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Post by P r o m i s e on Aug 27, 2021 18:45:51 GMT -7
The memory of all that had happened before he had died still hung heavily in his mind. His mate cheating on him, not once; but multiple times, and he still chose to forgive her. The night she had left him alone had not only broken his heart, but shattered it. She had taken their only child together and left, as though he had no claim to his only son. He could still hear the vicious growls that had echoed around him, but he had paid no attention to it with the way he felt inside. He had felt every bite, every scratch, and every claw that had dug away at his body. But, he had refused to fight back. She had utterly destroyed him with no care in the world, and now, well... now he was just gone from the mortal realm. He no longer resided within it's grasp. No longer had to fight for his life, for a breath of air, or anything.
As green optics blinked open, they slowly took in his new surroundings. The drab look of it all bothered him a bit, and he hoped dearly that this wasn't what Utopia looked like. The silence was eerie in itself. There was no breeze, no swaying trees, no movement on the water's surface, nothing. It almost felt like someone had frozen time, and did a grayscale to it. He didn't really like the feeling that Asphodel gave him, but had a feeling he was about to be stuck there until someone came along and took him to his forever home. So, he figured he'd might as well as settle in. The dunalino stallion moved his way through the land, glancing each and every way, hoping for someone to come along soon. It took an hour of waiting, before he finally decided that he should just call out. Raising his crown, Vasco parted his jaws to say, hello? Can anyone hear me?
tagged fleabittengray and/or TrinitySilph notes Here's Vasco waiting to be judged for Utopia. <3
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Post by TrinitySilph on Aug 28, 2021 14:58:45 GMT -7
It had not been so long since he had walked this grey void alone, and he had hoped never to return. It was a suffocating place, truly, where no wind blew and no sun or moon or stars drew the light or darkness beyond twilight grey. There could be no colour where there was no light, no deep shadows where there was no darkness, no breath where the air did not move. Nehemiah hated it with all his heart. That this should be the port of arrival for all the souls of the newly dead--! It seemed so dreadfully unfair.
For all his hatred of this place, however, it was most important that he did return. He had many duties as Lord of Utopia, and yet perhaps the most urgent was the requirement to ensure as many souls escaped Asphodel as possible - to ensure they earned their wings and walked as angels in his domain of eternal summer. (His! As if he had ever been worthy of such glory and splendor…)
There were rules to it, of course - each hopeful creature needed to be tested, challenged, if their life had stained their soul with darkness and blood. Nehemiah would have let them all in without a second thought, but perhaps it was best that the living had something to strive for. Perhaps it would become chaos if all manner of souls were allowed to enter Utopia’s golden fields without restriction. Again, it seemed unfair, and a shame, that trust was not so easily given. After all, the Utopian host had accepted Nehemiah’s own history without so much as a blink - why should he not extend the same kindness to others? Because it would be to risk the burning of heaven itself - to risk the summer fields becoming a stronghold for darkness and chaos and ruin. Such a shame...
A minor miracle expanded his mind, let him stretch his consciousness across all of Asphodel in search of newly-arrived souls. In moments, he had locked onto a young stallion standing alone in a field of grey. Nehemiah’s heart went out to the poor creature - he knew exactly what it was like to find oneself there alone, in a silent, dead world. He remembered what it was like to want to crawl out of one’s own skin to escape the terrible, suffocating, claustrophobic sense of nothingness. And… he felt the stallion’s grief. What terrible things had he been through? Something horrid enough that the emotion of it pierced the veil Nehemiah kept between his mind and those of others around him to keep from inadvertently reading their thoughts. For once, Nehemiah lifted that veil and let himself see the stallion’s memories, his life, before the new ghost ever had a chance to know the Lord of Utopia was watching him, judging him and the quality of his soul. It felt cruel, and yet it was essential. Nehemiah had to know the contents of a soul to decide what was required for access to Utopia.
Immediately, the young Lord was assaulted by memory after memory of love and beauty and exquisite pain. For a moment, he knew all the stallion’s grief - betrayal and loss and and the theft of a child. It was no wonder, then, that a vital young stallion had practically allowed a wolf pack to tear him apart. Nehemiah sighed softly, and finally spread his wings. With the barest effort, he was airborne, soaring over the grey distance between himself and the stallion, then descending as lightly as a feather before him. In the dim greyness, the albino angel and his collar of diamonds practically glowed.
”I hear you, Vasco,” he said, soft voice carrying well in the silence. ”Welcome to the afterlife.”
P r o m i s e
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>> happy, & carefree . ♥
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Post by P r o m i s e on Sept 4, 2021 16:07:28 GMT -7
The longer he remained in Asphodel, the more he grew to despise the grayness of the landscape. It was a dull, and he much preferred to see color around him. Being alone in this place caused him even more pain, especially since he was used to having others around. His mind wandered back to the child that had been ripped from him, and it shattered more. A sigh escaped his slightly parted lips, before he heard a distant sound. Raising his green voids, he gazed around himself, before finally catching sight of an ivory creature. Not just a creature, but another equine, except, this one had wings. Cocking his head slightly, he gazed at the exquisite stallion. I hear you, Vasco. He heard the other speak, and he arched an invisible eyebrow. H..how do you know my name? He stuttered as he took in the sight of the stallion. The collar of diamonds, and the ivory wings. Welcome to the afterlife. He glanced around himself and hoped to the heavens that this wasn't to be his forever home. T..this is not my forever home, is it? He inquired worried and afraid that it would be. You know my name, but I don't know yours. Might I be able to know it? He inquired curiously, trying to get the thought of this possibly being his forever home out of his mind.
tagged TrinitySilph notes Sorry it's not the best post. xD
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Post by TrinitySilph on Sept 19, 2021 2:05:38 GMT -7
Even in such a short time since his death and ascension, Nehemiah had come to expect that he would feel the wind on his face when he flew. It didn’t feel exactly… natural? Was natural the right word? There was nothing natural about a horse with wings, or about the soul of a dead creature walking the mortal earth, and yet here he was, very dead, very winged, and very much still moving. He expected, in that same vein, to feel the movement of air over his feathers, and he expected that same air to whisper through his mane as it buoyed him through the sky. But here? In Asphodel? Here, the air sulked and lay still and spitefully refused to move, even for the king of paradise. This grey, motionless place was all the same, even for creatures some mortals thought of as not unlike gods. It was always perfectly, suffocatingly still. It made his skin crawl.
”I know a lot of things about you, friend,” he replied, and regretfully realized he was going to have to come clean about the mind reading sooner rather than later. He was about to do so, but the newly-dead stallion continued, cutting him off.
”T...this is not my forever home, is it?”
Nehemiah shook his head. A tiny smile creased pale lips. ”Only if you want it to be.”
More questions, more concerns. Nehemiah was reminded rather exquisitely of his own brief stay in Asphodel and the suffocating terror that arose when he realized there was nowhere to go and nothing to do. No air, no dew, no rain, no sunlight, no starshine. No life.
”Peace, friend,” he laughed softly. ”One at a time.” The albino stallion’s smile turned wry, a little guilty.
”I know your name because I read your mind. I apologize for the invasion. Second, Asphodel is a place between - it is the home of the unaligned dead. If you wish to stay, you are welcome to. If not, you may choose to reside instead in the eternal summerland of Utopia, or the caverns of the Underworld. To choose either is to also choose a challenge by which to prove your worth.” He shifted slightly, probing just the edges of Vasco’s mind to make sure he wasn’t feeling overwhelmed. Or, rather, that he wasn’t about to bolt, shrieking, into the grey expanse just to get away from it all. Was it even possible to take all this in without being at least a little overwhelmed? Nehemiah thought not.
”My name is Nehemiah. I am Lord of Utopia.” What an alien phrase. Would he ever get used to it? Perhaps not. Perhaps it was better that he never got used to it - it was usually best when those with power didn’t come to take it for granted.
”The reality of your afterlife is entirely yours to decide. So, Vasco, I’ll put the question to you simply: what would you like to do?”
P r o m i s e Sorry this took so long!
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Post by P r o m i s e on Sept 24, 2021 21:48:51 GMT -7
I know a lot of things about you, friend. Vasco heard the ivory stallion say. Arching an invisible eyebrow, he shrugged it off realizing that there were always odd things about in the world. Including the reason why the other had wings, but he had a feeling he would receive the answer in time. Only if you want it to be. He definitely did not want Asphodel to become his forever home. He knew for a fact that he wouldn't be able to take seeing nothing but grayness full time. It would drive him crazy.
I would much prefer it not be my forever home, he answered in response with a small chuckle. Peace, friend. He heard Nehemiah start and then finish with a, one at a time. The sound of the other's laugh seemed like it could have lit up the grayness with color, but it didn't. I know your name because I read your mind. I apologize for the invasion. Second, Asphodel is a place between - it is the home of the unaligned dead. If you wish to stay, you are welcome to. If not, you may choose to reside instead in the eternal summerland of Utopia, or the caverns of the Underworld. To choose either is to also choose a challenge by which to prove your worth.[
Vasco listened to the stallion speak, allowing him to complete what he was saying. My name is Nehemiah. I am Lord of Utopia. Ah, so the other stallion did have a name. It was an interesting one to say, but it seemed to fit him nicely. The reality of your afterlife is entirely yours to decide. So, Vasco, I'll put the question to you simply: what would you like to do? Once more, he listened to him, before replying with a simple, I wish to reside in Utopia. Sure, he felt a bit overwhelmed at the news that another had invaded the privacy of his mind, but if it was for a good reason, then why not?
tagged TrinitySilph notes You're fine. <3
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Post by TrinitySilph on Sept 30, 2021 17:12:04 GMT -7
Nehemiah didn’t have to read Vasco’s mind to know his answer. Who would want to spend their eternity here, in this ageless land of greyness and stillness and suffocating nothing? A ghost would have to be a fool not to choose, even if they chose the Underworld over Utopia, and Nehemiah did not think Vasco was a fool.
”I’m glad to hear it,” he replied, smiling warmly as the other stallion announced his desire to ascend to the summer fields. ”We welcome you with open wings.”
And now, the difficult part. Nehemiah had never set a challenge like this before - he was not used to being judge and jury of another soul’s fate, and yet it was suddenly a rather large and imposing part of his purpose.
”However,” he continued. ”As I mentioned, there is still the matter of your challenge. None may pass beyond Asphodel unproven.”
The pale Lord thought back to what he had seen in Vasco’s memories: the light, the love, the loss. His job as judge was to challenge a soul to redeem what was tainted in life, but Vasco had walked a path that was nothing but good. What was there left to be challenged? Nehemiah could task Vasco to stop another from falling to the same fate, but how long would that take? How long would the striped stallion have to search before he found a suitable mortal who could help him fulfil his task, and all to prove a truth Nehemiah could already sense? Vasco was good and he was kind. Being hurt was not a flaw of his character, but of the character of the one who had hurt him. Being attacked and killed was not a crime - it was a blessed meal for the wolves who needed to feed their pups. Death was not a sin. What was there here to challenge?
He smiled again, a little relieved. None of this was in his nature, but he would learn in time. He had to, really. ”With that in mind,” he said. ”I see your memories, your life, your soul. You are pure of heart, my friend, and any challenge I set you would be no more than busy work, proving what has already been proved. You are a worthy angel.”
The albino turned, heading back towards the warm, golden light that was the gate to his home. ”Let’s go home, shall we?”
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Post by P r o m i s e on Oct 21, 2021 21:23:57 GMT -7
I'm glad to hear it. Vasco heard the lyrics that escaped Nehemiah, and he offered his own smile in return. We welcome you with open wings. The words echoed in his mind, and he dipped his crown lightly. However, as I mentioned, there is still the matter of your challenge. None may pass beyond Asphodel unproven. The mention of a challenge caught his attention real quick, and he arched an invisible eyebrow at Nehemiah. No matter what the challenge may be, I will accept it and do it as commanded, he answered in response. Not knowing what the challenge may be, if there were any.
A long silence fell between the two. Vasco continued to wait in patience, wondering what the challenge might be. With that in mind, I see your memories, your life, your soul. You are pure of heart, my friend, and any challenge I set you would be no more than busy work, proving what has already been proved. You are a worthy angel. At those words, relief washed over him with ease. Thank you so much. My life may have been short lived, but at least I shall live the rest of my afterlife in a beautiful home, he answered with a smile upon his lips. He watched as the albino turned, and headed back towards the warm, golden light.
Let's go home, shall we? At those words, Vasco stepped up beside his new Lord, and he nodded his head. I am ready, my Lord, he answered with ease, and followed Nehemiah to his new forever home.
tagged TrinitySilph notes Thread is completed. <3
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