There is no armour against fate; Death lays his icy hands on kings.

[scarlet_devil]

(TRIGGER WARNING. This meme deals heavy with death and also possibly with strong violence or with suicide/depression. If you are not comfortable reading about that, please PLEASE do not proceed further.)

The Last Words Meme


This is it. The final curtain. You're at the end of your life, and there's someone here you really, really need to say something to before you die.

CAUSE OF DEATH
1 - Accidental. Nobody meant for this to happen, but it doesn't matter now. Due to negligance, arrogance or just plain bad luck, you've become gravely ill or injured and are now in your last moments. This covers all kinds of accidental deaths--strangulation, drowning, car accidents, unintentional beheadings, whatever you can think of.

2 - Murder. Somebody really didn't like you. Enough to kill you, it seems. You're now dead by someone else's hand. (Maybe even the person replying to you?) As with accidental death, this covers all types of intentional, malicious murder, regardless of method--so poisoning, stabbing, shooting, etc., all work here. Same with all the below options: any possible variation you can think of on it will work!

3 - Suicide. There is no hope for you, and no way out. You've reached the absolute bottom pits of despair, and the only recourse you have is to take your own life. Someone shows up to stop you... but they're too late to help you now.

4 - Terminal illness. You have cancer, or tuberculosis, or cholera back when people got cholera. The doctors have done everything they could and it wasn't enough. The only thing to do now is give your loved ones the bad news.

5 - Starvation. So thirsty. So hungry. Maybe you've been traveling in the desert for hours, or maybe you're just really poor. Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter, because you're slowly wasting away until you're nothing but skin and bones.

6 - Death in battle. You've died a hero's death, and gone out in a blaze of glory. Or maybe you were a coward who got shot for deserting? Either way, you're now a casualty of war. Will you be honored with a parade or scorned as a traitor to your country?

7 - Natural causes. You've lived a long, happy life, and now your story is at an end. In a warm bed, surrounded by your family and friends, you peacefully drift off. Just make sure that you've made a will somewhere, or at least use your deathbed to set the record straight. Otherwise, who knows what kind of squabbles might errupt after you leave this world?


TIME LEFT
1 - A few minutes. You're fading fast and you don't have much, well, any time left. Better tell the person with you that you love -- or despise -- them with your last breath, because you'll never have the chance otherwise.

2 - A few hours. You haven't got much time left. Is there someone you still need to kill? To kiss? Better do it quick. (Note: last kisses not recommended for people dying of highly contagious illnesses.)

3 - A few days. The doctors have given you the news, and it's not very good. You've only got a couple days left to live. You should start trying to make peace with people and saying your final goodbyes with the days you have left.

4 - A few weeks. Take that vacation you've always wanted to go on but never had the chance to. Go do that thing you've never thought you'd be any good at. You've got only weeks left to live. Don't waste them.

5 - A few months. While you aren't quite on death's doorstep yet, your lifespan has still dwindled considerably from what you probably thought it would be. How are you going to spend your last few months on Earth? Making the world a better place and telling your family you love them? Or raising as much hell as possible?


RELATIONSHIP
1 - Lovers. This is your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, mistress, whatever you call them they were the person you wanted to spend your life with. Too bad you don't have much of a life to spend with them anymore.

2 - Siblings. Your beloved little or older sibling is just standing there, watching you slowly waste away before their eyes. Can you say anything to comfort them? Note that it doesn't necessarily have to be interpreted literally; adopted siblings and friends so close they might as well be siblings work too.

3 - Parent and child. Nothing is worse than a parent having to bury their child... except, maybe, a young child now alone in the world after losing their parent. As with the sibling prompt, this can be expanded to include parental figures and people who are LIKE a father/mother to you as well as actual biological parents.

4 - Co-workers, teammates or classmates. You were fighting for the same side. Or you worked together in the same office for years. Or they sat behind you in biology all semester. However you met, how do your react when you find out someone who used to be a fixture in your life is going to die?

5 - Friends. You're the best of friends! You go everywhere together, know all each other's secrets, and are never seen apart. At least, you didn't use to be. Now one of you is dying and the other one is left alone in the world. Or maybe you're dying together. Wait, is that better or worse?

6 - Bitter enemies. You hate, hate, HATE this person. In fact, maybe you killed them. Or they killed you. Or maybe nobody killed anybody and they're just bitter that Mother Nature got to you before they did. Regardless, they want to confront you one last time before you bite it, if only to rub your nose in your imminent demise and their ability to outlive you.


HOW IT WORKS:
1. Using it random.org or a similar site, the first character to post rolls for their cause of death and how long they have left to live. They then post to the meme with their name, canon and the results of their roll. (For example: "Jane Doe | That One Series | 1 2" would mean Jane Doe from That One Series died of accidental causes and has a few hours left to live.)

2. Responding characters then roll for the relationship between the two of you. Optionally responding characters can also share your cause of death/time left to live or roll for their own, but that's not required. A living character caring for (or horribly mutilating) a dying one is fine, too.

3. Tell the person what you need to tell them before you bite it.

4. Have fun!


((Snagged from an earlier post from way back when... Different pic, but it's pretty much the same. Now in DW flavour.))

Comments

[antesignano]

Don't... [The calmness of resignation starts to bleed through the panic Giovanni initially felt. He's lost people before, and this man... There's little hope. Maybe today, perhaps tomorrow, but he will be lost.]

Here, a bed.

[sworntovalor]

[He practically falls onto it, the impact forcing a hiss of pain from his lips, but he manages to master a smile for his friend]

Thank you.

[The reality of his condition begins to sink in - and the way the other looks at him confirms his fears.]

Giovanni - [his voice is a soft whisper] will you do me a kindness? Will you write for me?

[antesignano]

Write? Of course, my friend.

[He glances around for a few moments, then darts over to grab a cast aside writing utensil and some paper.]

wow. that's some html fail. orz.

[sworntovalor]

[He struggles to clear his mind]

Write - 'to my beloved Guinevere -' [he closes his eyes as he attempts to concentrate through the pain. Her face appears before his mind's eye] 'you have never been away from my thoughts. I wish I had told you clearly - but I hope you forgive me my unfortunate timing - I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes upon you.'

sokay!

[antesignano]

[Giovanni takes down the words, blocking out his own emotions as he listens to these heartfelt, heartrending words.

How much would he give to say such things to his wife?]

And?

♥

[sworntovalor]

'Be happy. It is a big wish to put upon your shoulders, but I know you. You will manage it. Remember that - that your happiness has always been - my - greatest wish.'

[antesignano]

Greatest... wish.

[There's a flourish at the end. All the Auditores had beautiful, poetic handwriting. It was a matter of pride.

It hardly matters now, but still...]

[sworntovalor]

Will you - write another? To - Merlin - and Arthur -

[It's so difficult to concentrate but he needs to get these done, at least for the people from Camelot, his dearest friends]

Write that - 'I do not wish for any of you to blame yourselves, there is nothing you could have done or done differently to change this outcome. What was meant to be - has come to pass.'

[antesignano]

I will write as many letters as you wish.

[Another sheet, another letter. Who are these people to Lancelot, truly, that his last strength and words might be to all of them? What love and friendship has this man known in his life?] Mm.

[sworntovalor]

[Lancelot's capacity to love is rather endless, so he had known much.]

Thank you - [he manages a smile for him, for all his help. And then suddenly he knows what he wants to tell the rest of his friends as well.]

'Thank you, the both of you. For giving me hope and a purpose to my life. Knowing you has been the greatest honor of my life.'

[antesignano]

[Admirable. Noble. Giovanni's even learned things from him.

He writes silently, years beyond the need or desire to cry despite the intense sorrow in his heart. Life and death, success and failure, all the reality of an Assassin. Not all can live it, but it is his birthright and his privilege. His burden.

He accepted Lancelot into the Brotherhood in his own way, and this is the least he can do for him.]

[sworntovalor]

[There is so much more he wants to say, but he can't quite find the words, and he feels consciousness slipping from him. He struggles because he wants to give at least a few words to all his friends from Camelot, and that leaves one more.]

For Morgana - write - 'I am eternally grateful that life gave the chance to befriend you. I am sorry that I will not be able to keep my promise' [his face spasms with pain for a moment and he tries to breath deeply for a moment with little success] 'I - I trust you to - be well, without my - assistance. Please watch o- watch over - the others.'

[antesignano]

[Giovanni resists the urge to reach out to comfort him. It's a grim reality. It simply is.]

Morgana... [He hopes he spells it correctly.]

Take a moment to rest, friend.

[sworntovalor]

[She'll forgive him if he doesn't, surely. He takes a moment to simply concentrate on breathing. Breathing and staying alive, for a moments longer. Just a moment longer.]

[antesignano]

[He dabs again at Lancelot's face, his cheek, his forehead, anything to comfort him a little. His heart is cracking, but not breaking... Never breaking.] Anyone else?

[sworntovalor]

[He wants to say yes, wants to give his parting words to all those he had come to care for in Anatole. But he hasn't the strength, and he doesn't want to choose between them.]

One. You - Giovanni.

[antesignano]

You do not need to say anything to me.

[More than he could imagine before, this hurts. He never got to say goodbye to his family. He doesn't want to say goodbye to Lancelot, either.]

[sworntovalor]

I do - [he reaches for his hand that's on his face, holding onto it feebly.]

I am - truly blessed to have had the honor of being your friend. Your family - as cruel as life had been - had been fortunate to have you. You - [again he takes a moment to catch his breath] are a father any son would be proud to have.

[antesignano]

[He grasps Lancelot's hand in response, and now... Now he's a father, now he's getting to say goodbye. It's cathartic, though terribly at Lancelot's expense.

He can't care that much; it's not done. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.]

And I have not met a better man. I am only happy that you have let me treat you as family. [He smiles, genuinely happy as he reflects on all the ridiculous things they've done.]

[sworntovalor]

[That smile brings one to his own face as well; all the things they could have done and now were no more.]

It has been - my utmost pleasure.

[antesignano]

It has been my honor and my privilege to know you. Thank you, truly. I have found my purpose again through our bond.

[sworntovalor]

I'm glad.

[He tries to give his hand a little squeeze]

Then my life had not been for naught.

[antesignano]

Whatever you may think, you have done wondrous things.

[Giovanni squeezes his hand instead.]

[sworntovalor]

Thank you, my friend.

[His eyes close, the spinning room making it difficult not to throw up. And he wants to at least die with some dignity.]

For everything.

[antesignano]

We will see each other again someday. I know it.

[His voice is soft, reassuring.]