caughtinanetwork

In Egyptian times, they used to believe that when a person died, it was not considered the end. Instead, it was the beginning of an everlasting afterlife.

[The camera shows Jacob sitting in his cabin, his unfinished blue and white tapestry hanging in front of him on a loom as he works on it deftly, not even stopping while he speaks. It's hard to see, but it's clear that the tapestry so far has some Egyptian influences as well- black figures can be seen along with several hieroglyphs on it.]

[Jacob himself isn't smiling, though. In fact, he looks incredibly serious- the murder that happened a few days ago was not something he was taking very lightly. So he continues working on his tapestry, a very focused look in his gaze.]

It was a rebirth, really. But even then, when someone died, their soul, or their ka, didn't just immediately get the lush afterlife that they wanted. They had to go through many perilous obstacles, such as creatures that would devour them or kill them if they didn't recite the proper words. Because the fact was that even in the afterlife, you could die. And death was permanent if that ever occurred. There would be no afterlife from the afterlife.

[A pause as he starts on the next row of the tapestry, his mouth still set in a slight frown.]

But the hardest part of the road to the afterlife was the Weighing of the Heart. For after you defeated all the creatures, your soul would be brought before the goddess of justice, Ma'at, and you would tell her that you had not committed any sins. Then your heart would be taken and weighed against a feather. If the scales balanced, you would be brought to the lush lands of the afterlife and live there happily for the rest of your life.

If it didn't balance...then a terrible creature known as Ammit, the Destroyer, would eat your heart whole, and your journey would come to a quick end.

[There's a moment of silence, and he finally turns to the camera, bright blue eyes forever ancient and piercing.]

Even if death here isn't permanent...it does make you think about where the people from other worlds go when they die. Do they go to a sort of afterlife before being revived? Or is there something more to it? Does the place itself keep us alive and resurrects us because it needs us? And...why does it only apply to the ones that have been brought here against their will?

So far, when the natives die...they stay dead. There is no rebirth for them.

[A slight sigh.]

What, exactly, has death become here?

[ooc: Don't forget to fill out Jacob's permission post if you haven't done so already! Thank you. :)]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wow, join the fucking club! Now you know as much as most everyone else from my world. You're so fucking special now. [When in doubt, lash out.]

I'm not much more than that, apparently! Not much else to know about bitchy Vriska Serket!

I also know that you're much more vulnerable than you appear to be. It must be hard, everyone thinking of you in a certain way when you're not like that at all...

[The "special" comment does sting on the inside, due to the fact that back home, he had never been considered special at all. But that doesn't even show on his face. Instead, he almost looks like a father who's disappointed in what his child is saying.]

Have you come to believe what people say about you?

[She's backed into a corner with no where to go. Vriska Serket doesn't abscond, but what is she supposed to do when faced with... faced with that?]

No... No way! I don't care what they think about me! I don't need them! They were never worth my time to begin with... [She remembers Kanaya and her honesty outburst during their last conversation and she swallows.]

Is that true?

[A sad sort of frown.]

Because I don't think it is. You need people just like everyone else, Vriska. Nobody wants to be alone.

Stop- Don't look at me like that! Don't pity me!

I don't care if I'm alone, I'm fine being by myself! I always have been and always will be! I'm not like some human that craaaaaaaaves comfort and friends- I'm a troll! I'm the best kind of troll! I don't need any of that stuff. It just makes you weak. [And vulnerable.]

I'm not pitying you.

[He just stares at her for a while before speaking again.]

So you'd be fine with having nobody to care about you?

Of course you are. What else would you be doing?

[She hesitates when he asks that.]

... Yes! Isn't that what I said?

I'm just saying what I know. I'm not looking down upon you for it.

[A pause.]

That is what you said. But you don't sound like you believe in it entirely.

Liar. [Who wouldn't look down on her because of something like this?]

I do believe it! I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it. [Maybe if she says it enough it'll become undeniably true.]

I don't lie.

[No, really, he doesn't, he's horrible at lying.]

I can say that I have green hair over and over again, but that doesn't make my hair turn green, right?

Everyone lies.

[She scowls.]

That- This is different!

What do you want me to tell you?!

I don't.

[Another shrug. Jacob is a master at trolling people even though he never intends to troll in the first place. He's just too darn cryptic.]

Whatever you want me to tell you. I'm not looking for an answer.

It's your choice about what you want to tell me.

Why should I believe you?

[She huffs, unsure of what to do now. Her bravado is as flimsy and see-through as her arrogance.]

There's nothing for me to tell you.

Because I'm not lying when I say that I do not lie.

[Jacob nods, an understanding look on his face.]

Give it time and think about it. You'll see, eventually.

I still don't believe you. [Everyone lies and everyone cheats. No one is exempt from that.]

... I don't-- [Understand.] Hnnnnnnnngh!

There's nothing for me to see!

Believe or not believe. It's your decision.

Maybe you should look at it from another perspective, then?

How do I do that?

Try to put yourself in another person's shoes, perhaps, or try to get around the things you are telling yourself and look at yourself without your or your friend's bias.

Look yourself in the mirror. The mirror doesn't lie, does it?

I don't need to look in the mirror to see who I am. [Who knows if she'll even try to do any of those things.]

What good is any of this going to do for me? Admitting... hypothetical problems. It's not like it'll change anything for me.

Then what do you need to look into, then?

[He smiles slightly.] How do you know? Have you tried? Sometimes, the results can surprise you, Vriska. All you ever need to do is take a chance.

Fuck does it matter? What if I don't need to look into anything?

[She goes quiet for a moment.] No, they won't. It doesn't matter if I change or not. It's not like anyone will care. [Come on, Vri. What about Feferi? Or Kanaya? Well...]

If you don't, you might be missing something. But it's your choice.

[His eyes narrow slightly in concern, and really, he looks almost fatherly, even if Vriska has no idea what a father is.]

I would care. And I'm sure many of your friends would too, even if they wouldn't admit it now.

Hmpf.

[She misses his expression, fortunately, but her eyes snap back to him at his statement.]

Why would you care?

septem

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