(Untitled)

[banished_to]

Hel is settled in "her" chair, sewing on a pair of dark blue gloves. She's at the embroidery portion of these as well. The different colored flosses have been separated out, and now and then she asks Svava to separate out a specific strand for her. Its easier that way than if she does it for herself

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[skjaldmeyjar]

".... And another realm of being skinned alive." Svava eyes the book.

"That's been quite a common theme for punishment in these sorts of places." 'Hells', but its off to think of them being named after Hel.

She raises a brow, thinking.

[banished_to]

"Hells."

She actually says the word, sounding highly amused,

"At least I will be remembered? How can they be skinned alive if they are dead? And besides, after about sixty percent Men die of shock."

[skjaldmeyjar]

"Dead, yes- but then existing like the einherjar, or in other places. They still think, they still feel- and that would be very real to them." Svava tilts her head, considering.

"Its not so much 'alive' as still feeling and aware of it, even if they were just souls-with-form."

[banished_to]

"That makes more sense. Do you suppose that the soul would be able to pass out from the shock, or not?"

She's got a fairly large contingent of rapists, murderers, etc. who did not have the chance to die in battle. Hel is contemplating trying this on newly-dead people she doesn't like.

[skjaldmeyjar]

"They don't have bodies, just the mental impression of bodies. There isn't any actual shock, just what they think there is. So..." Svava bites her lip, thinking.

"Its all in the mind, so you should be able to reach in-" she motions vaguely, "and keep their mind from passing out as what they would think should happen."

[banished_to]

"Hmm. Minds are more of a living thing. I'm not very good at them."

She's contemplating, however, what to do about all of this. How to test the theory. It could while away a couple centuries, after all.

[skjaldmeyjar]

"The mind and soul- all what there is without a body?" Svava looks at Hel curiously.

[banished_to]

"The soul stays. After about a year, the mind goes. Those in Niflheim have no mind. Just souls. They get very dumb."

She's so tired of being the only thing that can think.

[skjaldmeyjar]

"Cold and grey and nothing." Svava nods quietly.

"But other places aren't like that- so there is a difference, somehow. If that could be figured..."

[banished_to]

"If."

She agrees, nearly silent,

"I have been trying. But would it be fair to do that? To make them suffer?"

Like she suffers?

[skjaldmeyjar]

"The ones who deserve it, perhaps. The evil die as well, and usually without paying for their deeds in life."

Svava taps the book, and starts looking through it.

"The others, and you, shouldn't have to suffer."

[banished_to]

"Shoulds haven't meant anything since Odin took us away."

Her voice is quietly bitter, and she sets another stitch into the fine leather without looking up at Svava.

[skjaldmeyjar]

"I know." Svava sighs quietly.

"I- I think more and more than He brought it all onto Himself, with what he did. This book mentions an idea called 'karma', and that your actions create the later situations you find yourself in, for better or worse. I don't know how much I'd think that's true in everything- but it does seem true in His case."

[banished_to]

"I didn't do anything."

She says after a moment,

"So what was my karma, then, to deserve Niflheim and pain, and having myself remembered in the names of all the evil afterlives?"

[skjaldmeyjar]

Svava shrugs, eyeing the book.

"I don't think it applies to everything. I'd rather hope not- it doesn't make sense, then."

[banished_to]

"I suppose not."

She sighs softly, then returns to sewing,

"Are we in there?"