[ GRAVEYARD ]

[sheriffexe]

GRAVEYARD

So, you're dead. Shame, that. But on the other hand, it's actually kind of nice. When you "wake" in some odd version of it, you'll find yourself lying on a rather plush bed. It's cozy and warm and just soft enough to tempt anyone back into sleep. The room is equally nice, if small, and when you turn and open the curtains to look out the window, you will see... wait, is that the town? It is, actually. The town is laid out quite simply across the window and no matter how many times you may bang or wave through the window, no one seems to notice you. If you're smart enough to give up the venture and leave the small bedroom, you will notice that, of course, you are on the train. The train that, is actually pretty fancy. Moving through it, past the sleeping cabins and through to the main carts, you will find a dining car with fine dishware and meals of all kinds made at a push of a button or a request given to the air. They'll appear, freshly made and ready to eat at the table of your choice with any drink you could want. There truly doesn't seem to be any limits when it comes to the luxury of the meal. There is also a bathhouse car with private bathrooms and saunas to fit up to four. Even one rather large room containing a small pool/hot tub of sorts is available for just about anyone to take a dip. It's kind of outlandish, honestly. Then the lounge car, with its library and plush armchairs and couches. A pool table, a darts board, even a small area dedicated to painting. There's a bar too, fully stocked and ready for anyone who needs a drink. All it would require is a request from the bartender who... looks surprisingly familiar? The Sheriff is there, much cleaner cut than his counterpart outside of the train. He looks up mildly at any arrivals, giving them a nod of greeting before going back to organizing bottles or setting cigars out for a smoke. He doesn't seem to be surprised at all by anyone who appears. Just... ready to serve them, whatever they may wish. It all sort of seems okay for a moment, until you realize you're just here to wait for the game to end. Awkward.

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Comments

[guiltlevel]

[ Hey. What's up.

So, yeah... The bed is kind of comfy, so it'll probably take a goooood long while for Russell to actually leave it -- mostly because he's under the impression he's ... Dead and stuff, so he's really confused?

But anyway... You might either see him hesitantly peek out the door..! Feel free to say hello.

OR...

After a bit he'll try to explore, and finally make it to the main cabin of the train. Very quietly, he'll enter... But he won't approach anyone.

But. Hey. He's here. ]

[dubiousalignment]

Welcome to the other side of the board, Russell.

[Tarvek waves at him. He has been having a grand old time since arriving, watching the events with interest. It sure is different when one isn't in middle of it all]

[guiltlevel]

[ He didn't expect to be greeted, so it did make Russell jump a bit out of surprise! Then he looks over at Tarvek. ]

Oh..... Hello?

[ err... the real question though. ] Am I dead yet..?

[dubiousalignment]

You could say that. We're dead, but it may not be permanent. That's better than not having a chance of living at all, right?

[That's mostly why Tarvek isn't too worried. After everything that's happening, it'd be difficult for someone to not to get everyone else alive again. Ash and Will are pretty much the only people Tarvek can see not choosing to revive people]

[guiltlevel]

[ Good point. Hopefully, one of the nonassholes make it to the end!

Though, Russell doesn't like the sound of that. He thought he was finally dead, for good. ]

You might think so....... But I don't know if I ... Really want to go back.

[dubiousalignment]

You mean back to your life or your world? Do I want to know why?

[People have a right to keep secrets, after all]

[guiltlevel]

Well, if I do go back, I'm going to be executed, probably......

[ He literally does not care... ]

Might as well.... Stay like this, I guess...

[dubiousalignment]

[Tarvek is silent for a moment. That's...a bit depressing, kid]

I can't say I understand, but if that's what you feel then you should talk it with the Sheriff. He's the one who has control over our lives or deaths.

If you truly don't want to return to your world or...continue living then talk it with him, but you should think it very well. This isn't the kind of thing that'd be reversible.

[guiltlevel]

[ His life Sucked, my dude. ]

...... Do you really think he'll do something about it..?

[ You know, he talks about his death and wanting to die so... Casually, he definitely doesn't care -- but you know, as of late... He's kind of scared. ]

If I could... Go somewhere else, it might be nice.

[cherrypuncher]

[You know how Yuna Yuki gets; she can't sit still for more than a minute at a time so once she wakes up she all but flies out of her room, a girl on a capital-m Mission as always. It isn't long at all, of course, that she finds her way to the main cabin, and she finds her way to Russell.

Yuna Yuki is dead. That doesn't surprise or concern her much at all. Milla is safe. Jason is safe. She sees Russell, though, and her heart drops into her feet.]

Russell—! [And her voice breaks just so because he's dead, because she couldn't do enough to protect him, because she didn't fight hard enough and now—and now—]

ready to fight

[guiltlevel]

[ Oh, no Yuna...

He hears her voice and he just shrinks away. Ugh... He remembers how last night went and he just feels sick to his stomach.

He feels so bad... It's awful. Crushing. Suffocating. ]

I... Told you to not stay... I'm...... Really sorry... It's my fault...

[ He can't even look at her in the eyes. He couldn't do anything..? ]

[cherrypuncher]

No! Russell, it's not your fault!

[She runs over to him now, starting like she's going to reach for him and taking her hands back, holding them to her heart.]

You didn't do anything wrong! I...
[She
failed. She didn't fight hard enough, didn't protect him, and now he's dead.]

I know you told me not to, but I decided to anyway. It was my choice. It's not your fault.

[guiltlevel]

It is...

[ He's not going to believe it any other way. He tried to tell them to go back to the hotel?

So, he just averts his gaze.

This isn't how he imagined dying either. He's still stuck in this game... He can see the dead from the game -- but he can't see Tabasa, Gardenia, Kantera, Dogma, Cody, Yumi or Mireille... He misses them so much. ]

You shouldn't feel bad. . . It's... Better off for me to be dead anyway, you know. But you... You don't deserve it, which is why..... You shouldn't have stayed.

[cherrypuncher]

It's not!

[He isn't even allowed to finish his thought there before Yuna cries out; Russell says it's better off for him to be dead and she's already a little misty-eyed but suddenly there's such intense resolve in her eyes. This, she believes above and before all else.]

Of course it's not better for you to be dead, Russell! You don't deserve it, either! You always work really hard to help people and do better at everything you do! I like spending time with you and I'm happy you're my friend!

[oh my god enough of the shounen screaming like right in the middle of the main cart]

If I could do it again, the only thing I'd change about what I did is that I'd fight even harder! I wanted to protect you! I—

[failed, failed, failed; what sort of hero is she?]

—think you're worth protecting. I know you're worth protecting.

[I didn't do a good enough job.]

It wasn't your fault you were in the stocks. So you can't be sorry and you can't regret what happened. You can't, Russell!

[guiltlevel]

[ Yeah, kind of awkward to yell all this in the main car, but...

God. He... Really can't handle this. He just can't. No matter what Yuna says it just crushes him even more -- and soon he'll just end up choking, forgetting how to breathe. ]

You're really..... Too kind to someone like me...

[ He kind of wonders if she will change her mind if he shows her... That.

If she can't believe his words, then perhaps. She might as well know the truth because she shouldn't protect someone like him. Besides, even back at the rehab center, he's meant to die anyway. ]

Do you think... I can show you something, real quick..? I saw it by the bed I woke up in, so...

[cherrypuncher]

[HE STARTED IT???? sorry that yuna has no chill at all

except that she settles considerably at his question, because it isn't the kind of thing she expects at all.]

Okay. [Her voice is soft suddenly, but she steps a little closer to him.] Let's go.

[guiltlevel]

[ ONWARD... Out of the main cabin of the train, at least they could get some peace and quiet... And not yell up the main room where everyone is trying to chill and relax?

Either way, ah-- he was right. It's there.

Russell picks up a diary, and hands it over to Yuna. Feel free to read whatever, but you'll definitely want to look at a few entries dated back to week three specifically. ]

. . . You really shouldn't have done all that... For me.......

[ HE'S A MURDERER. ]

[generously]

[ At some point, whenever Russell is done wandering around and returns to his cabin, he'll find the lights will turn off and it's followed by a mysterious voice. It's unknown where it comes from exactly, maybe it's from the ceiling?? ]

Hello Russell.

[guiltlevel]

[ god. who allowed Claire to climb on the ceiling!!!

Jokes on you, Russell is from a horror game. He's seen shit. However, he does look at tad bit surprised by the lights turning off suddenly..!

Then... Calms down.

He looks to the side... Then up... Where are you Claire. ]

Uhm ....... Hello?

[generously]

[ Claire descends and picks up Russell, letting him hang upside-down as holds him by the foot. Then he illuminates the room with a single lighter in his other hand.

'sup. they're gonna have a casual talk. ]

I heard you've been a bad kid. Killing a defenseless woman? Don't lie to me this time, Russell.

[guiltlevel]

[ YEAH. THIS IS TOTALLY CASUAL!!! Also be careful with that lighter? Russell knows very well enough that it's DANGEROUS!

Russell tries to struggle out of his grip, but will that even work? But lord, they're really going to talk about this, huh. HUH. Well, Russell's been having a week so he's too tired to be really emotive right now. He'll be a calm boy. ]

. . . I did... Uhm... I never, really... Lied about it because no one asked me...?

[generously]

[ Claire shakes him a little to interrupt him. ]

So you're gonna tell me the truth if I ask you? Well aren't you conscientious! -- Oh that's right, you're not sure if you have a conscience, yeah? No guilt?

[ he pauses. ]

... Tell me how you killed PJ's true love. Don't leave anything out.

[guiltlevel]

I -- Uhm... Took medicine to help me... Learn guilt... I don't know if that makes a difference though.

[ Remember him admitting to taking medicine to sleep on week four's trial? Yeah. That was it. ]

. . . I covered her with gasoline and used a match... Because that's how I did it before.

[ And... Remember how his wanted poster said he burned down a church? That too. He's a Really bad kid. ]

[generously]

I see...

[ Russell's honesty satisfies Claire for a moment. ]

Do you know what it's like to be engulfed in flames? I mean, you personally probably don't. To be honest, I've never been burned alive either, but I've seen things like you have, Russell...

[ Claire hovers the lighter just underneath Russell's head as he still hangs upside down. ]

I mean, if you're lucky, you'll suffocate before you can even feel the burn. But if not? Well...

[ He begins to lower Russell a little closer to the flame, but stops. ]

I want you to write to PJ and tell him exactly what it feels like. Tell him you're sorry and you'll never play with fire again. Do that, and you'll know guilt, and then I won't have to teach you.

How about it?

[guiltlevel]

[ Thinking back on his dream when he was with Cody and Dogma at Darcover town... When it burst to flames. ]

It's hot... And it's hard to breathe...

[ He shuts his eyes when the lighter gets closer and closer... He's reminded of the flames, of the church, all the flammable vines, and also from the night on week three... He's actually kind of scared right now-- he tries to struggle again. ]

I . . . Gave him my diary, and I said sorry in there...... Is that not enough..? If... I don't listen to you, will you burn me, too?

..... Please don't do that.... I'm scared.