we are not truly immortal

[dark_light]

After Glass's party is over with, Amariah and Kas go home.

Amariah fetches down their alethiometers.

"It's about time I took care of Alethia's afterlife, whatever it may be," she says quietly. "What can the alethiometer tell you about what I'll find?"

Comments

[dark_light]

[Is that why you're in there?]

[pythbox]

Another nod.

[dark_light]

[Who are you?] she asks again.

[pythbox]

Slowly, sadly, he shakes his head.

[dark_light]

[You don't remember?]

[pythbox]

A helpless shrug.

[dark_light]

[Kas, can you check if he's fixable if I decide to do that - maybe not wishing, but an enchantment, witch magic -]

[truthwright]

[You... probably don't want to do that,] says Kas, after consulting his alethiometer. [This is the Authority.]

[dark_light]

[He is a shriveled angel who can't withstand someone tapping on the glass in his tank. What happened to him?]

[truthwright]

[It doesn't know. But - he's the oldest angel there is.]

[dark_light]

She resumes talking to the Authority.

[What do you do, in there?]

[pythbox]

He shakes his head.

[dark_light]

[Please answer me. Even if you don't know, you can say so.]

And then her lie detection will work.

[pythbox]

[nothing,] he says softly.

It is true.

[dark_light]

[That sounds boring.]

[pythbox]

He has no answer for that.

[dark_light]

[Is there anything you want to do?]

[pythbox]

He shakes his head again.

[dark_light]

[You want to just hang out in your box and not do anything?]

[pythbox]

He nods.

[dark_light]

[Say it, please.]

[pythbox]

He closes his eyes instead.

[dark_light]

[Say it, and then I'll leave you be if you're being honest with me.]

[pythbox]

After a minute or so, he manages,

[yes]

[dark_light]

[I can tell that's not the whole answer.]