EVENT LOG: GRAVES

[inthenightmods]

EVENT LOG:
GRAVES

characters: everyone.
location: Bonfire Square.
date/time: July 12-19.
content: mysterious shrines appear and bring visions of death.
warnings: likely violence and potentially gore.

time to pay your respects.

It happens when no one is looking, when most of the town is asleep and the rest are inside. A makeshift cemetery has come to Beacon, taking up residence in the middle of Bonfire Square. Each monument, shrine, and altar is dedicated to someone who now resides here, a memorial of their previous life.

Some may be drawn by curiosity, others by fear, and some may simply have to pass through this strange graveyard to get to the Bonfire itself. Whenever a person gets near, the altars beckon with a mysterious urge— an urge to approach, and an urge to leave something behind. They will feel compelled to make offerings at the various shrines, but doing so has a curious effect; it causes one to experience the death of the person whose grave they've honored.

Whether you resist the compulsion or give in willingly (or something in between), you'll also have to wrestle with the fact that a grave exists for you. Will you let your death be known, or try your best to keep it secret? Destroying it sure won't work, as it will return— with a duplicate somewhere else in town.

However you choose to deal with this, one thing is hard to ignore— this a tangible reminder of your death, and the fact that it's probably permanent.

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Comments

[evocation]

Oh. Yeah, I get it.

[At least with the dream sharing back in Hadriel, you knew. Here, there's no way to, and while Kyna almost prefers not to know so she can pretend it's not happening, she knows Wash is different.]

I didn't see anything. I promise.

[hardwearing]

[ That's a relief, honestly. He doesn't want her to see her own death through his eyes. Doesn't want her to feel the crushing rush of terror and grief and self-loathing that he's, quite frankly, still dealing with himself. Wash knows Kyna doesn't blame him, and wouldn't want him to blame himself, but he does. And he doesn't know how to stop it. ]

Okay. I didn't leave anything at yours, either.

[evocation]

[She pulls away just enough to peek up at him, arm still wrapped around his middle.]

Do you want to?

[hardwearing]

[ That's difficult to answer. Yes, because there are some things he feels like he needs to know for sure. No, because it'd be horrible and a violation of her privacy and he's pretty sure she doesn't want him to see. ]

Kind of..?

[evocation]

Kind of.

[That seems like a way to downplay a "yes" to her.]

Why?

[hardwearing]

[ Ugh, Kyna, this conversation is awful!!! Wash grimaces a little, not even knowing how to explain it. What's the simplest way to put it? Maybe he can consolidate all his fears and insecurities into one statement that won't just piss her off.... ]

So I can stop imagining what it was like for you, basically.

[evocation]

[It isn't really that she's getting angry with him—it's more that she doesn't want him to use the reality of her death as more ammo to torture himself with. She doesn't know how to articulate it, though, and his answer makes her hesitate.]

You've been imagining it?

[hardwearing]

[ The reality of her death isn't as awful as what his imagination has been coming up with, Kyna. It really isn't. ]

...yeah. Seemed like a bad thing to ask questions about, though.

[evocation]

David.

[She pulls away so she can turn to face him, her hands reaching for his.]

I don't want you... I don't want you torturing yourself about it. It's not your fault.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash exhales heavily through his nose, looking and sounding incredibly tired. He does let her take his hands, though, and squeezes hers tight as if to reassure himself she's real and here. ]

Have you ever tried to get yourself to stop thinking about something intentionally? It doesn't work, Kyna.

[evocation]

[She bites her lip at that, considering it, then finally seems to give in as she leans forward to rest her forehead against his.]

Are you sure it won't make everything worse?

[hardwearing]

[ As much as he really doubts it's as bad as what he's been coming up with... there's no way to be sure, unfortunately. ]

No. So I won't look if you don't want me to, but then I think I need to ask you about it.

[evocation]

Even if I tell you, won't that just let you keep imagining things?

[hardwearing]

.....maybe.

[ Look, this sucks. They're dead and sad and there's no winning, really. But there is a way he can know for certain. ]

There's no easy way out here, I'm sorry.

[evocation]

I know.

[She presses her lips against his, soft and brief.]

...you can go see. But I want to be with you when you do it.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash just stays close for a moment, then nods quietly and rests their foreheads together again. ]

I need some paper.

[evocation]

Paper?

[It takes her a split second, but then she gets it, and her lips curve into a little smile.]

Do you want me to get some so you can stay here?

[hardwearing]

Yeah, I don't want to leave it unattended too long. I can eat while you're checking the store?

[ Since she was an Excellent Girlfriend and saw fit to feed him, as well. The best, really. ]

[evocation]

[She nods, running her fingers through his hair as she stands.]

I'll be right back.

[And so she wanders off to the shops. It doesn't take very long, and when she returns she sets the paper in his lap. It's just plain white, but it's well made and sturdy enough to hold a crisp fold, at least.]

[hardwearing]

[ She gets a smile upon her return, faint but genuine. The plate she left is about half finished, but he sets it aside to pick up a sheet of paper instead. ]

The little five pointed ones are okay?

[evocation]

[She grins back, plopping down and snuggling close, trying to ignore the inescapable anxiety she's feeling.]

Yeah, of course it is.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash lets her cuddle against his side before he starts folding, but he can sense her tension. ]

You can change your mind, you know. I learned my lesson that not everything is about what I think is best... if you don't want me to, I won't. No explanation needed.

[evocation]

[It's nice to hear him say it, but she shakes her head before burying her face in his shoulder.]

No, it's okay.

[hardwearing]

You sure? You can still have some flowers.

[ He bows his head to press another kiss to her hair, then keeps folding. Even if they wind up not using it, it's a good outlet for his nervous energy. Sometimes he feels like he picked up fidgeting from Kyna, but it's probably just that he's not in armor all the time anymore. Being encased in metal does kind of curb that. ]

Did you see any art supplies in the store? Paint or markers or whatever?

[evocation]

[He probably did pick up fidgeting from her, honestly. They've picked up a lot of each other's habits.]

Yeah. Not a ton, but there's some. Are you gonna teach me how to make those?