First!!!

[ace_of_hearts]

So am I really the only one who remembers dying before coming here?

I'm not complaining, or wanting to freak you all out, just trying to get a better grip on things, okay?

Comments

[takeitsleazy]

[whoa. that's never done that before. Michael blinks at the mirror, and it takes a second for his excitement at someone actually using it to give way to comprehension of what he just said]

Well, I can't, but ... it makes sense.

[ace_of_hearts]

Can't what?

Also this is so weird. Like den den mushi take on the attitude of the person on the other line, but this is like video and it's weird.

[takeitsleazy]

Can't die. Kind of eternal that way. What's a den den mushi?

[ace_of_hearts]

Telepathic snails used to convey messages long distance. Like this. But we wouldn't see each other's faces.

[takeitsleazy]

Telepathic snails? That's a little weird and a little cool. Were they really slimy?

Never mind. You're worried about being dead. That's kind of important. ... I wish I weren't so ... what did Jason call it? Nerfed. I'd be able to see so much more about this place. Most importantly, whether or not it's a proper neighborhood.

[ace_of_hearts]

No, but the television ones are huge.

[Face scrunch.] I appreciate you're trying to help, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Isn't it a neighborhood?

[takeitsleazy]

Sorry, sorry. I mean ...

[he scrubs a hand over his face. it's been a long, odd day, and for him that's saying a lot.]

Where I'm from. When people die... their souls either go to the bad place, or the good place. One of those is separated into neighborhoods specifically designed for the enjoyment of the souls who live there, the other for their torment. Eternal beings like me are the architects of those neighborhoods ... So if I had all of my faculties, I'd be able to tell which sort of neighborhood we were in, and therefore, if you were all, in fact, dead.

It's also just entirely possible that you got ... misdirected while you were passing through the dimension holes and this is just a different dimension. Tough to tell.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Don't be morbid, please. There are enough things to worry about without that.

[to start with, the mirror had startled the heaven out of him when he'd just been dozing off and the fact that he'd done that without meaning to shook him up a little]

[ace_of_hearts]

I'm not being morbid, I did, I died. I had a fist of magma through my chest.

[blessedarethebookmakers]

[he winces and rubs his chest in sympathy]

Well, pardon me for saying, but you look fine to me.

[ace_of_hearts]

Yeah, exactly!!! It's weird, right?

[blessedarethebookmakers]

Exceedingly. [and were the situation any different, he would have thought the man a little mad. But given things how they are...] The Lord works in mysterious ways. [and then because was obligated] Perhaps you could see this as an opportunity.

[ace_of_hearts]

What Lord?

Opportunity for what? [He did already see it as a chance but he's not sure it's the in the same way...]

[strangeandunusual]

The Doctor checked for me. I'm not dead.

What happened to you? Was it really bad? Do you look gross, or did you die from like... natural causes and look normal?

[ace_of_hearts]

It was kind of gross. I was punched through the back and chest by magma. Normally I wouldn't have gotten hit, I could be made of fire, but my little brother would have gotten hit instead, so I just took it.

Honestly, I'm really confused how it's all okay now! See? [Shows off the back and tattoo, all of which is in tact and fine.]

[strangeandunusual]

W-wow.

[that sure is a tattoo on a very bare muscular back, and she sure is only sixteen. and staring. focus up, Deetz. ahem.]

You did that to save your little brother? That's... that was really brave.

[ace_of_hearts]

No, he shouldn't have been there in the first place. Wouldn't have been if I hadn't screwed up.

I'm Ace, by the way. Hello. [Waves!]

[And yes, Lydia can enjoy Ace's permanent shirtlessness. Because he will never wear a shirt. Ever. Maybe if it rains.]

[strangeandunusual]

Oh. ... It doesn't make it any less brave, you know. Just different.

[it's distracting, just a little. but something keeps her from blushing too much]

Lydia. ... I really like your skull pendant. Is it magic?

[ace_of_hearts]

Nope! Just part of my hat. Bull skull. I grew up in the mountains hunting, so it's kind of like that. [Everything he wears is homage to something, or someone important to him.]

Magic's not really a thing where I'm from. Traveled the whole world, never ran into any real magic. Just curses. How about you?

[beancounter]

Ar fist, Fenton is turning his 3M over and over in his hands, entranced by the technology. "Ooooh.... so this is how these things work, huh? Amazingly clear picture! And on such a small device!"

Then what Ace is saying actually registers, and a look of horror crosses his face. "Wait, what...? You're dead?" He started patting himself over with his free hand, and swallowed thickly. "Gleep.... Are we all dead, here? I certainly don't remember dying!" It would explain the angel. And Hades. He started to shake a little. "No, no! I'm too young to die! I never even got the chance to say goodbye to M'ma, or Gandra, or anyone!"

Someone quickly correct him, please?

[ace_of_hearts]

"So far, it looks like just me," Ace tried to interrupt the panic attack through the mirror.

[beancounter]

"Oh...." Ducking his shoulders sheepishly, a dark blush across his cheeks, Fenton cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Um... really sorry about you dying," he said softly. He paused for a moment. "Are you a ghost?"

Anything was possible here, apparently.

[ace_of_hearts]

"Nope," Ace grinned quietly, "Everything's solid. Merlin said, inspiration continues after you die though, so I guess it's that?"

[beancounter]

"Huh..." said Fenton softly, a little taken aback by what this all entails. "So... what do you think this is, then? Is this the afterlife for you, or do you think getting pulled here gave you a second chance at life?"

He chuckled roughly. "Ahh... sorry for all the deep questions. I can stop if it bugs you. I usually don't ask this sorta stuff." He knew there was probably a cutting barb on someone's tongue back home, regarding him and 'deep thoughts', somewhere.

[ace_of_hearts]

"Relax," Ace held a hand up, "You're not the first to ask all that, and it's all good. Everyone else is probably more freaked out by it than I am, honestly."

All the same, Ace just rolls his shoulders. "I dunno!" he says honestly. A small wry grin, "Second chances are wasted on me, I'm just going to do everything the same. I don't hold any regrets. I'll just save people, like Hades said."