Train to the afterlife

[sockalareine]

The Train to the Afterlife Meme

Congratulations: You are dead.

 

Maybe you know how, maybe you don't. Perhaps the memory is fuzzy, or perhaps it's crystal clear down to the look in your comrades' eyes. Maybe it was your time; you've done all you wanted to. Or maybe you weren't at all ready to go, maybe you went out kicking and screaming - but none of it matters. You know you're dead, and the train is taking you to an afterlife. Perhaps an afterlife of your choice; you might've earned that heaven. Or perhaps you've earned something else entirely.

 

It'll be a bit of a journey, though, so you might as well take your time and talk to the other people in your coach. Death knows no place: most of them are strangers, even from faraway worlds. But death knows no time either, so who knows, some of them may be people you know, even if last you knew, they were alive - or long gone.

 

Oh look, here comes the snack cart.

 

All the usual:

 

• Post with your character's name and canon in the subject line.

• Said character is now dead for whatever reason - canon, AU, what have you. They are on a train with other dead people from many other times, places and worlds.

• Characters don't know for a fact where they're headed - just a general awareness that they're going to some kind of afterlife. Whatever they think it is is up to the player.

• This meme is built especially for cross-canon interaction, and potentially for threadjacking and group threading - if you're interested, may be a good idea to state as much in your subject line.

• Tag around and play nice!

• TRIGGER WARNING: Meme obviously deals with death and may deal with other unpleasant themes as a result. Please be cautious.

Comments

Noctis Lucis Caelum [ FFXV ]

[nocts]

[Accepts all the angst]

The two kings. Hope this is enough

[rwbyandfateverserp]

The train station, devoid of life, away from any sign of positivity in its atmosphere. What should a place where many would come, and go was only awaiting ground for one trip to the unknown

On the very edge of the trains road, stood a young man wearing a white tunic with black hair and white treads in front of it. His blue eyes, holding no light on them saw the dark entrance of the tunnel, hoping the transport would come soon enough to end this long wait.


"I see I'm not alone in this?"

The noble figure called, sensing someone else had entered into the area, greeting him with a polite tone despite not knowing who this individual was.

[nocts]

For a very long while, Noctis felt floating weightless, the current of nothingness carrying him downstream. He didn't have much say in what was going on- he had just defeated Ardyn, purging the darkness from him and the World he loves so much, securing his friends' lives.

So when he finally felt the solid ground underneath his feet, he felt like he could open his eyes again. It... would seem that his spirit put itself together. How long did it take? No clue. But he was whole now, again, instead of the dusty light. And still in his Kingly raiments.

He didn't recognize this place but there was a soft pull towards it. A train station. Slowly, he made his way down the edge of the waiting line, watching the tracks, until somebody clearly addressed him.

"...Yeah." Noctis stops a few steps away from the man. This... will be hard to get used to. "Have you been waiting for long?"

[rwbyandfateverserp]

"I don't recall.." The man said with low voice, staring down at the tracks. The only moments he can recall where the last moments of his life, staring everyone with a proud glance in his deathbed.

After that. The shadows were the only image in front of him. Time passed in a mysterious way in there. It felt like an hour, or two to him, but at the same time, it also felt that he's been there for a long time.


However, it has helped him to reflect on somethings, giving a sad realization once everything had come to pass. The life he left behind wasn't one he was proud of.

But there was one thing prior to the shadows he had forgotten. Ah yes...that light...and that voice.

"I waited for quite a long time, and it has yet to arrive on my end." He answered, politely turning his head to the young king's direction. "I presume you are waiting as well. Am I correct?"

[nocts]

"That's alright," Noctis said with a nod and then took a seat on the bench. His leg didn't hurt now, not really, only the residual memory of it, but he still needed a bit of time to collect himself. The fact that he's actually dead and waiting for a train to take him further.

"Yes, I suppose I will be waiting as well." Are they going to share the train? Do they go the same way? Noctis has been waiting already for ten years, locked inside the crystal, for some semblance of peace. He supposes that the Accursed waiting for his peace way longer but it's over now. For both of them.

Noctis looks around, "A rather empty train station..."

[rwbyandfateverserp]

"Not many have the chance to this particular place. Only those with great deeds are worthy of being here." The figure explained, quietly scanning the now former king. The support on his leg brought a peek of curiosity within himself.

The air of a warrior reeks from him, earning a good amount of respect for that very fact. While it would be a comforting thought they would be on the same train. It was unlikely that Noctis was given the same chance as Charlemagne.

"Judging by your presence. I take a guess you did a lot of great deeds to earn this, I presume?"

[nocts]

"You know a lot about this place." Was he waiting here for long? Watching others come and go?

Even the afterlife is different for him. Noctis stares at his right hand and thin, red line around his finger where the Ring of Lucii used to be. Will he never see the ones he loves again?

"I, uh, protected my people. Finally managed to pull them out of the darkness that engulfed everything. Took me a while but... it's over now." He's made his peace and doesn't have regrets. There are only wishes left in his wake- wishing for more time, more memories, more of everything.

[rwbyandfateverserp]

"You could say I been here longer than I want to admit.." He has watched others come, and go to the other side. Moving on from any regrets, or remorse behind on their lives. From heroic souls to darker individuals. There were many that had been given the same chance.

The look of desire didn't go unnoticed for the fellow king, curving the first smile in the conversation, turning his body completely to stand in front of his sight,

"You died a hero. I can see why would you be eligible to be in here. But I think I pushed formalities long enough." The figure would place his arm around his chest and bowed down slightly.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Charlemagne. I am known as the paladin king from my homeland. What's yours?" Both blue colored irises locked themselves to Noctis, awaiting eagerly for his answer.

[nocts]

For so long? Didn't he want to move on? Or perhaps... he couldn't? Whatever it is, Noctis feels for him. He's not sure if he wants to stay in this desolate place. He doesn't know what happened to him so he cannot tell him what to do and what's best for him.

Died a hero... true, that's probably how they will remember him. Noctis is just glad that his friends will come out of this ordeal with Accursed with minimal injuries. Ignis... if he could just get him back his sight. He will forever feel guilty for that one.

"Noctis. Noctis Lucis Caelum," the 114th- he omitted it because he didn't really rule. He sat at the throne for less than ten minutes. He doesn't include that into the ruling. "King of Eos."

[rwbyandfateverserp]

Charlemagne had no other choice when it came to this afterlife in the form of a train station, having done a desperate need to withhold his legacy at the cost of his own peaceful death remained a very selfish move from his part. But as time progressed. His contractor had given him visions of what came afterward related to his relatives.

Calling it a punishment was cutting it short. In the end, the paladin couldn’t help but chuckle as the attempt to hide his royal title was amusing to no end. This young warrior had the heart and willing of roaring lion. Maybe under different circumstances, his rule would have been a very prosperous one.

However, the look on his eyes spoke of guilt. A guilt of leaving something he held dear behind. Such feeling wasn't a mystery to the paladin, holding part of his own after all this time.

“It seems we are in the same spot at the very end of our rules…” His words held a reflecting, accepting yet melancholic vibe from them, shifting the once radiant smile into a serious expression.

“Two kings that ended their rules in different manners. That would be a cool title for a chapter in someone’s tale about heroes, and legends. It’s an honor to meet you, Noctis. Even if our circumstances lack the proper celebration to sit down, have a fancy meal worthy of kings, and knights, and hear the very song, and cheers from our allies, and dear friends.”

[nocts]

Noctis doesn't regret his decision in the slightest, he just... never wanted to bring the pain to those close to him. Yet, for their sake, he had to do it. They deserve it. They deserve a World where darkness is only that of a night filled with stars and a bright moon. Daemons have no place there.

He watches the other King closely as he speaks, some parts of the speech reminding him of his early days as a Prince. All the formalities and manners he desperately wanted to run away from.

"It is an honor to meet you too, King Charlemagne," Noctis nods. He leans chin on the palm of his hand that's resting on the armrest of the bench. "I was never fond of big celebrations, especially when I was young. But..." he smiles fondly, "I wouldn't mind trying my friend's cooking again."

[deadlybang]

[It's not that she hadn't thought it possible, but she had thought it would take longer. That it would take more to bring her down, another lemenae maybe or just time wearing her down with its passing. She had heard the stories of how eventually every lemenae would simply reach that moment where they can't go on, where they want to stop living.]

[With everything she has done. With all the monsters she has fought. To die because of a building collapsing on her seems almost... Stupid.]

[But there's no point in going in circles over it, not when she has one last thing to do before the train that they all seem to be waiting arrives. At the very least, she hopes that she managed to get her little brother and her parents out of the way. They were the reason why she went back, why she transformed and blew her cover. Even now her mind is so much on them that she doesn't even realize that she's still transformed in her lemenae form.]

[But she's not even sure how long it has been before she gathered her consciousness here, or if other trains have come and go already. So she eventually ends approaching someone who seems to have been waiting for a while.]

Excuse me, have you like been here for long? Do you like know if other trains have like passed already?

[nocts]

[Noctis has been sitting on the bench near the train tracks for a while. The trains might've passed by- he didn't notice them. He didn't really feel like moving from this spot right now. The memories and the time he had lost, the friends he left behind, are keeping him from boarding the train and properly moving on.

So he sat there, contemplating if his decision to wait for them here was right or no. Perhaps he was clinging onto the past too much. But... that's all he had left.

A voice interrupted his thoughts and he lifted his gaze from the train tracks to the woman approaching him.]

You just missed one. My sense of time here has gone dull, but the next one should arrive soon enough. You could wait here.

[deadlybang]

Oh...

[She frowns lightly before looking around once more. But she can't see them anywhere in the station. Either they aren't there yet, which means she may have managed to save them, or they moved on already.]

I don't suppose that you like noticed a family of three boarding the train? Two adults and a six years old, all blonde? ... Actually, nevermind.

[Who knows how many people cross through the station and how many families go together. Even if he had somehow noticed them and remembered them there's no way to tell if they are her family. She offers a little smile of gratitude either way before sitting on an empty spot on the bench, flexing her wings against her back so they don't bother anyone.]

Are you like waiting for someone?

[nocts]

[Noctis can notice a hint of worry in her voice. Whatever happened to her to die probably involved other people that she was worried about. He tries to give her reassuring smile and shakes her head.]

No, I haven't seen them.

[And he actually isn't lying. It would be hard to miss a family of all blond people, boarding a train.

He nods slowly, fingers entwining in his lap.]

I suppose. This moving on thing, all by myself... it isn't very tempting.

[No matter what kind of peace that was promised to him that awaits him at the end of the tracks.]

They say it is not wise to linger around here but I was never known for a smart guy. [Noctis shrugs, trying to lighten the mood a bit.]

[deadlybang]

[She doesn't know if he's just saying it to comfort her or if it's real, and even if it's the truth she can't really know if they just went through before he arrived. Time doesn't really seem to have much meaning her.]

[Still, it gives her some relief and she decides to cling to the idea that they are safe after all. And now they know that their daughter is dead, even if the date of death won't be the real one.]

[She giggles a bit at his last remark, offering him a smile.]

I don't know... People say there are like many things that aren't wise to do, like leaving the safety of a hometown, but if we don't like do it then we will be missing on many things.

I think that if like you just wait here it will be fine, it would be like different if you tried to leave. There may like be people waiting for you at wherever the train takes us but they like probably can wait some more, tcha?

#SorryNotSorry

[fairygodspecs]

[The blind adviser came to, somewhat disorientated as nothing seemed to ground him to familiarity. The sounds told him he was in a train, but there was no talking or anything to suggest he was not alone.

Then the shards of memory from before the blackout returned and his heart ached. The loneliness that had accompanied him to his death still held onto his heart, causing him to touch his chest. He went to his death, alone, lamenting the hole the absence of his Highness left in him.

Prompto...

Gladio...

His voice cracked with emotion.] Noctis...

excellent

[nocts]

[Ignis wasn't by himself. Ever. And especially now that things ended the way they did. Noctis doesn't regret many things he did, but bringing pain to people he loves is something he will never forgive himself.

He approached his advisor slowly, as he was sitting several seats behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.]

I'm here, Iggy.

[They are dead so... Ignis should be able to see him right? His body was wounded but his spirit, right here and now, hopefully- he'll be able to see him.]

The Power of Love?

[fairygodspecs]

[The familiar voice and that hand on his shoulder exposed his vulnerability. His pale eye widened, glistening with emotion. Suddenly, as if something awakened in him, a verdant bloom erupted in his open eye, while the scarring seemed to soften around his sealed one.

Surprising himself as much as it did Noctis, Ignis opened both his eyes and saw him. He saw his Highness after too many years.

His voice cracked, a hand clasping his.]

Noct...

Always <3

[nocts]

[Noctis offered him a reassuring smile before taking a seat next to him. It's good to see that his vision is back. From fear that his own voice will crack, he just squeezes Ignis' shoulder in reassurance that yes, he's next to him.

It takes him a few more moments for Noctis to collect himself and speak up.]

Did you really think you'd be on this train all by yourself?

[He gives Ignis a nod-]

It is my turn to stand next to you.

MY FEELINGS

[fairygodspecs]

[Melting into the touch, Ignis surrendered to his emotion. He could permit himself that much after all this time, could he not?

No Highness, not even Majesty, as deserving of that title as he was. You would always be...]

Noct... I missed you so dearly.

I see you.

[There was more to those words than just an admission of his vision returning.]

feels forever

[nocts]

I missed you too, Iggy.

[On this train, there are no titles, no ranks, no protocol to uphold, no manners to watch out for. The peace, rest and eventual happiness they might find at the end of the ride and that they couldn't have while alive- Noct is only looking forward to that, nothing else.

He chuckles-]

I could use some shaving tips, hm?

[But, despite the joke, Noctis grins and then pulls Ignis into a tight hug. Something he wanted to do back at the camp.]

*UGLY SOBS*

[fairygodspecs]

[Ignis gasped, realising just how much he missed Noctis when his Highness - no, Majesty - had been gone. He wrapped his arms around Noctis, burying his face against the other man's shoulder.]

Not at all, Noct.

You are perfect as you are.

*rivers of sobs*

[nocts]

[Noctis doesn't want to pull away from the hug any time soon. Just holding onto Ignis like this, feels perfect. Even if this train leads them nowhere, he'll be fine. With Ignis, he was always fine. He always made things better. Noctis just wishes he can return the favor and do the same for his oldest friend and advisor.]

Thank you... Iggy. For everything... [Noct says quietly, face buried in Ignis' shoulder as well.]

[fairygodspecs]

[Embracing Noctis, Ignis let out a small sigh of relief, as if the very act of holding onto the other man, his Noctis, made it all the more real. He massaged the back of Noctis' head, pulling him in so they could rest together on the train seats.

My sweet, sweet Prince.]

For you, always... We are together at last.