sevenvirtues | (no subject)

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You awaken to blackness. Frightening, although familiar--this is the same terrible thing you narrowly avoided during your first trip into Lebensbaum. The pain of your death is still real, echoes of the wounds you suffered appearing on your skin. Inspecting your surroundings will tell you that you've woken up inside of the cooled, empty bonfire pit....and the town as it was is nowhere to be seen.

The sky is a whirlwind of blank, dark void. What previously acted as roadblocks on either side of the town seems to have moved upward, blocking out most of the sun's light. The street is barren, filled with piles of broken concrete, shattered glass, and smoking craters where many of the buildings used to be. Old bloodstains dot the pavement, mixing in with overturned cars and crumbling brick walls. Lebensbaum is a dead town, in more ways than one.

Except for the hotel. It stands, as dusty and abandoned as it ever was, but no worse for the wear. Scorch marks can be seen on the ground around it in a clear border, as though it had a barrier protecting it from whatever destroyed the village. If you venture inside, everything is in its place, as though the outside wasn't completely obliterated.

The living can be seen walking around, going about their daily lives, and if you concentrate, you can even see the buildings as they once were--in working order, clean, and in one piece.

As of Monday on Week 10, however, there is a door, seemingly pasted into the middle of the street. As the days tick by, the doors will increase in number, one for each victim.

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[She was absolutely trying to figure out how to subtly tell everyone else to just act like Gilbert's arm just sprouted into existence somewhere along the line and roll with it for at least a bit because she's a jerk but no, Gilbert's already asking real questions about the arm thing, plot spoiled.]

I don't know why dead people being able to see again is the weird part of this for you guys. [like. we're ghosts, guys. yes sight is weird but NOT WEIRDER THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST LIKE THREE MONTHS, her standard of comparison for these kinds of things has just been completely wrecked]

[Why is everyone looking at her like that she thought you two were friends. What kind of friends don't give each other hugs and noogies and wrestling matches all the time, wow!!]

...oh, Sadie did chop off your hand! Wow, I totally forgot about that. [SHE WAS A BIT PREOCCUPIED OVER THE HEAD PART OKAY...] But Clover's right, it's not that surprising that we wouldn't have old wounds when we're ghosts.

So if you can see, what do you wanna check out first, Break? The roof? One of the doors? Oh, I can take you to go meet Rahab! [BECAUSE SURELY A SKYSCRAPER SIZED SEA MONSTER IS SOMETHING EVERY PERSON WANTS TO SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES]

...Well, yes. [ But don't get him started on that because he will go hunt down Sadie and finally stab her in the foot. Or in the neck. Keep Break away from Sadie, honestly. ] But I meant the one you gave to Raven...

[ Now granted, Break and Gilbert already had their talk about Gilbert's apparent resurgence of amnesia, but Break is fairly certain that missing an arm and not knowing why would be a bit outside of the scope of that. So, yes, it's taken these two that long to figure out that they're from different points in time instead of just attributing it to weird canon bullshit.

Break at least pulls his hand away, since that's about the extent of how much touching other people he can take in a day. He looks to Undyne instead, but his confusion and slightly flat expression aren't quite fading away yet. ]

Do I even want to know what that is?

...I gave one of my arms to Raven?

[WHAT THE FUCK BREAK, TAG YOUR SPOILERS. Also--] Sadie cut my hand off?! [WHY. No one mentioned this to him and he's Concerned.

But also, since he hasn't yet heard of Undyne's magical Rahab adventures yet:]

Who's Rahab...?!

[WHAT'S EVEN HAPPENING.]

[For just half a moment there's a look on Clover's face that implies that we really do not want to meet Rahab. Ten minutes of having sight is not adequate preparation for meeting Rahab. Save yourselves.]

Okay, well, you have all your hands and your arms now, anyway. [so what's the issue!!! still worth fighting sadie over though don't think for a minute clover won't enable this] Rahab's a giant sea monster. He and Undyne are best friends now. [JUST SO EVERYONE'S PREPARED FOR THE EXPLANATION UNDYNE'S ABOUT TO GIVE]

Well, cutting your hand off was like the least worst thing she did? So it completely slipped my mind. [Do they need to mention the record player thing too does he know about that...] And you shouldn't be giving your arms away to people, gross!

He's not my best friend. But he's super cool. I'm trying to convince him to just eat the demons already, even though they'll probably give him indigestion. [SURELY THIS CLEARS EVERYTHING UP]

[ There are a lot of things to try and focus on here, from whatever the fuck happens in pandora hearts to a giant sea monster, and Break is definitely momentarily overwhelmed by the conversation. However, his smile does turn very sharp for a moment as Gilbert asks about Sadie.

But don't mind that, really. That very worrying smile instead falls as soon as a sea monster is mentioned, and he just ends up too baffled to keep with the idea of whatever he was just thinking about. He looks to Clover first, but his gaze settles on Undyne. He does not seem impressed. ]

...Is this what you meant by "pet"?

[He sees that smile, Break. This is the reason he's going to keep him as far away from Sadie as possible in the coming days...

THAT SAID...]

You don't think something like that would actually work, do you?! ...Would it?

[no dude beat up your friend's murderer's ghost, been there done that, nothing could possibly go wrong]

I mean, trying couldn't hurt. [#yolo and we're already dead, so] He, like, talks and stuff, so I dunno if "pet" is right.

[Yeah, seeing as how Lucifer stopped Break from getting his fair shots in, Undyne also...sees nothing wrong with this at all...good fucking luck Gilbert]

He's not a pet, he's a monster! We're not slaves. I just couldn't come up with a better explanation for what he probably is to whichever demon lives in his door that would fit on Break's hand.

And we might as well give it a shot! I mean, what else is there to do right now except try every option we've got?

[ You know, he's actually slightly frustrated hearing the actual explanation, since he really never would have gotten that at all. He's not even sure if it's important, but Break at least won't say that. He appreciates the effort, considering he had asked Undyne to act as his eyes, but at the same time... Why. He just has to wonder "why" sometimes. ]

Rest, for one.

[ Which is probably the first and last time you'll ever genuinely hear Break say he's tired. This, of course, is completely meant to be ignored because I'm giving Cappy the chance to princess carry Break. ]

As exciting as it would be to go talk to a giant sea monster or whatever you've stumbled upon, I did just die, I'd like to remind you all.

Oh...

[Yeah he. He just sometimes forgets there's an adjustment period after dying. Look, it's been almost a month since he bit it, okay. HE JUST FORGETS THESE THINGS!! These moderately important things...

But he'll glance over toward Undyne and Clover, trying to be somewhat reasonable for once.]

Maybe he should rest first.

[Or, you know. He can rest in Undyne's arms like a swooning maiden.]

Yeah, that's a good first step...

[And Clover knows exactly where this is going and it's pretty much the opposite of a problem as far as she's concerned. This is the ideal mode of rest-destination transportation and she's just gonna step aside so Undyne can get to Break.] You've more than earned a nap.

[here we go]

Whaaaat, napping already? Ghosts don't need to sleep, y'know! [Her voice is teasing rather than bullying though, since yeah Break's definitely earned a rest at this point. Too bad he won't be getting it.]

There aren't exactly a ton of places for you to rest out here, but... [And then the Jaws music starts playing in the background as Undyne begins getting closer and closer to Break before doing the expected and swooping him up into a princess carry thank god she can finally do this without worrying about shattering all his bones]

There! You can nap here for now until we find you somewhere better. [Or never put him down, she's cool with that too.]

[ As soon as Clover steps aside, Break pretty much knows what's going to happen. He holds up his hands in Undyne's direction, which to him, is a gesture of "please go away and leave me alone," but to Undyne, it probably just means surrender. ]

Don't you da—

[ But dare she does, because that syllable is cut off by Undyne swooping in. Thus, Break finds the old adage to be true: swooping is bad. He makes a short, sharp noise of frustration, but this isn't actually as bad as the last few times he's gotten carried. After all, he can see as well as feel the fact that she's carrying him with much more certainty. He doesn't have to live in constant fear of being dropped. But that's not to say that he's any happier for this turn of events, since that sharp noise is repeated as his expression turns sour. ]

Why do you never listen? I don't need to be carried!

[Even Gilbert panics for a hot second before remembering OH RIGHT, THEY'RE GHOSTS. It doesn't matter if Undyne carries him around now because she can't break his ass again! Good work, team.]

If you're that tired, this couldn't hurt, right?

[RIGHT, BREAK?? Really, the alternative is dealing with the rest of the club being a fretty mess so this is probably the more merciful option, honestly.]

The hotel's, like, right there. [TALKING TO UNDYNE AND JUST COMPLETELY IGNORING BREAK'S COMPLAINTS] There are beds and stuff. [not that she isn't totally on team carrying everyone everywhere forever, it's a genuine miracle we've gotten her off of Undyne's shoulders this long, but there are probably at least mildly more comfortable nap spots. carrying Break to a better nap place seems like an ideal compromise? she's helping.]

What Gilbert said! You gotta save your strength for the shit that matters.

[SORRY BREAK THIS IS JUST YOUR UN-LIFE NOW AND YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT babysitters gonna babysit]

You kinda have to concentrate to sleep in the beds though, don't you? Otherwise, you just fall right through.

[Not that she would know for sure, since she hasn't slept for a single hot second after dying, but she'll start heading towards the hotel anyway.]

It's not that I need to sleep, but...

[ Ugh. Break even makes an "ugh" sound, but at least sort of settles down, resigned to his fate of being princess carried, at least for now. It's a different sort of exhaustion that he doesn't really want to explain, which is why he looks to Gilbert. ]

It's like what I told you.

[ Which is intentionally vague, since he's hoping that Gilbert won't actually share what Break is referring to there. The stress on his body always took its toll, but he also had gotten very good at hiding just how ever-present it was. That feeling is just a bit more intense than usual after, you know. Dying from it. ]

[HE GETS IT and luckily he won't be doxxing Break today...

But the reminder also means he's going to stick to his guns here, so:]

Then rest, anyway. We still have time to work, so recover a little before you dive back into things.

[Clover's definitely taken too many naps since she got here but just, like, anywhere. On the ground. In the middle of the hallway. On Undyne's shoulders. Whatever. How can you expect her to give a shit.]

Yeah! There's time and like I said, you definitely deserve a... [don't say a break don't say a break don't say a break DON'T SAY A BREAK WAIT] —oh! Break! [WAIT SHE FORGOT SOMETHING IMPORTANT and she scurries in front of Undyne and Break, walking backwards so she can inform him of this very important piece of information she has been holding onto for weeks without interrupting the carrying stroll—]

I broke Cheshire's nose!

[she's been contemplating a way to convey this since it happened no one else will appreciate her grudgewank as much as Break so she needed him to know look at how proud of herself she is. god clover have a priority for once]

If you're that tired, do you want me to continue your bedtime story? Where'd we leave off again on Mr. Fluffy Old Man?

[WE'RE DOING THIS LET'S DO IT CLOVER AND GILBERT HAVE TO JOIN IN TOO AND DO THE VOICES]

[ Gilbert's motherhenning gets Break to frown, but it's at least only briefly, since Clover delivers some absolutely wonderful news! Break laughs, but it's really more like a cackle, and he truly looks both happy and proud in that moment. ]

My, my~! Very good, Clover! It's only a shame that I assume it's not still broken...?

[ this is also team grudgewank, apparently ]

Ah, but as to the story... I will admit that I was curious to see where it was going. When we left off, the hero was smelling something strange.

[Look, he may have struck up a truce-by-necessity with Cheshire, but he's also a true blue member of Team Grudgewank when it counts. He doesn't particularly care enough to be as pleased about that as Break but he also doesn't care enough to be the Adult here and say, like, "hey probably don't break ghostnoses, maybe."

SO INSTEAD, focusing on what's clearly important--]

What? What's Mr. Fluffy Old Man...?

[what the heck]

[Clover wouldn't listen to Gilbert if he tried to Adult anyway because he's a weenie so really, it's for the best. Try and stop her from breaking ghostnoses. In the meantime look at how excited she is, nothing has made her happier since she died than winning approval over grudgewank, she's THRILLED.]

Ugh, it didn't stay broken. [she shouldn't sound disappointed if ghost wounds didn't disappear she literally would have died again] But he won't come anywhere near me now! [SHE'S SO FEARSOME

god though she's gone through enough rounds of The Fluffy Skeleton to basically know where this is going, and she's not sure if she's more amused that Break's totally onboard or Gilbert has no idea what's about to happen here but rest assured: she's doing the voices]

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