lifeaftr | [closed] this hill I'll die on is about 90 meters of bricks

[There's a child here.

Not a happy one. They have quite the shiner on one eye- something they could get rid of, if they wanted to. They don't. After following Lup home, the only thing Chara has wanted is quiet- finding the smallest, darkest corner possible to stew and sleep in, getting more rest in the past day than they have in--

They don't know.

Unfortunately, that does mean waking at a fairly odd hour of the night. Blinking as their eyes adjust in the darkness, they move slowly- loathe to wake any of the sleeping bodies around them as they make their way to the entrance of the tent, taking a seat where they can look at the stars. They know all of the people in this tent.

Including the only other person up.

He wakes perhaps five minutes after they move, shuffling over to the fridge and rummaging around for who knows what before he looks up and meets their gaze. Reluctantly, they push a smile onto their lips.]

Greetings.

So we meet again, after all.

[How good.]

[It takes him a few moments to register, that voice, the look of them, before he understands. Well. That's a lost gamble. He can almost hear the laugh of his Lady in his ear, chiding him for any debt to a mortal. Kravitz would like to believe they forgot, but that word choice seemed utterly deliberate, so... probably not.]

... So it would seem.

[A pause.]

Is this your world?

[It might sound dumb, but Kravitz doesn't really mean it as place of origin. The longer this goes on, the more he's beginning to suspect he's being zagged on by some child trickster god he's never heard of.]

[As he will no doubt discover, there are quite a few things Chara makes a point to never forget. Who owes them what is practically top of the list.]

My world? Hardly. [Their smile eases into something slightly more natural, chin resting on the backs of their hands.] I am a visitor to this world, just like you.

[And before he can train too many questions their way-]

Are you a friend of Lup's, or one of the others?

[Curse his honor bound self. Regardless, he was in fact about to ask six or seven more clarifying questions when he's cut off. Hm. Lup's friend. He wonders idly if she sent them for the express purpose of bothering him, but that'll be for a time when he's not being questioned about his legitimacy in his own... home, or something close.]

I, uhm-- Taako. I mean not friends, or just friends. We were, uhm, dating, back home.

I see. [Disgusting? Disgusting. Changing the subject has never backfired so spectacularly in the history of ever- the manner in which Chara's nose crinkles says just that.]

As sure as I am that he's-- delighted to see you, do try to remember there are children about. Highly impressionable children.

Wh-- what? No!

[Do they even know what they're implying with that? A flush of color tints Kravitz' cheeks a shade darker even in the blackness of night, and he shakes his head, trying to dispell it.]

That is not-- I'm fully aware of how to act around company, believe me.

[Gods can they talk about something else, anything else--]

So! An associate of Lup's, then.

[He almost asks if they're her child or something before cutting themselves off. They don't look like an elf, at least. He's a half elf, he knows what half elves look like.]

Do you... live here, also? I don't recall seeing you around.

[They're a child, Kravitz, not an idiot. They quirk a brow at his blatant change of subject- they're hypocritical enough to call him out on it- if they didn't also want the topic change.]

Correct. [If a person you share your SOUL with on a weekly basis could be called as much. Or little.] Though I am not a resident of this encampment, no. I am simply

On vacation.

[He doesn't know how kids work. Not even a little. But at least they take the conversation shift.]

Vacation? So you were invited, then?

[Well, it's not really his job to police who comes and goes aroud here. This encampment isn't even his. So if this child isn't dangerous to them... sure, whatever.

Something about them is making him uneasy though, in a way it didn't before. Something is wrong here, he just can't put his finger on what. This does, of course, resort in him looking probably too closely at them to try and put it together.]

[Rude, they're just sitting here? It's not their fault you're a needy bitch who loves drama???

It's all too obvious that they notice his scrutiny. Their smile- widens, edges becoming sharp as they purposefully keep their posture lax, not rising to the perceived threat. Much.

As if they couldn't use a favor to stop him.]

Why yes, I was. In a surprising twist, there are those here who find my presence tolerable.

[Got a problem with that?]

[He's dating Taako, who did you think he fuckin' is.

He's becoming less and less convinced this wasn't some kind of setup, the more their mouth stretches, the more his eyes squint. What is happening here? What's going on?

Without saying anything, he waves a hand over his lap, and a large book appears.]

I wasn't doing anything to intentionally aggravate you, but if you want to take it as such, fine.

[He says, flipping through a few pages and looking increasingly shady.]

[A needy bitch who loves drama, I just fuckin said it.

But at least he's not stupid- yet. That definition has yet to be added to his list of descriptors, but an oh so threatening book is sure going to get him there.]

If we're studying fairytales, my preference is the original Little Mermaid, if you please. The one where she turns into foam.

[Anyway jokes aside you've got like three seconds to explain yourself before they stick a knife between your ribs? Which would probably upset Lup (and Taako too, they suppose), so hows about we avoid that unfortunate juncture. =) ]

It's not a fairytale. I'm simply trying to confirm if I'm being expertly zagged on by some god or acolyte of chaos right now.

[Which he isn't unconvinced Chara isn't, right now. The book takes a few seconds to attune, and he flips until the information comes, but...

If Chara can see through the dark at either Kravitz' expression or the writing there, they can tell something doesn't seem to be operating like it should.

Chara's name is displayed, as well as their living status (quite dead for a while there), their number of deaths (absolutely too many, though if Chara is curious they can now have the number) and then something else. Added like a footnote, but displaying like a film over the data. Like everything was halfhazardly erased, then restored, warping the page like isolated water damage. It doesn't make sense. He's never seen anything like it.

His eyes slide up to Chara's, inquisitive, and just slightly worried.]

What happened to you?

[Oh, but they have to laugh- with a slice of genuine amusement, at that.]

I truly feel for any world with a god akin to myself, sir.

[He's not listening. That's fine.

Not really. Chara has no idea what he's looking at, but they don't need to know in order to come to a conclusion that they dislike it. Greatly.]

That is none of your concern. More to the point, however, [Chara stands, calmly pulling a knife from their boot. There it is, Kravitz. That's the point.

The point spontaneously bursts into flames.]

What would you know about it?

[Oh, of course, a child that knows Lup is going to fight him with knife and fire, and also be made of gods knows what. Of fucking course.

The book is gone in a moment and Kravitz is one, two steps to his feet, a scythe as big as he is disappearing from where it's stowed in the camp tent and into his hands.]

I would know plenty. I am a bounty hunter for the Raven Queen, charged with the detainment and capture of escaped souls from the realm of death. I am a Reaper and I keep the natural order.

[He holds his scythe between them, part defense, part challenge.]

And you-- all of this-- is not natural. You should be dead.

[Chara looks at him- the tall, scary reaper with his big, scary scythe, as he accuses them of being against the natural order, abnormal, an escaped SOUL.

An Anomally.

There is, for a moment, a beat of silence.

And then Chara bursts out laughing.]

[The child laughs at the top of their lungs. Practically shouting with glee, as if he's just told them the best joke of their entire unlife. It's quite possible that they've just woken up the entire camp. It is equally as possible they don't care.]

Should I?! Should I really be dead?! Golly, mister, I had no idea! [You know what? Sure! Okay! We're doing this today then. Taking one step back, Chara raises their knife.]

Allow me to remedy this unfortunate misstep, sir, immediately!

[And without further ado

They swing the knife down into their own stomach.]

[Lup laughs at the top of her lungs. Helplessly, compulsively, she wheezes and chokes like she's heard the best joke of her entire existence, only she can't remember what the fuck it was that stripped her of all control--

She sits up with a start and stares into the monochrome dimness of the tent, heart pounding and that laughter still ringing in her ears-- Wait. Shit. It's not, it hasn't stopped, it's still-- Chara. Now she hears the shouting, the crackle of their voice seizing her heart like ice and she comes stumbling out of the tent like the remnants of her dream are nipping at her heels.

The scene she comes upon is just buckwild, Kravitz with that goddamn scythe raised threateningly against, against a fucking child, against Chara with their hands cupped over their middle. Instantly she knows who's to blame, who was always gonna turn on them, despite Chara's laughter, despite the fact it's their own hands wrapped around the hilt of the knife in their stomach--

Lup had just enough wherewithal to grab either a pair of pants or her umbrella on the way out of the tent. Unfortunately it's not pants she's now got trained on Kravitz with a steady hand and a murderous look on her face.]

One move and I'm gonna blast that skin clean off your fucking skull, Skeletor!

[With two bounding steps she's beside the kid, drops to one knee with one arm outstretched to catch them if they fall. The umbrella's point never leaves its target. For a moment, she doesn't know what else to do for them, and that's more terrifying than anything.]

... Chara?

[Everything happens much, much too quickly.

Kravitz doesn't have a lot of experience in people who actually, truly want to be dead. In the unfortunate circumstances where someone has dragged back a loved one and he has to go put a stop to it, usually it ends graciously; the necromancer is certainly unhappy, but the dead know they should be dead. There's a peace in it. He doesn't know how to handle the people who follow death like a well-known predator, who lay out offerings and sacrifice.

Certainly not when it's something like this.

He reaches forward to stop them for a second but it's too late, and his eyes go wide as the blade plunges in. And then, unfortunately too quickly, the worst possible person to see this enters the scene, brandishing an all too familiar weapon. He dispels the scythe immediately, but he looks shellshocked, hands set near his waist and mouth opening in disbelief.]

I didn't-- I didn't do anything, they pulled a weapon on me--

[Kravitz takes a step and then stops, realizing she will in fact blast him if he even tries to help, but truly doesn't know what to do.]

I didn't make them do that!

[Oh hey Lup, wonderful timing! They hear her loud, angry threat and snort- an action they immediately regret, with six inches of hot steel burning into their stomach. Adrenalin keeps them standing, barely- fingers white-knuckled round the hilt of the knife as their face quickly loses color, grinning despite (or in spite of) the heavy tang of copper in their mouth.

Not feeling so high and mighty now, mister Death? Amazing. What a twist.]

Lup- [They start-- then stop, blood dribbling from their lips. Letting go of the blade, they wipe at their chin with violently shaking fingers. All it does is leave an ugly smear of red across the side of their face, but whatever.]

Lup. [Chara starts again, much more successfully.] I require you-- to trust me.

Pull the knife out.

[You know, despite that being literally the opposite of what you should do in such situations.]

[She has nothing but a withering glare for Kravitz' excuses. He may not have rammed the knife into their stomach, but he did something to cause this, that's for fucking sure. At least he wises up real quick and disappears his weapon, not that that counts for much, when she knows his real agenda.

Instantly her attention snaps back to Chara as they croak out her name and she winces in sympathy at the obvious effort, the pain it's costing them. Her ears are pinned in something way too close to-- fear, laid bare for all to see. There's not much blood. Not where it's visible.

They're running out of time.

Which makes their request even more-- disturbing. A death, she knows, is not that big a deal to them. And they know she knows. So them asking her to trust them like that? It's-- something else. This better not be, it better not have anything to do with making a deal with a god--

No. There's something they can do about this, and they need her help. She's going to believe that, she has to believe that. Decision made, she meets their gaze and nods.]

Alright. I trust you.

[Shooting one last look at the still disarmed Kravitz like she's going to nail him to the ground with her force of will alone, she sets down the umbrella to wrap her hand around the hilt. And pulls, as quickly and evenly as possible.]

[The laughter had certainly been startling, but by the time it all resolves into Chara shouting, it seems like Lup is going to handle it. As well she should, as the anchor for that particular goblin currently squatting in their camp and hollering about being dead.

He arrives at the conclusion that this has something to do with Kravitz at about the same time Lup threatens to melt him back to a skeleton, and yep, alright, Lup's not handling it, by the sound of it, Lup is making it worse. Cool!! Just great. Now slightly more awake, he books it for the source of the commotion, with only the quickest and most nonsensical muttered reassurance to the goblins who aren't currently ruining his night.

The scene Taako stumbles into is just as buckwild as Lup found it, even without the scythe. Unlike Lup, he doesn't jump to any conclusions, not the least of which because there just, aren't any reasonable ones at hand. What's this kid so stabbed about? Could be anything. Probably not the time to ask. He's sure gonna open his mouth anyway.]

What the fuck is happening here?

[That's all he's got to offer, quiet, almost conversational tone at odds with his profoundly alarmed expression.]

[Surprise, Taako, your boyfriend has been here a week or so and it's probably surprising something like this even took that long. His eyes snap over as Taako arrives, takes stock of the situation, and blissfully does not immediately threaten him for this whole ordeal.]

Taako, I-- I know what this looks like, but I did not do this. I don't know what's going on, this--

[He steals a glance back to Chara and Lup, then back to Taako with an expression that says 'please fix this'.]

Can you do something?

[They really don't have the time or attention for all of this- potentially due to six inches of steel being pulled from their stomach? Possibly that. They stay as still as they can until it's over- head bowed, the only indication of pain Kravitz and Taako are getting is the stifled-- sound that leaves them.

Nothing is hidden from Lup. As she pulls out the knife, blade coated with red that flows much more freely from a now open wound, Chara squeezes their eyes shut. Bites down on their lower lip until they draw blood. With a ragged exhale, the child slumps. Falls into Lup and stops paying attention to everything else in the immediate vicinity.

Acts like this had been difficult enough when they had more control.]

[So argue away, elves and skeleman. Chara needs a minute to gather their energy; concentrate their Determination past the hazy fog of shock, pain, and bloodloss. They will. They have to.

They're unnatural, after all. An Anomaly. This is what they do. This is how you really make a point.

Rather noticeably, their form will-- glitch, momentarily. A little.

A lot.

And for Lup? The sudden scent of ozone sticking to Chara is overwhelming, to say the least.]

[Taako's presence only barely registers, Lup's way too busy with her grim work. Chara's restraint is unbroken but she knows the slash of a knife just fine, hears the stifled scream as if it was stuck in her own throat. Feels the child's warm blood run over her own hand. But this is necessary, this is going to save them. Fuck, she hopes so.

They slump against her and she drops the blade instantly, cradling them with both arms. Now what? What are they waiting for? Whatever they've got planned, they better do it right fucking now or she's gonna-- She can-- Just don't make her wait. Now she does look up at Taako, helpless, and scared.

And then, something happens.

A burst, a shift, like an illusion faltering to the truth, and the smell of-- being burned to death, riddled with bullets, crushed, stabbed as they die and don't die and die again and Lup gasps for air.

So this is their, their recorded state, this is how they survived, how they continued relentlessly. At least-- at least that part was voluntary.

Heart hammering in her chest, her voice is shaky and soft as she pulls back her bloodied hand to check on them, to make absolutely sure they're not still bleeding out on her.]

You... good?

[All at once, something happens.

There's a sputtering across the scene, but what hits Kravitz isn't the sight, it's the feeling of a magic he has no words or reasoning for. The way they shift and the world warps, not healing, not anything he's ever seen.

Lup could not have done that. He understands this much.

He's still shaken, but he curls his hands in, tries to stand up straight, regain some composure in this, and address the issue before he can be misinterpreted further.]

Are... they alright?

[He asks it cautiously, needing to figure out how to proceed here.]

[The hair on the nape of his neck is still bristling at whatever the fuck that horrifying display of unfamiliar arcanum was, and why is anyone here looking to him for anything? He's just an innocent bystander in this--the real victim here is Taako, if you think about it, or at least his unbroken sleep. Especially since this kid isn't even stabbed anymore. Sidenote, what the fuck.]

Well! This was fun, too bad it's past Death's bedtime, maybe we can pick this up again tomorrow. Or never! Good, uh, luck with all that.

[He's shooting for breezy, but his voice is too high and his grip on Kravitz's wrist is dead serious. This isn't reassurance, this is an offered extraction plan; whatever Krav just stepped in, Taako is ready to unstep it, for the both of them. Not that he thinks there's any real danger here--Lup has cooled off, Chara probably got it out of their system-- but that doesn't mean things won't flare up again. Kid doesn't need all these eyes on them, anyway. Way too many cooks on this dancefloor, that's just math. Let Lup do whatever wrangling she's got.]

Two hundred and nine.

[No so fast there, Taako. They have a few things to say. More than a few. Two hundred and nine, they say, as they straighten up. Lift their shirt to expose their stomach, wipe the blood into thin, red streaks. All good, Lup. Totally fine.]

I have died two hundred and nine times. Poisoned. Stabbed. Speared. Burned. Electrocuted. Crushed. Eaten alive. Blown into tiny, tiny pieces.

[Their eyes are affixed to Kravitz, not so much as offering Lup a glance of acknowledgment as they step forward. What are you going to do, mister death? Run? Ignore them?

That would be quite old hat of you.]

Name a method, sir. Go ahead. Tell me something I haven't been through. Tell me at which point, precisely, I was to assume that I was perfectly natural, that the experience was something I should be going through. Should I be dead? Absolutely, sir! I should be! So tell me something; consider this the first favor repaid, for an honest answer, sir.

Edited 2018-08-25 19:12 (UTC)

Where were you when they murdered us?

[Taako may not be the victim in this, but he is the bystander. Unfortunately, there's no getting out of what Kravitz has started, at least not without some consequences. Which he understands, in a sense. He knows how to enforce them. But some he's skirted, until now.

Kravitz swallows while they talk, straightening his back, regains some form of composure and waits for them to be finished as he tries to sort this through in his head.

He wants to reach for the book again, and his fingers twitch before he stops himself. Good job Taako for keeping a hand on his wrist. But he doesn't shy away from Chara's gaze, even if his red-eyed stare likely doesn't hold comfort, either.]

I asked you what happened. That was what set this off- I asked you what happened and you attacked me. To put this a bit more in perspective.

[That bit's less addressed at Chara and more at the twins, nearby. This wasn't entirely his fault, though he's still struggling to see where his fault in this even is.]

I am doubtful we come from the same universe, but at least where I come from, there are structures in place to make sure exactly this does not happen. I don't know what happened to you, and I see now it shouldn't have. If you never-- if whatever that magic was stopped your soul from reaching the Astral Plane I don't see how anyone could have figured it out.

[He's just-- just a touch too petty not to throw that in there, even if he'll regret it in about five seconds.]

I am not omnipresent. I am the representation of something that should be, but has been interfered with. I'm not saying this should have happened to you. What I'm saying is I, as myself, do not control all worlds. There is only so much I am able to do.

So you're not in control of what happened to us. Not omnipresent. Not part of my universe- but it is still perfectly fine, in your opinion, for you to simply magic up your little book and invade the privacy of whomever you see fit- on a whim. Nothing personal.

[Bored. They sound bored because Chara is, because he's really-- ha ha. Death himself is really going to use that excuse, just like any other adult. It's perfectly fine to satisfy himself by forcefully obtaining information they never agreed to share- but that isn't his fault. Not his responsibility.

His part in this ends at knowing. Not because he needed to. Not because he had any real intentions of acting on what he's learned, but because he could.

And because you could, you had to. Isn't that right?]

The deaths I have experienced are not fun little page-turners for you to while away the hours. My history is not yours to discover because you decided you'd like to know, Sir.

[They smile. At him, at Lup. At Taako, because they're all friends here, right? All just buddy chums. And that smile stays on Taako.]

If you ever deem it mildly interesting enough to treat my life like a saucy little novel again, sir, I promise you. The toll on my person will be nothing in comparison to yours before I am even remotely satisfied.

[Because hey. Who else would they look at than the one person who knows just how deep their blade can sink?]

[The reassuring view of their unstabbed stomach sure is appreciated, and now that numero two hundred and fuckin ten is off the table, Lup has a little more thought to spare for the rest of this nightmare scenario. Like how it's right around when Chara starts listing off their deaths that it dawns on Lup how she might have, like, made a slight miscalculation? A little bit? By taking Chara anywhere near the most useless entitled fucking Grim Reaper she's ever had the misfortune of knowing. So that part's on her.

How both these goddamn drama gremlins chose to handle it, though, nope, that's a whole different story. It's not hard to piece together that Kravitz stuck his nose where he shouldn't have and still refuses to see what's wrong with that, and Chara?

Her hands are sticky with their blood all to make a fucking point. They turn their smile, their threats on Taako and that is it. Justified as it may be, she's had enough of this.]

Alright. [Quiet, calm, and very, very final. She gets to her feet, umbrella in one hand, knife in the other, and steps up to Chara's side. Fixing Kravitz with a piercing look of her own.]

I think he gets it. I think you've given him something to consider, vis a vis keeping his self-important, judgmental-ass bullshit out of other people's personal business. [She'd toss in a few choice threats of her own here, but honestly Chara doesn't need the help. God they're so fucking extra, she'd high-five them if she wasn't so mad.

Taako gets another look, an unspoken get your ding dang boyfriend out of my gosh darn sight or so help me passing between them and maybe that's not entirely fair but she kinda lost all her shits to give when Kravitz waved a scythe at Chara. She'll just have to deal with the extra salt in her breakfast or whatever tomorrow.

Finally, she tilts her head to glance down at the kid, nodding tersely in the vague direction of the river.]

Let's go wash that blood out before it dries.

[Sure, make this a weird flex about Taako and his distinct stabbability, why not. He's the archetype of the glass cannon and he gave them that shot for free, so forgive him if he's not handing out any medals here.

Taako rolls his eyes, maybe not giving this threat the weight it deserves--not because he doubts them, but because death is back to being an inconvenience, for him. Honestly, the threat of bringing up his past death would be more serious for him than just murdering him again. Not that that wouldn't bring its own awkwardness. Point is, there's just no need for all this.

He's hesitant to mix in here, but it still visibly pains him not to ~~say a ton of words~~ jump to Kravitz' defense. It's not his fault he's still adjusting to unemployment. Taako just. Isn't even sure what exactly he'd be justifying here? He's not a hundred percent sure what the problem even IS. He's pretty sure he got a lot closer to going to death-jail than Chara did, and you don't see him wildin out about it, but whatever.]

Sure, that's the real concern here, wouldn't want any bloodstains.

[But Lup's tacit offer of, if not a truce, a tactical withdrawal for all parties is much appreciated, all sass aside. Though he absolutely will still sabotage her breakfast some way, she's not wrong there. The offended look he returns her says as much, and more. If Taako is the most unbiased person in a social altercation (if you can call a stabbing such) that's not a great sign.]

So why don't we table this forever, chalk it up to a big misunderstanding of planar differences, and agree to move on with our lives. Especially the part where I go back to sleep and no one dies.

[He doesn't actually know why Chara looks at Taako for that statement, but it makes his spine go rigid, forces him to stuff down a need to grab for Taako's hand. It's one thing to threaten him and an entirely different thing to threaten his boyfriend, even though statistically speaking, Taako is far more dangerous than he is. But there's that streak of some protectiveness, of a don't touch him, of the one bond he truly has.]

No one's dead right now. Or dying, apparently. And yes, I'm fine tabling this discussion until it becomes... relevant. If it does.

[So basically, no one else fucking die. He'll revisit this when that issue comes.]

So let's keep that from occurring, shall we?

[closed] this hill I'll die on is about 90 meters of bricks

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1/2 HOO BOY

cw: for STABBING?

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