[Voice]

[voiceshall_echo]

I've heard that when someone falls over the rail, that person dies. He doesn't come back. Is this true?

[Yeah, Shinzon's loitering on the deck. He's very tempted to do a swan dive off the barge, but facts are good things to have. So, loitering. Which involves a lot of pacing. Spam at will, someone might want to stop him. :\]

Comments

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

[A shot from across a cell in Zero, Arthas looking up balefully from his seat on a cot.]

It's black down there, you little fool. It's no sight, no sound, not even your own voice. You move and push against nothing, you can't even feel other bits of yourself. After awhile, you realize you don't have any limbs at all. You have your own mind, but your thoughts start to spin in circles and fade - there's nothing to hold them in any more. You forget what you love and what life you lived, then you forget why you're there at all and you panic, the fear kicks in, the same one that makes the little fish swim away from the shark and men on the gallows to sob and repent and promise anything - anything - an eternity of pain just for one more second of being able to be. To be at all

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

[He isn't entirely sure how to respond to Arthas, and is silent for a moment.] That is not death. Death was a relief.

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

But do you know what would have happened if you had stayed dead instead of being taken up by the Barge?

[His eyes are amused.]

Do it. And take your communicator, I want to watch.

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

As you said, it would have been preferable to this

[Glower glower glower! But Arthas has managed to pique his interest, even if it's tinged with annoyance.] You're the one who tried to claim responsibility for my attack on the mess hall.

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

You have been pulled here by something that has offered you a chance to continue existing. Certainly you won't be doing it in your own world any more, so where do you suppose it will happen?

Oh. And yes. It was very nice and no one seemed to be using it.

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

I don't want to continue existing.

[...Wait.] Was that a compliment?

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

Let me guess, you hate yourself? Oh boo hoo, like everyone here doesn't. Judas does it on the public channel every ten minutes. Self-pity is such a cliche here. Do you think I did that bombastic monologue for my own health? [he totally did.] Between here and your home, what do you remember?

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

[He makes a tch sound.] I don't have a self to hate. I will not be redeemed, there is no reason to trap me here.

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

You answered neither of my questions, which of course means yes, you do, and no, you don't remember anything.

You may have noticed that I do remember. It's not a lovely cessation of all your miseries, it's a loss of everything you have and take for granted.

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

I said I do not have a self to hate. That is an answer. I remember my cells' revolt fading. I had nothing to take for granted.

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

Then what am I talking to?

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

An echo. [Yeah, he's practically muttering to himself now.]

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

Yes, because I certainly know what you mean by that.

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

You don't need to.

Private, video

[darknessb4me]

You're right. I don't really care, either.

I hope echoes scream the same.

Private, video

[voiceshall_echo]

That is something you'll never discover.