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[toomanypostits]

You haven't seen Rube around. No, really, trust me, you haven't. He's been there, sure, but Reapers don't actually need food or drink when they're incorporeal, so he's been keeping himself from being a drain on resources. There's no waffles or bacon anyway, so he figures why bother

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[witchoftwominds]

The little chubby girl in the pointy hat is last. Nobody got the chance to know her, and now, nobody will.

She sits up when Rube pulls her spirit free.

"Where the hell have you-- you're not him."

[toomanypostits]

Rube pauses, mouth open.

"You were expecting someone specific?"

[witchoftwominds]

She drops down off the table, and immediately regrets losing the height advantage.

"I'm dead, aren't I? He's supposed to be here. I am a witch, you know. Personal appearances by Death are part of the deal."

Of course, so was knowing in advance so you could get your affairs in order, but that one came to nothing.

[toomanypostits]

"Death," he repeats blandly. "Big guy, robe, scythe, all bone?"

[witchoftwominds]

She nods. "That's the one. Will he, you know, be along later? I can wait."

[toomanypostits]

Blink.

"Lemme guess. You're from Angua's world, aren't you, little girl?"

[witchoftwominds]

This is Agnes' mad face.

"I'm not a girl, I'm a witch, and my name is Agnes Nitt. Don't you know anything? And I don't know anyone named Angua, but I'm from the Disc, and this isn't the way things are supposed to be!"

[toomanypostits]

"No, it goddamn sure ain't!" he barks back. "I'm supposed to get a list so that I know in advance! Then I get to you, and I get your spirit free before you die so that you don't have to feel the pain of death! But this whole goddamn world is dead, and nothing's the way it oughta be!"

[witchoftwominds]

Agnes hangs her head. She won't actually apologize because Perdita's still there in her mind telling her not to.

"So, what now?"

[toomanypostits]

He sighs and rubs at his forehead.

"Not your fault, I know. Sorry, kid. I mean, Agnes. You just run along now," he explains, gesturing toward the light. "There's peace. That's the 'what now'. Peace."

[witchoftwominds]

Agnes looks through the haze of light and sees a proper witch's cottage. It's even the view from the back door as it should be.

"It's not real, though, is it? Just an image."

[toomanypostits]

"I honestly don't know. Maybe it's as real as you want it to be. Maybe it's just to make you feel calm. Until I get to go, I can't say."

[witchoftwominds]

She nods, trying to straighten her eaten away hat and arrange the tatters of her clothes.

"Well, I guess, bye then. Thanks for showing me the way."

The witch looks forlornly at her broken body one last time, then turns away and heads into the light without another pause.

[toomanypostits]

"That's what I'm here for, Peanut," he says softly.

He gives one last look over the three bodies, and then fades out himself.