♕ |[25]| Where neither red, nor gold, nor wine, nor the rhythm of life is known.

[had_not_lived]

[Audio]

I didn't mean to go through. I was only trying to see if I could find Anne, and while I was looking in it's like it moved to swallow me up and.

[There's a pause here as Neil tries to collect himself. He's managing not to sniffle, but not even trying to hide how distraught he is.]

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't know I'd fall through.

I want to come back. Please. I don't want to be here.

Comments

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[wingstock.livejournal.com]

2/2

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

There might end up being a way out. There isn't any point in just keeping people trapped. Not that makes sense with this place as far as I can tell.

[had_not_lived]

I don't-- I need a way back, not just a way out. I need to come back to the City.

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

Based on what I've seen and heard about this place, about how it works, I don't think you'll end up going home. If you had, I think you would already be there.

I doubt the City is interested in actually giving anyone what they expect.

[had_not_lived]

I can't go home, not really. I know that. I wouldn't want to if I could but there isn't anywhere for me to go, even if this was really home.

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

What do you mean there isn't anywhere for you to 'really' go?

[had_not_lived]

I'm dead. Or I should be.

[He would be, but it's his week to have a heartbeat. That's worth a sad little laugh.]

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

You think the dead have nowhere to go to, then. I see.

[ pause ]

Perhaps they don't, where others come from. I forget.

And you are where you are because you went in after a friend.

[ pause and then, not condescending, but quiet ]

That was good of you.

[had_not_lived]

I don't care where the dead are supposed to go. I want to come back to the City. Anne wanted to, too, and I couldn't help her.

And now I'm stuck, too.

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

[ sigh ]

The one thing you can count on is that the City powers don't seem to like stasis. If you don't go home then a way to get out will probably present itself.

Or it's possible that it will be treated like a 'curse' and simply stop, leaving you right where you would be if you were in the City proper. It is a little like that curse where people were trapped in an empty City. Isolation with no perceivable exits.

[had_not_lived]

I hope that's true. It's just-- that man said, he said the City's falling apart.

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

There isn't any proof of that. I wonder if there is a world within a world---outside the barrier, but not home.

[had_not_lived]

You think that's where I am, now?

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

Possibly. I would give it a little more time----see if the continual tear on the walls has any effect on where you are---or in your case, if anything changes.

[had_not_lived]

I guess.

I could try to break a window, but I'm afraid I'd freeze...

[wingstock.livejournal.com]

Or something more unpleasant than cold air might invite itself in.

[had_not_lived]

I don't even want to think about what you might mean.