And They All Lived "Happily" Ever After.

[achievementhunter]

Greetings, fellow soldiers.

[The feed opens up to a view from the very edge of the bridge. Slim legs dangling over the edge, at the very precipice of everything.

It's a nice day today. The water's sparkling. A light breeze has small waves kicking up on it's surface, barely distinguishable from the quality of the video format. Even so- it's pretty.]

It's been a while since our last game. I'm sure most of you are busy with the flurry of activity this month has sparked, however- indulge me for a few minutes.

Consider it a question, more than a game.

What would a 'happy ending' look like, to you?

Comments

[achievementhunter]

You have a point. So I take it that eventually what I am now simply dies away as easily as what I have been. Through change.

[Maybe they'll become something even worse. What a nice thought.]

In simple terms, yes. Oblivion is what I desire.

I see no point to continuing on after already having lived.

[nojusticeonlyme]

IT WILL, EVENTUALLY. EVERYTHING CHANGES. I'VE WATCHED IT HAPPEN.

POINT? DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LIFE AND DEATH HAVE AN OBJECTIVE PURPOSE HANDED DOWN BY SOME HIGHER BEING?

[achievementhunter]

I believe that, as an individual, I'd like to personify it into something meaningful to myself.

No point in waiting for purpose and meaning from higher beings, I really doubt they'd care.

[nojusticeonlyme]

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER WORLDS, BUT THE GODS OF THE DISCWORLD ARE OFTEN SELFISH, SHORT-SIGHTED, AND HAVE A HABIT OF TREATING THEIR CHOSEN ONES LIKE PAWNS IN A GAME TO WHICH THEY THEMSELVES BARELY KNOW THE RULES. IT'S PROBABLY BEST TO AVOID DEALINGS WITH THEM. YOU MAY END UP BEING THE VALIANT HERO WHO SLAYS THE DRAGON AND RIDES OFF WITH SOME DAMN PRINCESS, OTHERWISE.

THE GODS DON'T OFTEN SEEM TO CONSIDER WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT DAY WHEN YOU'RE SCRUBBING DRAGON BLOOD OUT OF YOUR ARMOR AND THE PRINCESS IS RATHER ANNOYED THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AN ARMY OF SERVANTS TO DO ALL THE COOKING AND WASHING UP. THEY USUALLY DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE DAY BEFORE, OR WHETHER OR NOT YOU EVEN WANTED TO FIGHT A DRAGON. IT'S RIDICULOUS.

[achievementhunter]

Can't speak for my world; I have no idea if any gods are toying with what happens there.

Should there be, I have many questions for them... but I doubt the answer would be any different from this conversation.

[You need a few things, for a story. A hero, a villain, and a helpless piece of royalty.

It's just their luck that they get to be two of those things at once.]

Have you ever met a mortal whose life seemed to...shake you, in some way? That you viewed it as unfair, would be the appropriate phrasing.

[nojusticeonlyme]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING IN THE UNIVERSE AS "FAIR." IT IS ONLY CONCEPT THAT MANY SENTIENT SPECIES HAVE CREATED, AND YOU TREAT IT AS IF IT WERE A REAL, QUANTIFIABLE FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE. I'M OFTEN AMAZED AT YOUR CREATIVITY.

HOWEVER, TAKING ON A MORTAL PERSPECTIVE... YES, I SEE UNFAIRNESS EVERY DAY. I SEE INJUSTICE, CRUELTY, CALLOUSNESS. I HAVE WITNESSED EVERY TERRIBLE THING ONE PERSON CAN DO TO ANOTHER. I CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THEIR FATES SHAKE ME, AS YOU SAY, OR I WOULD BE UNABLE TO FUNCTION.

[achievementhunter]

To each their own, as it were.

[It's not the first time someone's come to them with a concept they don't want to believe; at the very least, this one has the good grace to understand there's little point in arguing it out.]

And have you ever deemed fit to help those poor, unfortunate souls?

[nojusticeonlyme]

I MAKE A POINT TO BE KIND TO THEM, WHEN I COME TO COLLECT THEM. THEY HAVE LIKELY JUST EXPERIENCED THE WORST THING TO HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO THEM, AFTER ALL.

AS FOR HELPING THE LIVING, IT IS THE LIVING THEMSELVES WHO ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO AID EACH OTHER. I DO WHAT I CAN, BUT THERE ARE RULES THAT ARE BEST LEFT UNBROKEN.

[achievementhunter]

If death is the worst thing to happen to them, then they can't be all that unfortunate, can they?

...Even Death has rules to it. I see.

[nojusticeonlyme]

THAT DEPENDS ON HOW THEY DIE, DOESN'T IT? I STILL SEE NO NEED TO ADD INSULT TO FATALITY.

ALL THINGS HAVE RULES, BUT ALL RULES CAN BE BROKEN. SOME HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

[achievementhunter]

True. Instantaneous death hardly counts in this vein of conversation.

Do you have an example of one such rule?

[nojusticeonlyme]

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT PROLONGED, PAINFUL DEATHS WOULD CERTAINLY RANK AMONG THE WORST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL.

I CANNOT REFUSE TO PERFORM MY DUTIES. THE BUILD-UP OF LIFE FORCE WOULD CREATE DISORDER AND EVENTUALLY CHAOS IN THE WORLD, AND THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD WOULD BE FORCED TO LINGER IN PLACES THEY SHOULD NOT BE.