[video] Backdated to the 5-6-ish (before the event)

[controlsthedie]

[ Throughout the video, Thanatos glances down a few times. He's written notes about what he wants to say in hopes of being able to say it instead of stopping midway and giving into the urge to disappear. Mort is on his shoulder, lightly tugging on Thanatos's hood to remind him of his presence, and, more importantly, his support. To say that gentle Death Incarnate is at a loss would be an understatement. ]

Since a number of us are soliciting the train for information, I might as well ask a question of my own. Who among you have come from a world where mortal life can no longer sustain itself and would be willing to talk about it? And what was done after?

[ The message seems like it would end at that, but Mort gives a soft squeak. Thanatos exhales and continues. ]

I cannot ignore that death has been absent from a famished world for over five months now. It's no longer an issue of preventing a collapse. The damage has been done. It's what to do once I clean up the mess my absence has caused. If after releasing those suffering there is... any life left. Able to still live. There's... no reason for Death to exist if there is no Life. And there was never a...

[ He doesn't finish that sentence. There's something about him that is just grieving and heartbroken. Death loves Life, after all.

That said, there is something... freeing to know that no matter what now, he's failed. He's too late. Thanatos no longer needs to think of "what-if." It's done. ]

I know that topics relating to death are unpleasant with mortals, so if you would rather speak in-person, I understand. Name a location, and I shall meet you there.

[[ OOC: This can stay as a network conversation or end up as an in-person thread. ]]

Comments

[mustknow]

Forgive me if I seem rude or impertinent, my knowledge of how your world works is somewhat.. lacking. .. Extremely lacking. But I'm reasonably certain I've heard of other Deaths Incarnate before. Are you the only one for your specific world?

[controlsthedie]

I have never met another Death Incarnate before arriving on this train. There are other psychopomps besides myself, but in order for them to escort the shades to the Underworld, they need to die. Which is my domain.

[mustknow]

Do you only handle the transitions of sapient life, or all life in your world? How ... er, motivated, or perhaps incompetent, do you judge your fellow divines to be in general? Might they in time realize doing nothing costs them as well as others, or..

[controlsthedie]

[ Unintentionally, Xehanort has touched on a nerve. ]

The problems of my world would not exist if the other gods did anything to help. They could stop the endless winter which would go a long way to keeping life viable.

But they'd rather play games and help a relative they've never met escape his home than do anything to stop all this death, and--

[ Thanatos's eyes lose their focus for a moment... His mother contacted the Olympians for help on behalf of Zagreus. To escape and see his mother. She contacted the Olympians to help Zagreus escape.

Mother Nyx didn't do anything to help Thanatos escape confinement, so he could do his job. Something she constantly stresses for him to focus on. Della's words echo in his head. "If they cared about you, and about what was happening with the mortals, they should have freaked out and stopped what they were doing to get you back to safety!"

Like every child eventually does, Thanatos has just reached that full realization that his parent isn't as all-knowing and infallible as he once believed. And she may be more like the Olympians than he thought. ]

... They don't. I can't trust them to.

[mustknow]

[but unfortunately for who! Xehanort adores additional information in all forms, and when it seems like this might result in Story Time, he is prepared with a notebook.

Sadly it doesn't go on quite as long as he'd hoped.]

... I see. As unreliable as the mortals they expect to worship them, it seems.

[There's something he could do about it, if he could find this world, if he could figure out how to plunge worlds into darkness. They could all be restored afterward, when Thanatos was present to carry out his duties as well..]

There are those here who will aid you should the opportunity arise. I know of at least one alternative to erasing it all and beginning anew.

[controlsthedie]

[ Then next time Thanatos speaks with his mother, there is going to be a lot to talk about, and he won't be as much of an obedient son as he usually would. ]

The issue would be then to find a way for people here to come to my world... and then leave so they can go where they choose.

[ Like a train mission. His world as it is now should be a train mission. ]

[mustknow]

I wonder if it would be worth asking the train to take a detour. If we outline exactly how much danger everyone's in, perhaps it would be willing to assign it. That might be 'misusing' its apparent interest in helping people, but it would indeed save many..

[A similar chain of thought it seems!]

[controlsthedie]

That... that could be worth trying. Although I do not like the idea of deception.

[ On another note, those people who wanted to YELL AT HADES concerning how things are run could do so with actual results rather than hapless wishes. ]