[text]

[othersdie]

What do you believe happens to the dead once they leave the City?

I won't contest religious beliefs.


[Flagged to Dean // Open to Police Force Members and Affiliates]
I'd like to request a few days off, assuming no one else gets murdered. Please.


[ooc: Euphie left, she and Justin had a weird thing going on that was rather emotional, and Justin's dealing the only way he knows how that doesn't involve self-destructive habits he has outgrown, which is... thinking. (For those keeping score, he was already upset about Mara and the police force's lack of fixing things.)]

Comments

[had_not_lived]

I might not need to, but I do, sometimes.

[othersdie]

You're not leaving the City. You shouldn't have to think about it.

[had_not_lived]

I certainly don't plan on it. But, I do wonder. I can't help it.

[othersdie]

If the afterlife is some kind of meritocracy, you'll be fine.

[Maybe. Justin has a well-established view of the afterlife as it applies to him--he's been there, after all--but it'd be nice if it was different for everyone. Euphie, Neil, everyone else he's known who died--it's uncomfortable to imagine them spending eternity as a consciousness surrounded by nothingness.]

[had_not_lived]

[Neil's never been clear on what Justin does or doesn't remember about the time between leaving and coming back-- the brief visits, the long stretches of... whatever, he'd never quite been clear-- so maybe it's better not to ask.]

That depends who's judging.

[othersdie]

[It's not something he's terribly secretive about... and it's not something that he'll bring up on his own, especially around Neil. As far is Justin is concerned, Neil is exempt from any kind of unpleasantness.]

And that depends on your beliefs.

I don't think there's a judge.

[had_not_lived]

Which is why I think-- I mean, why I don't think there's a right answer.

[othersdie]

I don't need a right answer. I need an answer that I can believe.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

Are you asking for yourself, or...?

[Private]

[othersdie]

Euphie.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

I thought that might be it.

I don't know, but I think-- I believe, it's something nice. It must be.

[Private]

[othersdie]

What I've seen of it wasn't. I've been wondering... maybe it varies? Each world could--I mean, it's not unreasonable to imagine...

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

Each world. Maybe each person.

[Private]

[othersdie]

It needs to be. I hope it is, for Euphie and you and Mara, and for everyone else who hasn't died yet.

[Richard is not on that list. Justin hasn't thought himself into a bottomless pit of despair. (One of these is a lie.)]

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

For my part, I hope it never comes up.

[Stubborn, stubborn. He won't say or for you but it's implied.]

[Private]

[othersdie]

It won't.

[Neil and Todd belong in the City and Justin isn't entertaining the thought of either of them leaving. Everyone leaves except for them.

Quietly and apropos of nothing:]

I still have the cat I accidentally brought home. [During the cat-hugging curse. Not that Justin was hugging a cat or anything.[

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

Accidentally. [Well, he won't throw around accusations.] I don't mind cats. I don't think Todd does, either.

[Private]

[othersdie]

But should I look harder for her original owner?

[Or at all. He made a network post, but other than that.]

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

I suppose you could? I haven't seen any 'Lost Cat' posters around, though, or heard on the Network about anyone missing pets.

[In other words, you're probably safe.]

[Private]

[othersdie]

Neither have I. ...Okay.

[Well. At least he's locking himself in his room with a cat instead of something alcoholic.]

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

[That is definitely an improvement?]

Besides, it's nice, having a pet around.

[Private]

[othersdie]

You and Todd can help name her.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

I'll have to dig up some poems about cats, then.

[Private]

[othersdie]

Thank you for the help.

[Private]

[had_not_lived]

I'm always glad to help if I can, you know.