Audience: Harrowhark Nonagesimus

[probe]

Comments

week 4, tuesday

[probe]

[gluttony is in the kitchen standing by the stove. there is a silver pocket watch lying on the counter nearby with the lid opened, and on one of the burners sits an iron over the heat.

they turn to offer harrow a bow of their head at the shoulders.]

Good morning, Reverend.

[bonetiddies]

Good morning.

[Honestly, she's been shittalking Gluttony to a bunch of people behind their back, so she'd like to prove she would also do the same to their face, but sadly, she cannot be anything but kind.]

Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.

[probe]

[no, go ahead.]

You are welcome.

[they take up the pocket watch, close it, and tuck it back somewhere in their robes. their attention returns to harrow.]

What can I help you with?

[bonetiddies]

[She physically cannot.]

. . . We took a look at those pods, in the life support room. I wondered what those were.

[Not that she won't confirm whatever answer she gets with someone else, but there is a reason she decided to ask Gluttony first.]

[probe]

Oh? What did you find when you went to look?

[gluttony isn't a bad(?) person(?)]

[bonetiddies]

They contained all of our bodies. Living and dead. Plus one extra gentleman, who I suspect eventually became that skull in the hottub.

Yuel pressed a button on one of the pods, and the body turned into some sort of - soft lump featureless thing, as the color drained away to chewing sounds. The button said 'Consume'.

[probe]

Ah, yes. It is the disposal system.

[bonetiddies]

. . . Care to clarify? What is being disposed?

[probe]

Well, what is left of you all must go somewhere, yes?

Unless you would rather I leave everyone's corpses lying about for the rest of you. I would be more than happy to have that arranged, if you would like.

[bonetiddies]

That would be perfectly acceptable to me. [Necromancer life.] But I suppose some would find it disconcerting.

However, your reference to corpses is odd. None of the bodies of the dead in there were in the state they were in when they were found dead. And there were bodies representing those of us who are still inhabiting ours, as well. Furthermore, I would think burning a body in lava or ejecting it into space would constitute disposal.

So I suspect when you refer to "what is left of you all," you refer to something other than a corpse per se. A soul? An essence? It seemed to drain something away from that gentleman who was consumed and leave him formless.

[probe]

They would.

[then they'd be disliked twice as much as they already are. no, no. definitely could not leave bodies simply lying around to rot.]

That is a rather bold proposal based on your observation. Unfortunately, I am unable to explain the details of how bodies are disposed of here after death. [they reach up into the hood to what seems like hook fingers around their chin.] Hopefully you will not make another first few trials of this by following inane leads from self-doubt.

You are on the right track. Try not to forget later, hm?

[bonetiddies]

[Bitch. ]

Such helpful words of wisdom. But I note that the bodies belonging to those of us among the living were less colourful than those of the dead. I wonder why that would be?

[probe]

Why indeed, Reverend.

Surely you are as stubborn as my master. You do not like having the answers handed to you without working for it.

[bonetiddies]

[Sigh.]

I would hypothesize it is because we are currently here. Those are empty vessels. Is that lead too inane?

[probe]

Not at all. Continue.

[bonetiddies]

If true, this would mean the bodies belonging to the dead are not empty vessels.

[probe]

I believe your pursuit of the dead is confusing you. The dead are... important perhaps, but not in where they went as the group of you so desperately are trying to find.

I think things will begin to come together for you if you all discuss each of your experiences. There are still things to find, if you care to look. Each week, what here do you all receive? How many more do you think there will be?

What is the last one, I wonder?

[bonetiddies]

[She wants to protest she was not being emotional, and it was a logical response, but - ]

What do we receive? [That's an odd way to put it.] Each week, there is another floor. Another effect. Er. . . an opportunity?

[probe]

Another floor. Good.

[bonetiddies]

This stretches the meaning of the word 'receive.'

[But. Fine.]

We've had Despair, you, Pride, Greed, and now Envy. So Lust, Wrath, and Sloth remain.

[probe]

[there is a smile in their voice.]

Are you so sure?

[bonetiddies]

No? [The secret ninth sin. . . cringe. . .] Too many, or too few?

[probe]

[they glance up briefly.]

I suppose you shall have to find out, Reverend.

[bonetiddies]

[Ugh.]

How shall I find out. As a surprise when I step off the elevator, or is there some other means?

[probe]

How have you found some of your other information?

You just have to be creative.