un: blackhat | text

[equivo]

Before we all head into the labyrinth, I figure we should have a level playing field for making calls about risk.

If you die here, apparently you don't stay dead. You're down for two days or so, then you resurrect wherever your body happens to be. So it's probably a nice gesture, if you see a corpse in the maze, to drag them somewhere not totally inconvenient to wake up.

The temporarily dead also come back fully healed of injuries, but the penalty is some kind of personal loss. Think scars, tattoos, a digit, possibly more intangible qualities, etc. I have no idea what the rules are on that, so if anyone has any useful speculation, consider the floor open.

In fact, if anyone is familiar with this kind of thing back in your universes, you're invited to share with the class. The more we know about resurrection in general, maybe the more we can figure out about how it works here. Bonus marks if you have first hand experience.

Comments

[infirmiere]

It's all but died out in our world, faded when need of it became obsolete. My partner can control ice but now fridges have ice machines built in. I can heal but now going to the doctor or surgeon isn't a death sentence anymore. Another can control lightning but Ben Franklin figured out electricity, the twat, and now she makes glass on the beach.

[ with her very strange friend. willa's kind of weird and unsettling sometimes, but polina's friend is on another level. ]

We have theories of course, for why it faded, but it is mainly that maybe we keep it contained in our cycle?

[equivo]

Hoping this isn't an insensitive question: how old are you?

[infirmiere]

23

I just happen to have been 23 many times before. I would love to answer you seriously but there's no way I'm doing the math for that.

[equivo]

That's fair.

If you think magic is getting wrapped up in your cycle, have you noticed a difference, personally?

[infirmiere]

Not personally. I've always been a healer and I still am.

[equivo]

Has your power gotten stronger? Changed expression at all?

[infirmiere]

Nope, remarkably consistent.

Some of the other have changed, but not mine.

[equivo]

So do you think that magic is persisting because you still need it? To stay alive, and keep preventing the end of the world?

[infirmiere]

On my more optimistic days, yes. On bad days, one has to consider we might just be cursed, you know?

[equivo]

[ And doesn't he know the feeling. ]

It does sound like you don't get much of a break.

[infirmiere]

I've gotten to have many eighth birthdays though and as hallmark cards tell me "it's great to be eight!"

[equivo]

I hated being eight, personally.

Of course, if I'd looked twenty-three, I might not have minded as much. At least I could get away with driving a car.

[infirmiere]

Oh no buddy, I was fully eight. Pig-tails, missing front tooth, skinned knees. The most unsettling second grader on earth.

When I say reborn I mean re-BORN.

[equivo]

[ Krouse has heard about a lot of terrible situations in his life. That one is up there on the list of 'especially terrible'. ]

No offence, but I think that settles whether or not that's a curse.

My condolences.

[infirmiere]

Thank you but it's really alright. It hasn't been all bad

[equivo]

I guess that is a lot of birthday cake, cumulatively.

[infirmiere]

A lot of a lot of milestones.

If you ever need healing, please don't hesitate to ask.

[equivo]

Thanks. I'll keep you on my speed dial.

[ So to speak. ]

And thanks for the info. Gives me something to think about.

[infirmiere]

Pleasure's all mine.

I don't subscribe to any concept of shame or guile so if you need someone to ask questions to, I'll never grow tired of answering

[equivo]

[ Krouse can't imagine what that's like. It'd almost sounds like a relief, if the concept didn't also send a hot tang of personal refusal through his guts. Without shame and guile, who would he even be? ]

I guess you've had plenty of time to mature.

That's good to know. I appreciate it.

[infirmiere]

👍👍👍