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You've been sent to Purgatory.
16 years ago
Death is a lady of the blackened robe, her raven hair and white mask all you can see of her- all you can see of anything, as a matter of fact.
"That was quite a mess," she notes absently. "I've removed your memory of it. Your death, I mean. Less traumatic that way. You'll eventually remember... or not. It's all up to you." She adjusts a crinkle in her robe, and you notice a small distortion in the emptiness of space that seems to surround you both as a result- it's distracting for a moment.
"I'm, as you can imagine, very busy. I must leave you here alone. Don't look so worried, you'll only have to stay for a short while."
Ah! It's temporary! Good. The thing that unsettles you, however, is that you're not really sure what the immortal embodiment of Death considers 'a short while.'
"While this place is not one of ecstacy nor torture, it is just a mite cold. And as you can plainly see, or not see, it's completely dark. Finally, there's really nothing to make any noise here aside from yourself. These are the three biggest complaints I get about having to stay here."
A finite but indefinable length of time spent in a sensory vacuum? It's a worrying thought, and evidently your worry shows a bit on your face.
"All right, I understand. I'm a goddess of destruction, but that's not to say I can't materialize what I need at times. I will give you a choice between one of three items you can keep for the duration of your stay. Choose carefully, but quickly- I have things to do."
The first is a blanket. It's too small for you, and either your head or chest remain uncovered at any time. Death is obviously not very practiced at materializing things from the ether, as well, because it's just a little bit threadbare. But what it is, is warm... even in its incompletion.
The second is a music box. It is easy to wind, and amusingly, plays different songs with its little mechanical chimes. But again Death's touch is apparent- they're all a little bit sad. Nevertheless, there is nothing to interfere with its melody, and so it fills the room.
The third is a crystal. It lights up the room in brilliant colors that dance around and dazzle the eye. But Death has been very explicit in saying that you cannot touch it, for it took all of her power just to make the flashing presence inside it, and the slightest contact will shatter it.
So you're stuck in a black, empty, silent space for a while- a while you don't know the extent of. Your only relief is to come of one of these items. Which item do you choose?
"That was quite a mess," she notes absently. "I've removed your memory of it. Your death, I mean. Less traumatic that way. You'll eventually remember... or not. It's all up to you." She adjusts a crinkle in her robe, and you notice a small distortion in the emptiness of space that seems to surround you both as a result- it's distracting for a moment.
"I'm, as you can imagine, very busy. I must leave you here alone. Don't look so worried, you'll only have to stay for a short while."
Ah! It's temporary! Good. The thing that unsettles you, however, is that you're not really sure what the immortal embodiment of Death considers 'a short while.'
"While this place is not one of ecstacy nor torture, it is just a mite cold. And as you can plainly see, or not see, it's completely dark. Finally, there's really nothing to make any noise here aside from yourself. These are the three biggest complaints I get about having to stay here."
A finite but indefinable length of time spent in a sensory vacuum? It's a worrying thought, and evidently your worry shows a bit on your face.
"All right, I understand. I'm a goddess of destruction, but that's not to say I can't materialize what I need at times. I will give you a choice between one of three items you can keep for the duration of your stay. Choose carefully, but quickly- I have things to do."
The first is a blanket. It's too small for you, and either your head or chest remain uncovered at any time. Death is obviously not very practiced at materializing things from the ether, as well, because it's just a little bit threadbare. But what it is, is warm... even in its incompletion.
The second is a music box. It is easy to wind, and amusingly, plays different songs with its little mechanical chimes. But again Death's touch is apparent- they're all a little bit sad. Nevertheless, there is nothing to interfere with its melody, and so it fills the room.
The third is a crystal. It lights up the room in brilliant colors that dance around and dazzle the eye. But Death has been very explicit in saying that you cannot touch it, for it took all of her power just to make the flashing presence inside it, and the slightest contact will shatter it.
So you're stuck in a black, empty, silent space for a while- a while you don't know the extent of. Your only relief is to come of one of these items. Which item do you choose?
A blanket.. For comfort, something soft to hold, some way for me to dream.
These answers provided by others have been very illuminating...
Fuckin' Death and her anti-tank bias. She's MEAN!
Knowing that one can see the extent of the room is better than any music box that will piss you off in the coming week. Plus, one can see to provide their own entertainment.
I'd take the music box because, unlike the crystal, I could hold it and choose not to use it at times if I wanted, whereas the light from the crystals would always be running.
... but the illusion of warmth would be nice, plus it's softer than the music box, and I'd need something to hold.
The crystal, while enrapturing the mind and keeping the sense of sight delighted, is basically an unreachable dream, drawing you to it while never being allowing itself to be touched, lest you lose it and be thrown to the darkness.
The Music box may delight the sense of hearing, but while the silence of it all can be torment, sometimes sound can be even more so..you may be entertained for a time, but soon..the music box will be all that there is to you after a time.
The Blanket, while offering a source of warmth and delighting the sense of touch, is explicit. Part of you will be exposed to the 'elements', leaving either(now this is a general take on it) your mind or your body to be buffeted by the cold andgivign the sense that regardless of what you do, You will be 'beaten' by the cold.
In all honesty, id go with the blanket..the warmth it would bring would be enough to keep me happy.
I really want to say nothing, but as long as I got something in front of me, I might as well take the blanket, roll it up and use it like a pillow and just lay down and wait for a bit.
I'll sing to myself.
WE WERE BORN TO BE AH LIE HIVE
WE WERE BORN TO BE AH LIE HIVE
BORN
BORN TO BE ALIVE
born to be alive
YSEE WE'RE BORN
BORN
BORN
born to be alive
However, I can choose the crystal, as I am not bothered to touch it; I'm can be very disciplined when I want to. Also, the shattering of the crystal would result in a brief satisfaction and maybe a giggle or two as I sit in the dark. I could run and kick it. I wouldn't feel bad about it; hell, sitting in the dark for almost an eternity would be worth breaking the damn thing. Plus, it'd make a funny story to tell whenever I get to where I got to go. They'd be like, "Oh, Tab, Yoooooou"
The blanket would be rolled up in a pillow, like I said, as it can't cover me completely. I would lie down and wait. I'll get used to the cold. Maybe I still have that joint in my pocket when death killed me? God I hope so. Even if not... just gotta think about the future. When I get out.
The music box... I would never pick. That thing would drive me insane really really quick.
Warmth,
Structure,
And light.
Talk about a cruel choice...
The blanket would be my first choice, but with it's description, it would drive me mad pretty quick. I can't STAND small blankets.
The music box would be an feasible choice for me, I've always found sad music to be somewhat uplifting (I'm a bit of a freak, ok?).
What fascinates me though is the crystal. The fact that I couldn't touch it would drive me bonkers pretty damn quick. I'm a very tactile person you see.
Each of the three is only a fragment of something we would need. And furthermore, a short time to death could be thousands of years in mortal perception, couldn't it...?
I would probably choose the crystal.
The question I have to ask though, is what would happen when I eventually touched it?
My favourite piece of music in existence is the last movement of Mahler's 9th Symphony, and it's one of the saddest and most deeply touching pieces of music ever written. I mean, on the last page - which takes 5 minutes to play, it's so reluctant to say goodbye, he quotes a melody from one of his song cycles, Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children), possibly the saddest song-cycle ever written The melody matches the words "... im Sonnenschein. Der Tag ist schön auf jenem Höh'n!" (in the sunshine. The day is fine upon those heights!): the lyrics say that the children have just gone for a walk, and they'll be home any minute now - of course, in the last verse, it becomes obvious they're not coming home: "They've only gone out, and don't want to come home. We'll catch up with them in the heights (i.e. the mountains), in the sunshine. The day is fine upon those heights!)
- The violins play the melody tenderly, in very high-pitched notes, haltingly, before the final cadence slowly comes, then again, then again, with a final sigh from the cellos.
My description doesn't give it the least amount enough credit. It's honestly absolutely heartbreaking - all the moreso because it's in a major key!
Yeah, I'd choose the music box. I don't care if I'm a bit cold, as long as I can hear music when I want to, I'll have some kind of hope. Plus, (unless I can't vocalise anymore) I can always hum or sing to myself if I want a rest from the timbre of the music box.
Plus, the idea of eternity in a void is a major part of my idea of the afterlife. I think that one would eventually be joined by one's soulmate, though - since apart, neither only has a fraction of a "soul" (whatever a "soul" is). Beyond that, I have no idea. But at least being with someone else would be a solace.
Actually, I think I'd prefer the crystal. Something to mesmerize, entertain, and help produce some zen-like thoughts while I'm there. I think I could resist the temptation to touch it.
Actually, you know, I'm pretty terrible with decisions and that blanket sounds good too, unless it smells funny. Okay, so I might need to spend the first half of my stay there just figuring out what one gift I would like. Death has time to figure it out, right? ... ... No, I suppose if death had that sort of time I could just ask to have its company.
Yep.. screw the somewhat warm comfort of the blanket, the sad soulful melodies of the box, and the mesmerizing lightshow of the magic crystal. I'd rather have death's company, if that was an option. In the end, being completely alone for what might be a very long time is the worst hell I could imagine...
I'd most likely go for the Crystal. Being in complete darkness, even with a blankey and/or sad music playing, would just scare the shit out of me.
,,,And honestly, if death took too long to return I'd probably just fall asleep anyways, not making use of any of the items. *laughs*
I find it interesting how people seem to jump to the conclusion that Death is somehow at fault for your demise.
...but it's probably more revealing that my first thought upon seeing that the memory has been taken away, was of "The World Ends With You". ^_^;;
I'm so afraid that I'll shatter that crystal. The music box is useless to me, sad songs bleh, I'll just remember some of my favorite music when I want to.
But if I couldn't have that... There's the blanket, yes I will admit that warmth would be a comfort but with it being too small I would become quite mad withing SECONDS and undoubtedly lose it in the dark room within a fit of rage. The music box... again it holds a chance of comforting but what is a world slumped into depression? Sad songs singularly would sap my sanity... seriously! The crystal would probably be my actual choice, because if this is a room then there are walls and floors and if there are walls and floors there are surfaces to write on. I would chose the crystal because it would spread light enough for me to write stories and imagine and maybe work on my art (which I really need); this would help keep me sane I think... and if you're wondering what would I write in, being dead has some upsides. You can keep writing in your own blood cause it doesn't run out! I hope...
This is of course if she won't come visit from time to time...