lesmodsalouette | Graveyard

Graveyard

The garden is still sprawling and green – despite having entirely lost all its riotous flowers and colors, along with any sign of wildlife or birdsong – though one thing stands out more than anything else: from Monday to Thursday, you can’t see the castle anymore. All that remains where it once stood (or perhaps, usually stands) is an incongruously large tree that towers over everything else and somehow looks larger and more imposing than the castle ever did. The tree’s branches are bare, without any hint of life nor leaf – however, on the weekends (that is to say, Friday through Sunday) a faint projection of the castle appears around it, cradling the only things that the denizens of this alternate garden can see in detail from the other side: the flurry of activity around the investigation, the circus-like dimension that holds the trial, and the mirrors and the grassy dimension that display the execution.

For those curious what the land of the living are up to, a mirage-like and upside-down reflection of the castle garden in its original arrangement can be spotted occasionally overlaying the sky. This strange illusion may sometimes show those in the garden on the other side, flitting in and out of view like stray clouds; but much like the weather, their appearance is mercurial – they cannot be reached and cannot be heard.

Water, Flower, Everywhere

The fountains remain active somehow, though their features seem to have eroded, obscuring the identities of the deities and the wings of the birds, cracking pottery down into nothing but worn shards and handles. At night, only maybe half the lights work (and here they are real candlelight, rather than magical), plunging most of the garden into crepuscular darkness. The trellis walkway looks quite overgrown (mysteriously, bamboo is taking over), entirely covering some statues and other features along its length, and it’s no longer walkable – a miniature canal runs the whole length underneath the arches, feeding into other new waterways around the garden that cut off footpaths seemingly at random. There are small footbridges here and there, but the lack of logic to the whole arrangement makes falling into one of the streams or canals a real hazard.

The waterways do all manage to converge at the pond by the pavilion – neither of which are all that soothing or classical anymore. The pond is only half-full, and entirely lacks water lilies or any dragonflies; its banks sit jagged above the dark waters, and perhaps that’s why the pavilion, too, is half collapsed down into it all. Gone are the curtains and ivies; only dead curling vines and half-collapsed columns are left, but there’s still someplace to sit if you put your mind to it.

Most of the flowerbeds sit fallow or overtaken by weeds – there’s signs here and there that someone might have tried to clear them out, but the bulk of the effort seems to have gone to the orchard by the gardener’s cottage. It might be more accurate to say cottages, given that there are a few of them dotted around that area for some reason. None of them are locked, but all of them have only minimal furnishings apart from the original; they’re also all provided with the full complement of gardener’s tools. Next to them, there are new saplings and half-grown flowering trees: some pear and apple, but also some not. There are new shoots in the kitchen orchard that have just barely taken root, the dirt recently turned.

Hedge Maze(?)

The other most eye-catching feature is what once was an ornamental hedge maze: instead of being a tame height here, it has seemingly grown wild and completely unchecked, towering above the rest of the garden almost like its own overgrown mountain. The hedge walls go up and up and up, making it entirely impossible to see the center or even how far it goes despite the fact that sections of the hedges have also died, reduced to the branches underneath, bristling with interlocked thorns.

Part of it had even spilled over into the garden itself, huge gnarled branches spreading out like burnt-blackened fingers all the way to the edge of the pond – wherever the branches touch, even the greenery is withered, and any statues look more ruined than those in the rest of the area. As of the end of Week 3, however, the branches have retracted entirely and the way into the hedge maze has opened even more. However, there is now a storm brewing over what might be the center or the general area of it. Getting close to the hedge maze or any of the hedge(?) branches is... unpleasant, though it doesn’t usually go beyond a buzz of wrongness and a slight headache.

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[ No, sorry, G'raha's activating his need for sense in a play-- ]

And what's a scholar doing down by the docks? Or maybe by the river... Also, I've never been able to wake early, so we're an evening encounter.

[ There's an amused look in his eyes, tail swishing behind him.

He has an answer. ]

When I studied in Sharlayan, I resided on a different isle. I would need to go to the docks frequently if I wanted to take a boat to the city proper.

[ Plenty of reason, then... Siffrin'll turn his head to look at him, interested. ]

Did you like it?

I took much pleasure in watching the great statue of Thaliak appear on the horizon as the ship arrived at the docks.

[ That, he liked. Seen Sharlayan in full, nestled against the continent of the Northern Empty was always a treat. ]

Paying for the trip, mind you, was not something I liked much.

[ So the arrival is what he enjoyed... Maybe not the journey so much, then. That's too bad. Siffrin kicks the one foot they have hanging idly.

(You cross it off your activities list.) ]

Ah, but knowledge is worth every coin, isn't it? [ Yes, that's a tease.

... Though he turns back to watching the garden after. Softer, more wistful. ] It's pretty freeing. Nothing beats the sky out on the sea.

[ It is, but he's not going to embarrass himself by saying as much. ]

An open space as far as the eye can comprehend it, filled with a stark blue if not the colors of the sunset or the sunrise. [ He squeezes their fingers. ] I would like to see it with you.

[ It's cheesy, but he really can't help it. This is just who he is. ]

[ (You uncross it.) ]

You won't be looking for land the whole time?

[ There's a small, mischievous glint in his eyes, a playfulness in the way his tail swishes. ]

Why would I, when I could look at you instead?

[ (You cross it off again.)

Siffrin's cheeks darken, and their gaze remains Forward, Thank You. ]

Because there's so much else to see, Raha... like fish jumping out of the water, and seagulls diving for their meal. And, uh. [ ... ] The sun. On... the waves, it's fun to watch. So.

[ He leans forward, and while it's not exactly in Siffrin's space, it's an attempt to get them to look at him. ]

There is no reason I cannot look at the scenery and at you, is there?

[ Not this again.......... They're biting back a smile, turning away just a bit more. ]

I guess not. But if you miss a whale, I'm not telling you.

I hardly think I would miss a whale.

[ But maybe he would. It's hard to say, after all. He would miss a riot in the garden below right now, what with how focused he is on that hint of a smile.

It's like before, in the Reflexion. He simply can't stop staring. ]

[ ... This is stupid. Siffrin'll turn to face him, letting his other leg drop in favor of straddling the branch too. ]

I'll take you sailing, free of charge. And teach you some, too. Reading out at sea sounds nice.

[ He tugs on Siffrin's hand, a silent bid to bring him closer. ]

I would like to learn. I have an inkling that you might be a talented instructor, passionate and eager as you guide me through the steps.

[ ... ]

Reading amongst the waves would be nice, as well.

[ A bid they all too easily answer, scooting towards him. Hi. ]

I don't know about talented, if I can't explain how to do it very well... but I'll do my best.

[ Because it'd be nice, to share something with him. Beyond their love of tales and adventure in all forms. And... there are few things closer to Siffrin's heart than sailing, as heavy as it weighs all the same.

(You almost miss the hedge maze, now. How it had offered you a vision and torn it away the next moment.)

It dims his smile, just a bit, but before G'raha can ask about it Siffrin'll lean in to hide it with a kiss, unobtrusive as someone waiting at the door. Exactly what someone's supposed to do in a tree with their crush. ]

[ He can't deny a kiss, as soft and addicting as their lips are, and so he returns it, letting them inside. It's easy like this, to tilt his head to the angle he's learned feels the best for the both of them as his hand cups their cheek, like he's asking them to stay the night.

But he pulls away, only a mere few centimeters, yet too much space all the same. ]

We shall do as much sailing as you like.

[ He had seen that smile dim, after all, and Siffrin should expect by now that G'raha doesn't let things slip by. ]

[ Stars, as if Siffrin could ever refuse. Just being close with G'raha is more than enough to get him to say yes. The space is akin to keeping the window cracked, and he huffs softly against G'raha's lips with a small, affectionate nuzzle. ]

You'll get seasick of it.

[ A joke and truth in one. ]

... I'll teach you how to fish out on the ocean, too. Instead of regular bait, we use sail-lures.

[ He closes the gap for another peck, smiling against Siffrin's lips before moving away more fully. ]

I have heard much and more about ocean fishing, so I am eager for your lessons.

[ The Warrior of Light is... oddly into it, but never enough to pique G'raha's interest. Learning from Siffrin, however, is a different story.

He scoots back, settling against the trunk of the tree, and motions for Siffrin to come forward. They can rest together up here without worry of being caught and embarrassed. ]

[ Hear... feel... fish... the call is truly a mighty one. But just as he had a moment ago, Siffrin obeys the quiet request, flopping as he'd done before against G'raha. Wiggle wiggle. Comfy. ]

Neither of us can cook though, so we'll have to get someone else to do it... Ever had fish head before?

[ There's a real cat between them and it isn't G'raha.

He pulls them closer, hands automatically wrapping around their middle and resting on their back. ]

I have, once. Hard times call for partaking in food one would not normally eat.

[ He smiles a little. ]

Though I have doubts that they were prepared in the way you envision.

[ Correct, it's always going to be the one without ears.

Siffrin hums happily, nuzzling against him. Warm, solid, his. At least for now. At least here. ]

I dunno how Bonnie did it. But it was delicious, and the eyes were the best part. Someone encouraged me to try them before, but I don't remember who.

[ Which would line up, given the island nation that they're from. ]

... They're better when they aren't all that's left to eat, or all you can get. I'll ask them to make you some sometime. Bonnie loves to cook. Their sister taught them.

[ The currently frozen one... Ah, Siffrin could see Bonnie grow up, that's something. ]

[ His palm stays settled on his back, and he's tempted to drum his fingers against his spine again... maybe in a little while. ]

Some have a natural affinity for the culinary arts. 'Twould seem that Bonnie was one such individual, and their sister to boot.

[ Fuck it, he'll go head and gently drum his fingers against them anyway, thoughtfully. The way Siffrin talks about Bonnie is incredibly telling, in his opinion. His feelings on them are clear, and well... he likes to hear them. ]

I am glad they have someone like you to keep watch over them.

[ Oh, back to tiptapping... They give a soft sigh, keyed into the rhythm as if it could tell more of G'raha's thoughts than his words. ]

... It wouldn't matter if they really did hate me, I'd always protect them. That goes... for any of them, my family members. Because my feelings wouldn't change, even if theirs did.

[ (Still.

You can't tell them, now. You can't let them know how these loops have changed you, revealed you, because-- they'd hate you. It's a miracle Raha doesn't, you think. But maybe that's because he didn't know you before.) ]

[ He’s tempted to run his fingers up his spine, but for now, he’ll resist that little temptation. There are no guarantees he’ll manage to resist for much longer, though. ]

‘Tis why I say they are lucky to have you, Siffrin. Your care for them, all of them, is obvious and near unconditional. Children especially need one like that in their lives.

[ (you think you're luckier to have them.) ]

... My love only grows, you know. [ Every loop, it does.

So does resentment. Sorrow. Grief. Loss. Anger. ] I know so, so much about them, that none of them remember telling me. And I always forget that.

[ A soft, light laugh, like it's actually something funny. ]

The amount of times I've slipped up is embarrassing. But I wish I forgot, too.

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