graveyard part 4

[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

[condescent]

I thought that one was a given. Haven't we all had far too much experience with deaths in towns like these to know that they're never going to be permanent? [sighs] Well if you have the pessimistic side of things covered, I'll look forward to the idealistic ending where everyone comes back and they realize they didn't actually have to vote suicidally and suffer through no doubt sadistic deaths in order to win.

[munches on a churro with dignity] Can I not be on any team? We found out who all the hunters were well ahead of time, after all - the only reason they're still around is because the prey can't bring themselves kill anyone so they'll let Critter do it for them.

[encored]

I had a few moments of blind belief that this might be the last of things or that we would at least be excused to another game once we died. Shame on me. [just shaking his head and watching as the trial goes even further downhill. CLARA, DOCTOR.....] Well, as long as some gloating can be done, I'll be pleased no matter what the outcome is.

[and since he entirely agrees with that sentiment - both teams being equally ridiculous, just in different ways - he immediately nods.] Let's form a team of our own so we won't have to suffer such embarrassment again. You, myself, Ciel — Hanekoma can come along, I suppose, and Spain can provide the food. Our cabin party, the best of Prayer's Pass.

[condescent]

Count your blessings - at least none of us are trapped with these insipid souls on our own, yes? If that ever happened, I'd volunteer for execution myself just to be spared the agonizing boredom of the next few days.

[props his chin up on a hand] This is the best idea I've heard all game. Think of how much more enjoyable a time we would have had if we simply stayed in the cabin with good food and good company and never bothered attending one of the trials in the first place except to cast a vote.

[encored]

Oh, can you imagine that? [GENUINELY LOOKS HORRIFIED] I would volunteer myself in a heartbeat as well.

[that idea really does sound good though oh no now he's sad... so many wasted opportunities.] One of us needs to write this down so we don't make the same mistake twice. Honestly. Getting involved in these things is never a wise idea.

[condescent]

I shudder even just trying to imagine it. Even victory wouldn't be worth the price of that torture. [looking more disturbed at this prospect than he did at all during his own six hour death]

I can only blame myself. I should have learned by now that good intentions only lead to terribly dull outcomes. [deliberate side-eye at Sanae here yeah he got that whole lecture about never giving up hope in people and he is choosing to ignore it]

[encored]

[oh... poor sanae he tried. charles is in full agreement with that statement though.]

I'm beginning to think victory isn't worth staying here another day, to be quite frank. I don't exactly want to return to Mayfield but I don't want to be stuck in a cabin for an extended period of time, either. [looks around...] At least it's a decent one, but it's still dull.

[condescent]

I never thought there'd be a day where I actually found a fate worse than Mayfield. [siiiighs] At this point, the only reason why I don't want the hunters to win is because it'd mean being trapped here watching these increasingly monotonous trials for at least another two or three days.

[encored]

From one cage to the next, hm? This one is far too small. [nods along] I'm not horribly sore about my work going to waste but can you imagine if they do go with their dim plan to only execute prey? That would be, dare I say it, a fate crueler than death.

For us, I mean.