othersdie: are you exiled in those bottomless nights? (Shock (or very nearly))
Justin Pendleton ([personal profile] othersdie) wrote2011-12-29 07:53 pm

[Action/Video]

[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.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, this isn't it, regardless. You've been, well, kidnapped.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
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?

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Did someone buy your life back for you? Someone else--Euphie--said that someone did that for her.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, someone made a deal to get my life back.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Did you appreciate the gesture?

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I've heard that the price of a life is steep.

Was he a friend?

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Memories? I wouldn't trade memories for anything.

So he's a police officer.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-03 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
He was, but he recently resigned. He needed a change.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
I see.

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

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Not a problem, when you're settled, we can have dinner some night. I can answer any and all of your questions.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
I would like that. Thank you.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Mm-hmm, it's run by a friend of mine, Derek. And I have a large house so if something doesn't work out with your other friend, I can offer you a room.

[identity profile] othersdie.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
That's kind of you. I'm not sure I've warranted your generosity, but I'll keep that in mind.

[identity profile] cry-reaper.livejournal.com 2012-01-04 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
Don't worry, everyone tends to be helpful around here, and you were very kind.