Video; 25 or 6 to 4

[stealyoursoul]

[There's a face that hasn't been seen for a few months on the network. Still, it's hard to forget someone who has black smudges for eyes when viewed either on video or in a photograph. Leo looks very much the same as the last time he was here, although there's a weary air about him, like he's not been able to rest in quite some time.

He just gets straight to the point, not in the mood to beat around the bush.]

So, what did I miss?

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[stonebird]

What can be worse than death? (A lot of things, she is sure, but her morbid curiosity raises its head.)

[stealyoursoul]

I was trapped as an intangible spirit in my brother's mind, unable to leave or move on to whatever comes next after death.

[stonebird]

Did he know you were there?

[stealyoursoul]

He did, but he wasn't sure I was real. He thought I might just be a figment of his imagination.

[As Leo was fond of saying, the Sunai didn't have a guidebook when it came to their powers, so they had been unaware that this could even happen.]

[stonebird]

Is there a way for him to free you? A spirit should not be trapped so.

(There should be guidebooks. What are they thinking?!)

[stealyoursoul]

Apparently, the only way to get free is to absorb another spirit, someone that you truly love. I finally was set free when he absorbed his dying girlfriend's spirit.

[That's what happens when you're a new species that's been around for little more then a decade.]

[stonebird]

What does that mean...? Her soul being absorbed? (She is cautious with her wording, not passing judgement prematurely even though it sounds bad.)

[stealyoursoul]

She was dying. She'd been mauled by a monster that she was fighting earlier. Normally, Sunai like me eat souls when we absorb them, but in these few cases, they instead remain in our minds.

[It wasn't clear whether August had wanted Leo to stay, but he had certainly wanted Kate to stick around instead of die.]

[stonebird]

So she, essentially, took your place? (She isn't sure how to feel.) She must have loved him. Maybe it wasn't so bad for her.

[stealyoursoul]

I think you're right. August was going to be very lonely. I was leaving and our sister had just been killed. All he had left was our other sibling Soro. [He pronounces the name as Sorrow.] I think having her in his mind would be a comfort.

[He couldn't be sure what had happened after he'd disappeared into wherever souls went afterwards, but at least he could go being at peace.]

cw suicide

[stonebird]

Either way, I'm glad you had your freedom. All souls deserve a rest. Life is hard enough without being caged after death too.

(She used to think of death as a blessed release. She sought it...twice. But not anymore.)

[stealyoursoul]

I'm satisfied with being able to move on now. I did all I was supposed to do. My brother can finally stand on his own two feet now.

[Spending the last year in his head had given them a better understanding of one another. August had learned how to protect and serve better, hardening himself when he had to, while Leo had gained a better understanding of where August's compassion had come from and what purpose it served.]

[stonebird]

You were a fine brother to him, then. (Sometimes siblings take on the role of parents. It can't always be helped.) What do you imagine the afterlife will look like? I've thought about it a thousand times or more, but I can't allow myself to hope.

[stealyoursoul]

No idea. I just hope it's somewhere peaceful. After so much fighting, that would be nice. And somewhere without the constant hunger within me.

[Not having to eat people's souls anymore would be nice.]

[stonebird]

Peaceful would be nice. (She isn't going to touch on his hunger.) It wouldn't need to be perfect for me; just peaceful.

[stealyoursoul]

Seems like we'll all get a chance to find out soon enough here.

[What with the end being nigh and all.]