[video]

[symmetrophile]

[What greets viewers perusing the network for the following three seconds is the fuzzy back end of an Umbreon (plus one swishing tail) but Pip soon darts aside to reveal one sallow and apparently very groggy Grim Reaper, still scrubbing the sleep from his golden eyes. Waking up is hard for young gods, it's hard and no one understands.

All three Sanzu lines in his black hair remain connected, forming a trio of parallel white stripes around his head, but Death the Kid is otherwise no different than he usually is.

Also, the pajamas he's wearing have skulls on them. Skulls everywhere, and he isn't yet aware of the device enough to be embarrassed by the less than presentable state of his rumpled clothing and bedraggled hair.]

Did I oversleep?

[The only thing more unfunny than an understatement like that is an unintentional one. Whatever he might do or say next is neatly apprehended by the enthusiasm with which the Umbreon demands his affection; the SFC is knocked off the edge of his bed as Pip lunges for his arms. The video cuts out upon the device's impact with the floor.]

Comments

[circumsutus]

No, Kid, I didn't know.

[That response comes quickly, and then silence.

He is, admittedly, attracted to Marie, and he has more affection for her than for anyone else in his life, but he has never acted on those feelings. They're trying to defeat the Kishin, he's rapidly losing his mind, and starting a family had never been anywhere on his to-do list.]

[symmetrophile]

But you! And she's--

[And Immaculate Conception is a myth from a different Earth.]

...Professor, what is the last thing you recall happening, prior to waking up here?

[circumsutus]

[Is Kid really asking this.]

I'm not exactly sure, but Marie and I hadn't had sex.

[Professor tactful right here.]

[symmetrophile]

[TMI.

Also: walked into that one.

HE WAS JUST CURIOUS WHAT ELSE WAS MISSING IN THEIR RECOLLECTION OF PAST EVENTS GOSH]

I regret asking.

[circumsutus]

What did you expect?

[symmetrophile]

A little more information on what else you've missed out on, Professor!

[circumsutus]

... You saw the state I was in when I came back here. I don't know how much I've missed out on.

[symmetrophile]

[And what a state that was.

Following that (slightly distant, with the addition of certain overarching events back home) includes another recollection that takes the wind right out of his proverbial sails.]

You seem to have recovered somewhat.

[Not that he was much help! Okay, granted, it's not like he was in his own body at the time, but he never intended on using that power, whether or not it was technically him behind the wheel at the time.]

[circumsutus]

Apparently. I think my free will might even be back in one piece. [Not that he really noticed when it wasn't.]

[symmetrophile]

[Ha ha, wow, and he thought he couldn't possibly feel guiltier about this.]

Professor, I am sorry. I never intended for something like that to happen.

[circumsutus]

I know you didn't. You shouldn't be blaming yourself.

Besides, it wasn't all bad.

[symmetrophile]

...Professor, we're talking about your very will. What could possibly be anything but bad?

[Well okay besides things becoming exquisitely orderly]

[circumsutus]

Didn't you notice how much better behaved I was?

[symmetrophile]

I--

--well...

[Yes.]

But that doesn't excuse that you weren't even given the option to resist!

[circumsutus]

Do you really think I would have?

[He probably should lock this, but it's not like it's a secret. His whole life, he's struggled against himself to follow Death's rules. It would be so much easier if he didn't have to fight.

But he's never been the type of person to take the easiest path. His own way is the only way he wants to go.]