Subj: [ffml] [no subject] Date: 00-09-02 01:47:28 EDT From: CosmicChicken@death-star.com (Tim K) Reply-to: ffml@egroups.com To: ffml@egroups.com Thanks to Eric for writing my characters. It wasn't the direction I had imagined when I started writing them, but it turned out interesting nonetheless. :) At any rate, hopefully this'll wrap up one loose end. It has nothing to do with anything currently going on; I just felt it needed to be written. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tyler sat up. It was dark and he didn't feel anything. Then the realization hit him: he was dead. And that's when he saw the woman. There she was, sitting and watching him with an amused smile on her face. Coal black eyes, jet black hair, black silk dress...the only thing that wasn't black on her was her skin, which was extraordinarily pale. She looked no older than 20 years, but her eyes looked much older, wiser, more mature. Finally, she called out, "Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" He stood up and tried to act natural, shrugging. "I was hoping you'd introduce yourself first." Her smile broadened. "Oh, an actor. A good one, too. Quite convincing. Bravo." With that, he sighed. "That transparent, eh?" "Most dead people are," she quipped. Despite himself, he smiled. Then he remembered where he was. "Okay, really. Who are you, and why are you here?" "I'm still waiting for you to tell me who you are," she replied, beginning to twiddle her thumbs. "Fine, fine. I'm Tyler Gartym, okay? There. That's who I am. Now answer my question." She stood up, shook his hand and said, "I'm Death. Pleased to meet you, Tyler." After the moment it took for that statement to sink in, Tyler stopped shaking her hand. He stared at her. He slowly pulled his hand out of her grip. At last he managed a cautious "What?" The woman rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, I thought it was fairly obvious. All black? White skin? Not to mention the fact that you are dead." Her casual remarks put him in a less defensive mood. "I dunno, I was thinking you'd be taller, more threatening." She chuckled. "I get that a lot. But the way I figure, dying itself is scary enough. The last thing you people need is some scythe-wielding wraith looming over you, demanding your soul." "Good point," he conceded, smirking. Then he asked, "So if you're not here for my soul, why are you here?" "Like I said, dying is really the thing people fear most. I'm here to make you a little more comfortable." "Okay, then...so what comes next," he inquired. "Do I go to Heaven or Hell or something?" She shrugged. "If you like. I don't really guide people, I'm just here to set them at ease, prepare them for eternity." "Well, to tell you the truth, I really don't need much preparing. I'm kinda anxious to get wherever it is I'm supposed to be headed, y'know?" "Ah, a man of action," she remarked. "Yeah. So where the hell am I headed? You must at least know who I'm supposed to see about...you know, counting up the sins, judging my soul- that sort of thing," he asked, a bit impatiently. "Just wait. If you're supposed to go one place or the other, someone'll come eventually," she replied. To this, he snorted. "Eventually? Eventually??? Shit, I thought you deities were more organized than this." "Who said I'm a deity? I'm death personified. Not Goddess of Death or crap like that," she replied crossly. "Look, maybe I'm mistaken, but I'm beginning to think you don't want my company." Tyler sighed. "It's not that, it's just- you know, I never thought- I thought after you died, you wouldn't have to look for where to go or be told what to do, you know? I figured you'd automatically end up in heaven or hell or whatever...let's put it this way: I never figured being dead would be such a hassle," he finished with a sheepish grin. In response, Death gave him a sardonic grin and shook her head. "You mortals, always wanting everything to be easy." "Hey, give me a break," he griped, "I died in battle. Don't you think I deserve a fuckin' break?" She fixed him with a discomfiting gaze. "Buddy, I've seen homeless beggars dying alone and neglected. I've comforted the insane in their dying visions. I've held dead children in my arms. So don't talk to me about deserving a fucking break." "All right, sorry, sorry I said anything," he said defensively. "I'm an impatient, insolent ass, okay? I just want to know where I'm supposed to go." She sighed and looked at him. "Well, why don't you quit worrying about where to go and just go?" He blinked. "You mean I can just leave? Go anywhere?" "If you like. If you really want to go to Heaven or Hell, you can. However, I don't think you'd really like either one. The latter for obvious reasons; the former because, well, you don't seem like the kind of guy to sit there and reminisce." "Uhh, yeah," he said, still looking a bit confused. "So what, do I just wander around for the rest of eternity?" She nodded. "But I should warn you, you better really like getting lost." "It's one of those deals where I'm lost forever, right?" "Well, infinity is a pretty big place to get lost in. You may see other wandering souls now and then, but there's no guarantee. If you really don't want all that, you can still go to Heaven, or, if you really want, Hell. Or you can just sit here for all eternity." He made a disgusted face. "No offense, but no way in hell I'm sticking in one place for eternity." "I don't blame you," she said with a smile. "Besides, I've got a lot of other people to welcome, so not like I'm sticking around either, anyway." "Well, guess I'm gonna go, then. You were right; I don't like being cooped up," he said. She stood up. "Okay then. Well, nice to meetcha, Tyler." He grinned. "Believe it or not, same here." She returned his grin. "Maybe I'll see you again, out there. Maybe not. Anyway, goodbye and good luck." Then she walked off. Tyler smiled, then looked around. All around him the universe stretched out. For awhile, he stood, taking in as much as he could. At last, he let out a breath, picked a direction and started walking. - Xoth =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=