∞4 | video. Death Takes A Holiday;

[whip_poor_will]

[From the angle shown, Ravine is holding the phone away from her face, elbow propped with her chin in the palm of her gloved hand -- and even now, hints of black smoke continue wafting from her hair and coat.

[ Although apparently uncomfortable, she flashes her smile just as she always has.]

"Well, for those who believe themselves capable, I would advise against any attempts at reaching that ninth god beneath the Colosseum the easy way. It leads to some rather ill results."

[She would know.

[Soon her gold eyes shift back to the soft brown most are used to seeing when she is not wearing her sunglasses. Once she is feeling a little better and not radiating black vapors anymore, her stern expression transforms into a smile, her face scrunched in amusement.]

"For anyone not interested in that, however, I have a question!

"Imagine, if you will, that you have been a dead person for thousands of years. It has also been that long since you've ever felt or tasted anything.

"Then imagine if you have been given an opportunity here to be a living, breathing person -- but only for a few days! Would you mind sharing what you would do with that short time in the mortal plane?

"I admit, I am perhaps looking at this from a dead woman's perspective, but it does not appear that there is much to do for the corporeal here when there is not a festival being thrown by our gracious locals. It would be a shame to put such a generous gift to waste."

['But Ravine, why not just ask the gods to make you permanently living?!' one might say.

[Yeah, no, that is the one thing she is not addressing right now, thank you very much.]

Comments

[whip_poor_will]

For amusement! It is a place that hosts far more entertainment than what we have here, like carnivals that are made to stay in one location. It has rides, food, sometimes even a skating rink and-- oh! Those silly "fortune teller" booths that produce vague and unhelpful fortunes. I have always found those hilarious.

[Mostly because she can see forever, goddamn.]

[tongueamok]

Aheh. I imagine as a seer, you would would find the practices of a carnival fortune teller to be amusing. Were their predictions true, it'd be a great coincidence, and were they not, it would merely prove their fraudulence.

[whip_poor_will]

Yes, I do find the irony to be quite entertaining to witness unfold. Most of them fake it via cold reading and being as vague as humanly possible, at any rate.

[tongueamok]

I suppose they make their living by such means, but I would prefer to avoid knowing too much about my future. Perhaps it is better I didn't learn of it at home rather than here.

[whip_poor_will]

That is why I do not make it a point to reveal too much to a person. Knowing about one's future has ways of driving some mad... But there is little harm in a silly fortune every now and then.

[tongueamok]

... Little harm, yes.

[There's a bit of hesitation there. Unfortunately, ever since she revealed his potential end to him -- or what happens beyond it, rather -- it's been weighing him down as a painful inevitability should he ever return home. What if leaving this place strips him of his memories? What will happen to him then? To the people of Bear Den? To his family's legacy?]

[whip_poor_will]

[Even without having to get a read on him, Ravine can sense that reluctance in his voice alone. She laughs.]

I am referring to truly harmless fortunes. Simple ones, such as lucky numbers or "You are going to have some new clothes", "Your present plans are likely to succeed this year", and "The foot is a device for finding furniture in the dark". There is no need to get so glum!

[tongueamok]

If only such predictions were what lies ahead of me.

[A quiet sigh in the pause that follows.]

Are you helping any of those who seek the Door, Miss Ravine?

[whip_poor_will]

You may be surprised.

[Come on, buddy. She's been dead for thousands of years -- no need to be a Debbie Downer.]

I may, should there be any use for me anywhere. [Even though there are lots of uses for her literally everywhere.]

[tongueamok]

You have tried to reach it, I assume.

[That is what she meant, right?]

[whip_poor_will]

I did. I have means to travel to places where those more... tangible are unable to reach. You could consider that to be one of the perks to being dead.

[And a reaper, but. You know.]

[tongueamok]

[Was that a quiet snort of disgust? That definitely was a quiet snort of disgust on his end. Sorry, Ravine. Ghosts and undeads and all.]

If it is dangerous to you, what horrors will it hold for those seeking to reach it?

[whip_poor_will]

[It's all right. It hasn't bothered her before and it doesn't now.]

Nothing good! [So helpful, Ravine.] I would hope this to be a suitable caveat for those planning to dig their way down there, although I assume there will be those who wish to reach it regardless of the repercussions.

[tongueamok]

I see. I merely ask as- as I know certain individuals may be brash in their approach of the Door, blinded by desperation.

[whip_poor_will]

Brash is not quite my style, but I assume you are referring to other such individuals.

It is, however, good news that the Door will remain inaccessible to those who would abuse it.