ƒ 004 [voice/action] open } { i can’t promise to obey you, i can’t swear i won’t betray you

[deathlessness]

[The ambient sounds of Lux Deux is prominent in the background as the feed starts up again, and for a long time it is the only sound aside from the clink of the glass being moved against the bar while Freya tries to get her words in order. She’s ascertained from her siblings at this point that she’s been gone far longer than would be considered “normal” for Wonderland – if there ever was such a thing.

She could simply announce that she’s returned and leave it at that, let those who wish to seek her out come find her, but that has never been her way, and while she doesn’t wish to talk about herself, she’s curious about something else.]

A question for you, Wonderland, though it is a rather specific one.

[Her words are slow and deliberate, likely indicating the amount she’s had to drink at this point – enough to dull the events of the last few months spent home, but not enough to make her sloppy – and the sound of her placing the glass back down on the bar can be heard before she continues.]

At this point, I’m sure we’re all aware of the … complications, involving those of us arriving from different points in the same timeline. For those of us who have come here and then learned of our future before actually going home to live through it, what do you think was worse? The speculation of what was to come, or the events themselves?

[There’s a small scrape as the glass is lifted again.]

Would you prefer to have remained ignorant, or do you feel at peace having lived the truth for yourself?

[And she’ll have the device with her to answer replies, though if you would prefer to visit her in person, she would not say no to company either. She’s probably going to be at the bar for a while.]

Comments

[jivitadana]

[Oh. That was that then.]

Does that bother you?

[deathlessness]

Not at all.

[A small smile comes to her voice.]

The costs always outweighed the benefits.

[jivitadana]

[A nod. He could see how that'd be true.]

Your siblings are okay with it too?

[deathlessness]

I think they'd prefer it over my taking a century-long nap.

[jivitadana]

[Whoa. Naps are great, but that one is way too long.]

How did that happen?

[deathlessness]

It was a condition of my immortality. I would be part of the world for a year, and then I would sleep for a hundred.

[jivitadana]

That's kind of a high price to pay, isn't it?

[deathlessness]

Immortality will always have a high price. Things are meant to die - it is the natural way. And I never wanted it in the first place.

[jivitadana]

How did you end up being immortal in the first place then?

[If he can ask. Living and sleeping for hundreds or thousands of years is not something he's heard about, except in maybe books or movies.]

[deathlessness]

I was bound to a very powerful witch who wished to be immortal. She used our combined power to cast a spell that would allow us to not age, but the cost was not as she predicted. She was searching for a way to never sleep again when I managed to separate myself from her.

[By, you know, killing her.]

[jivitadana]

But you're okay now, right? You don't have to worry about her coming after you.

[Since that would be terrible. Or going after her siblings.]

[deathlessness]

Oh, no. She is quite dead.

[And she's free of all of it, and while she can't say she's happy, necessarily, she's with her family, and that's what matters.]

[jivitadana]

[Not to rain on her parade, but Wonderland could be cruel and bring that person here. Minato hoped that it wouldn't do that to her, not after everything she's been through already.]

I'm glad you're in the clear. I hope it stays that way.

[Here and at home too.]

[deathlessness]

As do I.

[and there's a small smile in her tone.]

Hopefully I haven't been too depressing.

[jivitadana]

No, don't worry. Thank you for answering my questions.

[He had asked and she had answered, which he was thankful for, and he liked learning about it from her. She was so much older than him since he hadn't even lived longer than two decades. There was a lot she knew and he was grateful that she was willing to share that.]

[deathlessness]

Of course. It was good to talk about it, at least superficially.

[jivitadana]

I'd like to hear more about it later, if it's okay.

[deathlessness]

Perhaps it's best for another time. Today has been a long day.

[jivitadana]

That's fine. Thank you again. Please take care.

[deathlessness]

You as well.

[And with that, she will go back to her drink. /scene]