[OOC] On Seeing Death
So! In Discworld canon, not everyone can see Death -- that is, not everyone can see that he is, in fact, a seven-foot-tall skeleton. I'll let our illustrious author explain it in his own words, from Mort:
The other diners didn't take much notice, even when Death leaned back and lit a rather fine pipe. Someone with smoke curling out of their eye sockets takes some ignoring, but everyone managed it.
"Is it magic?" said Mort.
What do you think? said Death. Am I really here, boy?
"Yes," said Mort slowly. "I . . . I've watched people. They look at you but they don't see you, I think. You do something to their minds."
Death shook his head.
They do it all themselves, he said. There's no magic. People can't see me, they simply won't allow themselves to do it. Until it's time, of course. Wizards can see me, and cats. But your average human . . . no, never. He blew a smoke ring at the sky, and added, Strange but true.
Mort watched the smoke ring wobble into the sky and drift away towards the river.
"I can see you," he said.
That's different.
But this rule isn't airtight! Sam Vimes sees Death in both Carpe Jugulum and Thud!, when he's having near-death experiences. (It's that darned Uncertainty Principle again.) And other normal people have seen Death under unusual circumstances -- and if anything's unusual, camp is.
So, the point of this post? Whether you see Death or not is completely up to you. Even if your character is the normiest of norms, if you want to see Death for who he really is, go for it! And if you'd rather have it go over your character's head, go for that, too! I will be completely up for either one.
"Is it magic?" said Mort.
What do you think? said Death. Am I really here, boy?
"Yes," said Mort slowly. "I . . . I've watched people. They look at you but they don't see you, I think. You do something to their minds."
Death shook his head.
They do it all themselves, he said. There's no magic. People can't see me, they simply won't allow themselves to do it. Until it's time, of course. Wizards can see me, and cats. But your average human . . . no, never. He blew a smoke ring at the sky, and added, Strange but true.
Mort watched the smoke ring wobble into the sky and drift away towards the river.
"I can see you," he said.
That's different.
But this rule isn't airtight! Sam Vimes sees Death in both Carpe Jugulum and Thud!, when he's having near-death experiences. (It's that darned Uncertainty Principle again.) And other normal people have seen Death under unusual circumstances -- and if anything's unusual, camp is.
So, the point of this post? Whether you see Death or not is completely up to you. Even if your character is the normiest of norms, if you want to see Death for who he really is, go for it! And if you'd rather have it go over your character's head, go for that, too! I will be completely up for either one.