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GRAVEKEEPER.

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

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[ orion's exactly the same; they hold perfectly still, watching for a long moment, and then they set down their shovel and walk over instead of shadow traveling. it feels familiar, jason's reaction, in a way they can't help but resonate with.

so they take up his other side with aquarius. for a moment, orion seems to just emit... calm, utter calm, like someone who is used to being in that kind of moment, like someone who has been able to pull out of it. ]

Outside with us. [ they repeat, quietly. ] We can wait.

[Surprisingly, their presence doesn't make him flinch, but he is also extremely tired. If the demons are here to get him, then whatever. Take him away, damn.

He lets out a slow and long exhale, tipping his head back as he leans a little on the iron fencing.]

I know. You don't have to bring out the kid gloves just yet. [His joking falls so flat now.] Just needed a little space to breath for a minute.

[He refuses to look at either of them when he says, genuinely:]

Sorry.

And you're apologizing for...what, exactly? [ fuck it. they are going to sit in the dirt near the fence.] This week's been weird and that probably wasn't meant for us.

...sorry, too, though.

[ down they go... orion stays standing, and shakes their head at the apology, too. ]

I agree with Aquarius. It's not as if you chose to show that to either of us on purpose - [ only anna did, who is a rude ] ...nor is it that you chose to have this particular duty, either.

For what it's worth, it's... [ ... ] I'm glad, that you were able to find your way out.

Apologizing because I'm a trash bag full of things like that, so be prepared to have it all dumped on you. Yesterday was a complete shitshow of it.

[Don't sit in the DIRT. Jeez. His eyes lower, but still, he doesn't look at Aquarius or Orion yet. His nerves have calmed down at least. Sort of feels like he might come out of his skin at any little thing, but it's all good. It's fine.]

Some days, kind of wish I hadn't.

[Found his way out, he means. Sorry, he is simply like this unfortunately. It's not that he thinks it'd be better if he were dead exactly. He thinks it would have maybe been better if he hadn't woken up in the grave.]

Shut up, Todd. [it's soft, tired, a little older than they usually sound.] If it helps? You're probably in really good company. Like that's a good thing, actually.

[they pick at their gloves. shut up, the dirt is their home now. ]

...that's the thing about death. Most people don't think they're gonna come back, and when you do you're displaced and left with the memories of what happened before. Coming back to a world you don't really fit in anymore and you just have to figure out what's next.

[ ah, well. orion seems like they might say something, but -

well. who doesn't like a little stardust shower on a cloudy night?

the memory opens to just... nothing. you can't feel anything but despair, numbness. utter misery.

you looks down at your hands, holding a stick of incense, and you turn your wrist, the cursed shackle of your banishment still fresh and red against your skin. you stand in the shadow of a temple, massive and opulent, and then near you, a tiny altar, untouched, roof broken, barely up to your knee.

you are hungry. you are tired. you shouldn't have to feel these things but you haven't eaten in almost a week and you feel empty. you've never felt more despondent, as you stare at this tiny little shrine and feel no spiritual connection. no pulse to it. nothing. there's nothing left of you. why should there be anything left?

you sit down; you collapse. behind you, you can hear the angry rattling of a resentful spirit, shouting something unintelligible, and your heart squeezes, even though it feels like it's been wrung dry. the spirit haunts your footsteps, his resentment making him furious, gone. you caused this. you brought him down from where he was - some part of you used to think no, it wasn't your fault, but the event that happened broke you into pieces, and you know now how heavy that guilt takes. maybe he'll kill you. you hope so.

you close your eyes when you feel the spirit move, preparing yourself. you don't want to fight. you never wanted to fight. maybe this will be it, you think.

and you hear a voice.

"Do you want to live?"

it's deeper than you're expecting. the question surprises you.

you look up, and the awesome amount of spiritual pressure behind you almost knocks you off of your feet. a man in red stands there, and something flickers across your vision, a shiny burst of silver. you're stunned - you say his title, it escapes your mouth in a breath before you can even really think about it.

"Do you want to live?" the man in red repeats. the man in red is holding the resentful spirit by the throat. he stares down at you. impassive, ominous.

you hesitate.

do you?

the resentful spirit gurgles, angrily. cries out for a moment to rest in peace. you did this, it says, i hate you, the words snarled and roared out of his mouth, we fell because of you.

the man in red says nothing, but his question echoes. do you want to live?

maybe it's selfish. maybe it's cruel.

... but slowly, you nod, and rise to your feet. the man in red crushes the spirit with his bare hand, sending it into dust and nothingness as the memory fades. ]

when it ends, orion's left standing there, sort of stunned - they've taken a step back and away, almost like they're going to flee. ]

[He's not sure he likes the idea of being in good company about this, not because it doesn't feel nice to not be alone, but because... the circumstances are terrible. Finally, he looks down at Aquarius, feeling thoroughly scolded. Lectured.

But this time, he doesn't think he minds it so much.

Maybe because what Aquarius says feels true, familiar. They saw him crawl out of the grave, but they hadn't seen the aftermath. His mind, wild and feral, thinking only of Batman, full of resentment and anger. His spirit felt so mixed up. Like he was juggled between existing and not existing.

He's too tired to try jumping away from the stardust. He accepts it, bitterly.

The time and place, he can't relate to completely. Even the League was farther to the west than what this feels like. But being hungry? Starving? The hopeless aim of standing at the edge of giving up. That's very familiar. Distantly, though, something he's tried to forget. No one really wants to think about being a kid and feeling those sorts of things.

Somehow, it doesn't feel like Aquarius, so he slowly turns to look at Orion.]

I guess the water bearer wasn't wrong, huh.

[they are truly beginning to hate the stardust. it falls again, and as someone's memory begins to play out they watch in silence. they're not even sure what jason is thinking, focused on what they're seeing and letting some pieces fall into place. ]

...oh. [its a tone of understanding, and vague surprise.] So...that's happening, too. Thank you for proving my point.

[its light but like. mostly to give orion a moment to gather themselves.]

[ this is the worst, actually! orion is still sort of frozen when jason talks, and it is only very stiffly that they seem to unstick themself from this position. if they could read jason's mind, they'd think much of the same - the feeling of juggling, between existing and nothingness.

they're quiet for a long moment afterwards, and then just make a noise, a soft ]

...nnn. [ and. that's really all they've got, for the moment, glancing away. for the first time, they seem smaller than they really are. ]

So it's getting you guys, too? Ass.

[It doesn't sound like he expected anything less, though. He watches Orion for a long moment, glancing at Aquarius briefly before looking back again.]

I've been there, if it's any consolation. Which I'm not great at, for the record. It's not a bad thing to want to keep living. Don't feel guilty for that.

[Despite what he literally said a few minutes ago about wanting to, like, not be alive sometimes. He shifts his attention to Aquarius.]

Well? Your turn to share with the class, short stuff. Where's it at? Three for three in this hell-hotel-hole.

Yeah. It's been getting us, too. [there's another long pause. ] I was hoping we could get through one meeting without it triggering but here we are.

[they pick at their gloves a little from their place in the dirt. ] Haven't you read my profile in the guest book, Jason? My backstory is far too tragic to share with the public. [its blasé and light and I'll memshare my next tag but they are more focused on orion. a gentle nudge with their foot.] You okay?

[ it is ass yeah. so is depression! damn they really do be depressed.

they seem to snap out of it with the nudge from aquarius, though, glancing between the two of them and giving a brief bow of their head. ]

...That's... it isn't the first time that's happened to me, so far. Just the first time I've...

[ ...

they shake their head again, and then nod to jason. ] ... well. I'm sorry that you've been there, as well, Mr. Todd. [ and then, a little softer; ] ...I'm alright, Aquarius.

Well, it's probably coming because this place is one of the crappiest ones I've been in.

[He turns halfway back to look at Orion.] Don't apologize. If I can't apologize, neither of you can. [To hell with the stardust.]

Glad you're still here.

[Anything else would be platitudes, pity. But he can appreciate Orion kept going. He did, too.]

Just one of, huh? I'm sure the hotel's honored. [they can't keep talking shit like this when there's so much happening? they do seem to settle when orion says they're alright, a little less wary, a little more alert.]

...I have to agree with him. I'm glad for that, too. Even if...[they don't get to say even if what. because. there's stardust and there's an almost reluctant sigh of acceptance, like they knew they couldn't avoid this much longer anyway.

It's cold. It's cold outside, and you stand before the twenty-foot-long pit that smells faintly like root beer and barbeque sauce. The only light you see comes from the full moon hanging above you. You're aware other people are around you, but your focus is intense, words spilling from your lips as your powers take over you. You almost fail to notice the strong, silvery light flickering amongst the trees as it draws closer to you. It kneels, drinking from the pit, and as it stands you falter in your speech.

She appears to you just as she did right before she left. Timeless, ageless, and yet...lifeless. You don't notice the way she addresses one of the others first, shaking yourself out of your daze as you stumble forward calling her name.

She turns to you, a sad expression and you feel something in your chest tighten.

"You've gotten so tall," she says, almost like this is only conversational and not monumental.

"Why didn't you answer me sooner? I've been trying for months!"

"I was hoping you would give up."

The fragile weight in your chest shatters then. "Give up? How can you say that? I'm trying to save you!"

"You can't. Don't do this." You don't want to hear her say the boy beside you is right. You refuse. You scream the truth as you know it, that he let her die, that he isn't their friend, and you do your best not to tremble and break when her hand reaches for your face and disappears before your eyes.

"You must listen to me," she says in that tone you remember so well. It's the tone she always used when she thought younger brothers should listen to their older sisters even without reason. You don't agree with her. It isn't a flaw, this burden you hold onto. "You have to forgive. You have to promise me this."

"I can't. Never."

She tries to reason with you. She lies to you, says that the boy beside you has been worried and can help you. But that's not true. No one can help you anymore. No one understands.

"Why are you helping him and not me?" You shout to get her attention again. "It's not fair!"

"It's not him you're mad at. It's me."

You shake your head. You protest. You know your throat's closing and tears well in your eyes as she continues.

"You're mad because I left you. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger, and stop blaming him for my choices. It will be your doom."

The girl behind you speaks up. She's always been someone who applies logic and reason to everything she says. She tries to tell you about the tyrant whose power is growing, that he'll use you, but...

"I don't care. I just want my sister back."

"You can't have that." Your sister says in a tone more gentle than most. You nearly stamp your feet, loudly proclaiming that you can because of your lineage, that you will do this, but she won't hear you.

"Don't try," she says just as softly. "If you love me, don't..."

Hundreds of spirits begin to surround you, twisting and throbbing in agitation. A warning you want to ignore. A sign you shouldn't ignore, but it doesn't matter. She's here, finally. You won't waste this.

"Your power draws the attention of him. The dead must return. It is not safe for us to remain."

You panic as you realize she's once again leaving you. You beg her to stay just a little longer, but she's already fading before your eyes.

"I love you. Remember what I said."

And just like that her form shivers and she disappears, the ghosts vanishing with her and leaving you alone under the cold, full moon.

...even knowing a memory would show up of their own, eventually, it's enough to render them silent again. thematic, almost, and not surprising the longer they think about it.]

[ ... ah.

it is thematic, really. orion's quiet and solemn after the memory plays too, like a sad little conga line of depression for all three of them.

.. but they reach out, and gently squeeze a gloved hand against aquarius' shoulder. ]

[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?

[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.]

[ 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. ]

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.

...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.]

[ 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. ]

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.

[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.

[ 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 ]

GRAVEKEEPER.

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