WHO: Death and Martin Stein WHAT: Martin has questions, Death answers WHEN: Recent WARNINGS: Conversations about death STATUS: Closed and Completed GDoc
Martin was annoyed. He had talked to Sara, and he had talked to Barry and Caitlin, and he had even talked to strangers, and it seemed most people who came here did so from life. So why had he come here from being dead? He had been annoyed by it and still was, some. The challenge and intrigue of the place, while still strong, was less so, this far in. Now, he just was curious as to why him?
And then… he saw her. Maybe it was because he had just seen her minutes before he had arrived in this world or maybe she just didn’t conceal herself here, but he recognized her right away. Death.
And he found himself walking toward her, confusion still in his heart and mind.
*** Death was stoic today, sitting on a bench with a book and a coffee. As real as any other human. Except she was in no way concealing herself as Death. She was just being. Which was awkward for people around her. She’d clearly been in a mood after the holidays and so she’d stopped hiding her nature.
Which meant people around her knew who she was more.
So Martin’s approach was simple enough and he was regarded carefully as she closed her book and laid it upon her lap. “Hello, Martin. I’ve only recently seen you. Welcome to Madison Valley, I suppose.”
***
“So it is you.” He blew out a long breath and sat near her, facing her partially. “And you know me, so I can skip that. I have questions and I was hoping you might have answers. If you don’t mind me asking?” He didn’t want to piss off someone who had to be powerful, even if he had faced down strong beings before. This was different.
*** Death folded her hands over her book. “It is me. Yes. I am as real as this bench is.” She grinned a bit, “ask, then, but know even I have rules and there are things I cannot answer. So choose your questions carefully.” Darth was a benevolent one, usually, and she'd broken a few rules before.
She was just careful about it.
***
***
Martin nodded. “Mainly, and I hope this breaks no rules, but mainly I was wondering how I can even be here. I died, and felt myself… start to move on.” Or so it had felt in the moments before he had woken up in Madison.
“I still feel… off-kilter, as if I am not quite alive and not quite dead.”
*** Death tilted her head back and laughed softly. “Because this place doesn’t follow standard rules. It plays by its own, which means it can defy even I. Technically you were a few milliseconds from actual death, since you are alive and breathing here.”
She shrugged a touch “I also do not help with them playing by the rules, being here myself. Sometimes people just don’t stay dead.” she lifted her mug of coffee and took a sip. “So you can blame me for being alive here.”
***
Martin stared at her, then laughed, a rich sound of mirth. “I like you. You, madame Death, are a treasure.” He chuckled more and eyed her, smiling.
“How long have you been trapped here?” He was curious now. The concept of a being like her being trapped here hurt his brain.
***
Death gave him a smile, her eyes flickered into their endless star filled pools before going to back to normal. “I prefer force of nature but treasure works too.”
“Mmm a few months give or take. I'm still out there, too, just a part of me is here.” She smiled, “interesting is it not?”
***
***
“Hmm, as you wish.” He grinned, thinking that was fascinating. “When you do that thing with your eyes, is it all of space and time, or a particular segment?” Curiosity would be his downfall, truly.
“It is. It raises both quantum physics questions and philosophical concerns about the basis of reality, but it is very curious.”
*** “You ask such interesting questions.” she laughed softly at him, “It is a little of both, depends on what I’m looking at, to be honest. And when.” she smiled at him, curiosity was such a human trait. She found it fascinating.
“You’re speaking with a literal Force of Nature and you’re worried about the basis of reality?” she arched a brow upwards, she couldn’t contain the grin.
***
“Intriguing! I could ask you questions all day long, but I know that would be silly, so thank you for that answer.” He smiled to her gratefully.
“Yes, well, why not? When else to better think on such subjects?” He smiled, eyes distant for a moment. “We humans do question all things, and when you put something or someone in front of uis that challenges what we know, we tend to come up with yet more questions, sometimes related, sometimes not.”
He nodded.
“Though mine was.”
***
Death laughed softly. “Of all creation, humans are the most interesting ones around.” She shook her head a bit.
“Question everything. That is good. It's what makes you human.”death smiled gently as she set her mug down.
“I'll be here to answer any you wish to ask.”
***
Martin smirked. “I like that. A bit of arrogance on my part and ego, but I do.” he nodded.
“Then I will be sure to come back and ask more questions. I like asking questions. It’s part of what I do as a scientist.” he cocked his head to look at her. “So many ideas and thoughts, I am sure you will get tired of hearing me call, ‘Oh Death! I had another idea…’” he chuckled
*** Death only laughed, “You would not be the first or the last to attempt to annoy me with a billion questions. Do not have any fear. If I don't like it or can't answer. I just won't.” She shrugged a little.
***
“Ah, but I do not wish to annoy you. I simply end up with questions always. Most mere mortals grow tired of them.” he nodded at her.
“What do you like to do, to pass the time, being stuck in here?”
*** “I stir up trouble here and there. I have made friends and hang out with them. I simply attempt to enjoy being mortal like.” She shrugged a bit as she looked at him.
“You won't actually annoy me, don't worry.”
***
“I am glad. You work hard.” he paused, then, that thought catching up with him and he turned to her again, curious. “Is it work, what you do? Gathering souls to go to the next adventure?” Seemed a logical question.
“I’m glad. I’ve no desire to do so.”
***
Death smiled “It is work but not as you would know it. It is my only true purpose, there is no choice in the matter.” Though there was, Destruction had abdicated his place. That was a disaster though.
***
Martin nodded. “Do you find it pleasant? Is it… something you enjoy?” He was curious, very much so. And how often did you get the chance to ask Death questions?
*** She blinked at the man and shrugged. “It is simply a thing I do. I enjoy meeting people.” she shrugged a touch more, not really sure she enjoyed it.
***
She had given him much to think on. “Thank you. I'm sure I'll have more questions another day. “ he nodded to her.
“I like you.”
*** “That's good.” She said idly before smiling. “Well I look forward to our next meeting.” She smiled warmly as she stepped away. “I'm sure it will be enlightening.” *** FIN