guestservices | GRAVEKEEPER.

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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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[STOP. He has already started walking, and since they don't move to get down, he continues to walk. It gives him time to swallow the pancake he stupidly put in his mouth.]

Mmm. [LET HIM SWALLOW.] I think I'm getting a little used to it now.

[it's fucking weird to be carried, but also...maybe not so much. they're quiet for a second, letting jason walk them around wherever as they look forward.]

...between you and me, it's a little comforting. I kinda like being out here. So. I don't mind if we're stalling still.

[because this is still stalling, to them.]

[It's cool. He doesn't walk very fast or hard, just kind of idly picks a path through the stones. He doesn't go very far either. Kind of makes a bit of a loop around Orion and the pancakes.]

Maybe I'm thinking. [IT ISN'T STALLING. (It is.)] You like the cemetery? Why, 'cause it's quiet?

[wheeee....]

You're capable of that? [aquarius, stop.] ...but yeah, that's part of it. I know most people find it creepy but it's also kind of...the bridge between here and there. If that makes any sense.

[He gives them a too fond jostle of retribution as he sucks his teeth. OKAY, SMARTASS.]

Sure, neighborhood goth kid with their crystals at the spooky liminal space. [This is also fond.] That makes sense.

You don’t mind being stuck between the here and there? Gotta say, I’m a little envious. Place kinda scares the piss out of me.

[they don't really correct him, even if they shift to cling slightly better after the jostle. ]

It's not like you don't have a reason to be a little freaked out. But no. I'm sort of used to being in between places and not really being the same. And anyway, this is like the last place we can remember people who're gone.

[they also just like the vibe. ]

[Aquarius is so funny, this is why Jason likes them.]

You’ve got a point, I guess. You don’t let it get you down? That’s pretty brave. To find the hood again in what this place is meant to be. You know, a place to remember the people who have left.

[After a moment, quietly:]

It’s been a long time since I visited my mom’s, I think.

[they shake their head.]

Death's just another part of life and people need to remember that, too. At least it's straightforward.

[there's a pause...and then, slightly quieter:]

My sister never got one. Not really. Neither did my mom. I don't think people should be forced to visit if they don't want to, but the option being there isn't bad.

[Just saw I changed hood to good and AC put it right back at hood again. Help me. Jason still doesn't care much for graveyards, but... they're... maybe... growing on him a bit.

Maybe.]

That sucks. [He feels bad.] My mom only got one because B likes to think he's a philanthropist. If it wasn't for him... she wouldn't have gotten one either. [Since, like, he had been dead.]

...Want to make one for them here? We don't have to put names. Maybe something, like... "Beloved Sister," or something. Something small?

[I laughed and went "hehe red hood" and left it. they consider this though, letting jason continue to walk them around.]

Doing it more out of an obligation isn't much better, but at least it's something.

[there's a pause. and they seem to debate.]

...even if it was vague, we're still staff. I don't know if we should be messing around here and adding stuff. But I...appreciate it. Really. [weird that they actually sound like they do mean it. ]

It's less an obligation and more... it's something they deserve, late or not.

[He glances over his shoulder, but doesn't stop wandering with this clinging sloth on his back.]

I don't know, would you really get in trouble if it was me doing it? [Will Jason do it all anyway for them? Probably. But listen. They sound soft, and it's cute.] Your sister seemed like a pretty cool girl.

I don't disagree with that. [they seem to be pretty big in acknowledgement. ]

Dunno. Maybe it wouldn't really...I don't know. [they seem a little perplexed because yeah point but what if it actually does point back to them??? but they don't say that and instead kind of make a noise of agreement. ] But she was.

[they seem to think if they want to risk continuing.]

For a really long time it was just us, so...she knew me best and always accepted everything about me. It's been time and I've made peace with it but...you still miss them. And always will, probably.

[Soft. Jason goes through a lot this week, but he will put the memorial on the back burner for when there is some downtime. He stops sort of near Orion again at a place where it's easy to look out over the cemetery which he does distantly.]

You do. [For as terrible as his mom's addiction was, he never hated her exactly. Just the illness. So he can agree with that.] There isn't anything wrong with that.

[stop they're not soft. they're abrasive! and scary! and weird!

but jason stops them near orion and they look over the cemetery again.]

...maybe not. But I do still have a job. [just. a quiet reminder. they can't really linger on their personal stuff, or, more likely, they don't think it's important enough to while they're on the job.] I don't really know what the answer is though.

[to...what? they don't really clarify and instead go silent again.]

[He wants to point out that having a job doesn't mean shit really, but they are having an okay time vibing, so he doesn't.]

The answer to what?

[He's a Bat, of course he's going to ask. Clarify, little man.]

[they are vibing, and it's why aquarius doesn't reply for a long moment.]

...everything? Anything? Whatever.

[there is no clarification only stupidity.] All we can focus on is the job.

[exhausting though it may be.]

[This makes him huff with a short, small laugh of amusement. This tells him NOTHING, Aquarius. But it's fine.]

You don't have to always have all the answers. It doesn't mean you're stupid, or you're powerless. You just haven't found them yet. Sometimes, even without knowing the answers, you'll know what to do when the time comes.

[Like run off to try to beat up the Joker when they have your mom as a hostage, only to find out you're about to get blown up. LOOK. He didn't say the outcome would be great. He just said you'd know what to do when the time comes.]

[...there's a huff back before they just thud their face against his shoulder again. ]

Thanks for the pep talk. [haha. they just stay there though. ] I know that's true, but...I don't know. Never mind. Let's just leave it as "this is tiring" and call it good. That's probably safest.

Well, good news for you: that's something we can definitely agree on.

[He turns around in place and backs up to the stone Aquarius had been sitting on before. He lowers their legs so they can step down onto the stone like they're standing on it. If they want to get off, that is.]

Chin up. I know you guys have your own stupid contracts, but we can use your help. Even yours, you know?

[

they. do not want to. but they do anyway, gently climbing back silently to settle down again so jason can be free.

they also don't really reply to that one, sort of pausing to pick at their gloves. there's a soft, uneasy rustling around the gravestone.]

...I want you to focus on your contract first, and working with the other guests. They might be easier to talk to.

[Is he free???

He turns around and half sits on the top of the stone beside them in that cool, ankle crossed and arm crossed way. He’s Cool!]

I’m doing that too. Am I getting a lecture? I’m just saying… I’m not telling you to—Look. I’m saying… if you need to talk to someone…

[is he cool. is he.

when aquarius speaks again, it's...more exhausted, maybe. tired. the voice of someone who doesn't really know what to say and is resigned about it.]

It's not a lecture, it's just...advice? Maybe. But I'm fine, Jason. [flipflopping between calling him by his first name and his surname.] Maybe another time but I kinda think you guys are in the more precarious position here.

[STOP he's cool

He glances sidelong at them. Wow, he gets a Jason.] I don't know if that's necessarily true. [But that's all he says.

He reaches over and pulls the front of their hat down on their forehead.]

It's true enough because I don't think I can keep talking about this right now. [but they do kind of kick out a little when their hat is pulled down. no!!!]

...job. We can talk about everything else later.

I never said you had to.

[He keeps his hand on the hat, holding it down teasingly for a long moment.]

Okay, Mom.

[He will let them go and stop bullying now.]

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