[005]

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[Claudius is not sulking.]

[...Except where he is, a little. Not only have some of his carefully guarded secrets been slipped from beneath his paws but he died. Got plunged into the great back, got returned panting and shuddering and shoved out into a Plane that he feels a bit creeped out about, to be honest. He's allowed to be a little unhappy with all of that, almost expected to be.]

[So he's sitting about halfway up a tree, in the forest, and SULKING.]

[...For this is a totally productive way to get through your emotions.]

Comments

[collector]

[Braxiatel was looking through the forest for a nice flower to take his mind off things, so he doesn't even glance up at Claudius as he passes by.]

[But he does notice.]

Good afternoon, Claudius. I am pleased to see you are no longer threatened by wolves.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[He expected Brax to notice, if he passed, and so doesn't even jump at his voice. Only sitting up a little and letting out a slightly more coherent grumble]

I was eaten by wolves.

[Pause] ...Or a man who thought he was a wolf, both work.

[collector]

The latter sounds more gruesome, I confess. I don't envy you.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[He could muse vaguely on what his girls must've felt like long ago, but...]

[It'd do no good. And so he simply sighs instead, rolls off the tree, lands neatly on the ground and rises without a single pause] It was hardly a fun experience.

[collector]

[That was surprisingly graceful from Braxiatel's unfriend.] Is your blood black now, then, or are you in the clear?

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[For once he didn't headbutt anything! ...He'd almost feel grateful, if he wasn't sure that the universe was going to go for him again.]

[And he considers that for a second, just a second, before lifting his nails and scratching a section of his arm open. It's not the most sensible option, no, there are probably better things to do, but...]

[It gets results, and his blood is black.]

...And what does that mean?

[collector]

It means that the Plane or the Machine or whatever it is has become a part of you. It happens to everybody who dies here, as far as I'm aware.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[A long pause.]

[His hand slowly closes over the blood oozing from his arm] ...And what does that mean?

[collector]

Unfortunately, we haven't worked that bit out yet.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

So they could do anything to me. [Staring down at his arm] Excellent, not like I'm used to that at all.

[collector]

Sorry, is it a familiar experience?

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

I've been used before.

[collector]

As a test subject? [Though his voice is quiet, it is without sympathy. Braxiatel is very bad at sympathy, so he doesn't even try to fake it.]

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

[Claudius isn't sure what he'd do with sympathy so that probably works out for the best. It'd probably only lead to him turning into a cat and moping for a while] ...No, as worse.

So I suppose this is a change, at least.

[collector]

I am ever so glad that it is at least not repetitive. Have you noticed a change in your abilities? That seems to be a consistent point as well.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank God for such mercies. [Can you hear the sarcasm? Probably, it could topple a small elephant.]

...And I haven't exactly tried any of them since my death.

[collector]

Well, perhaps you should consider doing a little experimenting on your own.

[gavesomuch.livejournal.com]

Perhaps.

...And maybe I should do it here, it'd probably be sensible.

[collector]

It would certainly spare you some awkwardness at home, but don't let that stop you.