Two ☠ Text

[lingeringfear]

I've been told that if you keep a body cold enough, it will retain its features for years, frozen in time. Can you imagine yourself like that? Your blood and your bone frozen solid, with skin and hair and everything, eyes open and wide and staring sightless into the world. I'd like you to really think about it- dying in the cold, that is. Preserved perfectly forever.

It would be an interesting way to keep you all from complaining, don't you think? A quick snap freeze and you're all immobile. If we're being honest, I think that would probably be the best solution to our interpersonal problems- but I'd want to keep you just barely alive somehow, conscious enough to still feel fear. Frozen and screaming. Take a minute and think about it. I rather like the idea.

...oh, also, Rage apparently won Hope's stupid poll. He's making the preparations to revive her and you should expect her to awaken at the end of the month.

Comments

[whichend]

ao gaoman biare.

[lingeringfear]

Thank you, I think.

Were you pleased with your blessing?

[whichend]

addemagon.

[ Yes. She was very satisfied. ]

[lingeringfear]

Good.

Does it hurt? What you did. I was impressed.

[whichend]

[ She feels a brief surge of pride. A god, impressed with her.

Take that, Kindly Man. She might not be able to please Him of Many Faces, but truly, Fear's gift was so much better. ]

yes. It feels like your face is being welded shut.

And it's hard to remember who you are. The fears of the dead person become your own, as you become the dead.

[lingeringfear]

And what was this woman afraid of?

[Fascinated, actually, by the transformation.]

[whichend]

not being liked. she was a mummer, and the pleasure of others was what determined if she got food and shelter or not. She was afraid of the master, but truly, it came down to other people's perceptions of her. she blamed herself for not being likable enough, and that's why she was sold.

[lingeringfear]

Your fears are different than hers. I saw what you were afraid of, the first few weeks you were here. Do you remember that?

[whichend]

[ After some time, she responds. ]

you made me go back there.

[lingeringfear]

Back where?

[whichend]

the execution. the house of black and white.

[lingeringfear]

I needed your fear. It may have been crude but at the time it was the easiest way to get it.

[whichend]

did you know what they did?

[ do you know what you put her through, Fear? Again? ]

[lingeringfear]

I saw your fear.

You survived it. You seem to be good at that.

[whichend]

i did not.

arya stark of winterfell is dead. I am no one.

[lingeringfear]

You're going to have to run that by me again.

[whichend]

Nymeria is a false name. I have no name and no identity; I am no one. arya stark had to cease to be after the execution.

[lingeringfear]

You can just recreate yourself? Just like that?

[whichend]

I cannot recreate my body, although I can change my face.

but anybody can purge themselves of who they were before, if they have the will.

[lingeringfear]

We can't.

What would you like to be called now?

[whichend]

you can. you are not willing. it's okay, it is not something one typically does voluntarily

nymeria was never a true name. it will do just as well for this face as it did for the last one.

[lingeringfear]

No. I am not made of the same things as you- I am Fear and that cannot be changed.

Nymeria, then.

[whichend]

Fear can change. I used to be afraid of spiders, but not that afraid, I wasn't stupid or anything, they just made me uncomfortable. But now I'm not. I ate a spider, once.

[lingeringfear]

How did you change your fear, Nymeria?

[whichend]

I don't think I should tell you. I don't want to put anyone else in danger.