heaven / marcoh

[midway]

Comments

[boxcar]

Tomorrow, we will lose another.

So that's how it is? We'll lose three, at least, every week until the end? What does this prove?

[midway]

I don't know if it's meant to prove anything.

Maybe it's pessimistic but sometimes suffering isn't about learning a lesson or growing. Sometimes it's just suffering.

[boxcar]

Before the rise of the God of Fear and Hunger, maybe. But the Skin Bible says they were different. They acknowledged humankind's suffering, unlike the other gods.

[midway]

[ what ]

Sorry? [ He is just so taken aback by this. ] Is the Skin Bible the faith you practice?

[boxcar]

That is the most traditional bound scripture. The books where stuff about the gods are recorded.

[ There's even two versions because they HATE Enki Ankarian for telling the truth. ]

[midway]

Do you think the explanation of why this is happening is in your scripture?

[boxcar]

... No. I don't know.

Some things I recognise, like the tree. Others, I don't. This is not what the afterlife would be like, I thought.

But revealing its ugly underside, maybe I wasn't so wrong after all.

[midway]

Wrong about what?

[boxcar]

... That wherever I go after I died, it could not be a pleasant place.

[midway]

...

Now why would you believe something like that?

[boxcar]

The same reason that I might need anything like "redemption".

[midway]

You did a lot of things you believe are pretty terrible, huh?

[boxcar]

...

A murder trial... witch hunt, hits a little close.

[midway]

[ ... ]

Is it something you were expecting to come your way eventually?

[boxcar]

...

[ He grimly stares out into the hot spring waters for a bit. ]

I killed a man who didn't deserve it.

[midway]

[ Well, he'll take a sip of his wine. ]

Did you want to?

[boxcar]

No. Of course not. Not him.

[midway]

What caused it to happen then?

[boxcar]

...My sister was being threatened.

[midway]

What else could you do then?

[ other than kill that guy ]

[boxcar]

I don't know.

[ It really does, and really was, the only choice he seemingly had. But it was a bad one. ]

[midway]

And reasoning to yourself that you had no choice doesn't make him any less dead.

[ He's aware that isn't making anything better to say that, but... ]

[boxcar]

...

I don't like it. The long trials in the church.

[ Underneath all those lights. It's a lot of pressure. ]

[midway]

Well, I can tell you that you're not alone in that, my friend.

Ever feel the urge to tell everyone they should vote for you instead?

[boxcar]

[ Pause, and then a shake of his head. Good lord, no. He's not stupid. ]

I know it is not what I've done that we're there for. And I can't get expelled. I need to return.