text; un: thanatos

[inevitablerest]

This may seem a strange question to some.

[But Thanatos does not often indulge his curiosity, so he is doing so right now.]

I have been wondering if there are any others here like myself, who had an existence dedicated only to a single purpose from the moment it began. Before arriving in Avalon I had barely considered the possibility of deviating from mine.

Very suddenly having a great deal of free time was new, unexpected, and a struggle to become accustomed to.

I suspect, given the number here from other worlds, that it isn't only myself and my brother who led such lives before. I would like to hear from others, and hear how they have dealt with the adjustment.

Comments

[inevitablerest]

I have been doing much the same.

Though I don't often find others who view death as I do. You have an interesting way with words.

[angel_of_death]

[That causes Walter some pause. Does he really? He's never thought too much about how he speaks.]

It's easy to fear death above all else when you don't know how terrible deathless existences can be. I've witnessed my fair share of situations where death was unquestionably a mercy.

[The implication there being that it was a mercy granted.]

[inevitablerest]

Death often is. More often than people would like to believe it to be so.

[angel_of_death]

Is that what your purpose is linked to?

[inevitablerest]

I am the God of Death. My purpose and myself have always been one and the same.

[angel_of_death]

[The God of Death... the God of Death? Walter takes a moment to glance at the username again. Thanatos... the Greek pantheon, then?]

In that case, I can see why this would be an adjustment for you.

Do you look after the dead here, too?

[inevitablerest]

In a way, but not as I'm accustomed to. and it's by choice rather than it being an obligation.

[angel_of_death]

It sounds like you care about them.

I'm glad.

[inevitablerest]

In my way, I do.

I take my work seriously. It's important for shades to know that there's more for them when they pass over.

[angel_of_death]

I can't say I've ever seen that side of the work, but I expect that sort of knowledge would be reassuring.

[inevitablerest]

It can settle the more anxious shades. Some of them do not quite realise what happened to them.

[angel_of_death]

Sudden deaths?

[inevitablerest]

Sudden deaths, children, those old enough to have had their minds addled by the sum of their years.

[angel_of_death]

[An addled mind... how dreadful.]

Have you ever encountered the Undead before?

[inevitablerest]

Not prior to being here.

The concept of 'the undead' is something that mortals imagine in order to explain things they do not understand. Shades do not escape Hades in such a fashion.

[angel_of_death]

My understanding of the Undead from my experience with them is that their souls have not even properly passed on.

[inevitablerest]

It's my job to ensure that doesn't happen.

[angel_of_death]

Then, for your sake, I hope we're not from the same place.

[inevitablerest]

If there are undead roaming about your world then I expect that we are not.

[angel_of_death]

[The downside of it being that here is yet another interesting fellow he might not get to encounter again once this is all said and done.]

If you ever find yourself interested in the subject, I wouldn't mind sharing some of what I know.

[inevitablerest]

I can't honestly say that I am.

[Necromancy and the dead not being where they ought to be is not a topic he would ever say that he finds 'interesting', outside of how to make it stop happening. Luckily enough he finds himself well-equipped for such matters here.]

The concept itself is one I find minorly offensive, though I accept it exists as a reality for some.

[angel_of_death]

I'm not surprised you'd see it that way.

My work makes it necessary for me to know their tricks, so I make a point to learn all I can about them.

[inevitablerest]

And your work is what exactly?

[angel_of_death]

To protect my country and its people from all manner of supernatural threats.

[inevitablerest]

I see. That sounds like quite the burden.