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Voice; 1
[There are several seconds of heavy breathing. Ethan tries to speak once and fails. He'd been so ready for death, and here he is, apparently whole and relatively healthy. But there was the poison. 60 minutes on the dot and he blinked and--now he's here, with no Shaun in his arms. He doesn't remember moving. He must have died.
It's the only explanation, really. He's died, just like his other self told him he would and now he's here and his soul is getting mixed up with other people's souls because there's a memory in his head that isn't his own.
He tries to speak again and succeeds this time, though his voice shakes.]
Is this--is this hell?
[He sounds caught between petrified and resigned, like he thinks he deserves it. Which he does.]
I know...I know it won't make a difference, but for what it's worth, if there'd been another way I would've taken it.
It's the only explanation, really. He's died, just like his other self told him he would and now he's here and his soul is getting mixed up with other people's souls because there's a memory in his head that isn't his own.
He tries to speak again and succeeds this time, though his voice shakes.]
Is this--is this hell?
[He sounds caught between petrified and resigned, like he thinks he deserves it. Which he does.]
I know...I know it won't make a difference, but for what it's worth, if there'd been another way I would've taken it.
[voice]
[About a year and a half later, there are times he still does.]
Not quite, but you're gettin' pretty close.
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That explains a few things. [Like the lack of horrific injuries. No sense in making the sinner suffer before Hell, apparently. Purgatory is more made for quiet reflection than he believed it would be--not hard, since he didn't believe in it at all before--but if it's all the same, he'd rather get on with the punishments, please.] Whoever's handling the souls is doing a bad job, though. The memories are all mixed up. I don't need to repent for their sins, too, do I?
voice;
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voice;
video;
Are you hurt?
[Because asking questions like that means the person in question must have a reason to assume they are in Hell.]
video »
[ Whatever 'it' was, he sincerely hopes the guilt is high enough to follow this man for some time to come. Humans are such stupid, regretful creatures. They are fortunate they do not have a longer lifetime within which to realise their countless flaws. ]
Hell is a state of mind and you have already found your way there, don't you think? Besides it being real and waiting, I should say.
voice
voice
[But he's sympathetic, to that resignation, so he doesn't say that with any sarcasm.]
And it's not Purgatory, either.
anon text »
[ If anonymous texting could sound judgmental, this text would be the most judgmental statement uttered in history. ]
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You wouldn't be able to tell from anywhere but the shuttle bay, but it's a spaceship. [Shuttle bay is really the only place where you can look out into the open space to know what's out there. He goes there sometimes just to remind himself that he's not completely crazy -- and even then, he wonders.]
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[Hell is all around you, at least that's what some people believe, and normally you can't see the things that it throws up onto the world. But here you don't need a special drug to see them.]
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is that a demon?
oh god is that a demon this is hell
Breathe, Ethan, breathe. Try to stay calm. What can it do to you? Kill you? Again?]
No. No, you're right. I would've done things the same, but I didn't have a choice. I had to--as long as Shaun is safe. That's all that matters....
video;
You supposed to be dead or something?
[Also not very comforting, but. You know. He asks for a legitimate reason.]
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I...I thought they stopped doing that in Ancient Greece.
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I drank poison.
[So, yes. Supposed to be dead.]
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Misery loves company, so they say. Booker isn't sure he agrees just yet.]
...I'm not supposed to be here, neither. But apparently life and death don't mean much in space. [From what he's been told. He's pretty new, as well.]
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All in all:]
Not as hurt as I should be.
[That's...terrifying, actually.]
video;
No, you're still very much alive, though I understand the comparison.
Voice
[She says it with great authority. This comes up every month.]
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You are here, which likely means you failed. A great number of us are dead.
[ Just sayin', brah. ]
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[On this, at least, he's sure, and it's the first time his voice hasn't shaken.]
I didn't fail. I died, but I didn't fail.
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A spaceship. Okay. At least it's a nice one.
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[No, not okay, not if his dad just died right in front of him, definitely not 'okay' but alive, which is arguably more important. Shaun's young. He'll recover. The killer won't touch him again.
Take that, demon guy. You won't shake Ethan's confidence that easily! Er.]
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As long as you're sure.
[ And with that, he cuts the feed. ]
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But I died.
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How--how old are you?
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How bad does it get?
[Even if he deserves it, he'd like to brace for the worst.]
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[He raises his voice again; there's a thread of concerned father under it.] What happened to your family? Are they here with you?
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Well, it doesn't look like heaven.
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[Gallows humour! Sorry.]
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I don't have one. My friends are my family -- my comrades, fellow soldiers and all. But they didn't come with me.
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You're assuming it has to be one or the other. You're also assuming there is a heaven.
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They meddle.
[Which she does not at all approve of]
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[Eponine grins into the screen, showing rotten teeth.]
But no - no, it is glorious, you know? It is quite well here; there is not a great deal to fear, Sir.
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Really bad. So you can say goodbye to your reality because it's never coming back.
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[Period.]
But yes, you are still very much alive.
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[ beat ]
You get used to it.