Emerson The Architect: Palaye Meets The Goodplace

Date: 3/14/2021

I died. When I died I was brought to a computer screen. One video link was on the screen labeled "orientation" I clicked on it. Suddenly I was thrust into a long white void, barren of any solid objects, say for a large wooden door, probably seven foot tall, and the cobble wall that surrounded the door. The cobble was neat and form fitting on the side that met with the doors frame, but jagged and chaotic on the side that met the void. I took a step to test the "floor" I stood on and found a solid white sort of stone made a visable walk way. I approched the door. Then from nothing appeared Emerson. He told me I should have something to unlock the door, but that it didn't necessarily need to be a key. However I did summon a key from the void, MY key. He looked at me with a half surprised "huh," and told me about the function of the interface I had previously saw. Essentially when people die they are brought to a form of choice making that they are most familiar with, since I had previously been doing a lot of online school for me it was a computer screen. From now on however this door would act as my threshold for going different places. Kyle had also died, so I said that I wanted to go and visit him first. Emerson rolled his eyes at me, and told me to relock the door, and this time as I opened it to think about where I wanted to go or who I wanted to see. I did so, opened the door, and fell into lake moomaw with a mouth full of water. once I gained my bearings I swam over to a boat in the middle of the lake not far from the door. Where Kyle was. I can't quite remember why but he was not happy to be there. Thinking about it now I might have been visiting him in his own hell. I helped him move to shore, spent some time with him and said goodbye so I could explore the rest of what this magical door had to offer. It then appeared behind me and I did as Emerson told me before. I reappeared in the void, Emerson was there waiting. I turned the key, relocked the door once more, and this time I wanted to go to Abigail. I opened the door, to a beautiful mixture of Skyrim and his work. Bright white snow covered dark stone and cobble, buildings and walkways. The door opened into a crossroads between two paths. From one of the roads I could hear music and laughter, it was lit up by lanterns that hung from street posts, a warm light emitting from these. The other path was also lit this way, though it was a bit dimmer. it was quiet as well and seemed to be a residential area. Emerson had followed me through this door, eager to show me around, for he was the architect of this world. As he stepped through the door behind me it shrank away and as I turned around I realized we were in the Town square. It was a literal cobble square in the town's design used for markets and festivals, just off of the Town square was the main street, smack dab in the middle was the house that was built for me to stay in while here. It was medium but grand. As we walked towards the building I could see my breath on the air. Inside was cozy, the air was cold but still, unlike the breezy outside. I went over to the fireplace, this house was better than I had imagined, but it kept the special details. I took the matches from on top of the fireplace, sparked one, which did not smell like matches but burning wood, I threw it on the three logs in the fireplace and in an instant there was a roaring fire, one that would never go out unless I blew on it just a bit. I walked around the house with Emerson, him watching my face as I met everything I had imagined. I explored around for a Time, going outside, in other buildings. Eventually we settled back in the house. He asked me about the key, apparently not many who used the door actually had a key but rather an object that fit the door. I showed him my key, that had found its way around my neck on a sort of thick string. He took it and compared it to his own that lay on his arm. I remember not what was said but I know we talked about it for a while. Eventually I wanted to go back and see Kyle. I did so, of course using the door that had now became a part of the house in which I would spend most of my time. Going through the door, you had found your way to an island that looked like it belonged in Minecraft, there were a couple giant mushrooms dotting a gravel path that you were walking. You were surprised to see me as I appeared out of nowhere. We talked and you told me how you were running, from a demon that recruited those in the afterlife to do his work. I asked you about your experience with death, and found that you had no guide in the strange place we had found ourselves. Then the thought hit me, could you come with me through my door? I figured that it was a long shot, but what could it hurt to try The door appeared on a nearby mushroom, still holding its cobble outer edges. I opened the door wanting to return to Abigail, the door opened and we both went through. My memory then cuts, to driving around Abigail in a car, I'm coming across a sort of trailer, painted a metallic brass color, completely covered in ornamental mushrooms. Filled with God knows what, misshapen and seemingly swollen. It was day now, Abigail looked beautiful.