Thirteenth: Killing the Mood (Video; un: Caster/forward dated to 14th)

[colchismagecraft]

[tw death/afterlife talk]

[Unlike last Valentine's Day, Caster didn't come to the network late that evening looking for a distraction- instead, she used the chance to shatter romantic moods, and ask a question that had been playing on her mind for some time.

Of course, the video was dark, poorly lit and as suspicious as was traditional with her- the lower half of her face only visible by the gleaming of a strange potion brewing nearby.]

Good evening, Avalon. For those I haven't met yet, I go by 'Caster' here.

For anyone else who's grown tired of the day's festivities and would like to humour me- I have a question. Tell me, what is the afterlife like in your worlds? There are so many legends, after all, and I'm always interested in hearing in how they differ.

[A pause for thought, before adding, by way of deflection: ]

Ah. I'm working on some new potions at the moment- do come by if you're curious.

Comments

[themogget]

They... pass on. To whatever comes next.

[Mogget, who has not died, does not entirely know what comes next.]

The Ninth Precinct is not like the others, which harry the Dead ever onwards. The river spills into a large, still lake, and above is a wide sky filled with thousands of stars. The souls, cleased of their life's burdens and hurts, look up into the sky... and ascend into it. And then they are at peace.

[colchismagecraft]

[A pause, then, as his words newly contextualised what he'd said prior.]

...I wonder what that must feel like, having your pains and scars washed away that way. Knowing you can't be hurt again. That you won't be betrayed. That you can finally stop fighting.

I don't know if I can imagine such a thing.

[She wasn't sure if she believed it. But, well, she'd take comfort in the thought of a gentle ending, at least for tonight.]

[themogget]

You wouldn't be alone in that.

[For humans, even the happiest and most loved ones, he thinks that the looming inevitable eventuality of Death is likely a frightening thing. Some of them take it to extremes.]

Some find it to be something they don't want. They resist it. Bind a fragment of their soul down into the River and continue an unnatural life outside of Death's pull.

[colchismagecraft]

Mm, I imagine those who still hold regrets in their hearts would not wish everything to be washed away. Not until those regrets were satisfied.

[To continue an unnatural life outside of Death's pull- it was not too dissimilar to how the Servants were bound to the Grail after their lifetimes, was it?]

[themogget]

[Mogget looks at her speculatively for a few long moments.]

The people who anchor themselves in Death to live unnatural lives outside of it do not do so out of regret. They do so out of fear.

[colchismagecraft]

Feeling fear is hardly unusual, when confronted with one's own demise

But, have you never seen a soul who's sought to hold on for another reason? Not even out of spite?

[themogget]

[He considers the question. Out of spite? He supposes that that much could be said of Chlorr, or Kerrigor, but in the end... what did it really all come down to?]

It always boils down to fear, in the end. Someone might claim to have a higher reason, a better one, but the only real reason to avoid Death so avidly is because you are afraid of what will happen if you finally allow it to take you.

[colchismagecraft]

There is fear in leaving things unfinished. In the thought that those who wronged you will escape what they deserve.

...But it can't be simplified to fear alone. Humans are more complex than that.

[Then again, hadn't it been that way during her lifetime?]

Although...you're right in that they are so often ruled by it. An evil witch like me knows that well enough- people fear the unpleasantness and darkness in the world, and they seek to find where they can point their fingers to blame for it.

But perhaps we're getting off subject.

[themogget]

[He thinks she's getting the idea.]

You might be surprised at how much of human experience can be simplified to very basic things. [At least in his experience, and his experience of humans is vast and, he might say, more or less incomprehensible to humans themselves.

Mogget himself is not immune to the influences of such things, but that is not something for this conversation.]

But you're right, that was definitely a diversion from what we were actually discussing. There is nothing intrinsically unpleasant about death.

[colchismagecraft]

It feels insulting to simplify people that way...but you are speaking in the manner of one who sees themselves as something greater than human. Might I ask as to your nature?

[She couldn't see the person on the other end of the call. As it was though, the attitude reminded her somewhat of the Gods.]

Mm. Still, it is somewhat reassuring that death is not too painful in your world.

[themogget]

You can ask.

[But he doesn't elaborate any further than that, only lets out a little 'hmph' sound at her following statement.]

Dying itself may be painful, depending on the manner of it. But it is also inevitable, and those who fight against that inevitability won't be able to avoid it forever. [She isn't wrong in realising that he sees himself as something greater. Mogget knows very well that he is.]

But Death itself? No, it is not painful.