WHO: Lyra Gardhouse & Thane Thanatos WHEN: Saturday night WHERE: Thanatos' hospital WHAT: Taking Death out for drinks WARNINGS:
Lyra had always taken to people quickly, so it was no surprise to her when she considered Thane to be her friend far more quickly than he might have even ever thought of her. He'd been there when Lyra had been feeling completely alone at the death of her grandfather. Of course she'd latched onto him in a way that might even be considered overkill.
She'd dropped in at the hospital that afternoon to ask if they knew when Thane would be working and managed to get out of them that his shift finished at nine. So that was when she came back, going to ask one of the nurses she recognised where he was but then spotted him in the hall and coming jogging over after calling his name, hands still in the pockets of her coat.
Thanatos turned when he heard his mortal name, smiling as he noticed Lyra. He rather liked her. She was from Greece and would get into a profession that dealt with Death and the dying. He let her catch up with him, keeping the towels he'd been carrying in hand.
"Hello Lyra. Wonderful surprise to see you here this evening." He had his own worries, and he looked forward to the opportunity to ease them. Lyra would be a wonderful distraction. "I have to put these away," he lifted the towels up, "but walk with me and tell me what brings you here?"
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-16 10:43 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra smiled at him. "I came in earlier to ask them when you were getting off," she explained, walking beside him. "So I've come to take you out for a drink." She gently poked him in the shoulder at 'you'.
"And," she added, as she unbuttoned her jacket a little, "I figured you had to endure this." She pulled open her coat just enough to show some of the bright pink and yellow of the dress that Thane had encouraged her to buy.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-16 10:55 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He laughed when he noticed the dress, "that's brilliant. It looks good." Smiling he walked to the supply closet to put the towels away before walking towards the dressing rooms. "And I could use a drink, here just wait here. I'll be right out."
He checked his watch and pager before slipping into the locker room. He returned soon enough, wearing his regular clothes. "So where are you taking me?"
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 01:03 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He may have approved of the dress from a small view, but Lyra hadn't even blinded him with all of it. She waited where Thane had told her too while she checked messages on her phone and when he came back she smiled brightly. "There's a bar about three blocks from here that's good."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 01:19 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I will trust you," smiling he fell into step beside her, letting her guide the way. "so how have you been, and how are the studies going? Still dead?" She'd started that joke, he just latched onto it.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:00 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Study is a bit more alive this week," Lyra told him happily as they walked, her hands returned again to her pockets. "Got to do a dissection of a cancer patient on Thursday. The lungs were incredible," she told him, making a face. "If I ever get the urge to smoke I'll just remind myself about that."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 02:11 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He held open the door for her when they came to the exit, leaving after her. "Ah yes. Always a good deterrent. Never had the urge myself, I see plenty of deterrents every day." Not that it would have any effect, but still. "I've a few friends who do smoke though, nasty stuff."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:14 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I plan to live to a ripe old age," Lyra told him. (As long as her occasional death idealization didn't get the best of her at some point.) "So what about you?" she asked him, gesturing towards the direction they were to go. "How was your week?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 02:19 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He smiled at her, because he couldn't say anything. He didn't know these things. She could die tomorrow for all he knew. Only the Fates knew. He nodded and then followed her, "it was alright. I like the routine, and speaking to some of the patients."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:21 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "It must be nice to be able to be there for people," Lyra said, looking at him with a gentle expression. "Exhausting though, I'd think?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 02:25 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "It is both at times. But the rewards make it all better. Knowing I can bring some comfort, even just be there for people in their darkest hour, it's something I love doing." Smiling he shrugged, "I have to, or I wouldn't last in this profession. It's never easy, being a nurse that is meant to soothe the last hours of life, rather then saving it."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:27 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "It's good work, important work." She sighed. "I hope one day I can help people too. That's why I got into all this."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 02:36 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "You will, I'm sure of it." He gave her a comforting smile. "Takes a rare breed to do what you and I do. Which sounds bad, but I mean it as a compliment."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:44 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I took it as a compliment," she assured him with a smile, bumping her shoulder into his arm in an affectionate gesture as they walked. "Death doesn't bother me. It's sad for those left behind - I know that much - but death itself? That's always right beside us. We're all going to die much sooner than we think." She paused and then gave a little laugh. "God, listen to me. I invite you out for drinks and start in on the 'death is always watching'-" she wiggled her fingers ghostily at him "-before I've even got one beer in me."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 02:52 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He wasn't going to say how right she was, how accurate her comments were because he was sure that would freak her out. Instead he just laughed at her actions and shrugged. "The concept of death is usually vilified. Portrayed as an evil thing, come to claim us all. Young or old. Death, in my experience isn't anything. It just is. People fear being mortal. Thus they don't like speaking about it."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 02:57 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I speak about it too much," Lyra said with a self-deprecating eyeroll and a smile. "Which you're probably beginning to notice. It tends to garner my a reputation as a sort of suicidal emo headcase. Which..." she gestured down to her bright green coat. "I'm not so sure suits me." She smiled at Thane instead.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 03:00 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He chuckled and shook his head, " no. But books and covers. I speak about death a lot too, but it's required in my line of work. I hardly think you odd for discussing it. Too many shy from it, like speaking about death would invite it to your door."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 03:13 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Which is such a weird thought," Lyra agreed quickly and with a smile. "Like death is some capital-letter physical presence, like we still believe in some medieval Grim Reaper come to take us away. Imagine if you were the Grim Reaper," Lyra said to him, "would you just be sitting around waiting to leap out at anyone who said your name? That just sounds exhausting. The poor skeleton would want amazing health insurance for a job like that. Although, I guess that's something a reaper wouldn't have to really worry about."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 05:21 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Again he didn't have to imagine the things he knew. He'd met the Christian Death before, and he himself was Death. "I always did find it odd that people saw death as either a skeleton or a cloaked figure. Like putting a name and face on it would invite it again. I doubt Death is eager to do what needs to be done. It just is."
When they came to the bar he held the door open for her again, walking in behind her. "The Christian concept of death always amuses me. Especially the scythe. It's a farming tool, and yet has so much imagery behind it. I wonder where they copied that from."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 05:33 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "It has to do with the Christian image of Death being the 'harvester of souls'," Lyra told him, on good footing now they were talking about anything to do with death and mythology. "The Grim Reaper was supposed to cut down lives in the same way that people cut down crops. It might have come from somewhere else before that though."
Lyra unbuttoned her coat completely and pulled it off, warmer and nicer inside. She grinned at him. "A monstrosity, yes?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 05:56 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "But a bright one, I like it." Smiling he extended his hands, "here let me get your coat." Once she offered it to him he hung his and her coat up. "Makes no sense though. Death is hardly that cruel. It looks like it, but again vilifying something that isn't really evil. Just another part of life."
With a shrug he walked to a table and sat down.
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 06:02 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Talking to the wrong gal," Lyra reminded him as they sat. "But it's easy to understand how seeing death as evil comes about. Death is something that takes away everything we love eventually. If some hooded figure had come by my grandfather's bedside I sure as heck would have tried making deals and reasoning. It's human nature to fight against the very thing we never can."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 06:15 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Not hooded maybe, but he'd been there. Her grandfather hadn't been for him, but death had still been there. He smiled, "I doubt it would have worked. All beings have a limited amount of time on this earth. When you're time is up, then it is your time. Some people ask how you can judge a full life, whether a child not a day old has had a life more brighter then the man who is in his hundreds and is still going strong. Death is the only unconquerable thing, and yet people try none the less."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 06:18 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra leaned forward to set her chin on her palm, watching him thoughtfully. "You talk like an old soul," Lyra told him, her tone only a little teasing.
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 06:27 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select She didn't know the half of it. Smiling he shrugged, "you're not the first to tell me this. I've had plenty of these conversations before, both inside and outside of my job. My concept of death is not like the Christian concept. Greeks divided Death. You had the gentle death, and the violent ones. They put a face and names to them, to be able to try and understand such a concept. I find it is much easier to think of that, then an unnamed entity."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 06:34 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Lyra hadn't realised he was Greek or thought that way at least. Probably she should have picked up on it before then, but maybe their similar backgrounds was part of the reason she was so drawn to Thane. "I can't see entities," Lyra said with a shake of her head. "To me death is science and nature. We're born and the natural process of our bodies is to decay and then end."
She realised she hadn't even gotten to the bar yet and asked, "what can I get you to do drink? I promise I only talk more about life, death and the universe once I've had a few. But you can chloroform me when I get too much."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 06:43 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He shrugged, "we all have different ideals, and some of us beliefs. I am part science, part faith. Science has yet to answer some of the questions asked. Faith answers it for me."
He leaned back into the chair and glanced to the bar, "goodness no, but some wine will be fine. Which reminds me, if you like Greek wines there's a bar I know that will re-open soon enough if you'd ever like to go."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 06:48 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Haven't really tried much in the way of Greek wines," Lyra admitted as she stood up. "But I'm game! Now, should I get you red, white, or am I going to surprise you?"
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 06:54 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Surprise me, and trust me this place is the place to go for the best ones. You won't regret it." Smiling he set his hands on the table. "I know the owners," well sort of anyway, everyone kept Dionysus on their good side. And he'd led the wine god's wife to the underworld before. "It should be fun."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 07:08 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I'm in," Lyra told him with a nod and a smile. A Greek wine bar sounded like fun, and there couldn't be any harm in getting back to her heritage. "Be right back," she promised, making her way over to the bar and catching a few eyes because of her very bright dress.
When she returned it was with two glasses of merlot and she put one down in front of him and sat down with her own. "Ta da," she told him. "Like magic."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 07:18 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He smiled as he took the glass, sipping from it. "Thank you. And when is your last day of class for the semester? It can be a victory celebration. I thin you would get along with the girl who co-owns it. You have quite a bit in common."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 08:23 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "This Friday is my last day," Lyra told him, taking a sip of her own glass, "and then next week is finals and then I've got a break. Victory celebrations are great!" She beamed at Thane.
"Oh yeah, has she got a penchant for bright clothing and putting her hands inside corpse chests?" (The man at the table nearest to them looked over at that for a moment, confused or disturbed, before going back to his beer.)
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 08:31 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "After your finals then. We'll have a drink to celebrate how we'll you'll do." He smirked to the mortal's reaction and nodded to him before looking to Lyra. "Just the bright clothing. Well. Technically her husband has the same penchant." He shrugged, "interesting people, the both of them."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-17 08:36 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Hopefully I do well then," Lyra grinned, clinking her glass against his. "And I approve of anyone who likes to blind through clothing."
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[info]a_gentle_death 2011-05-17 08:48 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I'm sure you will do just fine. I have faith in you." Smiling he shook his head, "you'll love them then. Darius...well Darius you need to see to truly believe. Wonderful person, just a character."
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[info]gardhouse 2011-05-18 09:50 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Your faith I shall keep close, but I'll study too," Lyra said with a wink and then smiled brightly. "I like anyone described as a 'character'. It bodes for good things."