(Untitled)

[acts_of_gord]

The Bar's too complicated an environment for Gordon to handle today. Fascinating as the goings-on are, and enthusiastic as the people who chose trial forms may be, it's just too much. He seriously considered going back to his room and just staying there when he came down the stairs and saw that Cubefall was in full swing, but...

If I quit, if I

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[banished_to]

It is hard to miss Hel, when she leaves the place she's been staying and heads for the lake. She has a basket with her, draped over her left arm, and when she settles down she removes sewing from it. Despite the fact that there is enough cloth to cover Gordon four times with more to spare, the embroidery is as delicate as a machine could do.

[banished_to]

"Thank you." Hel says, dipping her head with a small nod. "It is written, it will be so."

[acts_of_gord]

"When?" asks Gordon, out of a kind of morbid curiosity. "Or should I not ask?"

[banished_to]

"I do not think that the worlds match up well." Hel says with a shake of her head, "The future, still.

[acts_of_gord]

"Just wondering," says Gordon.

It occurs to him that the battle is going to be titanic on levels that nothing even Xen held could approach. That's going to be something to see...

[banished_to]

"It will be the end of one world, and the beginning of another." Hel says quietly, lifting her left hand a little bit, "I do not know if I will see it, but I will be part of the change. Perhaps it will be better. That is my hope."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon nods. He's not sure, from the sound of it, that worse is an option.

And it occurs to him to think: he asked GLaDOS if the world was still there in her time. Would he know it at all when he saw it? If it ended and began all over again without him?

[banished_to]

Hel dips her head once more, and falls silent. She's used to silence, although she doesn't dislike it when people are talking...but her time scale is skewed, so if Gordon takes an hour or two to think about things she'll still be able to pick up the conversation where they left off.

[acts_of_gord]

Eventually- how long, we don't know- Gordon looks back towards Hel. "Anyone else here from your world?"

[banished_to]

"Svava and Helgi." Hel says, "No other gods, however. One ex-Valkyrie and one hero. I am fond of the hero."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon nods. "I've heard of a lot of people around here claiming to be gods," he says. "I don't think I've met any, until now."

[banished_to]

Hel shrugs a little bit and says, "I do not require you believe. This is the only place where I can be just Hel, instead of Hel." There's a difference. The difference is death; illness, accident, old age. The body wearing out and slowing down. Murder with no hope of fighting back, it's all there in her name the second time she says it. "My only friends are from here."

[acts_of_gord]

"Probably just as well," says Gordon quietly.

He's trying not to let the memories rise at the sound of her name the second time- it reminds him too much of the trash compactor, and the moment when the only thing he wanted in the world was to die in the sunlight.

"I'm not much good at believing anyway. I just deal."

[banished_to]

"That is the best way to live." Hel says; she's not someone who has ever had much hope in her life. "From one day to the next, taking what you can."