A/N: I love the show. Thats why this exists. A few story elements are canon, but the rest is original.
"Thank you for playing...and please be safe on your journey.''
With a gentle bow forward, Decim dismissed the guest who dissapeared behind the elevator doors. There was a 'ding' and then the familiar hum of a descending elevator. I sighed softly, unsure of the judgement they'd been given. Unsureness had once been very plentiful. Now it only presented itself when the white haired arbitor made decisions I didn't agree with.
The guest recently departed had been a middle aged man. Like most others, before the game, he'd been confused, angry, and had searched for a way out. These emotions became acceptance, and then reset as time passed. The acceptance always came from fear of death if our game of judgement is not played.
"Well, what if I don't play your little game?''
Though never said aloud that they would be killed, a press of a button from Decim to reveal what lie behind us(a room full of what appeared to be dead, naked bodies strung up like pigs in a slaughter house) usually had them compliant. With either a look of horror or anger, they would ask;
"So that's what happens to me?'' Or ''So that's it. You'll kill me if I don't play.''
Decim would simply respond, ''That is all I can show you for now. Please take your seat so that we may begin the game.''
Take their seats they did, be it with tears or swears of future vengeance, they all sat down in the end. No one truly wants to die, afterall.
After instructed, they would press the button presented to them and choose their fate. This time it'd been a simple game of old maid, a welcome change from the dart board linked to your anatomy, or the edited air hockey. Even still, the darkness in his soul that we sought to bring out was not there at all. Decim had suggested the circumstances had not been extreme enough, and as a result made a vague threat in reference to the mans family. He'd held up a picture of them.
I didn't understand at first. The man had spoken so highly of his family I'd expected him to shatter on sight at the mere idea of harm coming to them. Instead...eventually he'd begun to laugh. A madmans laugh. One that held sickness.
"You think I give a FUCK what you do to that bitch?'' He'd exclaimed. "You don't know ANYTHING! Sitting there with your passive eyes while you threaten to kill me? FUCK you man!''
I'd remained quiet, my hands in my lap as I watched his inevitable snap. In it, he'd confessed to killing her already. That she was already dead, so ha, what're you gonna do now? Decim hadn't arched an eyebrow. Instead, with his voice calm as water, he'd said, ''Please sit, so they we may resume our game.''
That did it. Cards flew from the table in a violent flurry as he swipped them aside.
"Fuck your game! Fuck you! Didn't you hear what I SAID? I played you all for fools. The same way I played her! Because she fucking played me!''
He was shouting at this point, spit flying as his eyes welled with tears. "She CHEATED on me man! I HAD to!''
"Sir, please calm down and-''
The man grabbed Decim by the collar and slammed him into the wall. He didn't flinch in the slightest.
"What do YOU know, man? Nothing! You think I give a shit if you killed me? The cops are probably all over my house you'd be doing me a favor-''
The sound of beeping filled the room as a timer ran out.
"The game is now over.'' Decim said, making no motion to push the hysterical man off of it. "If you'll please follow me to-''
"Did you HEAR me? I don't give a shit anymore! Go on and kill me!''
Ice blue and impassive eyes stared back as Decim delivered the news that had the man releasing his collar and falling to his knees before him.
"You're already dead. During their time here people are judged, and sent to either heaven or hell. The game helps us decide where. I apologize for my necessary deception.'' He delivered formally with a small bow, as he had thousands of times before. "I am sorry...now if you'll please follow me.''
It wasn't fully true. It was the explanation that sounded easiest to understand. In reality, there is reincarnation and the void. If sent to reincarnation, one's soul would be sent to live in another body and given a second chance at life. If sent to the void, their soul would be forever lost to wander in darkness and torment. Such was the way of Quindecim, the way of being an arbitor of the soul.
The man's face had become one of shocked disbelief as all his memories came rushing back. How he'd caught his wife cheating and plotted his revenge. He'd found more than enough proof, plans for her to run away with him, detailed accounts of them being together, and an entire new phone she'd purchased in secret. He'd gotten her back so good and yet...got sloppy. When the deed was done he'd puked, stumbling about the house in shocked pleasure of what he'd done. He'd ruined her perfect night. And now her lover would come to ruin his. He'd waited at the back porch, rocking in the chair that sat there until the man came jogging up the porch. But as he recalled it, he saw reality. It had been him jogging up the porch to an empty chair. He who had argued with, and then shot himself. He who had killed his wife for cheating on him with one of his many personalities. His hands flew to his temples, and he started to scream.
It was that scream I heard echoing in my head as the elevator doors before me opened again, empty of the man who'd been sent to the void.
"That's it for today you may go back to your room now.''
I looked at the white haired man that towered above me. His expression, as usual, was straight faced and impartial. I offered a smile despite my uneasyness before standing.
''That was the last guest?''
''Yes.'' He said with a slow nod. ''You may go back to your-''
''I heard you the first time.'' I answered, my back now to him as I walked down the hallway past the fountains and decorated walls. Though I couldn't hear his footsteps, I knew he was close behind. It wasn't long before he fell in stride next to me. I continued, my palm turning lazily up as I spoke. ''What about my drink, though?''
''Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten.''
''Tch...'' I turned away as I released the sound of annoyance at his indifference. My voice lowered to a mumble as I folded my arms. ''And here I thought you actually enjoyed our time together.''
Whether he didn't hear or just decided not to respond was something I found myself not caring about as my mind wandered once again to the guest that we'd just finished judging, and to the drink I was soon to have.
'I get these guys can't feel and all but...'
''I am surprised.'' He began.
I felt my eyebrow arch as I used one hand to climb into the bar stool. My eyes wandered the large array of drinks behind him as he continued.
''You are taking to your duties much less...emotionally than other humans have in the past.''
I watched as he prepared a blue drink that I'd grown to look forward to each day after my shift. ''You're referring to the ones who failed at becoming arbiters?''
He gave a slow nod. ''Yes, that's right.''
''Ah, I see.''
My cheek found my fist as I watched him prepare our beverages. It wasn't long before he finished them and had two small glasses filled. I gently lifted the one placed in front of me by its handle before tilting it in a circular motion, the liquid inside just barely touching the edges of the cup as I did so. It was a deep blue and held swirls of orange that didn't mesh with the blue and instead seemed its own separate liquid.
"What's on the menu today?'' I inquired.
"What you're about to drink is a mixture of yesterday's and today's drink.''
I made a face. "So what's is called?''
He thought for a moment as he cleaned his glass. "To yesterday.''
I was about to scoff at the rediculousness before thinking about it. I said it aloud, as if tasting it as I raised my glass.
"To yesterday.''
It sounded abit like a toast, I realized, and smiled.
"I like it.''
"I am glad.''
The room filled with silence. My mind wandered back to the man we'd judged today.
"Hey...Decim...''
"Yes?''
"That guy today...you think something seemed kind of...I don't know...off?''
"Off? What do you mean?''
"Well it just...it doesn't make sense to me that he'd murder his wife in cold blood.''
"But he did.''
I wanted to question further, but couldn't figure out what to say. I didn't have much room dissagreeing with him, considering he always got detailed accounts of the guests memories sent to them before they arrived. Even still...
"You're troubled.'' He noticed. "Is your...humanity affecting your ability to see-''
"It's not that.'' I said quickly, setting my drink down. "It's more...I guess...I think I'd be able to help abit more if I could also see what you saw.''
"I see. You're not the first to have asked.'' He paused ever so slightly as if bothered by a memory and then continued impassively, ''I'll put in a call upstairs.''
