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@coral-and-bones
My name is Oliver Banks, as that much as that means anymore. Avatar of the End and the Buried, Herald of Death, and the Watery Grave that Awaits, to put it poetically.
Feel free to ask questions or reach out, I… probably need to interact with more people, honestly.
OOC below:
this is so cool and also rosencrantz and guildenstern's sign names are killing me lol
ah the gender euphoria of dying gruesomely at sea
It could barely be considered morning when a loud, firm knocking rang out from Val’s door. Oliver barely stirred from his bed on the couch. He had very thoroughly passed out the night before, and hadn’t made a noise since, sleeping- well, sleeping like the dead. The sun hadn’t even rose yet, so really, it was only really morning by the technicality that it was in fact past midnight. Any reasonable person would be asleep right now, but here Val’s guest was, knocking at 4 in the fucking morning. Whoever it was, they either were a horribly early riser, or hadn’t slept at all.
@formerly-the-mechs
Val hadn't ever been a deep sleeper. So with the insistent rapping on their front door, it wasn't long until they were rudely awoken from slumber.
Xe hoped that whoever it was - well. They could guess who it was. They just hoped it wasn't her. Again. Val just hoped that they went away. But no such luck.
Val sighed, dragging themself out of bed. Xe picked up their cane and put on xyr housecoat before making the short trek to the door to their apartment. Val sighed again, unlocking and opening the door.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?"
“I do, actually.” The person on the other side of the door replied. “Despite what you may believe, I can read a clock.” Laura rolled her wheelchair in through the door without bothering to wait for an invitation, pushing past Val. “You already know my schedule limitations, though. I could have come at midnight, if you’d preferred?” they gave Val a look, eyebrows raised.
Val rolls their eyes, shutting the door behind Laura. "Whatever." They mutter, running a hand down xyr face, stifling a yawn. "You could've just. Y'know. Not come at all." They add under their breath.
"What do you want, Laura?" Val asks, following her through the apartment.
“Are people not allowed to visit their neighbors anymore?” Laura asked, raising an eyebrow at Val. “No stopping by to borrow a cup of sugar? No afternoon chit-chats for tea?” they clicked their tongue. “Pity, that. Speaking of tea, do you have any?” It rolled its wheelchair into the kitchen, letting out a hum as she looked for a kettle.
"You can visit your neighbors, but you always come around when you want something." Val replies, stepping into the kitchen. Xe rummages through a cabinet, producing a couple of boxes of Twining's. They set them down next to the kettle. "And most people don't stop by for visits at 4am."
Laura smiled when she saw the tea. “Well, you do know how much I hate the sunlight.” They responded slyly, waving their hand. “Maybe I wanted to chat without… pesky things getting in the way, hm? Or maybe you are right, and I do want something. Or maybe I just wanted to annoy you. Who knows?”
Val gave Laura a look of exasperation, but it didn't seem to hold the same irritation or bite as it usually did. Maybe Val was just too tired to muster any up.
"Pesky things, huh?" They repeat, leaning against the counter. "You always annoy me. There's not really a special occasion for that. Now, what is it that you want, Laura?"
“Straight to the point then, are we?” It mused, before sighing. It looked just about to explain things, before a bit of motion caught its eye. They wheeled their wheelchair around to get a better look at the couch, laughing. “Wait- Val, did you kidnap someone? I didn’t think you had that in you.” Oliver, predictably, didn’t stir from his sleep.
"Leave him alone, Laura." Val sighed, following after them. Xe leaned on their cane next to Laura's chair. "I didn't kidnap him. He's a friend. He's staying with me for a little while." Val explains, also staring at the man on xyr couch. He was... peaceful. He didn't look as beaten down as he had a few hours ago.
“Hmmm.” Laura pressed their lips together. “No kidnapping? Disappointing. Haven’t heard about a good one of those for a bit.” She tried to joke, but catching on to Val’s exhausted state, just let out a breath, lowering her tone slightly. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to try and wake him up or mess with him or anything. Looks like he needs the rest, honestly.” It squinted slightly. “Those eye bags remind me of one of my friends from high school, honestly.”
Val snorts out a small laugh. "I didn't know you had friends." They reply, unable to resist some kind of jab, though it was more playful than anything. "Or that you had any capacity for kindness." Xe turns and heads back into the kitchen. Val's careful to take the kettle off the heat right as it starts to whistle, making sure it wouldn't disturb Oliver's slumber.
“I just save up all my cruelty and torment for you,” Laura shot back, following xem into the kitchen, notably ignoring the comment on her friends. “Who knows how kind I am when I’m not tormenting you in specific?” They grinned at Val.
"Oh, you shouldn't have." Val mutters sarcastically, though there is a hint of a smirk on their face. "Sometimes I do wonder if you were just put on this earth to make my life worse." Xe pours Laura and themself a mug. Val knew how Laura liked their tea already, so xe didn't feel the need to ask. They had enough late-night, caffeine-fueled interactions.
“Oh, I have purposes other than that.” Laura mused. “Supernatural business, trying to throw wrenches into the Peoples’ Church’s plans, feeding birds… many things. This is just a highly entertaining side gig. “ It swirled the mug of tea slightly, waiting for it to steep. “Speaking of which, you did guess correctly. I am here on business.”
Val has to resist an eye-roll, but does let out a small and slightly-dramatic sigh. "Yeah, I figured as much. Can't just come and visit me without wanting something." They drop a couple of sugar cubes into their mug and stir the tea with a spoon. "So, what is it?"
Laura picked up its mug, taking a small sip. “Have you ever heard of a woman by the name of Mary Keay?” She inquired thoughtfully.
"The name sounds vaguely familiar." Val replies, sipping their own mug. "What'd she do to piss you off?" They ask, leaning against the counter.
Laura shrugged. “Eh. Die, I suppose? Though I’d consider her dying probably better for the world in general, out of what I’ve heard. Never actually met her myself.” they took another sip of their mug, before leaning forward. “This is less about her and more about… something she owned, and has gone missing, and I’d like to find.”
Val hums thoughtfully. "And you came to me because I can speak to her?" They ask, tilting their head to the side. "Or you think I might have it?"
“More that it is an End Leitner and I was wondering if you had any… information, given your alignment.” Laura twirled her hand in the air. “Last I heard, her ghost was bound to the book itself, so… not sure if you’d be able to chat with her, anyways. Could attempt it, I suppose. Though I don’t personally want to talk with her. Her son, maybe…”
"I'm sure I could find something about it." Val replies, swirling xyr mug. "If the spirit is willing to talk, I can communicate." They take another sip from their mug. "If her son knows anything, you can just go ask him, if he isn't AWOL."
Laura snorted. “He died in America a while back, out of what I’ve found. So… it’ll be a necromancy job anyways. He’ll be more likely to offer up information, but if Mary hid the book and didn’t tell him, he won’t know anything. There’s a chance he got it as a family heirloom of sorts, though.”
Val rolls xyr eyes again. "So you want me to go to America to talk to a spirit, regardless of whether or not he actually has information." They ask rhetorically. Of course that's what Laura wanted. "Along with Mary. You do understand there's a cooldown period here, right?" Val puts their bright-pink, cat head-shaped mug on the counter. "And if you think I have the money to travel to America, then honey, you've got a big storm comin'."
“Well, if you want to travel to America and talk to his ghost, be my guest.” Laura snorted. “I was hoping more along the lines of you having any information regarding the End book, aligned with it as you are. Or a way to track or find it. Favor from your patron, or something.”
"I'm not going to America, Laura. I'd rather not get shot." Val sighs, but a small, borderline fond smile passes over their face. "And I think we both know that our patrons aren't exactly as forth-coming as we'd like."
Val leans against the counter once more. "I'll look and see what I can do. But I do want to know why I'm looking for the book, and what nefarious deeds you had planned? Just in case it came back to bite me in the ass." It was very difficult to keep the curiosity out of their voice.
"Blech. Don't call it my patron." Laura wrinkled her nose a bit. "Not planning on taking over the family business if I can avoid it."
They flashed Val a slight grin. "You know I like to be prepared for if anything were to happen. And even if I have you as a contact, it's good to have backup in case I need to speak to anyone on the other side. Or to keep track of it. Don't want it going and creating a new avatar on us, or killing some innocent with no cause."
"But you just- Nevermind." Val sighs, pinching the bridge of their nose.
Val contemplates Laura's 'offer' for a few moments. "So you... Just want the book? To hold onto? And to learn how to mediate yourself? Ain't exactly your style, mia cara."
But it wasn't like that had ever stopped them before. "Fine. I'll... See what I can find."
"I mean, it would mean I would go harassing you less." Laura added, which was a complete lie, of course. Val would never be free from the bane of xyr existence, and it wasn't like Laura went asking for resurrections that often, anyways. "Thanks. I owe you a favor for looking. Not an urgent thing, so don't go sacrificing any firstborn children, but get in touch on the off chance The-Coming-End-That-Waits-For-Us-All decides to be nice."
Val knew it was a lie. The two of them had become close over the past several years, and it wasn't like either of them were moving anytime soon. Val was fond of Laura, regardless of whether or not they admitted it.
"Yeah, yeah. But you will owe me, vampira." Laura had never owed Val a thing except a nice lunch, and they both knew it.
"Not a vampire anymore," it said briskly, taking a sip of tea. "Also, I think the guy on your couch stopped breathing a minute or so ago."
Well that was certainly a way to get Val's attention.
They nearly dropped their mug in a mad-dash to Oliver's bedside, but managed to leave it precariously perched on the countertop. Val checks Oliver's pulse, praying to whomever xe had to.
Like hell was The Angel getting him soon. It still owed Val twenty quid.
As Laura had stated, Oliver was bot breathing. He also did not have a pulse. He did, however, mumble something under his breath and turn over in his sleep, furrowing deeper into the blankets.
oh well thats. fun
Gives Oliver a piece of coral wearing a santa hat
Merry Capitalism!
...it is. not anywhere close to christmas.
Lolll *washes up unconscious on the shore* Yaaaaayyy
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Interesting. What year did he begin publishing his things?
…1593?
1593? Are you from the future Oliver? It's 1568. That would explain me not knowing his works wouldn't it? Oh how exciting that is! The future! I must tell Mama and my sisters, they won't believe that I've sent letters with the future. How far into the future are you Oliver? Certainly not too long, yes?
Um. Well. It’s currently around 2016 here?
Oh that is quite far! Many generations past my time. I wonder what has come of my home in your time. Would it have the same name as it does now? Certainly not I'm sure. My Italy, such a gorgeous home, full of art and brilliance.
Aria sung her songs in audiance of so many around our Italy. She was to go to sing to kings, and here she is now, dead. I know she'd ask of her songs, if stories survive so long does music? Lyrics can be twisted, just as stories. Any songs she left are gone by your time I'm sure.
Oh, Italy still exists! Went there once, for a school trip. Don’t speak Italian, but— it was beautiful. Also I got cussed out for eating weirdly. But— yeah, still here, still thriving.
Don’t know any songs by an Aria, but— my bets are that we’re not really from the same world? Given— patterns with people I’ve talked to so far.
Italy still thriving! Oh Mama must know! Her Sparta long gone it's best she not think of homes living so long, but Italy! Maybe she stays here through the centuries, makes a new home of our Italy like her Sparta.
Oh you'd know not, she didn't go by her name when singing, it wasn't safe, she was known as a muse, a siren.
Different worlds? How curious. So I must not ask if you have met my mama then? I know she'd live still in your time, from Sparta to Italy to wherever she goes next if she stays not here in our home.
Uh. Don’t think I’ve met any immortals, so— even if we are in the same world, I doubt I’ve met her. Sorry.
Of course.
That is alright, I will still tell Mama Vivienne of what you've told me of Italy, she will be pleased to know of her survival I'm sure. Maybe she will take her children to see Shakespeare when he begins his plays, yes? Oh that would be lovely.
I— yeah, that’d be good. He wasn’t incredibly popular when he first started out, but—
God. The idea of seeing a Shakespeare play with Shakespeare actually there. That. That’s something.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Interesting. What year did he begin publishing his things?
…1593?
1593? Are you from the future Oliver? It's 1568. That would explain me not knowing his works wouldn't it? Oh how exciting that is! The future! I must tell Mama and my sisters, they won't believe that I've sent letters with the future. How far into the future are you Oliver? Certainly not too long, yes?
Um. Well. It’s currently around 2016 here?
Oh that is quite far! Many generations past my time. I wonder what has come of my home in your time. Would it have the same name as it does now? Certainly not I'm sure. My Italy, such a gorgeous home, full of art and brilliance.
Aria sung her songs in audiance of so many around our Italy. She was to go to sing to kings, and here she is now, dead. I know she'd ask of her songs, if stories survive so long does music? Lyrics can be twisted, just as stories. Any songs she left are gone by your time I'm sure.
Oh, Italy still exists! Went there once, for a school trip. Don’t speak Italian, but— it was beautiful. Also I got cussed out for eating weirdly. But— yeah, still here, still thriving.
Don’t know any songs by an Aria, but— my bets are that we’re not really from the same world? Given— patterns with people I’ve talked to so far.
Italy still thriving! Oh Mama must know! Her Sparta long gone it's best she not think of homes living so long, but Italy! Maybe she stays here through the centuries, makes a new home of our Italy like her Sparta.
Oh you'd know not, she didn't go by her name when singing, it wasn't safe, she was known as a muse, a siren.
Different worlds? How curious. So I must not ask if you have met my mama then? I know she'd live still in your time, from Sparta to Italy to wherever she goes next if she stays not here in our home.
Uh. Don’t think I’ve met any immortals, so— even if we are in the same world, I doubt I’ve met her. Sorry.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Interesting. What year did he begin publishing his things?
…1593?
1593? Are you from the future Oliver? It's 1568. That would explain me not knowing his works wouldn't it? Oh how exciting that is! The future! I must tell Mama and my sisters, they won't believe that I've sent letters with the future. How far into the future are you Oliver? Certainly not too long, yes?
Um. Well. It’s currently around 2016 here?
Oh that is quite far! Many generations past my time. I wonder what has come of my home in your time. Would it have the same name as it does now? Certainly not I'm sure. My Italy, such a gorgeous home, full of art and brilliance.
Aria sung her songs in audiance of so many around our Italy. She was to go to sing to kings, and here she is now, dead. I know she'd ask of her songs, if stories survive so long does music? Lyrics can be twisted, just as stories. Any songs she left are gone by your time I'm sure.
Oh, Italy still exists! Went there once, for a school trip. Don’t speak Italian, but— it was beautiful. Also I got cussed out for eating weirdly. But— yeah, still here, still thriving.
Don’t know any songs by an Aria, but— my bets are that we’re not really from the same world? Given— patterns with people I’ve talked to so far.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Interesting. What year did he begin publishing his things?
…1593?
1593? Are you from the future Oliver? It's 1568. That would explain me not knowing his works wouldn't it? Oh how exciting that is! The future! I must tell Mama and my sisters, they won't believe that I've sent letters with the future. How far into the future are you Oliver? Certainly not too long, yes?
Um. Well. It’s currently around 2016 here?
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Interesting. What year did he begin publishing his things?
…1593?
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Oh? Why would I not find anything by him? You said he was popular yes?
Uh— maybe not available in your area? Not sure.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Maybe some of his works are in the library, when were his stories first written? Mama keeps an archive of stories by date.
I— maybe. Don’t be surprised if you don’t— find anything by him, though. He’s… uh… just. Don’t be surprised, I guess.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
William Shakespeare? I don't think I've heard his name before. I'll have to see if Mama or anyone who goes to France or England in their travels have.
It does seem like a good play to watch, similar to something that Mama would read to us. She enjoys teaching us Greek Tragedies.
I— yeah. Shakespeare’s stuff is good. Lots going on, lots of good poetry— shaped a lot of modern art and writing.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
Oh an English teacher? How lovely!
What exactly is Hamlet? I don't think I've heard of it.
Immortality is quite a horrific thing from what Mama says.
Uh— well. Hamlet is a really famous tragedy by a guy named William Shakespeare about a prince who’s visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle killed his father in order to steal the throne from him, and that Hamlet needs to kill his uncle to get revenge. Hamlet’s hesitant about the whole thing, though— so he ends up trying to getter evidence that his uncle actually committed murder, hesitates to kill him, fakes insanity, has a whole bunch of issues going on— a bunch of stuff. It ends with almost everyone in the play dying, Hamlet included.
Dear Death,
Hello. Mama says that it's a natural thing, death. I know death, seen it a few times, nothing new but well. Never took anyone I loved before. Very rude of you Mr. Death to take Aria. She was nice and she was trying to help people. There are people cheering about her death and calling her a monster because she killed people, but they were bad people. She helped people, she really did.
She helped you in a way didn't she? Why'd you take her from me?
Her final words were a lullaby. I think she sung herself to her own death.
Two more years and I'll get my power. She left a letter for when I do, a letter is so small compared to the party she'd been planning with me since I was small. It's how she keeps hope in the younger ones. Kept hope in the younger ones. You won't need to do anything but live and when you get your power it will give you opportunities to live how you want.
I don't know Mr. Death what I want anymore. I wanted songs like her, but now?
I just want to see her one more time.
Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
Uhhhhh. Well. This is.
I’m not Death. I— work for it, in a way, I suppose? Make people fear it, see it before it happens…
I. I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Aria. She sounds like she helped you a lot.
Dear Mr? Not Death,
Sorry. I didn't think anyone else'd get this. Do you get letters by flames? I burnt the letter, an offering for Death.
She wasn't my friend. She was my sister in all the ways that mattered. I have her old room. She gave it to me when Mama took me in, said that she had her own home now, showed me where she hid things, best hiding spots. It's tradition when you hand down your room. Mama's gonna outlive all us kids, these rooms are only ours until we give them to the next kid. There's one girl, died before she could give her room away. Mama hasn't given it to anyone yet. It hasn't changed. I didn't know her. Aria did.
You make people fear Death? Why'd you do that? It's natural isn't it? Mama says we shouldn't fear it when it's time for us to die, that we'll be with Papa in the Underworld, in Elysium with him. He's waiting for Mama down there but she can't die, so he's all alone.
I think Mama sends the dead with messages to Papa, but I don't know.
Do you have a name Mr. Not Death? Are you a Mr?
Kindly and Respectfully,
Sophia Ward
I— Oliver. Oliver Banks. I am a Mr. But— just Oliver is fine. Got the letter in a message, so— I think Death couldn’t get the letter, so it went to me instead.
A sister can be a friend, too. It— can mean a lot of things. You love her, and she loved you? That’s a friend.
Never really— signed up for the Death’s prophet thing. It was more thrust upon me, and all. It’s about as natural to fear death as it is to die, though, isn’t it? It’s an ending. Maybe of just a chapter, but— still an ending.
Dear Oliver,
You'd like Mama. She says stuff like that too. Says that death is just the end of that person's story and only a chapter in yours. It's still mean. She wasn't meant to die yet.
We don't choose the Gods who bless us with our powers. Mama worships Death too. She can't die. Aria always said that death is a blessing compared to watching your children die for millennia. I think I see why she said that.
How many chapters would Mama's book have? A lot I think.
...Aria was going to give me a middle name when I got my powers. Her middle name was Kalliope, like the muse. Her songs were magical, you felt what she was singing about.
People say that sometimes she sang people to sleep before she killed them, other times she'd be silent. They called her a siren.
I think I'd want to be a siren too, help people like she did, even if I can't sing people to sleep.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did Death make you immortal like Mama?
Kindly and Curiously,
Sophia Ward
I— well. Don’t think I’m immortal, but— wanted to be an English teacher, for a while. Nothing more exciting than teaching a bunch of half asleep kids Hamlet. But— went into accounting, instead, then— had a rough time. I sell crystals, now, so… that’s fun. If I still have my job. I doubt it.
Can’t imagine being immortal. That— that’d hurt, watching everyone die like that. It’d break me, I think.
