fate_has_spoken | (no subject)

[He makes soft sounds of discomfort, progressing into small movements, as his mind and body fitfully pull themselves back to wakefulness together.]

[He finally takes a deeper breath and coughs. When he lifts a hand and tries to reach whoever is shaking and calling him, to make them stop, it's an uncoordinated movement made while blinking blearily up at his surroundings.]

Who -- It's not... Oh, [He mumbles, still too disoriented for the moment to complete one thought in the train lurching unsteadily forward before moving on to the next.] Not dead. Deader? Hn.

[There is an audible sigh of relief as Tyki does stop shaking him.]

You stopped breathing for a few minutes. I think that puts you in the deader range.

Welcome back.

... Tyki. [The name is spoken under his breath, but in a tone of relief as well.] Thanks.

[He doesn't sit up quite yet; if he were a computer, he'd still be booting up. Better to stay on the ground for now. He does put a hand to his face and rub his eyes before pushing back his hair, trying to make himself wake up faster.]

Not breathing... He said I was -- Oh. Right.

There was... Thought I met this man. Didn't know him. Green something to do with green lights. Called it --

[He trails off as his mind starts catching up to his surroundings, and he frowns groggily up at the hand he pulls away from his hair. To raise that hand, he should have been in more pain. He'd injured his shoulder, hadn't he?]

[After another beat, he remembers that he shouldn't be able to see his hand at all.]

Oh. Oh?

[He tries to reach out and put a hand on Tyki's arm, and while it's still uncoordinated, it's much more targeted than his former blind grasping.]

I can see you.

Edited 2019-07-19 05:42 (UTC)

[He touches the hand on his arm softly with confusion written on his face. No concern though as that evaporated quickly at the return of his eye sight.]

I don't see how falling through the floor would have gotten your eyesight back, but ...

I think you'll have to start at the beginning. I didn't understand a word you said.

[Putting a hand on his lower back to help him sit up.]

[He shakes his head in an attempt to clear it as he sits up.]

Still trying to make sense of everything myself.

[A pause. He squeezes Tyki's arm slightly, a little worried, as he gives him good look up and down.]

Falling, right... What about you? Are you injured?

What happened with that fight?

[Stroking his back lightly as he gets his bearings around him.]

Yes, well, not much to fight when you get dropped into a pit.

[He points at the ceiling above and he'll be able to see dirt, debris, and small chunks of building falling into the large cavern they are in. Though that maybe hard to see through all the trees. Trees! In the belly of this beast!]

As for injuries they are minor. Falling isn't something I worry about on any occasion. You on the other hand...

You had a bruise on the side of your head, but considering your arm is now healed and you can see, I don't know exactly what happened to you. You're heart stopped.

[He squints up through the trees, then looks down and lets go of Tyki's arm to run a hand through his own hair again. When he speaks, he starts off more slowly and deliberately than normal while he finishes weaving his stray thoughts into coherency.]

I thought I might be dreaming, or hallucinating. I didn't want to think I was dead, at least.

[Another shake of his head.]

I -- my soul, perhaps -- wound up in a place that was mostly dark, but there was this green light all around.

I met a strange man there. Glowing lizard eyes. Far too much silvery hair to be convenient in a fight, but I got the feeling he could hold his own in one, anyway. Ego the size of a planet -- but he insisted that was his willpower.

... He said the green light was something called a "lifestream." That it was what living things came from and what the dead returned to. He said I was dead, and I was supposed to dissolve into it and disappear. I thought I was about to, in the end. Not that I wanted it.

[A huff of a laugh. He doesn't smile.]

If any of that was real, perhaps having regrets was enough to send me back to my body. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to punch you for letting me fight on me own, or let you take a swing at me for pulling you into a fight I couldn't finish.

... I know you can take care of yourself, but I should have held my tongue better when I knew I wouldn't be any help. My apologies.

A life and death experience. My, my, I'm beginning to think you are some soft of immortal that fell to the earth exchanging their memories for something different, something fun.

Meeting all these strange people, myself included. Cheating death, that's a trick. One you'll have to teach me if you can ever remember how.

[Patting his hair at his not-smile.]

Not that I need the help. And all things considered you did fine. More than find considering you couldn't actually see your enemies. Oh, and I wasn't going to let you die. Probably. I like you far to much.

[He grins.]

I've used this technique on another friend of mine. He was dreadfully sour afterwards. I'm surprised you aren't punching me for doing the same to you.

[At Tyki's attitude towards it all, his mood brightens, and he smiles -- albeit wryly.]

For someone not trying to get me killed, you did a very poor job of it. Not breathing and having no heartbeat sounds fairly dead to me. If I ever find out how I came back, though, why shouldn't I keep it to myself? Seeing as you need no help to stay alive. An immortal would have no use for tricks like that.

As for your friend's response -- I can't speak for him, but you've been telling me exactly the kind of person you are for a while now. I seem to recall you even telling me about you pulling that stunt on your friend before. I can't be too bitter when I knew ahead of time.

[He leans back on one hand and tilts his head.]

I do wonder... You told me some time ago that you knew people who shared your face and name, didn't you? Was that friend of yours, the one you also dropped into trouble, one of those people? I don't know why else you would have called your own name when I fell to my death.

[A smirk. He reaches out to pat Tyki's shoulder with his free hand.]

You've been around for a long time, or so you say, hmm? It's no wonder you'd start to confuse things in your old age. Especially when you're only recycling ways you've nearly killed other people.[A short sigh.] I was starting to wonder if you truly liked me half as much as you say when you couldn't even be bothered to come up with a new way of getting me killed... but if it's dementia finally setting in, I suppose I can't fault you too much.

[He tsks a finger in front of his face.]

I had everything under control until the floor decided to make a hasty retreat. Can't blame me for not seeing that one coming. And I'm not immortal. Just very difficult to kill. I hope you'll keep my secret for me.

[And the question of the name he called Tyki folds his hands into his lap.]

You remind me of another one with my face. I suppose it was a reflex. Not that you look like him or really even act like him. Well, perhaps a little. You feel like him though so forgive me for getting caught up in my nostalgia. Ah, I think you would have liked him.

[At the pat he gets the most bemused grin as he swats his hand away playfully.]

You enjoy every moment of it except for the blindness and the broken arm. I know you do. I bet the thought of tricking the underworld just makes you giddy inside. Don't lie.

Seeing as the city's floor had retreated to drop us the belly of this beast in the first place, you had a little warning.

Ah, you'll have to forgive me; it's only that I would have thought someone who could die might understand his friend's concern about his welfare when that friend drags him into mortal peril. Silly me. [His tone is light and only a little pointed; it's the gentlest of rebukes.]

Oh? You do like to hang onto memories; I suppose I can forgive you having a senior moment when things were a touch chaotic. If I remind you of this friend in some way, I might have liked him; I can be quite charming, after all. [He flashes a cheeky smile, then adds,] If this friend was like you in more than face and name, though, I'm much more certain I would have liked him.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy a good fight, or knowing I've pulled off something impossible -- but I'd also be lying if I said I enjoyed it to the fullest extent this time around. Now that we know that I come back, I'll be sure to take my time and savor my next death. You'll just have to make sure no one buries me while I'm gone.

From the beast, yes. The rock with a face... Alright, perhaps I should have know.

[He holds out his hands to help him up.]

It's refreshing actually how much you like me and my attitude. I usually have to try much, much harder to get to this state. Who would have thought meeting you on a plague ridden island in the middle of town would have ended up with this.

But truly, no sustaining injuries? That must be too good to be true.

[He takes the offered hand and stands.]

Some people simply can't tell a diamond from dirt when it's not framed in something nice enough for them. I like to think my judgement is a little better than that. Not to mention, I can't exactly keep you by my side with force, so I've had to settle for coaxing you with flattery. You haven't seemed to mind so far.

As for my lack of injuries -- I won't complain, but really, healing me was the least the afterlife could do for my troubles. Fixing my shoulder and my eyes can't be much more difficult than bringing me back to life in the first place.

[Tucking an arm under his and giving his fingers a quick pat.]

I'm glad you are healed. I was wondering how much of a pain that was going to be. I'm sure it was getting on your nerves.

Well, my dearest, we seem to have traded our stone walls for a grove. I'm not sure why the creature decided to eat a forest, but here we are. Would you like to continue lying in the soft grass or see if there are any natives about?

[He lightly squeezes Tyki's arm.]

There are worse things in the world, but going blind is an experience I hope not to repeat.

I think dying constitutes quite enough rest for the moment, don't you? If you need a break, I'm happy to wait -- but if you think I won't want to have a look around this place, you don't know me very well.

I've had a few death experiences, and let me tell you they are the opposite of restful. How are you so lucky to find that particular option.

[Putting his free hand to his eyes as if to lookout.]

Well, we have a particularly large tree that goes up to the ceiling, a ... swamp --- not sure, and an old cottage in the distance. Any of these catch your interest the most?

A few --

[Enjoy a flat, unamused look while he processes this casual admission of multiple deaths.]

...

...

... I take back everything I've said about you being able to look after yourself. [He sighs heavily and pats Tyki's arm with a mix of condescension and concern. A little irritation as well, but born from the concern, really.] Somehow, I'd been assuming that you'd stayed alive so long partly through the normal fashion -- by not doing things that get you killed -- not that you'd learned to stay alive through trial and error. Truly foolish of me.

Out of the three options, I'm most curious about the cottage. We should save the tree for last, I think; I don't know whether any of those rock constructs are still above us, or whether they'll notice if we go tree-climbing.

[He lets out a chuckle.]

Oh, don't give me that look. It was the place, not me! Turn around a corner to walk into an inferno instead of a hallway. Why, my abilities being available was probably some coin toss on a day to day basis. Ah, I haven't thought of that place for a while. That building covered in all its indulgences that tried to murder its inhabitants only to bring them back for another round.

I always wondered if I had built it and forgotten after the fact. Now that I wouldn't put past myself.

To the cottage then. It is the furthest out, so don't complain if your legs get tired.

Excuses. Are you suggesting that you went out of your way to build Hell, for... I have no idea what reason, then forgot about it before you could get out? Then died to that, repeatedly?

Tyki, my dear, your memory may not be perfect, but it's far worse than I suspected if that seems plausible to you. Are you going to wake up tomorrow and forget your own name? Is this what you do when you don't have company? What happens when you die in your own personal hell, anyway?

[He scrubs his face with his free hand. His questions are partly sarcastic, partly exasperated, and -- despite himself -- faintly amused.]

Whatever your experiences with returning to life have been, I'm well-rested. I'm more concerned about your own stamina at the moment. If you need a break, or of you have a different preference regarding our destination, don't hesitate to say so.

Edited 2019-08-04 10:34 (UTC)

[Putting a hand to his chest and acting wounded.]

Why would I imply such a silly thing? I said I might have. I tried to ask after the fact, but whatever people running around there had no idea. And I'm sure I had a reason --- even a good one. Perhaps boredom finally did do me in.

[He laughs at his response though.]

It seems to not bother you, but I wonder if you'll think twice about putting trust into my plans. It all worked out. I'm still alive and healthy, aren't I?

Let's see how tired we are on this walk. I'm still running of adrenaline. We will see if my tune changes once that wears off.

The person who might have made the place should know more about it than any other unlucky souls trapped inside, really. Making a place like that... for you, is one thing, and I suppose you might be able to populate it with people you presumably dislike, or very much like the suffering of. Whether that's a good idea or not is a different matter. I still can't think of any good reason to trap yourself in some sort of Hell of your own making -- and let yourself be done in by it several times -- unless you have a very strong masochistic streak I haven't noticed.

I like you quite a bit, and I trust that you know how to have a good time. Mostly. That's different from trusting your plans themselves. Or your judgment in general. Rest assured, I weigh the risks and rewards myself.

... And you don't get to call it being "still alive" when that life's been interrupted several times.

[Feeling petulant, he steps up his pace a little while keeping his arm securely intertwined with Tyki's, trying to force Tyki to go faster. It's still a reasonable walking speed, just not as leisurely as he'd normally settle into.]

[Spite-walking. That'll teach Tyki to build weird realms of torment and die in ways he disapproves of. Yeah.]

It probably got away from me, honestly. I didn't exactly master these powers overnight. With some there was definitely a very, very long learning period. Actually, there are a few I still consider myself not to have mastered.

[Shaking his head a little. Lost in the memory of something.]

There isn't an afterlife there. At least not one I recall. Nowhere for the dead soul to go.

[He notices the pick up in pace.]

Am I being scolded?

There's learning by doing, and then there's biting off more than you can chew. Which one do you think that might have been? ... I'll admit, as powerful as you are, I'm curious as to which powers you think you have room to improve with.

[An exasperated look.] It's still death, whether or not you go anywhere. Is there a certain age when you become so used to living, you stop caring about getting yourself killed in idiotic ways? Not even for any gain on your end, as far as I can tell.

[At Tyki's question, he huffs air out his nose in annoyance, and waves his free arm to indicate the surrounding area with a sharper motion than needed.] Someone should. I don't see anyone else here doing that for you.

Is this something you're likely to try out again? While I'm around, at least.

The ability to manipulate the souls of the dead into machines of destruction. It's a little to distasteful for my liking. I've lost more than one lunch trying to get the workings of it right.

Is it? If the soul never leaves the body, I know many would argue that isn't the case, but I'm not very good at debating philosophy. I'm sure you'd win.

[He takes a look at the tall grass and sparse trees as they make their way to the hut.]

Come now, I don't need a babysitter as much as you might think I do. Keep me entertained and my mind won't wander.

... There are worse things to be bad at. Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope you never become used to it.

[He initially looks like he wants to argue, but after a pause for consideration, his tone and expression fall back to something more neutral as he dips his head and looks not quite at their destination, but somewhere in the middle distance. He'll even slow back down to his previous pace.]

Hn. Well...

I'm not trying to treat you like an overgrown child. My apologies if it seemed that way. I'd just rather not think about you dying in a situation like that. Over nothing.

If you get caught in your own trap again, I suppose it's on your own head. You're the only one who can put a price on your life. You'll do as you like. It's not as though I dislike that about you, overall.

[A shrug, and his tone turns airy.] And I suppose it's fair enough that I need to put in a little effort to make things go the way I want. [A wry smile, and his gaze flicks back towards Tyki.] Although I'm not sure that 'keep me entertained and I won't do things out of boredom that can kill me' is unlike babysitting, really.