Investigations of the Living Death

So Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

[une-mort-vivante]

hahaha hi i totally didn't forget to do this immediately after the prologue

but! welcome to investigations of the living death! it's a story about death investigating murders, and solving them as a detective!

the story can be read chronologically here!

[une-mort-vivante]

How did Slyvaine even end up in your friend group Martin?

"... Events and happenings."

(Alarie frowns, looking up at Martin.)

"Is what you were doing then that dangerous for you to say?"

"... Maybe. If it was just me involved, it'd be fine, but if it's them..."

[une-mort-vivante]

Sylvain? Are they vain like their name would suggest?

"... I don't know how to answer that."

(Martin shivers, something like disgust crossing his features.)

"I honestly don't know why Romane let him stay! He's stuck-up, self-centered, acts like he's so much better than us when he does more immoral acts than we do, thinks his problems and his opinions are so much more important than ours-!"

(He stops himself with visible effort.)

"... Sorry. I shouldn't be insulting him, even if the others aren't here to tell me not to. I mean, Florent won't mind, and Manon eggs them on when they're insulting him sometimes, but the others... No, they don't like it. I don't want to disappoint them."

[une-mort-vivante]

Oh, Martin, what are your friends like?

"My friends? Oh, not all my friends were with us half past ten..."

(He takes a moment to think about it, tensing after a moment. They have to mean the people who were with him, don't they? However nice these ghosts are, they're with Alarie, they must want the same thing...)

"There's. There's Ottilie. She's my best friend- has been since we were kids. She's the milliner around here, hosts most of the parties this side of town. She makes it look so easy- makes everything look so easy, really. Hatmaking, needlework, socializing. But really she puts so much work into it. She always knows what to say. Whenever I was in trouble when we were younger she'd yell at people until they left me alone. And then she'd pick me up- I was a really light kid- and she'd sneak me into someone else's garden cause she knew I liked plants."

(Despite his misgivings, Martin's started to smile. How can be not smile, thinking about his closest friend?)

"She always said there wasn't a thing in the world she wouldn't do if it made me happy. Last time she said it I shoved a hat in her face and we, uh... We kind of started. Hitting each other with the hats. Took an hour to clean up the shop after that. I'd do it again, though.

"Oh! Right, sorry, there's- there's Romane and Florent, too! I mentioned Romane, I think? Like I said, she lives on that hill. She has... a lot of money. And she's always so smiley and excited about new things! Even if they scare her sometimes she'll always go all in. She's like- I don't know. Like a blazing trail. Like those fairy creatures who lead you in the dark with their light.

"Florent runs the apothecary, and they're engaged to her! They joke about everything, and they tease her a lot, but they really seem to love each other. They always panic when one of us gets hurt even a little! I stubbed my toe once and they checked to see if I got a cut and then cursed out the desk I bumped. It's even worse with Romane, but I think she likes the attention. Florent seemed pretty careless when I first met them- oh, don't tell then I said that!! But, uh- they seem quieter now. Like they trust us to see them when they're quiet.

"Um! All that aside. We have... Yves and Manon! Yves is... He's... When we were younger he seemed shy, you know? But he's grown out of that shell. He's nice, he's smart and I swear I could ask him anything and he'd have an answer! He's not a bad person. Just, uh- Invasi- Nos- Has no sense of p-"

(He buries his face in his hands, just cutting himself off.)

"... Manon! Manon, she's smart too, and incredibly skilled. She's quiet, and her work is incredible. She's been fixing watches her whole life, I think- I've seen her working at the watchmaker's since I was barely ten. And now she owns the place! She feels like the kind of woman whose only reason for not becoming a queen is lack of interest in politics. I'm a little scared of her. And then there's..."

(His fond smile falls slowly, morphing into a scowl.)

"And then there's Sylvain."

[une-mort-vivante]

I like plants! Keep cacti mostly. They're very prickly. Do you like cacti?

"Not much, honestly... Though I'm not saying they're bad! Not at all. I just don't like bumping into them. You have to pick the spines out of your arm with a needle, blegh-"

(He shakes his head, deciding not to regale this ghost with that information.)

"Tulips! I love tulips. I brought home some bulbs bought for the gardens from Holland, this beautiful warm yellow kind- and daffodils and narcissus, too. Also brought some wisteria and the tiniest pot of aconite, since Ottilie asked to see it, and some pink oleander to contrast the yellow, and-"

"Was your friend Ottilie one of the people who was with you?"

(Martin's jaw snaps shut. But after a moment, he nods.)

"And who else?"

"... I can introduce you to them? If you like?"

(Alarie nods.)

"That would be perfect."

[une-mort-vivante]

Transporting plants while in funeral garb is a vibe. It's like

Taking your funeral plants with you on the way to your own grave

"I don't exactly have a grave, and I hope you're not implying Martin here dies, ghost."

"Hey, come on, don't be mean to them!! They just like plants, it seems."

(Martin smiles awkwardly at the ghost who'd asked.)

"Do you like plants? I've got quite a lot of them at home! Taken from the palace gardens at Versailles all the way here. It was a goodbye gift I asked permission to get. Ottilie wanted to see all the things I'd been taking care of. She had so many requests!"

[une-mort-vivante]

who's gonna die?

"... Honestly, I'd... I'd like to know that too, Mr.- Oh, right, I never asked for your name-"

"Alarie. Not your fault- I never offered it."

(Alarie sighs, looking away. The worried look on Martin's face worsens.)

"... Martin. Your knowing won't change anything. My knowing won't change anything. I can't stop these deaths. If someone walked up right now and put a knife through your heart my hands would disappear the moment I tried to hold them back. Everything becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in the end. And even if it wasn't, I can't say their name."

(Martin bristles.)

"How dare you! You- You won't even bother telling me who'll die for a fucking metaphor?! You're just going to make me worry every moment I talk to any of my friends, not knowing if it's the last time I'll-!"

"I would!"

(Their outburst is, perhaps, too loud. But nobody is here to care.)

"I would. I would tell you. I want to. But I can't . It's in my nature. Written in my bones. Death cannot kindly stop for itself. And you knowing, any of you knowing- that would change it."

(Alarie inhales sharply.)

"Just- I can't say. I'm trying. But I can't say."

(Martin frowns.)

"... What are you?"

"Didn't I just fucking make that clear."

[une-mort-vivante]

Martin do you party half past ten <3 do you do a little dance with your mysterious friend

"Party? No, I couldn't! There's no way we could hire the musicians or make party food on that short a notice, especially if we want not to be noticed-!"

(He pauses.)

"Oh, maybe Romane could. She's got the- No, she wouldn't anyway. And we don't party."

(Alarie takes the wagon, gesturing for Martin to lead the way to where they're going and following his lead.)

"Romane, Martin?"

"... She's one of my friends. Most of the town knows her- she's the one who lives up alone on the hill. Her house is huge- really dusty, though. She never hired a housekeeper."

(Martin pauses. The road is getting quieter, but he takes a turn anyway, leading them both to an empty alley.)

"Is- Is it her who's in danger? Who's going to d- To- Is it because she lives alone? Or- No, is it Manon, or Yves? They're so different than they were since I left- No, but that was years ago, of course they'd be- But Ottilie is still the same-"

(He's rambling. Alarie doesn't mind.)

[une-mort-vivante]

Good to see you care about plant care/plant health, Alarie!

"I don't really. But he does."

(Martin pauses, looking up from where he's lifting one of the plants into a wagon in the back.)

"... Um. Thank you?"

"No need to. I'll help you pack these, don't worry."

(He laughs.)

"Sir, that's a hard thing to ask of me. You came here in funeral clothes and said we were going to be in trouble."

[une-mort-vivante]

Oh cmon death, hes just a little guy!! If he didnt do anything whyd you need to talk to him like that?

(Martin is several inches taller than Alarie. And four times the height of the ghosts, though that's very easy to be. They don't say this aloud.)

"I'm not police, thank god for that, and I'm no vigilante here to kill or arrest or stop you. But something is coming, Martin, and someone needs to be there to help you when it does. All of you. If you're so desperate you don't even need to tell me what you were doing- all that matters is the people who were there. So who were you with?"

(Martin tenses, gripping one of his pots till his knuckles go white.)

"... I don't know what you're talking about. Nobody's doing anything wrong-"

"For heaven's sake, young man, I'm here because someone is going to die! This isn't some game!"

(He freezes.)

"I- What? No, how do you know this?! Is one of us in danger?!"

"Yes. So start talking."

(Martin hesitates, shock and doubt flickering in his expression. But after a moment, he concedes.)

"... I'll- I'd- I'd like to close the stall first. Can- Can we talk somewhere... quieter?"

"Yes. Put your plants away carefully, they'll die in this sun."

[une-mort-vivante]

oooooh martin's in trouuuuble

(Martin grits his teeth.)

"You- Listen, who in hell are you? What are you doing, just coming in here and asking questions about- about my life?!"

(Alarie scoffs.)

"I'm no-one, really. Just a concerned citizen. Do you really think all that fun you're having late at night isn't going to hurt someone?"

"We're not hurting anyone with what we're doing-!"

"Oh, so there's a we, is there?"

(His mouth snaps shut. For a second, as Alarie shoots him a sharp stare, their eyes flicker a pinkish red.)

[une-mort-vivante]

MARTIN HIIIIIII <3 <33 HIIIII

"Uh. Hi!"

(Martin smiles pleasantly- and a little awkwardly- at the ghost. His eyes flick over to Alarie momentarily.)

"Um, sir, what are these... things?"

(Alarie leans on the stall, picking up the ghost that said hello and moving it away from Martin for a moment. He looks very confused, and more than a little uncomfortable.)

"Sorry that this was so sudden. These people here are ghosts. They're following me around in my work. Talking to people they might find... interesting."

(If anything that's making him look more confused. They don't mind it.)

"I'd like to ask you a question, Martin. It may be important for the future."

"Who are you? Why are you just- coming to my stall asking me questions? I haven't done anything, if that's what you think-!"

"Not yet. No-one has done anything yet."

(Alarie's tone brooks no interruption. Martin hesitates, waiting for them to continue.)

"Tell me, Martin. Where were you this Tuesday night at half past ten? And who, exactly, was with you?"

(Martin's expression flickers into fear.)

[une-mort-vivante]

[une-mort-vivante]

Oooooooh who's this? Can they see us?

“He should be able to. Give it a moment.”

(The gardener blinks, confused.)

“... Uh. Excuse me, but what- What are you talking about?”

(The single ghost speaking to him suddenly looks a lot more solid, just barely see-through. The gardener yelps, jumping back.)

“What the f-?!”

(The words are said again, an echo to tell him what it had wanted to say. He pauses, looking at the ghost confusedly.)

“... I’m- I’m Martin? I guess? Yeah, I can see you.”

[une-mort-vivante]

WHAT! teh fuck was that are you good?

(Alarie laughs.)

"Oh, I'm fine, don't worry. That wasn't me. I won't die like that. I'm the one who'll snuff out the light of the universe- I'm not dying while it's still alive and kicking. Anyway, speaking of alive..."

(Alarie takes a second to check if their eyes are brown. Usually they're a dark pink, on the road, but they're in town now. They don't need the pink yet. Once they're sure they hadn't forgotten to change them, they move.)

(Their path takes them to a stall selling an absolute multitude of plants, rows of green leaves spilling from terracotta pots. Along with the potted plants are posies of flowers, bundles of herbs, and an extensive selection of loose-leaf tea. The person manning the stall looks up, and smiles brightly at the prospect of a new customer.)

"Hi there! I haven't seen you around town before. What'll you be having?"

-

( the gardener is now open for questions! )

[une-mort-vivante]

Uh. Hey dude. Whose death was that?

"None of your business."

(They hesitate, glancing at the ghosts.)

"I get the feeling you'll see it anyway. But it's none of your business right now."

[une-mort-vivante]

should we be worried about the cave?

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's not going to kill any of you."

(They glance towards the cave entrance and their vision blinks out, just for a second. Blood and begging, "I didn't do it, leave me alone, please please please-!")

(They turn away.)

"... You all don't have to worry about the cave."