And who says that it has to?! Why couldn't it have someone who deserved it?! That damned fox who's done absolutely nothing but be worse than scum is still walking around even after death, but I don't see a single soul coming after to drag him back to hell, do I? And what on earth for?! What kind of balance are you trying to maintain if you're just going to leave all the rotten ones out of it?!
*They didn't mean to snap at him, but at that point it felt near impossible for them to get their act together without slipping-- not when it felt like someone was repeatedly sweeping the floor beneath their feet. To say that they were panicking would have been understating it, but a single glance at the patches on his jacket is enough to give them pause. They take a deep breath, their shoulders slumping over as their hands harshly rubbed away at their face.*
I'm sorry. I'm... I'm sure this is as painful as it is for you as it is for me. He must be just as important to you if he'd given you all those things.
*They let out a quiet laugh, but the sound was hollow as it is warm; a dying flame pitifully trying to replicate the hearth it used to be. Their clouds ebb ever so slightly then- not as hardened as it was, yet its surface still dark enough to forecast the inevitable.*
He really is a good friend to have. A kind person, too. It's quite jarring, really. Kind people always seemed so superficial to me; to do things unconditionally was a phenomenon I'll never understand. But he made it feel like it didn't have to be.
*Their hands leave their face to fiddle to wring the ends of their sleeves, clenching and unclenching the fabric.* I suppose I'm just tired. It's not a very pleasant to watch good people pay the price for things that weren't their doing. Worse, if it's a failure of your own that they're paying for.
*Their eyes squeezing shut for a moment before they lift their head to face him, their gaze pleading but firm.*
I know this isn't how it works, and I really do understand how it feels to go against people above you. But he wouldn't have even been in this kind of situation if it weren't for me. If there really is anything that I could do, anything at all--- if I have to stay away from him or whatever else, I'd do it. Please.
*Dem jumps at the snap, clearly having not expected it. He stands tense as they speak, his emotionless visor not doing any help in telling what he's feeling. His hands, which has fallen to his sides, stay stock still. He waits after they speak, maybe thinking maybe convincing himself to respond, but only after a few moments does he say something.*
That fox, Alexander I think his name is, he's not my jurisdiction. My brother fin, he deals with things like him, things that're kept alive for a reason. I'd have him back in the afterlife by now if I was in charge of him.
*her thinks of another thing to say on the subject, maybe make them feel better, but he decides to leave that part be is best. He really doesn't know much about that guy. He looks down at his jacket, beneath the helmet he smiles as he points to the one he had just been touching.*
You know, Vaine gave me this one as a... payment of sorts to come see you. He couldn't remember much at the time but he told me he knew he had someone he needed to talk to again. Now, I knew who he was talking about even if he didn't at that very moment. You think he'd go through all that effort to come back to you if it was your fault he died? I don't think so. He's a kind man but he has his limits!
*Dem reaches a hand up and gently places it on their shoulder in an attempt to be comforting.*
Tell you what, I know how important you are to Vaine. And I know that you can tell how important he is to me. So I'll leave under one condition. I won't make you stay away from him, gods know he'd find a way to kill me if I did something like that.
*his hold on their shoulder tightens just a bit, like he's trying to indicate the seriousness of the matter. His visor glints in the sun, as he leans down to be perfectly eye to eye with them. His tone and even the air around him feels certain, like there's nothing else to be done. This is their only option.*
My condition, is that you can't take anyone's life without my explicit permission. Ever. Not a rat, not a human, not a fox. I'll gift you his life, his soul in a way, in return for any and every life you might've ended in the future. I'd say it applies to Vaine too but he's already got a binding deal with me, so I can't put him in another.
