Recuérdame.

[riptorn]

[Those of you who wish to see those who passed on? You'll be directed outside by Zeus, where he raises his arms, and marigolds begin to float around him. They float upwards, and form into a bridge.

It's structurally sound, and it seems fitting that you can cross it.

Eventually, you'll see it. Elysium. The Land of The Dead. Gentle music plays as you cross over into the city.

It's...festive. It's always festive. The architecture is colorful and full of spirit, and your group seems to be the only ones...human in appearance. Even your old friends seem to be a bit more skeletal in appearance. You can spend as much time here as you like, but eventually, that bridge will disappear. And you'll have to leave.

But...they'll never truly be gone. Not if you remember them. And someday, you'll join them. But for now, you celebrate. You've earned your happy ending.]

(ooc: This is the last log for the three canon rounds of Foolish Mortals! Thanks for coming along for the ride - we loved having you, and we hope to see ya real soon!)

Comments

[terribibble]

[Fiddleford is here. Most of him, anyway. Barefoot, of course, and in the green plaid tuxedo and red bowtie he died in (he's kind of glad he took off the horrible Luau shirt first). He looks even taller and lankier than he did in life with what little bulk he had gone, and very odd without his nose. It's going to be a long time until he's used to that.

More importantly Betty is here, slung across his bony shoulders where she belongs, all in one piece. She died a hero's death too and she deserves to be here. And hey -- now that his fingers don't have any flesh he has even less of a reason to need banjo picks. He picks idly along with the ambient music, catching different melodies as they drift in and out from every direction. The Box was so dark and empty, so isolated, maddeningly so. If he has to spend eternity here, if this is what Heaven really is, then he can do that. He can do that and enjoy it.]

Hey y'all. Glad you made it over.

[A brightly-colored neon possum is curled up on his shoulder, two beady red eyes regarding the arriving living with great interest.]

[ilovepuppies]

[Punches his skull clean off his shoulders]

[terribibble]

[It goes flying

His body puts its hands on its hips.]

STAR BUTTERFLY, THAT'S INCREDIBLY RUDE!

[distantly, from where his head is,,,]

[ilovepuppies]

YOU DESERVE IT!

[STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMPs over to his head.]

I can't believe you went and died AGAIN! Why can't you do anything right!?

[terribibble]

At least this time it was for a good reason.

[His body shuffles after her. Please, his bottom and top half are already less connected than they could be, don't break him.]

[ilovepuppies]

How can it be a good reason when you're DEAD? You're dead a lot of people are dead and I'll never get to see any of you again!

[terribibble]

[Oh.]

...Star. Honey.

[He picks up his head and puts it back on his shoulders.]

Sometimes you... you take a risk. Sometimes it's worth doin' somethin' that's scary because it's right.

[CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT]

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander has his own banjo out, it is marked by no name but with stars and the worn frets. The rival of Betty, friend of Julia, constant companion and comforter to Wander.

Of those in the Elysium, Wander had been closest to Fiddleford. They spent months in the box, talking about music and sharing their hobbies and sometimes - just sometimes - talking about themselves. Fiddles taught Wander a couple of Earth songs, and it had helped on their journey through the River Styx. While Randy says they ghosts came because of Wander, he can say that Fiddleford was the inspiration.

And he has to thank his friend before he leaves. It's only polite.]

Fine time we got to meet, Fiddles. I heard you saved a lot of folks back there.

[terribibble]

[Oh, hey. It's his favorite space peach. Remember when Fiddleford was terrified of him? Yeah, he doesn't either. Wander was one of the people who kept him more or less sane down in that deprivation tank of an underworld, and he owes it to Wander that he was able to help anyone at all today.]

I sure like to hope I did.

[He's not... a braggart. It's still odd to think of himself as a hero, though he's warming up to the idea. But it feels good to hear it all the same. You did right. You helped. All his life all he's ever wanted was that, and every time he ever tried to went pear-shaped somehow. Maybe this in some small way makes up for the Society. Just a little.

He kneels down so that he's on Wander's level.]

You alright? Still got all your fur?

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander lifts his hat and runs his fingers through his glittery, not-as-patchy hair.]

Still got it. The hat helps plenty. [Fiddles understands that nervous impulse to pull at anything. It's what Wander likes about him - just the mutual understanding between two anxious hicks.] Should grow back in no time.

[Now that no one is dying and the legions of hell aren't out for their blood, Wander will just have the usual things to panic about.]

Did Betty come with you, or is that a copy of the real thing?

[terribibble]

[It's good to see Wander a little more whole. On the way to better things. That's all of them right now, isn't it, even the ones who've arrived here for good? It's bolstering.

He glances down at Betty where he's holding her against his chest.]

Y'know I'm not sure? But she... well she died helpin' me destroy that demon for good. [Died maybe isn't the right word, but it feels worse somehow to say 'got woodchippered by the end of a universe'.] I want to think she's the real one.

[folkscallmewander]

If you love her enough, she'd have her spirit come over, too. [He's pat her, but it's not good etiquette to touch another musician's instrument without their permissions. Hugging the musician out of nowhere is fine, but Wander draws a line in a particular place.]

Think we can have one more duel, you and me? It's a rematch.

[terribibble]

Well that'd make sense.

[He's a lot more willing to believe in the strange at this point. Of course that's how it works. She's an inanimate object, but she always treated him good and stuck with him through the hard times and kept him connected to his roots, and that's its own kind of life.]

... Yeah. I'd like that an awful lot.

[Wander is very old, but Wander is ageless in that way that makes Fiddleford think that maybe he won't ever show up here for permanent at all. Or if he does, it will be a long, long time from now. He has to make the most of this time with his friend.]

[amadeusrockette]

Mr. Fiddle - [!!! Betty!!!] She's okay!

[Has this one been worried that instruments don't have souls and therefore Betty would just be . . . gone forever? Uh. Well. Yes. Yes, she's been worried about that.]

y'know what lets just do this Now

[terribibble]

[Good to see someone else has the proper priorities.]

Yep! Perfectly-tuned, even.

... It's good to see you again, Julia.

cool. great. i love dying and being dead.

[amadeusrockette]

. . . I'm sorry I didn't manage to catch you before - I'm sorry.

[She pulls something from her pocket.]

I don't know if you ever saw this, but I wrote it for . . . you and Mr. Ford, a little.

1/2

[terribibble]

S'alright. There was a lot goin' on, a lot of folks millin' about, you couldn't have--

[terribibble]

Oh. No. Is it music?

[What else could it possibly be. He reaches out, like he wants to take it but isn't sure if he should. This feels monumental, somehow.]

[amadeusrockette]

[It is! She scribbled it down during the regrouping, so the staff is kinda wobbly and it's not the neatest thing she's ever done but this exists. Fiddleford owns this now.]

I think I gave Mr. Ford a copy once, but - [Mainstreet burned down, so.] I figured you would need another one.

[terribibble]

[Oh... Fiddleford can't really tear up what with not having tear ducts, but his expression does do some very interesting gymnastics in an effort to stay steady.]

Oh, honey, you wrote this? For us?

... You mind if I try playin' it?

[chainbroke]

[ She's already sought out Ford, so Fiddleford is next. Naminé approaches him, hands folded in front of her, and she has a light smile in place for him. ]

Hello, again.

[terribibble]

Hey, hon.

[His hands still momentarily on his banjo strings.]

You holdin' up alright?

[He knows she's stronger than most kids, but she's still a kid and he figures this must be hitting her harder than most.]

[chainbroke]

I am.

[ Her eyes are a little red, but her voice is steady. ]

... May I give you a hug?

[terribibble]

[He doesn't even have to think about it.]

'Course you can. C'mere. Just, uh. Be careful how how hard you lean on me, my spine's not too solid.

[He kneels down and opens his arms. Hug your dead grandpa-in-law.]

[chainbroke]

Of course.

[ She crosses over to him and hugs him, very gently. ]

I'll miss you... but I know you're in good hands here. And you have Ford.