themainframe | 002 [video]

[The feed starts off with Luke this time. He's getting better at this thing! He's in his room and looking contemplative. He knows what he wants to say...but how to say things is always the hard part.]

So, obviously we've got a big battle coming up. [Yeah, that was stupid, great start Luke]I just...know there are a lot of people here who have never done anything like this before. And apparently the digimon are meant for this sort of thing, but they've also been waiting for us. So if we all just got here, most of them have probably never actually fought themselves before, right?

I think maybe we should all try to train together at least a little bit while we still have the chance? So everyone has at least some experience under their belt. The digimon will probably be doing most of the work, I guess, but even they could probably benefit from some sparring, right?

Yeah right, I don't need to train. I'm ready to fight now!

But have you ever fought anything like Beemon before? They looked a lot [stronger] bigger than you.

S-so what?

[It is seriously not a good sign when Luke is the one talking sense into you, Coronamon.

Luke sighs and turns back to the camera. His serious expression turns to more of a smile.] Well, a little bit of training always helps my pre-battle nerves, so I guess I'll be doing so anyway, if anyone wants in.

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[Luke might have been avoiding eye contact and therefore didn't notice the scythe right away. But then he did and his reaction was. Well. Slightly horrified.] W-where did you get that? Why do you have it? Hey, wait a minute!

[He was right behind Undertaker, definitely not interested in leaving in and that scythe around any of the aforementioned children. Nope. He paused just long enough to yell, "Coronamon, I will drag you there by the tail if I have to" before hurrying out the door. The digimon followed grumpily behind him.]

Hm? It's mine, of course. [ Stated as the most natural and obvious thing in the world as he heads for the stairs. They're only one floor up, who needs an elevator? Newfangled contraptions, who needs them, unless maybe the ropes break and Undertaker will have clients as a result later on... ahem. ]

I wouldn't usually carry it like this but ever since I got here, I can't keep it tucked away like I ordinarily would. Isn't it lovely?

[ It's headpiece is a skull and ribcage. Saying "no" is totally permitted, Luke. ]

[Ok, so Luke can't really talk, since he also carries around his own potentially lethal weapon. But come on, scythes are bad guy weapons. It's like, an unwritten rule. Especially when they have skulls on them.]

Yeah it's...great. What do you, uh, usually use that thing for, anyway? [He's trying to sound casual, but he is probably failing horribly.]

[ And then you throw in the black clothes and the scars and oh let's not forget the creepy....

Undertaker hums a drawn-out thoughtful noise, considering. He's never flaunted his nature and he's retired, too, but... this isn't London, after all. If they're all really here to save the Digital World and all the others connected to it, why play coy?

Except for the fun of it, of course. ]

It's for reaping, naturally~

[And you wonder why it is you make Luke uncomfortable, Undertaker. Or maybe you don't.]

R-Reaping what?

[ Totally doesn't. Totally on purpose.

He titters amusedly as they walk along, running his fingers over the shaped bones of his scythe, lingering over them reverently. Should he say it? He can say it. ]

Souls.

[Luke knew it was too much to hope for a normal answer for once, like 'field of grain, of course!' but hey, call him an optimist.

That though?

Yeah, that left him speechless. He stops on the step he is on, and he is staring, slack-jawed.]

[ The Undertaker and his partner continue on, making it all the way to the bottom of the landing before he stops, himself, and turns back to look up at the frozen young man. He simply smiles, rather than showing his teeth in one of his grins, but that hardly makes it any less a disconcerting expression, now, does it?

He's no mind-reader, but he had considered making a joke before speaking directly instead, but it comes into play now: ]

Well you didn't think I was really a farmer, now, did you?

[Coronamon, a few steps behind Luke, doesn't notice his partner stop short and walks right into Luke's legs. It causes Luke to lose his balance and almost fall, but it gets him moving towards the bottom of the stairs at least.]

...Nah, I guess not. A guy can hope, though, right? [Yes that was a lame attempt at a joke although even Luke cannot understand why he would be trying to joke about this right now.

After a...pregnant pause.] So...you care to explain?

[ It's actually rather excellent timing on Coronamon's part. Keramon is set to cackling almost immediately at Luke's near-fall and Undertaker is left with a fit of the giggles, too, between that and his roommate's obvious shock of moments before. He settles soon enough, though. ]

You know what I ask for in exchange for information... but I suppose I can cut you a little deal after that.

[ You'll have to keep up, though. Undertaker starts walking again as if this whole training thing was his idea and he's in the lead. ]

It's simple enough. This is my 'death scythe'. Now, if a 'death scythe' is for reaping souls....

[ ...okay now he's trolling again. He bows his head in such a way that his bangs fall forward, and Luke might be able to glimpse an eerie foxfire-green eye giving him a mischievous glance before it's obscured again. ]

...what do you suppose that makes me~?

Yeah, yeah, I'm glad that my near-injury was amusing enough for you.

[He catches himself up, but is staying cautiously a step or two behind at this point.

Luke has a friend who enjoys giving indirect answers. Luke thought he'd gotten pretty good at dealing with indirect answers. But Undertaker blows that away. And unfortunately for Luke his world doesn't have any equivalent of a grim reaper figure in its mythology, at least not that he's heard of, so Undertaker's little 'riddle' doesn't mean much to him. His first response would be 'killer', but that's not an accusation he intends to throw around.]

Agh, I don't know! Can't you just give a straight answer for once, you got your laugh or whatever.

[ Nobody appreciates slapstick anymore.

Luke's frustration is amusing nonetheless, however it's a cheap amusement that can only go on so long. The information Luke seeks isn't particularly of value, anyway. Undertaker is powerless at the moment, but even if he wasn't, he has little significance in a world where the natives don't die. And besides... he's retired.

He stops again, but not so suddenly that Luke's little barrier of distance wouldn't be enough to avoid collision, dropping his voice down nice and low, theatrically. ]

At the moment of death, every human soul must be judged. On rare occasion a man or woman might be spared, but most must be collected. This 'death scythe' is a special tool for doing so... which makes me, in some terms, a grim reaper.

[ And then all of a sudden he brightens up, turning and walking away again with a dismissive wave of his free hand. ] Ah, but I retired a long time ago! I am but a humble undertaker now.

[Luke can appreciate a good slapstick just fine when it's not at his own expense.

And for how violently Luke has been reacting thus far, he takes Undertaker's explanation much more calmly. He's silent for a moment as he takes it all in and tries to wrap his head around it. Undertaker's certainly not any less creepy than he was before, but Luke understands him a little better now if nothing else. And that's certainly interesting information.]

So you...take people's souls after they die?

['And you can give them back?' is on the tip of his tongue, but nope Luke is absolutely not going there.]

That's right. Have you ever heard it said, that a person's life flashes before their eyes as they lie dying?

[ He sketches a very small imitation of a bow, a little bob of his head and small sweep of his long-nailed hand. ]

That would be a reaper reviewing their entire life and passing judgement.

[ It's actually kind of fun telling Luke this. The Undertaker is far too old and experienced to brag, but instead the young man's reactions are what interest him. Luke is taking the information quite well. ]

002 [video]

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