[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

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

So it seems.

You knew me before?


[ooc: No, it's fine! And yes, he's very much city!dead (in spite of his confusion). ♥ ]

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

We were friends of a sort. But I understand if you don't remember, don't worry about it, it tends to happen here more often than we'd like.

My name is Mara Lesser.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Regardless, I'm sorry I don't remember you. Mara, or Miss Lesser?

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Mara, please. I'm guessing you have questions? I can answer them if you like.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Mara. Thank you.

I have too many questions--too many to articulate. This isn't what I expected.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Do you believe in an afterlife?

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I believed in oblivion.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Well, this isn't it, regardless. You've been, well, kidnapped.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

By "deities" that have physical offices and derive some perverse pleasure from throwing people in fountains?

No, that's--I'm glad. I didn't want this to be death.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Something like that - no one really knows what the exact truth is, the Deities like to act like they're in charge, but there are powers greater than theirs. They're more like... well, like museum keepers, really, and we're the art. Taken from our homes and put on display for Gods know what reasons. [It's not a perfect metaphor, but it comes to mind.]

You have realized you're not exactly alive, though, right?

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

There's no pattern to their abductions? They don't want anything from us?

I have. I could only assume it was a hallucination for so long.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Not that I've noticed, but I'm not the best person to ask.

...you're what most people here refer to as city-dead. Not dead, but not entirely alive. I was that way for quite awhile myself.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Did someone buy your life back for you? Someone else--Euphie--said that someone did that for her.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Yes, someone made a deal to get my life back.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Did you appreciate the gesture?

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

More than I thought I ever would. My lover made the trade, he's... he's wonderful. You knew him, too, he'll be happy to hear you're back, I think.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I've heard that the price of a life is steep.

Was he a friend?

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

It is, generally you have to give up one of your senses for a month, or your memories of someone or something dear.

Ken? Yes, you worked together on the Police Force.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Memories? I wouldn't trade memories for anything.

So he's a police officer.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

He was, but he recently resigned. He needed a change.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I see.

It's been nice to meet you, Mara. Again.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

Not a problem, when you're settled, we can have dinner some night. I can answer any and all of your questions.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

I would like that. Thank you.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

It isn't a problem. Has someone offered you a place to stay? Or told you where the welcome center is - they have rooms. Or there's a youth center, too.

[othersdie.livejournal.com]

Yes, they--yes. Someone who claims to have known me before is willing to let me stay with him. I wasn't aware that there was a youth center, though.