vatheon | (no subject)

Who: Severus Snape and OPEN
Location: Near the coral reef
Time: February 1, early evening
Style: Prose
Status: OPEN

Severus Snape would be loath to admit it but he was curious - curious about the strange reef that he had come to realize he had to touch once in awhile or else he would suffer the side effects he had seen in others. The Potions Master had no desire to pass out or something of that sort so he dutifully made trips to the reef.

On this occasion, though, he was feeling restless. Examining the organism in the past had not revealed it to be anything more to him than a simple coral reef. Of course, he knew his senses were deceiving him on this front.

Adding to his sense of unrest was how little contact he had had with others. As much as he liked to pretend he was able to live without human contact it was something that all humans needed from time to time and he was no exception. He had found himself a comfortable loft to reside at but no real companions or associates. So now he found himself at the reef, his critical gaze mulling over it and his present situation.

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"I got bored and thought maybe we could talk or something." James shrugged back, sitting down by the coral. "We're both dead, why should we still be enemies?"

"About?"

Your notions of 'friendship' and 'talking' are not really anything Severus is interested in - yet - James. With no reason to trust James or to care one way or the other about him he doesn't feel much motivation to be chummy.

"We might be dead, Potter, but I really don't see much of a reason for us to associate with each other."

Severus Snape did not do anything without a reason - idle talk and aimless activity did not entice him or his logical mind. Even dead, Severus had little desire to stray from the way of thinking he had had in life.

More shrugging. "I don't know. But to me, it's living here or being dead at home. And if I'm living here, I want to get along with the people I've living with. That includes you."

"I thought we were getting along just fine. We haven't hexed each other yet. What else do you want? Do you wish to start picking out China patterns or curtains?"

Severus could not understand James's obsession with him. They were getting along as far as he was concerned - they weren't attempting to kill or even maim each other. That was getting along in the older wizard's book.

"I guess." Maybe he was just taking this a little fast. After all, their relationship at home was very strained. He couldn't expect it to change overnight.

"Okay then. I guess you'll want me to go then."

He rolled his eyes. "Whether you stay or go is entirely your own decision. However, I will not ask you to do either."

After a moment, Severus turned his gaze again to the coral. "You're happy being here - living in ignorance of why you have been pulled here or by what or even how. I cannot rest so easily."

James sighed and was about to leave when Snape spoke again. The words stirred something in him and felt he had respond.

"I am happy. I have my wife and my friends. If I go looking for a way home I might find it. And then I'll just be dead. At least here I can have a life." He paused, wanting to extent his hand to Snape again but not finding the right words. "Maybe I can fix whatever was broken between us too. Seems to me we've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying."

Then he turned to leave again, letting Snape do and think what he wanted.

"You have a life here but is it real? Is this a real life? I went to my death believing I would find peace. Instead I found myself here." He sighed and then shrugged. "I was ready to face my end. Waking up here and being reliant on a choral isn't something I thought I would be encountering in the afterlife."

James stopped again. And he thought Snape didn't want to talk to him. Turning, he walked back to answer and continue.

"It's real to me. And really, Snape, do you think about the afterlife so much that this doesn't please you? Wouldn't you want to have a second chance with the people you've wronged? Like Lily for example?" Shrugging, he also sighed. "If you want to find a way home, you do that. But let me live in ignorance."

"Unlike most, I have not been blessed with the ability to just 'go along' with things. As for Lily - I am happy she is happy here. I'm glad to be able to see her again. But what is my purpose here? Why was I brought here? Why do I remain? Is this supposed to be Heaven or is this just a place in between the world of the living and the world of the dead? Or is this all just an illusion? In this place my life is being governed by forces and rules I don't understand. I want to understand."

"I'm not telling you what to do. If you need to understand, then go forth and understand. But leave me and Lily out of it. Please."

He turned to go one last time, but had one last thing to say. "It was nice to have a civil conversation with you."

"Did I ever say that I wanted to bring you or Lily into it? I'm just explaining to you why I am not so laid back and at ease as you are here."

Severus gave a slight shrug at James's words before turning back to the coral. "You and I are very different. We are from very different worlds and families. I will not be your 'buddy' overnight here but I am more than willing to be civil and, perhaps, with time, we can be something approaching... friends."

James nodded.

"I look forward to that day."

And then he walked off before Snape could call him back yet again.

Severus just shook his head and went back to studying the coral. Severus would never understand James and he was happy to keep it that way.