Let's Play A Murder ([personal profile] letsplayamod) wrote in [community profile] letsdeadaland2025-07-19 03:48 am

Your past is always close behind

[The last thing you recall is likely your own death. Whether it was fast or slow, it's over now. And you're... where are you?

One moment, you were among the living. The next - you may be one of the unfortunate ones who actually died. In which case, you've found yourself flowing in the lazy rivers of the river Styx, unfathomably deep underground. Just for a moment, mind you. It's not long before your consciousness is yanked from the waters by some scary monsters, shoved into a healed body, and pushed through a portal.

Or, maybe you were caught red-handed and sentenced to your doom. But, instead of a proper death, you were whisked down into the Veins of Tartarus. And there's really only one place that could lead to.

Welcome to Tartarus.

Here, you are stranded. Lone platforms of unearthly stone float amidst a sea of stars and galaxies. None of it is familiar, some of the constellations are even in shapes of Typhon or a few gods you haven't met. Even stranger, occasionally, you might hear a voice that could be your own. Voicing a fear. A disgust. A regret.

Looks like this is a prison after all. But it's also... calm here. Maybe you can breathe, for now.
]

[In Tartarus, the 'dead' have been revived, healed of injuries, and imprisoned. You don't need to eat or drink here. You still have all of your abilities and god powers, as well.]
psychonductor: (just thought that was interesting)

[personal profile] psychonductor 2025-07-22 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Crito awakes with a start. They rapidly check their body is all in one piece, before getting to their feet.]

Huh! So that's how it feels for other people.

[Crito, who spent their whole life in the underworld, finds themself taken by the novelty of a new afterlife.

Looking around, they let out a low whistle.]


This place is looking pret-ty sparse. Anyone out there?
tripartites: (386671029)

[personal profile] tripartites 2025-07-24 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ well. it might not be the most comforting answer, crito.

but strangely, after a time, a few golden butterflies shine and flutter in the distance.
]
rockymountaindie: (let the time be near)

cw near drowning mention

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's in the water, for a moment. He's almost died in the water before, you know. It was- well, it's not important now. Because he's dead again.

He has just enough time to think, think, think, this is nicer—before something snatches him up. Always just a mouse a cat has by the tail.

Alex gasps back to life for the second time. "Life", as you will. He stumbles through a portal to his knees, trembling. His hands tap all over his body, looking for holes. He felt it. He felt it go right through him, again and again, before it was instant, but this...


Regardless. This is different. This is new.

This is...not Death as he knows it.

Alex kneels there for a time. He thinks he hears something.

You can't go back. You can't help her. You...

He kneels there. For a time. For what feels like a long time. ]
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Control was never an option.

Someone is in front of Alex. Someone who definitely can see him but is just slumped against a wall. Wendy.

She's been awake for a few moments but she doesn't move. She... doesn't deserve a chance to say sorry...

But she speaks.]


...Alex.
rockymountaindie: (and when i'm gone)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Alex's eyes jerk up. He's not alone?

...Oh. He's not alone.

Despite his disorientation, he scrambles forward. He's- ]


Wendy? Shit. Shit, shit- you- what happened? It got you too? Wendy—

[ ...He's concerned. Of course, he's concerned. He doesn't know. ]
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Her eyes don't raise to meet hers. And she puts out a hand in a 'don't come closer' gesture.]

I was the one who set up that oil slick, Alex--fuck. Don't--you don't have to worry about me.

[There's... there's pain in her voice. Raw, agitation.]
rockymountaindie: (the radio reminds me of my home far away)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ He goes still, freezing in place. ]

You...

You what?

[ Everything happened so fast, but not fast enough for him to have no time to think. It was Death, come to get him. That was one thought. But the other was that someone had taken Typhon's words and ran. And that person, it was... ]

Wendy?
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
...Alex. The third person, the girl, who was a survivor... I lied. It was Julie. My sister was on that stupid roller coaster. I... thought... I could save them all. Save her.

[And she didn't. And they acted like they always did. Hate. Misunderstanding. Fear. Well. Whatever. She's dead, isn't she? Dead is dead.]

I--thought if I could just... fuck!
rockymountaindie: (teardrops in my eyes)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Your...

[ Alex is an only child. Wendy was right about that.

But he grew up watching the close siblings, Tod and George. They were barely a year apart. Tod had been adopted at a very young age. And they loved each other. Despite everything, despite the teasing and pushing, boys will be boys—they loved each other. They loved each other, and Tod... After he got off the plane—

Alex sits there, staring mutely. He feels empty. So fucking, fucking empty. ]


Wendy, what the hell.

[ Because— ]

Why didn't you tell me?
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
Because... I... can't trust like you. Not fully.

[She's glaring down at the ground. Her teeth grind. Her shoulders bunch.]

Because what if I had? Told you that because Death after me again that it meant my sister was probably dead and I didn't even know it? I didn't tell anyone.
rockymountaindie: (✈ don't want to die uneasy)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
Then I...

I would've—

[ He remembers panicking and rushing to save Clear. Pushing himself through the forest because he couldn't, couldn't let her die. The pain of not knowing if she was okay or not. ]

...At least you wouldn't have to be alone with it.

[ She said she thought they beat it. But then, she felt something... Has this been weighing on her since the moment she said that panicked yes? ]

It was different here, Wen. They- they weren't- looking at us like that.
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
[His experience was similar but... she recognized some of their reactions even before that trial. The pity. The 'oh they didn't mean it, they were emotional's, the judging every time someone didn't behave perfectly.

After Flight 180 everyone suspected Alex. After the Devil's Flight everyone disregarded her.]


...I wanted to trust them, A. I really did. I just... it's hard.

[No one said Alex Browning was a hysterical brat who wanted attention.]

It might have seemed different for you but... sometimes it felt exactly the same to me. The hysterical girl who had an anxiety attack before an almost condemned roller coaster crashed.
rockymountaindie: ((colorado))

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ He tries to replay it back in his head. Their time here, how it might've been different for her. How Wendy was always more reticent to share her experiences. He can't recall any specifics. He was simply so caught up in being believed, in finding someone else who understood...

Alex had thought the two of them were exactly alike. But maybe that's not true. Maybe, he really is the most miserable idealistic, and Wendy...

His hand still hangs in the air. Space hangs heavy between them. ]


...There was still me.

[ He doesn't mean for that to sound so...is it bitter? Hurt? Some kind of mix. ]

I'd still believe you. I'd... I woulda tried anything to help you and your sister.
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
...I know. I know that.

[Yet. Her own sister hadn't said anything. She stayed with Amanda and Perry. She went to the funerals quietly. Barely saying her goodbyes to Jason and Carrie. Sometimes, right after the tragedy Julie sat and just was there, quiet but present.

This... was like that, wasn't it.]


It's... not rational. I know I can trust you but--I messed up, A. I didn't trust you and I did something so incredibly stupid and you got hurt and...

[Her hand lowers. Her shoulders slump forward as tears slowly fall down her cheeks.]

I'm an idiot.
rockymountaindie: (my troubles are many)

1/2

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Quietly, not quite accusatory, but rather sad— ] I got dead.

[ Again. Death has once again claimed Alex Browning. ]
rockymountaindie: (more people)

2/2

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...But.

After a moment.

On hand and knee, he inches forward and reaches out a hand to rest on Wendy's shoulder. ]


You're an idiot.

But you're still my friend.
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[She just. Kind of collapses and holds onto him, crying.]

I'm so, so, sorry, A. I really am.
rockymountaindie: (⚡ (colorado))

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ She set that trap. That trap so indicative of Death's Design. How much must she had thought about it? Did she know the instant she heard the offer? Did she twist and turn her mind into knots trying to craft the perfect thing to please it? She set that trap, stupid and funny and cruel.

But Alex wraps his arms around Wendy when she collapses into him.

He blames Typhon. He doesn't blame her. ]


I know. I know, I know, I know...

[ He murmurs quietly, tears stinging his own eyes. ]
phototraces: (Should I go back)

[personal profile] phototraces 2025-07-27 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[That makes one of them. Alex... was too good for this world. This universe, really.

She couldn't love him. He wasn't Jason but he's... so reliable.]


A... A...

[She's sobbing.]
rockymountaindie: (only my dying will tell)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Shhh. He quietly runs his hand over her hair. It shakes lightly, but he can't tell if that's from his nerves or emotion.

He lets her cry, but admits against her: ]
...I thought about it too.

[ His mouth feels heavy. He has to force it out. ]

O- of course I did. If there was- was even a chance, that none of that...

[ He decided against it. Instead, he channeled his horrible feelings into perfecting the letters he left behind and trying to manipulate life. But still, he thought about it. ]

I know Wendy.
rockymountaindie: (miner's lady‚ strange to blue water)

[personal profile] rockymountaindie 2025-07-27 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Alex is just trying to adjust to his new afterlife in peace HELLO????? ]

...Is that... Typhon?

[ BOY IS GONNA TRY AND LISTEN HARDER. ]

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