GRAVEKEEPER.

[guestservices]

GRAVEKEEPER

Today, when Jason is in his bedroom, he will receive a message on his typewriter.

Are we interrupting? Well, whatever. Your presence is required at the moment. Hope you aren't afraid of the dark.

Immediately after he finishes reading the message, he will feel compelled to walk into the elevator, inside which a shadowy elevator attendant appears as a guide. Once Jason arrives at the destination, he will find himself standing just beyond the iron fence of the graveyard.

It feels particularly eerie on this fine Tuesday - a low wind whistles through the graveyard, rustling trees no one can see, and the moon is shining high and bright overhead.

Standing tall and proud is Orion, holding a shovel in their hands, the spade of it touching the ground. They don't seem to have much to say, simply glancing from Jason over to their companion. With them is Aquarius, seated on top of a gravestone to be just slightly taller than Orion. They, too, have a shovel in their hands, the spade resting against their shoulder.

"Thanks for coming," Aquarius says in a tone that implies they're aware it wasn't by choice.

Orion reaches into their uniform, and pulls out a sheath of papers, and speaks.

"...You've been tasked with an additional duty. Read the contract between the lines, but - keep in mind that there will be consequences if you choose to disagree."

RULES

1. The Gravekeeper is required to keep maintenance of the graves in the graveyard.
2. On Tuesday, the Gravekeeper will select one participant to remove from the hotel to ensure a proper fit to the open graves available.
2A: The Gravekeeper may occasionally have an additional selection made for them, per the discretion of hotel staff.
3. Interference can only be done through the tools of the Gravekeeper trade. The interlopers will not be aware of your interference.
4. The interlopers will be placed into boxes Thursday evening and dealt with accordingly.
5. On Friday morning, the interlopers will be released from their boxes.
6. The Gravekeeper must make their decision as to their power by Thursday evening.
7. The Gravekeeper is not to disclose that they are performing these duties. Discussing them with anyone other than authorized Hotel Staff, including the interlopers, will be considered breach of contract and will result in the death of ROY HARPER.

N̸A̵V̴I̶G̶A̶T̴I̴O̸N̷.̷

█ LOCATIONS █ STATUSES █ PROFILES █ AUDIENCES
█ REPORTING █ PRIVATE CONVOS █ MURDER

Comments

[unrecked]

[shoots both of you once again

Why do both of these memories hit so close to home for him? He hates the idea of other people going through the same shitty things as him. He does what he does so people don't have to do that. So these two would not be this way.

His lips grow thin, and he frowns.]

...You alright?

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[we love you.

the hand on their shoulder makes aquarius startle just a little, a barely-there movement but just enough to jar them. they don't entirely push orion off, but they continue picking at their gloves anyway.]

Yeah. That was a while ago, it's fine. [it's quick, but still quiet.] ...so hey. Three for three. That's almost impressive.

[their heart isn't quite into the words, but you know. on the job.]

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[ this time i was asleep i didnt miss the notif

orion's touch is brief, just a little reminder, and aquarius's dry remark makes them laugh, but it's very soft, and humorless.

there's a long pause. ]

... Maybe we ought to get to those pancakes.

[ this is almost a joke? but it sounds like they need it. all of them. badly. ]

[unrecked]

Being a long time ago doesn't make it hurt any less.

[The implication here is that he had to run out of the graveyard about ten minutes prior to this because he re-lived crawling out of the grave. So. Yeah. Things in the past can really come back to bite you when you're vibing and having an okay time.

Now the three of them are aware everyone here has depression.

He extends his hand out and offers it to Aquarius to help them up.]

Let's get the pancakes. I need something to get the taste out of my mouth.

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...pancakes. Right. [they're still a little jittery, but they take a breath to recompose themselves before they actually nod gratefully toward orion and take jason's hand to get out of the dirt.]

Orion worked hard on them, so pretend to appreciate them, okay? [sometimes you cope with your depression by pretending you have jokes.]

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[ up they go! orion gives a little nod, still looking after aquarius until they're up and about - definitely obviously, quietly concerned, but never the type to show it too much. ]

I did follow the recipe, so, I hope that they're up to your standards.

[ but they will gladly take the initiative to go get everyone some delicious pancakes while they sit here and contemplate depression. ]

[unrecked]

Hey, those pancakes could taste like cow shit, and I would be glad to have them after what just happened.

[Not hard to haul this scrawny lil depression bro up with one hand. Afterward, he settles his hand on Aquarius's shoulder to steer them back into the cemetery after Orion; he doesn't trust the kid not to get back down in the dirt. But he does drop his hand once they get closer to the meeting spot.

Listen. The pancakes will be fine. Maybe.]

I've got something to tell the two of you that you're probably not going to like, especially after that wild brain blast we just went on earlier together.

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[stop jason doesn't know they're a kid? clearly?? wow. but they allow this, following along.]

I don't want to know if you know what that actually tastes like. [a glance to orion.] That sounds...foreboding.

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[ there's like the briefest pause as orion serves the pancakes, but they set a dish down in front of aquarius, first, and then hand over jason's, definitely making eye contact with aquarius before they do so. ]

...And that is?

[ don't suggest what they think you're about to suggest ]

[unrecked]

[THE KID VIBES ARE THERE IN THEORY, it was mostly being the dirt part. Jason will take the plate of pancakes because Orion will either maybe drop it or smash him over the head with it when he says what he says next.]

I, uh. [Nudging the pancakes around for a second.] I'm going to go into the box this time.

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[...hm. no! nope, nope, nope! they take the pancakes from orion, but there's a pause as they whip their head around to jason.]

Uh. Why? [no!]

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[ orion looks into the camera like this is the office ]

Mr. Todd.

[unrecked]

[This is the response he expected, so he is not let down! He holds up a hand. With the fork in it.]

Hold on. Hear me out, okay. Damn. I don't want people to have any chance to be suspicious of me. I'm one of the few bigger people here, and they already think someone with muscle has to be doing it. I'd rather get it out of the way early since I'm basically wasting a chance.

[He glances at Aquarius, then looks away.]

I just didn't expect it to coincide with...

[Gestures at. Everything. With the fork. But he means the memories.]

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[they're half-tempted to swat the fork out of his hands, but they are holding their pancakes and seem to be pretty rigid in their posture suddenly.]

...it's a really, really stupid idea. [but.] ...but it does throw them off your tracks. Are you really sure though? It's...you know what we do to them.

[they literally? go in the ground? jason?]

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[ they're both making the :nyeh: face, probably. orion has not taken a bite of their pancakes. ]

We wouldn't be able to make any of it easier on you, either.

[ including the you know. burying in the ground thing. ]

[unrecked]

[LET HIM LIVE WITH HIS BAD DECISIONS.]

I know. I'm not asking for anyone to go easy. The more it looks like the norm, the better. Just try not to get rid of the little bit of brain I have left?

[He... frowns at the graves before quickly twisting his eyes somewhere else, like down at the pancakes. Sure, the idea is making his hair stand on end, but... He feels it's something he has to do? To alleviate any questioning so he can focus on the job.]

I know Tsurumaru was already interested because he questioned me about it. Not that I expect anyone to get answers out of me, it just helps take me out of the pool pre-emptively. Also.

[He glances up.]

I want to know if I'll dream like everyone else, and I want to know what it'll be. Do either of you know why the people in the dirt have out of place pieces of their dreams? Like the ink and machines. Like the bloody hand prints.

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Braining you with a shovel is actually the last thing I want to do, so. [huff. the dreams though...]

Why do people dream what they dream normally? Dreams are weird.

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[ i sure wish that i could actually keep track of this thread im so gomen

orion is left staring at jason for a longer moment, while he's speaking, though they don't say anything immediately, letting aquarius do the talking. ]

I can't say that I know anything about the dreams, either. So... I suppose this is... [ ... ] ... a way, to get insight, maybe, if a very stupid one.

[unrecked]

Aw, you do care, Qu.

[It's like he thinks teasing will somehow lighten both the deafening blow of throwing around shitty memories and of him putting himself in the box when he has PTSD. It's fine.]

Glad everyone here is terrible enough to go along with my very stupid idea then. If I go in, I'll at least be unconscious for most of it. Hopefully, I'll dream like the rest of them. I won't even have to spend so much free time in the grave because I'm out.

[He thinks not being awake for most of it is better than hyperventilating through all of it.]

I just have to deal with waking up. But... if I did it once already, I should be a pro, right?

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[they are so tempted to throw a piece of pancake at him. OOOOH. do you remember how mad damian was when he came back to life and percy and barnham were just eating breakfast? it's that same energy.

anyway, they all have terrible coping methods, that's the problem here.]

Being asleep isn't really the same as being unconscious, especially with the dreams. But we can't hold back. It'll be enough to keep you out for the night. And...we can't help you dig yourself out. You'll have to do it yourself, unless someone happens to come find you.

[dislike.]