Knell of the Bell

[ultima_mortis]

Who: Death and All
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Planetside
When: Today

Broadcast

[Death is a fan of a few things in life. He loves people. He loves his family. He especially loves a certain animal known for hairballs and purring. Thus, when the feed turns on to show Death in slightly tattered robes, it isn’t immediately noticeable what’s going on. Then a tiny ball on his lap shifts around and a calico colored kitten pokes it’s head out over the ridge made by his knees. The kitten mewls and turns over onto it’s back, pawing up at the sky. Death quite calmly tickles the kitten’s tummy and laughs ever so quietly as his fingers are quickly caught and chewed on.]

I LIKE CATS. I ALWAYS HAVE. THIS ONE IS VERY FEISTY FOR HER AGE. [The kitten mewls at him again and licks his fingers.] WELL, YES, I DO LOOK A BIT FUNNY DON’T I? YOU LOOK RATHER FUZZY TO ME. [Another happy mewl.] THAT WAS THE INTENTION. UNLESS YOU WOULD PREFER TO REMAIN ON THIS PLANET? [The kitten turns itself upright and starts a very bold ascent of Death’s robe. It mewls again.] VERY GOOD, THEN. WE SHALL HAVE TO THINK OF A NAME FOR YOU. A FLOWER. WE CAN MAKE IT A TRADITION IN MY FAMILY FOR THE GIRLS.

[The kitten is on his shoulder now and boops it’s little head against Death’s cheekbone.]

POPPY. IT’S A FUNERAL FLOWER, BUT IT COMES IN BRILLIANT HUES SUCH AS RED AND ORANGE. [He nods at the video feed.] I DON’T THINK IT IS WISE TO GO TRAVELING BELOW THE FOG AND THE CLOUDS, BUT THE REWARDS ARE APPARENTLY APROPOS.

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

How do you force out Death?

[ultima_mortis]

TWICE INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME FORTH WHO EFFECTIVELY STOOD IN AS AN APPROPRIATE SHAPED FILL-IN FOR MY USUAL ROLE. ANOTHER TIME, AN OUTSIDE FORCE THOUGHT THEY'D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME AND WERE PROVEN WRONG.

[dothelokimotion]

You were replaced?

[ultima_mortis]

ONLY TEMPORARILY. ONE APPRENTICE, ONE FAMILY MEMBER, AND ONE NEW DEATH WHO WAS COMPLETELY INEFFICIENT AT HIS JOB. I AM THE ONLY ONE ON THE DISC WHO HAS ANY BUSINESS DOING MY JOB.

[dothelokimotion]

I can imagine very few can function in that job market.

[ultima_mortis]

I WOULD HOPE AFTER A WHILE PEOPLE AS A COLLECTIVE WOULD LEARN THAT, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM TRYING. THE PLANET KNOWS I AM SUPPOSED TO EXIST. WHO EXISTS IN THAT ROLE IS A MATTER OF CIRCUMSTANCE UNTIL I CAN STEP BACK IN COMPLETELY.

[dothelokimotion]

What a fascinating topic. Some things change so little.

[ and he means that. ]

[ultima_mortis]

ARE THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE YOU COME FROM AS WELL? GODS ARE AT TIMES THE EASIEST AND MOST DIFFICULT TO REPLACE, MORE SO WHEN THEY ARE THOSE LIKE YOU, WHO NO DOUBT HAVE INTIMATE CONNECTIONS TO OTHERS.

[dothelokimotion]

Gods cannot be replaced as far as I know. But our areas of expertise are a little more wide than framed concepts like death and life.

[ hela didn't control all death and life, but it was her domain. ]

[ultima_mortis]

IS THAT SO? GODS ARE USUALLY MORE SPECIALIZED WHERE I COME FROM, BUT THEY CAN GAIN NEW BELIEFS FROM GROUPS BEING ABSORBED INTO THEIR FAITH.

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE?

[dothelokimotion]

Chaos and mischief.

[ultima_mortis]

HOW INTERESTING. GODS OF YOUR SPECIALTY TEND TO BE THE OLDEST OR THE ORIGIN OF ALL THE OTHER GODS, YET YOUR APPEARANCE IS SO YOUNG.

[dothelokimotion]

I am aware.

[ Chaos, after all, is the oldest force there is, barring death. ]

It was not well regarded on Asgard.

[ultima_mortis]

PERHAPS IT IS A MATTER OF YOUR SPECIALTY MORE SO THAN PERSONALITY. ONE CANNOT HELP CHAOS HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT, NOR CAN THEY HELP THE POSITIVE EFFECTS THAT COME THROUGH. CHAOS CAUSES STORMS, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS CURES FOR DISEASE OR A BREAKTHROUGH IN SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY TO COME TO FRUITION.

[dothelokimotion]

Very poetic. But unfortunately, lost on the masses.