007.

[gloomyapoplectic]

Characters: [AU1] Kanaya Maryam and you!
Setting: Floor 48, the graveyard floor, forward-dated to Dec. 2nd
Format: Starting action, but I'll change to match you! c:
Summary: Kanaya has some friends to say good-bye to.
Warnings: Language and mentions of character death. Par for the course with a Homestuck in Animus.

[Snow has already begun to fall and accumulate on the ground on this floor by the time Kanaya begins her journey through it. She's bundled -- or as bundled as she can be, with bits of her Hemobiologist garb slapped on underneath her usual coat and skirt.

The way her ratty cape flutters at her neck, she almost feels like she's back in her Land.

Kanaya's time here is divided and devoted to a handful of the graves. At some, she pens a message in the snow with her claw, to the best of her ability. To the Signless and the Dolorosa: Thank You. To the very first nullblood Karkat that she met: I Hope Youre Safe. To the Feferi of her universe: I Wish It Had Happened Differently.

On others, she leaves tokens. A simple swatch of bright red cloth for the alpha Terezi. A square of jade with her symbol embroidered messily on it for the alpha Kanaya. She has no offering for the alpha Vriska, but she does not have words, either. She instead settles for a crude representation of a spider in the snow.

A visitor could find her at any one of these graves. Or, most likely, they could find her at the last grave she will visit, kneeling silently before the more recent headstone of one brown-blooded Vriska Serket with not a word or a token to her name.]

Comments

[myblueskies]

[Romeo stopped at the graveyard on his way down to the cafeteria. He had only woken up that morning from being in his world, and he was trying desperately to keep his spirits up. Seeing his world all dead always made him sad, even if he told himself the bad people might be lying.

He wanted to see all his friends, and check they had been okay while he had been gone, but first he was going to talk to Molly.

It was really cold, Romeo had taken all the clothes he could find from his trunk, he was wearing his shirt, the jumper Ghirahim had made him, his coat which was too small for him really but still warm. He was glad the bad people had given him his hat, the only problem were his feat which were frozen quickly as he walked through the snow.

As he made his way to Molly's grave he saw Kanaya, sat at a grave. He stood and watched her for a moment though he kept a small distance, because if she was talking to her friend he shouldn't interrupt.]

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya didn't seem to be aware for a while that she was being watched. She only turned to glance when she heard the snow crunching. She caught sight of Romeo, but he was probably not here to socialize. Not with her, anyways.

Her gaze lingers for a moment. She can't bring herself to speak, but she does raise her hand to him in greeting, offering a half-hearted smile.]

[myblueskies]

[Romeo gave a small smile back, and because he was Romeo and would never leave a friend without making sure they were alright approached her. He read the gravestone behind her. Vriska... someone he had known too... well he had known two of them.] Hello Kanaya

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya doesn't object to Romeo's approach, and greets him politely.] Hello, Romeo.

Are you visiting friends, as well?

[myblueskies]

[Romeo nodded] A lot of my friends are here.

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[Labrys didn't like to come here, strictly speaking. Surely no one liked places like these. But she came all the same, carrying a small handful of red flowers. The metal girl with the axe fixed to her shoulders paused a moment as she saw Kanaya, steps slowing and hesitating only a moment before she continued.]

[First things first; she walked to the grave marked 'Yukiko Amagi' and kelt down to lay all but one of the flowers on it carefully. It was a minute or two before she stood again, gaze moving upwards to the snow with a look something like awe and wonder. She moved slowly, either to be quiet or to marvel silently at the snow around her.]

[After pausing a second time, she approached Kanaya quietly...then laid the last flower on the brown-blooded Vriska's grave respectfully. It seemed to be the right thing to do; they were probably special to this person (one of Feferi's friends?) but there didn't seem to be anything they had to give.]

[gloomyapoplectic]

[The young troll is off in her own little world, only foggily aware of the other presence in the graveyard (it hasn't attacked her, so it must be another of the Tower's captives). She doesn't turn to greet them, as they probably have their own business to attend to in a place like this.

The red flower entering her vision causes Kanaya to start. It's stared at with small wonder for a few seconds before Kanaya turns to look at the other visitor.

It isn't someone she recognizes. Maybe she had met Vriska, though.

She keeps her tone polite and subdued.] ...did you know her?

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[Labrys shook her head, mechanisms softly whirring at the motion. Her own voice was quiet and respectful, despite the somewhat coarse accent.]

Ain't ever met her. But ya looked like she musta been a real good friend, so I thought I'd give her one. I got enough flowers t'spare, and I'm sure Yukiko wouldn't mind sharin'.

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya's expression softens somewhat. Looks like Labrys is right on the mark.

It takes a moment to sink in, during which she searches the other girl's expression. She apparently finds the sincerity she's looking for, because her mouth curves into a small smile.]

Thank you. [Her eyes return to the name on the headstone, but she continues to address her company.] She was a very good friend indeed. I am very fortunate to have known her.

[And to have had a second chance after Vriska left to fight the Demon, even if she blew it.]

[fuhgeddaboudit]

[Labrys smiled slightly, metal-cased legs bending to kneel down next to Kanaya.]

It's good ya got a friend like that, even if she ain't here. It's awfully screwed up that they put a place like this here...but ya know, I bet they're okay.

[attheclocktower]

[Xion visits floor 48 fairly often herself, a few shells from floor 10 in her hand. She visits each grave of her friends, brushes off the snow from the ones she's left already, then adds another shell to the pile.

Especially Roxas'. There was something just... traditional about it.

Still, she notices she's not the only one, on her way over to Roxas' grave. Maybe... maybe she should just keep to herself but... in the end she plops down nearby, wrapping her arms around her knees.]

A lot of your friends have gone home too, huh.

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya isn't sure who her company is, but from the dejected body language, she isn't going to object. Even seeing the girl wrapped up that way makes Kanaya want to pull her cape closer around her.]

Yes. I am glad they are not trapped here any longer, but I wish their departures were not so abrupt.

[She has a lot that she never got to say.]

[wweh]

[Welp, Eridan's busy staring blankly at the grave of the other Eridan that was here, as well as the Dualscar one. Though he doesn't really look up when he happens to see (a) Kanaya out of the corner of his eye, not really paying any attention to the colors, just the shape. He begins thinking out loud, to hope that he actually catches her attention]

I wonder what he would a' thought a' me. A' course I would a' impressed him.

[gloomyapoplectic]

[She's not really expecting a voice. At least not at a normal speaking volume (a place like this seems to warrant murmuring, if not silence). From her kneeling position, Kanaya turns her head to look.

It's another Eridan, which is no surprise from his voice. But she doesn't know if she's met this one or not.

She can't see the grave he's looking at from this angle. Curiosity demands:] Who?

[wweh]

[Turning towards her he actually sees the symbol and the colors and is almost hesitant to respond, but who knows who knows that other Eridan and it's better to be safe than to regret it later.]

My Ancestor. The great an' mighty Orphaner.

[gloomyapoplectic]

["Orphaner". That's hardly a title she would aspire to impress.

But he's a highblood. She shouldn't be so surprised.]

I never met him. And I do not really know you, either. So I cannot say one way or the other on that matter.

[wweh]

Kinda figured that once I realized you weren't a Jadeblood.

An' you probably wouldn't a' wanted to meet him, all things considered. Don't think it would a' ended too well.

[chronomancer]

[While Kanaya writes on the snow on Feferi's grave, Eridan leans on the tombstone, quiet. Watching.]

Funny, isn't it.

[It's not.]

That of all things, they made a floor like this.

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya starts a little.

When she stares at Eridan, it's with eyes wide, as if she's trying to parse some kind of ghost -- or maybe it's more akin to being caught in the middle of doing something she shouldn't have been doing.

Eventually, she averts her eyes. Her response is mumbled, and with no small amount of bitterness.] Only if you have a subjuggulator's sense of humor.

[chronomancer]

In a place like this, what other type of humor is appropriate?

[He folds his arms on the stone, leaning forward with a smile that is not entirely there.]

[gloomyapoplectic]

[When he leans forward, she leans back. His smile is met with a look of wariness.]

I am glad you are apparently amused.

[She is not glad.]

[caliginous]

[When Kanaya rounds the corner, she'll find a fairly familiar face deep in contemplation by a certain grave. His hands are stuffed in his pockets and the grave is clear and empty, ignoring the footprints surrounding it.

Judging by the way that Karkat's shoulders quiver, he's been standing by Terezi's grave for quite some time. There's a small collection of snow between his horns and on his shoulders, which doesn't help the overall dishelved look he's currently sporting. Someone obviously had some trouble getting up to this floor.

Its difficult to read the expression on his face. The majority of it reads neutral, but every now and then some pain will flicker across his features whenever he blinks. He doesn't seem to notice Kanaya, or if he does he doesn't say so. Instead, he reaches over to brush snow off the top of the grave absently.]

[gloomyapoplectic]

[Kanaya stops dead when she sees Karkat. She's a safe enough distance away that she's pretty sure she didn't disturb him.

She takes in the scene -- she doesn't really need to look to know whose grave he's standing at, but her gaze flickers to it regardless. Kanaya isn't the most observant, but she looks long enough to figure out that Karkat has been there for a while.

She bites her lip and watches in silence for a few moments. When it starts to feel intrusive, she takes a few steps towards him, in the hopes that her footfalls will announce her presence without her having to say anything.

Because, really, what can she say?]

[caliginous]

[Karkat doesn't look up until Kanaya is close enough for normal conversation. He lifts his hand from the grave and rolls the snow off his shoulders. The snow on his head falls off when he turns to look at her through his half lidded eyes.

He doesn't say anything right off, but he turns away from the grave long enough to establish that the moment has passed, for the moment.

Karkat says nothing -- they seemed to both be in the same boat. They had lived in the tower too long by now -- seen to many people come and go, some of them too important to simply leave behind.]

[gloomyapoplectic]

[She notes that the accumulated snow falls away when he moves. She tentatively reaches up to brush a hand over his hair anyway.

Kanaya keeps eye contact with him for a moment; long enough to be reminded of just how long Karkat has been here. How many others he's probably lost, even before she came.

When she finally looks away, it's to train her eyes down as she raises a hand to undo her cape.]