43

[impure_tale]

I did not expect gifts. Once I have time to sit down to write a few letters I'll be certain to disburse proper thanks, but truly -- I am moved. Captain Adams, I haven't had this vintage since I was twenty-five! Giselle, dearheart, you know me entirely too well. Monsieur Q -- merci.

I regret that I do not at present have the resources to provide gifts for the lot of you as well.

Thank you for the consideration. Joyeux Noel.

Comments

[major-west.livejournal.com]

Merry Christmas.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

How are you, Sparrow?

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

Bored, mainly. I never thought the afterlife could get so dull. And yourself?

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Romana's gone.

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

I... heard.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Madame Bohemme is a kind enough person. I'm lucky, really, but...

I drove her away, didn't I, Henry?

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

She seems a bit... frivolous.

No, of course not. Wardens leave; it seems to happen with frequency here.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Everyone leaves, sparrow. I don't suspect you'll be here much longer, either.

But just like my Renee, the last words I said to her were angry ones, amid practical hysterics.

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

...why do you think that?

I'm sorry.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Reaching your old age, Henry, means you spend much of your time waiting around to die while everyone else around you disappears.

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

But you're already dead, just like every other Inmate here.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Until when? What becomes of us after this? Do we stay here and go on living forever? Do we cease to exist? Go to heaven? Hell? Or are we simply restored to life to live out the rest of our existence in our cheaper, more limited worlds until we die again?

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

...I don't know. Don't ask me.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

Forgive me. I know you don't know. I've just grown very frustrated, I think.

[Private]

[major-west.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm sorry if I'm being short-- it's just not something I prefer to think about right now.

[Private]

[impure-tale.livejournal.com]

You're not being short, Henry; I'm just being difficult.