[Action/Video]

[othersdie]

[Justin, unaffected by the cold induced by sitting near the fountain that the City had seen fit to drop him into during winter, finally tires of waiting for what he’s convinced what must be a trick of the mind to dissipate and resolve itself into the nothingness of death. For a lack of any other distractions, he fumbles with the device he had found in his pocket earlier.

He doesn’t fully understand why he would bother hallucinating what resembles a camcorder. The brain is truly a strange and unfathomable thing.]

Am I dead yet?

[It’s a ridiculous question. He still exists enough to imagine things; the answer is clearly no.]

If not--if not, I hope this doesn't last long.

Comments

[had_not_lived]

We were.

[It's almost funny, because it doesn't surprise him that Justin would disbelieve it. There's always been an odd tentativeness to their conversations, even recently.]

I'm not sure how it works, all I can tell you is what happens. Dead, living, it doesn't make so much difference here.

[He's tempted to ask-- but there's no reason to expect Justin's kept the life he bargained for. It's a sad thought.]

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[Friends. Novel idea--more so because Neil doesn't seem to have an angle or agenda.]

Then this isn't an afterlife? That's... that could be good. Thank you. [as an afterthought] Neil. Sorry.

[had_not_lived]

It's... an afterlife for some. But not always.

[This is probably the sort of thing where it would be better not to tip his hand too far. Delicate matters.]

I'm sorry, I know it's a lot to take in. But-- well-- if you need anything... more information, somewhere to stay, anything... I'm here to help.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[The afterlife issue is going to have to wait until everything else makes sense, however unlikely piecing these conversations together into something sensible seems. Justin tries to focus on the practical.]

Thank you. I don't have-- [an uncertain pause] How close were we? When we were friends?

[had_not_lived]

You're-- you were, I mean-- [though really he still means are, Justin is still Justin,] one of my closest friends.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

That must have been a very different me.

[had_not_lived]

Maybe. You were here for a long time, after all.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

What was I like?

[He can't ask the question he'd really like to ask...]

...How much did you know?

[had_not_lived]

You were... you, I don't know, it's hard to say. Not so different from how you seem. We used to talk about poetry a lot. You love Rimbaud.

I think-- you can't be certain here, not ever, but it seems like you'll probably be in the City a while. [Since this obviously isn't a Visiting day.] If you'd rather talk about it in person.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

"Every moon is atrocious and every sun bitter."

[Something about this seems familiar, but Neil must have known another Justin--one who wasn't a murderer, likely. Hopefully.]

If I'm going to stay here, I'd like to know more about--if you don't mind. If you're sure.

[had_not_lived]

I'm happy to tell you anything you want to know.

[Would it be better to let Justin think that was the case? Maybe he could save some face, but maybe-- Neil thinks, hopes-- it's just as well if the other boy knows there's something to be said for second chances, here.]

I just thought-- it might be better to talk somewhere more comfortable. Face to face, without the cameras and the Network.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[Justin would prefer sitting in the snow (it isn't that cold, which is a point in favor of hallucinations) to talking to strangers face-to-face but, in a way, Neil isn't a stranger. If he's really a friend...]

I wouldn't know where to start asking questions, but I'd like to talk. I think.

[had_not_lived]

[Maybe if Justin hadn't been away for so long, Neil might think on this long enough to realize he probably isn't up for company, since Justin's never been the most sociable of his friends. But Neil is Neil; it's kind of a wonder he didn't fly out the door immediately on seeing the post.]

All right. If you wait there, I'll come... We can go get a cup of tea or something. Okay?



[ooc; VEDAWOULDYOULIKETOACTION? 8)]

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[This proposition requires some thought. On one hand... talking. One the other hand? Sitting in the snow, possibly for a long time.

Well.]

Okay.



[ooc: I WOULD LOVE IT.]

[had_not_lived]

[He tucks an extra coat under his arm before heading out, not that it's likely to be necessary if he's right about Justin being dead again. Still it seems like an appropriate gesture, and it doesn't take him too long to make his way to the fountain, hurrying through the snowy streets.

He smiles when he gets there, a little uncertain, exceedingly pleased to see an old friend but (for once, incredibly,) conscious that Justin's not likely to be comfortable with too much familiarity.]

Hey.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[Justin checks the device, glances at Neil, affirms his identity, and stands. He feels he should do something--smile back, maybe, or... something else that people do when they come across someone they know.

He goes for the smile. It looks more like a grimace; to be fair, though, it's not an expression that gets a lot of use.]

Hey. Neil.

[He extends his hand for a handshake--that's what people do--but retracts it, thinking better of it. Neil says he was his friend. That doesn't mean much; Justin's last friend was more than willing to watch him shoot himself.]

[had_not_lived]

[With anyone else it might be unsettling. If Justin thinks he's dead, though, Neil can guess where he was before this... so, some awkwardness is to be expected.]

It's good to see you. [He smiles tightly, offers the coat he's holding.] I wasn't sure if you'd need this, but...

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I wish I could say the same.

[The proffered coat gets the same inspection as Neil. Justin takes it gingerly. He's not cold, but there's snow on the ground. Coats should be worn when there's snow, and it would be rude to decline.]

Thank you. I'll return it when--if...

[Damn it.]

Thank you, Neil.

[had_not_lived]

[He waves the uncertainty aside.]

Don't worry about it. So. [He glances around them, not quite sure what to say.] Where would you like to go? I mean-- there are cafes, restaurants, or we could go to the Library or something... Or just walk, there's always Xanadu...

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs the coat on, increasingly certain that Neil knew him.]

Xanadu?

[That's worth a smile.]

Coleridge's Xanadu?

[had_not_lived]

[And Neil smiles back.]

It's what the park is called. It's not badly named, though.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I'd like to go there.

[So much so that, for the first time since he's been here, Justin appears somewhat animated and engaged.]

...If it's not out of your way.

[had_not_lived]

[It's a bit more of a surprise than it should be.]

No, it's fine, of course-- [He gestures towards a wide side-street heading that direction.] Anything you'd like.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

[Justin retreats back into suspicion, eying Neil as if trying to pick him apart to read his true intentions.]

Anything?

[If it sounds too good to be true, it's almost inevitably too good to be true.]

What do you want?

[had_not_lived]

[It catches him off guard, and he looks every inch as startled as he feels.]

Nothing. I mean-- I want to help, to make this easier to get used to. That's all. I just meant, it doesn't much matter where we go.