GRAVEYARD.

[dropoffs]

GR͏∀VE̴Y͞A̵ЯD     13 DECOMMISSIONED

t̀h̡e u͝nḑerbe̸l͞l̵y ̸o͜f th̴è ̡şh̷i͠p.

 

Crushing pressure is the initial sensation you can recall upon awakening. The stench of fetid, hot steam fills your nose, motes of dust and dirt floating upwards to cling to your skin. Down you are pulled to the cold ground, and all at once you realize you have forgotten to breathe. As you gasp back to life, you are flung onto a pile of scraps and trash, as the enormous machine that spat you out grumbles a little, and then goes silent. You are whole somehow, alive... but at what cost?

Popping out of the grinder, you look yourself over and find that any injuries you may have incurred during your death will be healed. While the scars that remain from the process will serve as a stark reminder, you will be able to get up on your own two feet without issue.

Thin, tapering metal (?) claws unhook from overhead and lower themselves, proceeding to guide you around. Your clothing starts sticking uncomfortably to your skin in the humidity of this strange, new place. Overhead you can hear the tinny humming of flickering lights overhead, arranged in a singular, thin strip and snaking around the serpentine halls. Along exposed pipes, wires, and the walls, a rust-colored substance creeps in web-like patterns, climbing towards the ceiling lights.

The deep grinding and groaning of the ship begin to meld into one low, deep moan from all around. It dips and rises in pitch, and becomes sickening to listen to if you focus on it for too long. Maybe, it's the ship's way of saying Welcome, to the underbelly of the CSS Eudora, home of the decommissioned.

Some things to keep in mind, while amongst the dead:

💀 Mini-events will be posted on WEDNESDAY at 3 PM EST / 12 PM PST and 6 PM EST / 3 PM PST, and are due at the same time they are for the living. Any changes to the schedule will be announced in the graveyard channels.

💀 Weekly effects will still hit you here, in the belly of the ship. Mods will make sure to announce any special changes based on being the graveyard; otherwise, please assume everything is 1:1!

💀 While not perfect, there is a healing factor in place. It is extremely sluggish, uncomfortable, and does not negate the fact that you're injured and likely in pain. If the injury is too severe, you might wind up dying from it if left untreated. Again. If you have a pre-existing condition like an illness that has been exacerbated by factors beyond your control, you will find that for the time being these symptoms are at their most minor.

💀 That said, while double death is possible, you'll find yourself reviving after 4 hours fully healed, but feeling like complete garbage for the rest of the day. Message your mods if you find yourself getting killed while dead, though! There might be a special surprise involved.

💀 Your possessions, minus clothing besides what you're wearing now, can be found in the bunk pods and their storage. Yes, while it might not include clothes, it does include any Omegamart Promotional Items, Scrap purchases, home items, etc that you were in possession of. if you had a lot of things, the cubby might jam or have difficulty closing. Better organize. If you arrive on Saturday during trial, belongings will return at the end of trial.

💀 Communications, while you cannot text via I.R.I.S., you can still send messages through HER-MES. All other functions for I.R.I.S. are available along with direct data transfers. Dead can send private letters to the living! An inbox can be accessed from the family computer at the canteen. If you find it locked, it is because we are updating it.

💀 Living livestream is broadcasted on the TV screen in the canteen!
✔️ Upgraded Quality ✔️ Audio ✔️ Translit Captions that sometimes fuck up ✔️ Dramatic panning ❌ Color

💀 Planet locations are free to use! Upon the Eudora landing planetside, you will find that as you meander through the various parts of the Belly you may run into one of locations of the current planet instead of where you were meaning to go. These locations are indeed still populated, but the people are more like wisps and will not react much to any conversation. Though you can interact with stuff there you cannot take anything with you out of the location "rooms".

N͡AɅIGA̸T͘E
CHANGES GRAVEYARD LOCATIONS LIVING SIDE STATUSES PROFILES AUDIENCES REPORTING PRIVATE CONVOS COMMS DOSSIER

Comments

W1 MONDAY : THE GRINDER

[dropoffs]

Sorry for kinda disappearing yesterday during the watch. I don't know what happened but... I got lost? [ Confused as ever. And very hungry, but they aren't going to the canteen. ] As I was making my way back, I noticed there is something up with the Grinder. Maybe we should check it out?

---

[ Welcome! To the Grinder... Or the Teeth. Pulled from the location page for easy read:

The grinder is the beginning and the end of it all, a strange-looking machine with bone-like protrusions and arches, and a strangely squishy, but impenetrable window spread over it. Looking through it, you can see them, strange bone-like teeth that for the moment... are still. The strained teeth of the grinder have splotches of fresh blood, and maybe you realize then that: you were there once, right inside.

Trying to move the grinder's teeth manually results in no give. its various bits are incredibly sharp to the touch, so cutting yourself up is the only reward for your efforts. Surrounding the grinder itself are various pieces of garbage ranging from broken electronics, ripped clothing, expired food, and strange cargo crates, some still intact.

But right now there's a strange pink haze that obscures it. There are... Voices, too. Little whispers, incoherent and fading into the background. Despite the garbage littering the space, there's a sweet scent. ]

It wasn't like this yesterday, right?

[artificialsweetener]

[WHY'S THE MOUTH HAUNTED.

Well, first and foremost, Dahut just gently whacks Vash in the arm whenever he meanders over in his confused and very hungry state.]

How did you get lost?! The Helly Belly isn't even that big!

[commits to making this an ic thing

He'll look over toward the Grinder after that, though, frowning... Not starting to move toward it just yet...... Even though it smells sweet and that's just making him hungrier for pastries.]

Mm, no... Have you ever seen it do this, Monsieur Vash?

[egodist]

Oh, you're the one they mentioned. I have questions for you after this.

[later.... when sweet hei is free....

but scien is probably going to get eaten by this thing because he's walking right up to it, tilting his head like he's trying to hear what the weird lil voices are saying]

Helly Belly is a stupid name.

[he will be using it regardless]

[dropoffs]

[ if Dahut hits his prosthetic hand, it is not very soft to whack, but Vash makes a pained noise, anyway. If it is his flesh arm, then he makes a pained noise... Just the same. ] I don't know. I just remember I was with you guys and suddenly I wasn't. [ THE SWEET SCENT ALSO MAKES HIM THINK OF FOOD. ] Not during the week and a couple of days I was in here before you guys. [ To Scien, he beams and waves like he's meeting a k-pop idol. ] Hey, Scien! If they mentioned me, then I'll just keep my introduction short. You can call me Vash.

---

[ It does smell nice here. Not the voices... The voices... Twitch chat, is that you? Trying to focus on them to discern words is difficult, but they grumble. They cry. They growl. None of them are calm. There is a lack of CHILL. ]

[rav3n]

[wanders up eating some stale graham crackers he found on the floor]

I'm not sure if this is a good sign or a bad one, with this ship...

[doesn't acknowledge Helly Belly

But he unfortunately will also walk right up to it, albeit with more caution because generally when you die you STAY DEAD and he doesn't want to press his luck a second time]

[artificialsweetener]

[He can hit his prosthetic arm for fun which is funny because even though his whack was so gentle he also just goes:]

Owie. [THEY ARE SO STUPID. My god, though. Well. Since both of these fuckers are just walking up to it he GUESSES he can also go, though he's more, like. Following his nose. Sweet smell where are you coming from lead him to Cupcake Royale.

He will also just say what both he and Vash and maybe Luke with his fucking FLOOR CRACKERS are thinking.]

This smell is making me really hungry...

[egodist]

[scien, who i've decided is hungry for COMPANY this week so that he's not some stupid recluse experimenting on himself in the corner, just looks at them all judgmentally which he has no right to as someone who eats floor bread.

also he won't be calling vash vash sorry but maybe it'll be something better than masochist

ignoring them all and talking directly to The Grinder]

Hey. Are any of you sentient? Capable of speech?

[dropoffs]

[ It was fine with Scien meandered a little within chaperoning sight, but seeing Luke go and him not having a canon leash here has Vash trail after VERY QUICKLY. ] Aside from us, there are the claws, but... Let's try staying behind me. [ Because Dahut hunger. ] We can get a nice treat after! How do we feel about grilled spam? [ Says the blond pathetic looking man, but he does take out a gun. ]

---

[ They get closer to the grinder and the haze becomes thicker. The sweet scent stays the same level, but there is no tasty morsel to be found. The voices don't respond to Scien in any coherent sentences, but they seem to react to his voice. Their voices are louder in response, is all, before quieting again. An attempt as made.

Where the impenetrable teeth were instead lies an opening through the bony structures. It's sharp, though, and there's more pink fog coming from the opening. ]

I'd normally say I'll go and you guys can stay out here, but I don't think you'll listen.

[ Who wants to go through the small passage of teeth? One of you? All of you? ]

[rav3n]

[...

Emotionshare is no longer active but the emotional vibes would've been "how come you get a gun and I got my fatass bird"

He also thinks it's cute that Vash is trying to be protective in that (pats head) way because he doesn't know Vash is Vash. All this has him shifting into Serious Agent Mode, at least, and he pockets the rest of his crackers, cautiously ducking past the former teeth barrier. He doesn't go far, he's just examining the inside for now.]

I'll do it. [Actually, speaking of his fatass bird--he whistles, and Peanut flaps over from wherever he was hanging out.] At least one person should wait outside--I can send Peanut back if something happens.

[artificialsweetener]

[THIS BLOND PATHETIC LOOKING MAN REALLY GOT THE BEST ITEM OF THEM ALL.

Anyway, even though he is SUPER CURIOUS and also still residually fussy over Scien after his no good very bad weekend, he'll glance between the others, lingering at the teeth.]

I can stay back if we need someone to, since I won't really be a lot of help if anything dangerous is inside.

[HIS STUPID TWINK BODY. Though he'll look to Scien after saying that because he unfortunately follows Scien's orders.]

[egodist]

[unfortunately scien thinks at this point that if anyone's going to die, it might as well be the one who got twisted into being super fucking violent, so he steps forward! and then gives orders that people should ignore because i don't think he should be so bossy:]

Dahut, stay outside. First Callisto, guard Dahut. If he dies again, I'll make sure you get lost in the Helly Belly permanently.

[NO!!!! anyway also stepping inside, though i'll say he lets luke take the lead because scien's a fucking lazyass even if he's curious]

Lead the way, Busybody and Bird.

FOR DAHUT

[dropoffs]

[ Vash personally thinks that Scien can't even beat him at arm wrestling, but he will keep that to himself. He wants to be seen as a small harmless animal. The gun isn't part of the formula. Anyway, even though Scien is bossy, it seems they were all on the same page, anyway. ] If something happens, just yell really loudly. [ Because the voices are a swarm closer to the passage. With Luke and Scien's departure, it's just the hungry guys. ] Uh... You think your boss will be okay in there?

[artificialsweetener]

[IT'S JUST THE HUNGRY GUYS... Dahut pats his stomach absentmindedly and tries to ignore his thumbprint cookie cravings, keeping an eye as best as he can on their adventurous two lads before they vanish into the small gap and go inside.]

Mm, he's pretty capable! [HIS JIGSAW PIECES. The way Scien looks like a noodle but can actually kick hard enough to break bone...] But that answer really depends on what they run into in there. He's not superhuman or anything... Neither is Monsieur Luke, I'm fairly certain. Not that it would matter with the nanites as they are, anyway!

[dropoffs]

Right. The nanites are supposed to make everyone on equal footing. At least it's better to have not lost anything at all here... Nothing to miss! [ Strokes his chin. As they're outside, more of the pink haze takes them in the sweet scent and start taking shape of people. Unidentifiable, just silhouettes. Vash freezes mid-chin stroke. ]

[artificialsweetener]

I still want to study them...

[Just grumbling softly WAIT UNTIL HE GETS HIS BLOOD OUT OF HIS BODY, JUST YOU WAIT.

BUT HELP the way he just gently starts to scoot closer to Vash as the haze starts to become unidentifiably vaguely people-shaped. HELLO??? HELLO???? He reaches out to hold onto his arm - the one that's not frozen mid-chin stroke - and glances up at him.]

—Monsieur Vash?

[dropoffs]

[ He would talk to Dahut about the nanites, unimportant so don't worry about it, but he's too busy being spooked. His shoulders square as the silhouettes slowly take form of people they know. They both each get two people (your choice!! i'm only giving Vash one and that's his mom), but across so many silhouettes. They don't come near them, but they're groaning. Crying, asking for their help. ] I—we have to save them. [ Even if they aren't real, his heart can't take it. I'm sorry that you are holding onto his arm because he is going to approach. Silhouette of flowers are starting to sprout into view from the gross littered ground. ]

[artificialsweetener]

[Unfortunately for sweet Vash and his bleeding heart and his mom, there is only one person i could put here for Dahut to truly be unsettled and i'm saving that bullet for later.

FOR NOW, two figures take form.]

Ah! Mademoiselle Ceres?! And--

[The girl gets a very concerned look, but he's just is like ????? at the other person. ISN'T THIS THE CLAUDE FAMILY BUTLER. WHY IS HE HERE.

Well, confusion and worry aside, that's quickly outweighed by the fact that Vash is just tromping his way on toward potential danger. He's going to do his best to dig his heels in and tug Vash back, but he is a simple twink in this world of people who tower over him.]

Monsieur Vash, wait!! I don't think that we can help them...!

[dropoffs]

Rem—I... You're right! [ Breathe in, Vash. You can't be the weakest willed French person here. He takes a deep breath in as he stops in his tracks. With his free arm, he gently moves it over from Dahut's hold to shield him instead. ] You're right. This isn't real. [ But because they're not being help, one by one the silhouettes inflate larger and suffer, then explode into more pink smoke which shocks Vash into short horror. The sprouting flowers are red geranium at first before they become black... Vash takes a step back, but then turns into stone. Dahut is alone for now and the black geraniums turn into lycoris. ]

FOR LUKE & SCIEN

[dropoffs]

[ Scien and Luke press forward... You guys can decide on how many cuts they get, how painful, where they pierce or slash them as they squeeze through the narrow space. However, as they're forced into a crab walk to pass through, the "hallway's walls" becomes semi-translucent. Past the teeth, it looks like unidentifiable figures beveled in. Their expressions are intense from sadness to madness.

Luke and Scien will find a face they recognize beyond the bone. Who are they? ]

[rav3n]

[Luke doesn't argue with having company, mostly because he doesn't want to die to a trap alone and then have them come in after him when he doesn't return and also get got by the same trap. That would be very stupid and I feel it should happen at some point in the future.

I keep rolling for fun and keep not understanding numbers it's fine. Luke can get some cuts and scrapes on his face and his hands since they will probably heal anyway. (Peanut is safe, of course.) Regardless of the injuries, he keeps one hand on the "wall," leading the way and keeping a close watch for any lurking dangers. He glances back at Scien to make sure he doesn't just impale himself on a tooth or something, but ASSUMING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, he turns his attention to the faces. Creepy...]

These are pretty--Huh?

[WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY]

[egodist]

[scien is mostly fine? he deals with the scrapes as if he barely registers them, but otherwise keeps going. the expressions on the figures' faces don't seem to faze him much either, based on how he only takes them in with mild curiosity.

instead, once they stumble upon their familiar sights and there is a woman in front of him, scien will tilt his head]

Oh, the witch is here.

[but about that thing about impaling himself on a tooth. as if in an act of god (salome) herself, one of those pieces of teeth will shift to just fucking stab scien through the gut because he deserves this. hei let me have it, that 1 is karma.]

[rav3n]

[skips Hei briefly NOT LIKE THISSSSS]

Scien--!

[egodist]

[it's fine we vibe until hei gets back

scien is going to just turn his head to the side to cough blood, but honestly he just looks more annoyed than anything. he wipes at his mouth with his sleeve, gross.]

Stop. This won't be enough to kill me. Stay focused.

[rav3n]

Easy for you to say!

[HE COMES FROM A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DIE WHEN THEY ARE KILLED OKAY HE'S NOT USED TO THIS. Truly it is only because he's been on the front lines with other injured yet capable people that he doesn't rush over, but that doesn't make him any less concerned.]

Can you walk?

[egodist]

[the way i have to run to my meeting, hei is it possible to break off the tooth if you hit it hard enough because that will decide whether or not scien lets the piece that STABBED HIM stay inside to keep the blood in or not

anyway,,]

Yes, Busybody. Now look forward. I won't be the reason you get distracted enough to die again.