A Strange Afterlife

[ginger_firebird]

 It had to be impossible. He could feel his skin. A pulse beat under his neck. He stood in front of a store window and regarded his reflection in the glass. Same black leather outfit. Same brown trench-coat. The fabric weight down on him and he rubbed his arms as he tried to figure out what was going on. A wandering spirit had doors to enter and exit when it came to the world of the living, but he'd never achieved something like this. It was alien and wrong and he had no idea where anyone was.

Mantis sighed, marveling quietly at the way his chest rose and fell with his breathing. It didn't matter. He'd keep moving and hope for the best. If this was some punishment for a misstep, he knew exactly who to take it up with.

"Sorrow!" Even his voice carried an echo. Mantis pointed himself into a new direction and began to walk. "What did I do this time, old man?"

Comments

[neverseenhimbefore]

"Is lingering beneficial or harmful?"

There's... some raw honesty that's palpable, all of a sudden, in the question.

Whatever else, Lotor truly wishes to know this, or wished to, for sure.

[ginger_firebird]

"Depends? Some linger because they cannot understand that they have died. Some seek revenge for a great pain that led to their demise. I wanted to watch the man who killed me die. Everyone who lingers has a reason, even if they don't know what it is."

Even with a petty revenge being wrought, Mantis himself is far too aware in death for a simple act like that to be enough.

[neverseenhimbefore]

He just listens intently, then finally replies,

"I wonder why I haven't met anyone like you a few hundred years ago."

"Nevermind, that's fine. Your answer's much appreciated."

[ginger_firebird]

"The dead are hard to hear and to see when you're still alive. Even when you're dead, it's hard to find others like you unless you have someone guiding you like a medium."

He's got his arms crossed, but he can't help but wonder what brought up such a specific kind of thought.

[neverseenhimbefore]

The prince nods. Somehow, it makes sense it'd be difficult. That's disappointing, but somehow, not too surprising.

"I hope," he adds, more polite and affably official sounding than a moment ago, "that I did not bring about any unpleasant memories. Such is not my intention."

Even with all the shields around Lotor's mind, it's surely almost obvious that Lotor's thoughts are mostly elsewhere than with such concerns.

[ginger_firebird]

"Hardly. I've been dead for over ten years. I've had enough time to get used to it. There's rarely anything else to do." Mantis shakes his head. "Save apologies for where they're needed."