✚ 001. [voice]

[puppydoctor]

[It would be really, really nice to just go one day without a reminder that none of this is normal. Like a patient noticing the glowing tattoo and looking uncomfortable. Or having a full-blown panic attack on the way to work, just because a bus passed him by.

Or a bedpan filling itself up with hot coffee on his last day of work as a nurse.]

It turns out "infinite coffee" is somehow the actual most annoying superpower ever.

[There's a shuffle and the sound of water running. He's attempting to get the worst of the coffee off of the stain, while the scalded skin underneath quickly heals itself. Another reminder.]

What's the policy on disappearing into anonymity here? 'Cause I just wanted to rest in peace, not live out a comic book. I don't even want Heaven after all this, Purgatory would be fine. I was a good Catholic kid.

[Until he stopped believing in God, committed adultery, and got divorced.]

I lived - live - to help people. I joined the army back home to help people, and that's all I want to do here, with my afterlife. But I'm tired. Death is tiring, and I just want to be Mr. Nobody who goes to work and comes home from work and gets a couple of drinks with his friends. I don't want to be a hero to anybody's world.

... But if I'm going to be, I need to know what the hell you tell yourself to keep going. I don't have anywhere to get back to. This is my only world now, and I don't know if that makes me part of it, or if I'll be an outsider forever, but I need to hear it. I know I'm not the only undead guy walking around without a purpose.

Comments

[mightthinkthat]

We're not undead, you know, we breathe, we need to eat. I don't feel any particular new craving for blood or brains. I know, you're emphasising how you should be dead, I understand, but apart from enabling everyone's coffee addiction, you're not any less human you were. I'm not.

As for your actual problem. Well, I suppose there isn't really any such way. We're being paid so much attention that not being recognised seems... unlikely. They'll get used to you, though, human beings being what they are. And other, more new imPorts will garner more attention, as well as the more outspoken ones. You'll be 'less interesting'. It's really the best outcome I can offer you.

As for my methods of coping... I suppose I just get on. Not much of an answer, I know. But working hard is how I've coped.

[ It has always been the way he's coped. If left idle too long... well, there's a list of casualties that can witness to what happens then. ]

Introducing myself to people, practically everyone! Even taking interviews... it helps to talk too, I do suppose.

[ That was part of Francis' work but obviously it's not so much for this man. ]

You don't need to be, quotation marks, a hero, if you don't wish to be, but I don't agree that means that you can't help people. And you'll find friends as you go along. Give yourself some time. I can understand why you want to rush. I miss greatly my wife... my friends too. [ Though he had killed them, so the latter was entirely his own fault. ] But I know I can't rush. I need to take one day at a time.

As you say, [ he breathed out ] this is all we have left. We're lucky to be granted this stay.

[puppydoctor]

[Francis' speech is sobering, and George loses a little of the fire that had been building during his soap opera speech. He listens in silence, wringing his hands. Because the guy's right. There's no magic button to make everything better, but then... maybe he doesn't need one. Maybe he can deal. Maybe he can still have a good life here.]

Time. Something I guess I have a lot of now. But I don't feel lucky. It was my time, and I was ready, and...

[He rubs his face, feeling more exhausted by the word.]

Thank you, though. It helps, not being alone in this.

Video

[logicunlocked]

I think the general policy is 'good luck on your life without any support or help' but I could be wrong.

But I'm wondering, if you're so convinced you're dead, what makes you think this isn't Purgatory? Why does it have to be Hell?

[puppydoctor]

I'm not convinced of anything. I'm dead. It happened. Now I'm just... I don't know, maybe this is my afterlife, or maybe it's not. But it's a pretty crappy one.

voice;

[coppelganger]

[ For a while she thinks about ignoring the message. After all, it's not like he left it for her. But in the end she can't just pretend she never saw it. She's trying to be a good person, and he's her friend. ]

I know I'm not who you left this for, but if you need to talk or some shit...?

[ Wow, good going, Sarah. She clears her throat a little awkwardly. ]

I know it's not the same, but you're definitely not the only one who's sick of being called a hero.

[puppydoctor]

[He breathes an actual sigh of relief to hear from Sarah. Ever since he brought it up he's been worried about scaring her away with all of this.]

I'm fine. But thank you. It means a lot not to be alone.

[private | text] because like hell he's admitting this in public

[pushtheboundaries]

You're not the only one.

But personally, I'm telling myself there's an opportunity here.

[puppydoctor]

Yeah? And what's that?

video

[abandon_hope]

[ There's something off about Nico this time; shadows crawl up and down his skin in a way that's kiiiiind of creepy. Potentially. Because he's still suffering the effects of that damn neurotoxin. ]

Doesn't matter. The Fates won't let you go so you might as well get comfortable.

[puppydoctor]

The Fates can go-

[He stops himself, before he says something potentially offensive, and sighs heavily.]

... I know, I don't have a choice. I'm just trying to be more okay with that, you know?

[Then, he notices that something seems a little off about this kid since they last talked.]

Hey, are you alright?

video

[angelfire]

What? You don't want to come party with me for eternity? I'm hurt.

Let me tell you something about death. It isn't really the end. Here, there--De Chima or Heaven it doesn't make much difference, you were taken from one existence and put into another, and until you bust your way out it's really just something you have to deal with. The only factor that alters your what you take from it is whether or not you see it as a curse or a gift; whether you fight your way to get out with everything you have, roll over and play dead for the duration, or get out there and party like it's 1999. Judging by the sulking...

[puppydoctor]

[... What.

Who is this douchebag.]

I'm not sulking, I-

W-who are you, exactly?

voice

[mirroredmemory]

Well, if you can, you can always do what you never got the chance to do before you died. That's what I've been doing. And you can still go and get drinks with friends after work, or eat ice cream or go to the beach. None of that has to change because we're imPorts.

[puppydoctor]

[This answer almost makes George smile - it's a lot more cheerful than the rest, though it disturbs him that the voice seems so young.]

I guess I never thought too much about that. Most of my life was work, up until I died.

[acclimatized]

[ ah, it's the bloke who helped him at the ceremony. john has been meaning to get into contact with him again. ]

From the way I look at it, this world gives people a second chance. You just have to keep soldiering on. Keep your head down and do what you love.

[puppydoctor]

[Ah, another familiar face. George can't help but feel a bit weird, talking about his death to people who didn't already know about it.]

Second chances are great and all, but who ever said more life is better? It's not the years you get to be alive that matter.

voice

[aggressiveapathy]

Alternate realities don't come with a free meaning of life. But the hero thing is totally optional. And stupid.

[puppydoctor]

[He gives a small laugh at her bluntness.]

Yeah? What do you think is stupid about it?

video

[rathercommon]

[ Here's a nice-looking girl with a polished smile. ]

Well, I don't know all that much about comic books. But there are other ways to help people, you know. I've got a few ideas, if you're interested.

[puppydoctor]

[A refreshing sight between all the scruffy old men.]

Well, I'm about to start back into surgery, so that's one way. But what do you got?

[illuminescent]

I-

[She sound upset, now.]

What do you mean, death-

[voice; private]

[puppydoctor]

[He freezes, his eyes wide. He hadn't told Lucy, he hadn't told her, and the distress in her voice makes him want to take everything back and pretend he was lying.]

... I died, back home, before I came here. I'm sorry you found out like this.

audio;

[grimreaping]

Undead isn't a proper term for it, but no, you're not the only one with this particular... state.

[puppydoctor]

There's a proper term for "died but came back in another universe"?

voice;

[hsalf]

I'll trade you my power for the infinite coffee one.

[Ok not really, but he loves coffee and having a power that he assumes just lets you have coffee whenever you ask for it? Sign him up.]

If you wish to live in obscurity, day in and day out, no one is going to stop you. Even with your powers, nobody will expect you to be a superhero living out a comic book story. If you need something to help you keep going...just know that there are many people in the same boat as you. And that the network is always open.

[puppydoctor]

Yeah? What do you got?

[He likes this answer though, and the smile is audible in his voice.]

... And thanks. I appreciate it.