying even if she doesn't.

naminé isn't sure how he can make it that long with an injury like that, at least not without medical help. ]

[globs]

[ when he gets up and moves again, they breathe out a tiny sigh of relief. Barebones, brittle relief. There's so much blood coming out of him. How much can a sura lose? Cinnabar barely understands how much a human can lose. They watch, waiting for the flow to stop, but they can't tell if it is or if it isn't, and they can't do anything more, even as he starts stumbling off after the other two in spite of it all.

He's still going to fight. Cinnabar shouldn't be surprised by that, either, but they feel a deep unease, a sickness like their inclusions are shriveling up; they don't want to watch, but they can't stop. ]

Damn it...! Why can't I...

[ why can't they help? why can't they do more? why can't they ever do anything more for him? ]

[whitewalls]

... he'll make it.

[ she actually believes it a little more now, seeing him stand. she should learn not to give up when things seem hopeless... what a bad habit. ]

And then after he does, you can tell him all of this.

[globs]

... Tell him what? Words won't help.

[ they rarely do, and certainly not from a speaker as poor as Cinnabar, who could only ever offer the most awkward of reassurances. Quicksilver brims in their eyes, catching the light as they refuse to let it fall. ]

Nothing can help.

[whitewalls]

If you're friends, it'll help.

... even if it's only a little.

[globs]

Sentiment helps least of all. My friendship... won't close the hole in his side. It won't kill that hooded fool, either.

[omegathree]

That's not- This wasn't part of the plan.

[Didn't they agree? Didn't everybody agree that Shess would be a good pick for last standing? Why did he-?

Can he survive that?]

[globs]

-- He can heal. He told me.

[ there's a tone of desperation as they watch. ]

He got that power back. He won't die.

[ He can't die. ]

[wagashis]

[well that's unfortunate

he is sure not saying that aloud, thankfully,]

[globs]

[ (cinnabeegun) ]

[forefall]

[ +1

haha ]

[omegathree]

[Val takes a moment, watching the screen, before nodding.]

He wouldn't lie.

[Shess certainly kept secrets, but he worked hard. He didn't get stalled on his first task.

If he said he got his healing back, then Val will believe him.]

Shess is- he's going to be fine.

[At the very least, those words are said with conviction.]

[globs]

He wouldn't lie...

[ it's an agreement and a prayer all at once. Shess has gotten back up and started moving; he's not dead. But the wound hasn't closed, either. It looks like there's a lot of liquid coming out of him, and they're certain that's bad. He should hurry up and close it.

So why isn't he? ]

[omegathree]

[Shess must be under air or lightning, if that was his power. Neither one good for sealing up wounds, and Ookurikara is occupied with trying to fight Lune.

Val's gaze stays locked onto the wound in his comrade's gut.]

How quickly should it work?

[globs]

I don't know... I didn't ask that much.

[ normally they'd offer some biting response, but they're too shaken. Now they wish they'd asked more; they'd simply accepted it at the time as a reason to believe he'd be safe. ]

[omegathree]

... Keep believing in him.

[Because what else can they do from here? Val's power was never suited for combat, even if it was, he doubts he could use it from this side.]

[globs]

[ They believe in him, but when has believing in anyone ever been enough? There's never been a single gem saved by belief - not even one. Cinnabar doesn't offer a reply - they just keep watching, their fingers knitting together in a nervous ball at their chest.

He looks like he's suffering. Physical pain is foreign to them, mostly, and that makes it all the more difficult to bear seeing him this way; they can hardly fathom what it must feel like, to have what keeps you surviving pouring out of you without stopping. ]

[omegathree]

[Val knows that feeling well. Back when his job duties included terrifying humans into being thoughtful and respectful of the environment around them, he was a boss type character.

Lances, swords, maces, anything humans could get their hands on would pierce through his body, but he remained alive. He killed them for their efforts and drank down all the blood he needed.

It's different for Shess. It's different here. Even if he has his powers back. (He remembers, that first day, watching Shess cut into his hand.) They must've worked quickly.

He's quiet as he watches now, but a faint smile reaches his features when North throws her arm. Worry is still in his posture, but any advantage in a battle. It's respectable in his eyes.]