028 ☣ public post

[fridgetothefire]

[When the view clicks on, Anya is obviously changed. She has the glowing blue eyes, and her skin looks almost grey. She isn't quite light-skinned enough for classic pallor, but the color is leached from her face. She sits still and straight, with a degree of composure that is, in fact, precisely normal for her. She missed breakfast today, and now it's quite clear why.]

I've allowed Arthas to make me into a zombie for a few days. It is entirely temporary, and I am in control of myself and my faculties. There is no need for anyone to be alarmed.

Comments

[fridgetothefire]

[she nods]

He let me pick how.

[This matters, to Anya, more than the fact of dying. That it was her choice; that she was not helpless.]

[surrenders]

That- that's good.

Are you like him now?

[fridgetothefire]

Mostly, yeah. I don't think I'm quite the same thing, but he knows more about the details than I do.

I could ask him if there's something you want to know about in particular. He's been pretty forthcoming with me.

[And Lua, uh, might not want to ask him directly.]

[surrenders]

...he's done this a lot. [You hear things, on the Barge. Especially if you're someone who's better at listening.]

Anyone ever come back to themselves after?

[fridgetothefire]

Yeah.

He showed me the old comm records for someone who did, and I checked them out more by myself, before and during and after the guy was undead. Death toll brought him right back to himself. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't know that, I promise.

[surrenders]

I believe you.

[She does. Anya never takes chances, not unless they're really worth it, and this is either really worth it to her or something she's had to research.]

You can still see people, right?

[fridgetothefire]

Yeah. It's...all in greyscale, actually, but I can see fine other than that.

[surrenders]

I meant you can be around them. You hear those stories about... new vampires and things like that.

[fridgetothefire]

Oh, yeah. That was why he wanted to do the experiment, actually, to raise someone who could stay sane, and control themselves.

My temper's a little worse, but I'm safe.

[surrenders]

[Something Arthas wanted to do. That's what makes her start wondering, instead of panicking, and now she has to ask. What would bring them together?]

He was planning something for you guys, too?

[fridgetothefire]

He wanted a volunteer.

[Which was in itself a decent sign. Hardly a guarantee, but. She'd originally though it was filtered to inmates just to keep it from too many meddlers, but -]

Did he make wardens a different offer?

[surrenders]

Offered to bring back somebody we had a deal for.

...I thought about it, but... I figured there was a catch.

[fridgetothefire]

[She nods.]

I wouldn't want to stay like this. I wouldn't want to bring back someone I loved like this, either, especially not when the Admiral can do it for real.

But for a few days, it's alright.