text;

[toys_with]

[A letter written in curvy, elegant loops appears on the vine this afternoon. It bears no signature, but the handwriting and words are somewhat distinctive.]

For those of you who have experianced this place's more [there are ink droplets here, as though the writer paused while choosing her words.] unusual property, that of returning from death, I

Comments

[existwithoutme]

[This anonymous response is written in a hand both elegant and elaborate.]

Death is not permanent here?

I do not know if I can provide you with the answer you seek, but I know death well, in more ways than one. I believe I was on the verge of dying before arriving here, the last of my strength fading along with the last of my hope, when, without warning, my vitality returned in a rush. So sudden and strange, I could hardly bear it. I found myself fully alive and whole, lying among the flowers of a new world.

Dear, I fear your penmanship needs work. [Perfectionist Kuja does not approve of those ink drops. So unsightly.]

[toys_with]

My apologies. I do hope it was readable.

[This time, the penmanship is perfect, though it takes slightly longer than one might expect.]

The dead do not stay dead, here. I have born witness to those from my home returning to life when they have already passed on, and those who die within the gardens returning as well.

Your experience is quite intriguing. Had you not yet passed when you were brought here?

[existwithoutme]

I did manage to puzzle it out. [Of course, it was perfectly legible, Kuja is simply critical.]

A world without death... I have never heard of such a realm. How can life exist without death?

I do not know for certain if I died in that last moment. I am no ordinary living thing. Death would not result in a soul leaving my body or any awareness beyond the limit of my time. That which I call my self would wink out, in an instant. If I did cease to exist, I cannot know it, for oblivion leaves no memory. [She suddenly feels shaky, so she stops writing there, before her own penmanship falters.]

[toys_with]

This garden is indeed a world of things that shouldn't exist but do. It has almost ceased to surprise by now. [Of course, this is not quite true. She is still surprised by most of the events here.]

You do not have a soul, but you continue to live? How strange. I can only guess what that means, but to pry much further would be rude. At any rate, I suppose it would not be much different for those who have them. After all, none that I know of have woken and remembered their time in the land of the dead.

[text]

[shanghaiworld]

Should we be prepared for a sudden case of suicide?

[text]

[toys_with]

Certainly not. You may consider this a question of curiosity, at most.

[text]

[shanghaiworld]

Just making sure. You can never make sure with some people.

[text]

[toys_with]

I had not thought that suicide would be so common here. Then again, with such an eclectic group, I could be mistaken.

[Text]

[alchemistsquery]

I think I may have died before I came here, or been close to death. But I get the feeling that's not what you mean, perhaps?

[Text]

[toys_with]

I am interested in all experiences with death, both outside and within the Gardens. If it is not too bold, may I ask you for more detail?

[Text]

[alchemistsquery]

I guess there's no harm in telling.

Everything around me was falling apart. Being torn to pieces. I was scared. But I was able to accept it. I was dying. There was pain. And then I couldn't feel or see anything.

I woke up in the gardens after.

[Text]

[toys_with]

That sounds rather similar to what I have heard. It seems as though the Queen brings many of us here while on the brink of death, and keeps us alive while we remain here.

Thank you for telling me of it. It was most helpful.

[text]

[volticcrush]

[A sharp, angular but refined handwriting responds.]

Like being ripped into a thousand pieces. Disappearing into the darkness. All last pieces of humanity snuffed out, like they were nothing.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

[text]

[toys_with]

I wanted to confirm my suspicions, and this does help with that. My apologies if I've offended you.

[There's a pause and, against all tact, she writes:]

Would you mind answering if this occurred within the Gardens or not?

[text]

[volticcrush]

Offended? Hardly. It's just not something I'd like to remember.

It didn't. I was dying, and then I woke up...here.

[text]

[toys_with]

I can't blame you for feeling that way. It can't be pleasant to recall such things.

You are like the others, then, and arrived here while on Death's doorstep. That Queen seems to have a habit of bringing such people here.

/voice/

[freemade_grace]

Death...

It was a quiet, slow place. Painless, unless you wanted pain. All your thoughts in an easier priority to deal with. Dark, but in a way that I cannot describe accurately, as it was not blackness but a concept layered over what realm your mind seized on to build and work with as your place of settlement. And...warm, in a strange manner. You belonged there, your place was there, in the completion.

[text]

[toys_with]

That sounds rather... peaceful. [It's a much better alternative than experiencing nothing, which is what she recalls.]

You're one of the few who seems to recall being dead, and not simply the dying. Did the Queen bring you here from death, as well?

/voice/

[freemade_grace]

It was, though I wonder if it would have varied had I not already accepted my death as a certain outcome.

She did, it was pretty shocking to suddenly be alive and whole again. Can't say I'm upset, but it means I'm treating this like my afterlife.

[text]

[toys_with]

You accepted your death so easily? I suppose that explains how calm you seem about this.

If this is the afterlife, however, I have quite a few complaints. Namely, I should be dead before coming to such a place.