Pre-Intros

[sangraal]

[whoever you are, however you died, you have found yourself walking through a desert]

[you have been walking for a long time]

[you have been walking since time began]

[you are dry as a bone and withered in the wind]

[and in the far distance, you have glimpsed a golden city. you have come to the golden city. you have stumbled through wide-open doors, and there has been no sound, no movement, only emptiness]

[until finally you see, on a golden throne, a woman in a red dress, the most beautiful woman you have ever seen, and she has a sword at her side and a golden grail between her legs, filled with blood-red wine]

Comments

Lucciola

[lucciola]

[not really what I expected out of death... but I suppose that's what I deserve for betraying him.

it takes him a moment to notice, but falters a little and comes to a halt as he sees the throne]

. . . ah.

Re: Lucciola

[sangraal]

[oh bb]

[studying him for a moment, and then, voice low and warm and only a teeny bit threatening]

Lucciola, the man charged to protect Dio Eraclea...have you come here to get what you deserve?

Re: Lucciola

[lucciola]

... [that stings a bit, but hoping to everything holy that Claus god Dio out and that it worked]

Is that what this place is?

Re: Lucciola

[sangraal]

Among other things, yes.

[she sets the grail aside, leaning forward a little, and holds out a hand to him]

Come...this part must be done first, before your journey can continue.

Re: Lucciola

[lucciola]

[walks over and for once manages not to stumble as he did half the time trudging through the desert]

A journey... so this isn't the end?

Re: Lucciola

[sangraal]

No...far from it.

[she rises from her throne, sword belt clinking slightly, though she's not drawing it (yet?)]

Here. Receive what you deserve.

Re: Lucciola

[lucciola]

[steels himself for whatever it is, standing a little straighter, almost on guard]

... who are you?

Re: Lucciola

[sangraal]

I am Babalon. And...here.

[wrapping him up in a hug, soft and warm, and pressing a kiss to his forehead]

Rejoice. You fulfilled your charge. Do not let guilt weigh you down. You deserve no less, for such love and loyalty.

1/2 lol

[lucciola]

[................. what no wait this can't be right

CONFUSED.

I MEAN REALLY.


...why are you hugging me sob]

I...

[outtodry]

[this wasn't what he was expecting]

[at all]

I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage.

[sangraal]

[warm smile] I am Babalon. Welcome to the city at the end of Death.

[outtodry]

I didn't think Death had an end.

[sangraal]

Perhaps it doesn't for everyone. But if you have come here, if you have crossed the desert, then it does for you. You must yet have some will to live, even if you stepped into death of your own accord to begin with.

[outtodry]

It was the only way to stop my bro-

Is my brother here?

[sangraal]

You were the only soul from your world that followed my call. He remains dead.

[outtodry]

I understand.

[oh, that's complicated feelings, that is]

[sangraal]

[I CAN IMAGINE. also a chair appears for him with a little wave of her hand, facing her throne at the same level and a pleasantly conversational distance]

You have a choice before you, Tarrlok. Perhaps several choices. Your will bloomed before your death. I do not know the details, but I can sense the shape of it, the flare of realization and determination. It led you to your death, but it does not need to end there.

I can offer you an opportunity to return to life. It will not be brief or entirely easy, but at the end of it, you will be able to return to the time and place you left--or somewhere else if you wish.

Liane

[pucelleflambe]

[The false maiden has found that seemingly endless desert rather appropriate after burning, actually. But the golden city, and now this...]

[This does not really fit her religious imagery.]

Are you...?

Re: Liane

[sangraal]

[what '-' I have a grail '-']

I am Babalon. May I ask who you were expecting?

Re: Liane

[pucelleflambe]

[Well you are incredibly beautiful, and that is awesome, but isn't there supposed to be a couple of bearded guys. Or uh, or a big terrible winged dude.]

Well, He never spoke to me, but perhaps the Father.

Re: Liane

[sangraal]

The Father...are you a woman of Christ?

[well this is interesting]

Re: Liane

[pucelleflambe]

I am a good Christian, regardless what was said of me in the end.

[burned at the stake is probably a black mark, huh]

Re: Liane

[sangraal]

[oh bb. looking at her for a moment before speaking again, really looking]

This may seem a strange thing of me to say, perhaps even brash, but that slander will carry no weight.

[she sounds absolutely reassuringly sure of that]

Re: Liane

[pucelleflambe]

[...well this lady is definitely in a better position to know and dictate things than Liane]

Ah -- how do you know that?

Re: Liane

[sangraal]

[soft, slightly apologetic smile]

It will be a strange tale for you to hear. [there is a chair somewhere where there wasn't before, comfortable and on a level with her, there's no dais] You have traveled...for a very long time, yes?