graveyard part 3

[gamehead]

hunter's game the graveyard You wake up in an unfamiliar cabin. At first, it almost seems like you're in an entirely different place and that everything had been just a dream. The interior of the cabin looks nothing like the run-down, old-timey shacks that you had been living in before. Everything in here is sleek and modern, from the enormous flat-screen TV mounted on the wall to the fridge and mini-bars stocked with all your favorite foods. There aren't any individual rooms in here, just a common area large enough to house everyone comfortably, no matter how many more people join you...and there will be plenty more people joining you before the week is over. Because if you look outside the window, it quickly becomes clear that not only are you still in Prayer's Pass, but that you are no longer among the realm of the living. Judging from the tombstones directly outside, you're now in what had been the abandoned broken-down cabin in the graveyard. The cabin's not all that changed; the world outside has gone completely grey and everything you see appears to be faded and blurry. The only things that remain sharp and in color are what's inside the cabin, including your fellow ghosts. Occasionally, people who are still alive may enter, but it's clear that what they're seeing is completely different from what you're seeing. The door's unlocked; however, a mysterious force prevents you from stepping beyond the threshold, no matter how hard you may try. After all, this cabin is a cage for the dead - a gilded one, perhaps, but a cage nonetheless. On the flat-screen TV plays everything that is currently happening in the town. It will shut off once night starts...and something else will appear instead.

Comments

[tsunneverset]

But my left hand probably wouldn't be enough and if I lost my right, I wouldn't be able to punch Poland.

[And then quietly:] Besides, it wasn't the poems that I was concerned about. If I could unlock something that could help everyone left get out alive...then whatever I gave up didn't matter.

[asapplepie]

It was just a stupid phone call, so that was a stupid thing to do.

[He sounds angry, but it isn't about not trusting England anymore; he's just upset that this is happening. But even so, he recognizes that England is trying to tell him something important.]

I...I mean...I was glad that you did that, I was really happy you were still alive. But you could've done something less stupid. You could've given up your eyebrows or liking tea or the queen.

[tsunneverset]

Well, it's not as if I knew that ahead of time. And sod off, I'm not giving up any of those things. I doubt Critter would have accepted them even if I tried.

[He reaches up to ruffle America's hair, misses, and winds up awkwardly patting his shoulder instead.] Anyway, it's not so bad. This cabin is small enough that I can manoeuvre around easily, and it's not like I'm missing out on much not being able to see what's going on onscreen. It's really the same as listening to the radio.

[asapplepie]

But when we go home, what if it's still like that?

[tsunneverset]

[He shrugs.] I doubt it will be, but even so, there have been plenty of humans who get by being blind and go on to accomplish great things. I'll be ashamed if I do any less, and I have centuries to work from.

check plurk

[asapplepie]

Hmm...

I wish you could just tell me why you want the hunters to win. We're not even playing. And it bothers me.

[tsunneverset]

I wish we could tell people too. But Critter's made it explicitly clear that if we tell anyone, even after we die, it won't happen. And...we really, really need it to happen.

[asapplepie]

I know it's not just...bad stuff. I just wish I knew.

I...I don't know why it's like this. This morning if you'd said I could talk to you again, I...I would've said different stuff.

[tsunneverset]

What would you have said?

[asapplepie]

I...C'mon!

[He immediately looks embarrassed and sort of annoyed, not that England can tell. But it probably comes through in his voice.]

Dumb stuff. I don't remember. You can't expect things to be like before when you're not even going to die.

[tsunneverset]

[scowls at him] We're both dead, it seem a bit silly to get all flustered now. I'll haunt you forever if you don't tell me.

[asapplepie]

Oh, don't make me say stuff. You know.

[He sighs and swallows.]

I'm sorry, though. Honest.

[tsunneverset]

[He visibly softens.] You have nothing to be sorry for. I shouldn't have gotten upset with you. None of this was your fault.

...hmm, I've decided it isn't silly for ghosts to be stoic and dignified after all.

[asapplepie]

You're not dignified, you're gonna be, like, bumping into walls.

[tsunneverset]

Nonsense. I've already mapped out the terrain of this cabin. I know where the alcohol is and I know where the tea is, I foresee no problems from here on out.

[asapplepie]

Okay, but you're still a loser. You threw a bottle at me, that's sad.

[tsunneverset]

It's not sad at all. The alcohol is seemingly limitless here, so you don't have to worry about the waste. Besides, I missed, didn't I? [Actually, he doesn't know, but he didn't hear the thunk of two heavy hollow objects hitting each other, so he's assuming so.]

[asapplepie]

Hehe...

I guess I'll believe you guys had a good reason. At least for now. But if it's not true, I'll punch your face to bits.

[tsunneverset]

You'd hit a blind man? That doesn't sound very heroic.

[He sighs.] Well, I hope you'll get the chance to find out...but it's not looking good for us.

[asapplepie]

Nah...you guys sucked.

[tsunneverset]

[He scowls and opens his mouth in a furious retort - then groans and drops his head.]

By gods, we did, didn't we? Between Nigma not lying about his role, killing Sunderland, and Holden pushing people to suspect our own, I'm amazed we got this far.

[asapplepie]

Ehehe...

I actually sort of missed you a little. That's all I meant to say. But you distracted me by throwing bottles at me and rooting for the hunters which is like way suspicious and I'm really finely tuned to detect bad guys being sinister.

[tsunneverset]

I didn't miss watching you blunder around at all. [But his cheeks are bright red and it's so beyond obvious he's lying that this bracket really isn't necessary at all.]

Well, you didn't detect me or Bruce or Tony Stark, so either your detective skills are incredibly off or we really aren't bad guys after all.

[asapplepie]

Yeah...

[He seems hesitant again.]

I just don't feel like being mad at you.

[tsunneverset]

It does seem like a waste of time and energy now, under these circumstances.

[And now it's his turn to seem hesitant.]

The days before I died were...good. Well no, they were bloody awful, probably the worst I've had since the plague, but some parts were...yes. Quite. [Coughs and mumbles into his teacup, looking away.]