four

[bookpapers]

Comments

[bookpapers]

I read about both in the Bible, but I didn't believe that they existed. I thought it'd just be nothingness at the end. Like I'd just cease to exist.

[there's a wistfulness to his voice that would probably sound unhinged, considering how he sounds a little disappointed.]

Even though I know souls exist in my world... But maybe they just float around and sleep.

[forefall]

[ unfortunately, four doesn't think it's that unhinged. ]

That was what I was expecting, too. [ a beat. ] It was more what I was hoping for.

[ to simply cease existing. there isn't any wistfulness to her tone, only simple admittance, which or may not be just as unhinged. it's something she should have or used to say with much more melodrama. ]

Even if souls exist, that doesn't mean they have to last forever.

[ if reincarnation doesn't exist and there is no where for souls to go, they can simply go away. go out. go bye. ]

[bookpapers]

[...well, if four can admit it,]

...Me too. [how many times had he wished for it in that room? it's been a while, but he still remembers the exact number.]

My world would be better off that way. No souls, no way for the Earl to manipulate them. Can't put nothing in a machine.

[forefall]

[ she's already admitted to one person, and she thinks lavi is someone who wouldn't take her answer the wrong way. ]

The war you're fighting would be over.

[ or at least that particular conflict would be. she doesn't know enough about the Earl to know if he'd find some other means to wreak havoc. ]

Or it'd be simpler.

[bookpapers]

[that's more or less the direction of lavi's thoughts too -- that the war would be over.]

It gave so many their purpose. [he's not so naive to think that the war ending could save everyone, but it'll help the others. the science division. the head nurse. lenalee and komui] But maybe that'll give them some time to think of what else they can be. Like us.

[their wars have ended, with or without them.]

'Course, I'd just have to move on to the next one after.

[forefall]

People can find a new purpose. It may take a while, but it's sadder for a war to be someone's purpose.

[ how much that is like them is up in the air. even if they don't have much purpose now, she at least thinks they were more than a war. ]

... For your duty. [ her voice grows quieter. ] It wouldn't end for you.

[ in a way, that's even sadder. ]

[bookpapers]

['it's sadder for a war to be someone's purpose'.

Bookman are meant to be recorders of history, not wars. But war is the only thing that happens, so what else are they supposed to record?]

Only if humans decide to stop fighting one another.

[in the tone of someone saying a joke, because can they? he doesn't think so.]

[forefall]

[ bookmen are sad! there are other things that happen in history.

she smiles, as if finding his joke funny except there's little mirth in the curve of her lips. ]

We both know how likely that is.

[bookpapers]

[he doesn't say anything for a moment, just absorbing this moment, this brief touch of understanding even if the topic doesn't bring him joy. Then, since it calls to mind another subject,]

...I talked to almost everyone on that side. Some of them said they want to win, when I asked 'em.

Apparently, they're planning on getting all of us out of here when they win.

[forefall]

... I heard some of them say that, too.

[ not all directly, but it wasn't too had to see it or notice the sentiment amongst some of the single dead. ]

Not all of us care about getting out of Hell, however.

[bookpapers]

[...]

I think it's nice that they're thinking of us, in their own way. [of course lavi would think that's nice, softhearted as he is.]

I feel like it'd be a tough sell though. Only one person can win, and maybe they can include the others in that, but all of us?