This Mortal Coil

[grantuseyes]

Micolash is in the Nexus Plaza, thankfully looking cleaner and smelling better than the last time he'd been asking questions. The cage is still in place, of course; why would it not be? He even looks a little healthier! Not much, as his skin is still sallow and gaunt over angular bones and features. But at least not as unsteady and proportionally more alert as well.

He's not quick to ask a question, however. The scholar is instead on a sofa, long legs pulled up onto the seat with him and folded in front of him. The rest of the sofa, normally big enough to seat three, is piled with books. Easily two dozen, if not more. A glance at the covers that are visible will show a selection of possibly recognizable names: Erwin Schrödinger. Charles Hartshorne. René Descartes. David Ray Griffin. The one he has open on his knees right now is a collection of Thomas Aquinas' summae and related theories.

The scholar is content to immerse himself in this reading for hours on end, but eventually, he seems to recall where he is. And that he can ask questions if the fancy takes him.

"What do you think. Or believe. Happens after death?"

Getting RIGHT to the heavy stuff, it appears.

Comments

[chocolatechipbadass]

Tina doesn't expect much in the way of comfort at the very least. The world she's from doesn't have very many soft places to shelter a child. Even her own friends are mass murderers. She shrugs her scrawny shoulders.

"I guess that'd be good? But like what for? Because if it's like you're around but you gotta listen to Handsome Jack talk nonstop on loop forever an' ever an' ever then I'd say that's probably called hell."

[grantuseyes]

"I don't know who this Jack is, but the only voices I heard were that of Great Ones. The realms of death are simply the realms of beings who exist in spirit only. Taking on new shape, new form, to adapt to it. Some of it...may be punishment, yes. The Hunter's Nightmare exists for such, after all. But all the same, there are many, many, many other locations for a spirit to fly to. Countless, I'm sure. As many are there are souls to inhabit them."

Micolash smiles, propping the collar of his cage on his knees and his chin on that in turn. "So take solace in the fact that no one you have lost is lost forever. Nor entirely. They still exist in the realms beyond. Having a fresh adventure, most likely."

[chocolatechipbadass]

Truth be told, Tina doesn't really remember her parents very well. She's long ago forgotten their faces, blocked out their bloody deaths from her mind until all that's left is an ache that surfaces at times she doesn't understand--leaving her face wet and chest so tight she thinks the world will open up and swallow her whole before it goes away.

Losing Roland was worse. She remembers spending time with him. Remembers him looking after her. And the idea that he's still having some grand adventure somewhere rather than just buried at the original site of Santuary, his body turning to dust and skag food...

"He liked to help people." Tina offers after a quiet minute. "Lead a group of refugees and resistance fighters. Roland was a good man. He don' deserve nothing but the best. Another adventure sounds like something he'd like."

[grantuseyes]

"So long as he did not die lost to bloodlust, he is likely travelling as I said. I am not...entirely clear of what all can happen once we have fled our shells," he continues, opening up his arms to indicate the books surrounding him, the extent of his search for concrete answers and ideas.

"But I have seen options. With mine own eyes. So if all that is required for solace is that, though the body ends and rots, the spirit remains? That we are all eternal in our own ways and never lost completely? Then I can assure you that that is the case and your friend persists someplace beyond us now. I can promise you that, in fact."