[ WP ] Someone gets stuck in Limbo-With a famous dead person

First, there was an explosion of brilliant and all-encompassing light, which Colin expected. Then, it suddenly came to a halt and was replaced with a sort of dull and meandering grey, which Colin did not. For a few moments he simply sat and waited, hoping that the process may jumpstart itself or that, at the very least, a voice may come onto the loudspeaker to thank him for his patience. 
 
 `` You can open your eyes now, you know.'' 
 
 It was n't what he expected, but after a seconds hesitation, Colin cautiously tested the advice and found it to be true. What he saw was a world that admittedly *wasn't* grey, but rather a world doing its best *impression* of grey. Above him was an expansive but washed-out and lifeless sea of blue-enough sky, while beneath him a field sickly and pale field of what could charitably be called `` green'' grass expanded off into the horizon in each direction. All-in-All, it all reminded Colin of an old television set whose color was turned down to almost, but not quite, complete black-and-white. 
 
 All, that is, except for the man sitting next to him. His long and flowing red hair burned vividly against the dull and mundane backdrop of the pale blue sky, while the garish yellows and purples that clashed and clamored on his jumpsuit would have scalded ones vision in the best of times, let alone here. Yet what Colin found most remarkable were the mans eyes, which were rich and deep and green and held a look of tiredness that Colin though would take him a lifetime of sleepless nights to match. 
 
 The *second* remarkable thing Colin noticed, meanwhile, was that the man had somehow managed to find a chair to sit on. It was a faded red that matched the rest of the world in tone, but as he scanned the seemingly endless expanse of miserable grasslands around him, Colin could n't imagine where it had come from. Not having a chair of his own, he managed to pick himself up and managed to sit cross-legged in the dirt. 
 
 `` So, what year did you die then?'' the man asked him once he got situated? 
 
 `` I-I'm sorry, what?'' 
 
 `` Do n't act like that's a shock to you. It never is.'' 
 
 In truth, it *didn't* shock Colin; now that he had moment to collect himself, he distinctly remembered dying just moments ago, the culmination of a long and drawn out period of illness that he had long ago made peace with and prepared for. The increasing shock instead was that he had apparently been preparing for *this*. 
 
 `` Where... I'm sorry, but where *are* we?'' 
 
 `` That's the billion dollar question, now is n't it?'' The man let out a long, weary sigh before turning back to Colin. `` If you find out, I'd love to know, but in the meantime, mind telling me what year you died?'' 
 
 `` It... well, late 2007. Does that matter?'' 
 
 `` You better believe it does!'' The man exclaimed, his eyes finally sparkling with something like relief, if only for a moment. `` Christ, I just spent something like six years with a woman who kept bringing up how much her Grandmother loved `` Fallen from the Old Cherry Tree''. I was practically *unconscious* when Goldidrick wrote that dreck, but here she was going on about how it was played at the old woman's funeral, and what was I supposed to say to that?'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about.'' Colin said; he was going to continue, but the man jumped to his feet and interjected before he could. 
 
 `` No you don'! Is n't that great? The name's Tyrisius Westermarch; you can go ahead and call my Ty.'' For the first time, `` Ty'' offered his hand; Colin rose up and shook it hesitantly. `` God, does it feel good to introduce myself to someone again. Been ages.'' 
 
 `` It's....nice to meet you, Ty...'' 
 
 `` Is it?'' 
 
 `` Well, no.'' Colin admitted, allowing a bit of a sheepish grin to go with the admission. `` Can you really no tell me *anything* about where we are?'' 
 
 `` As far as I've been able to gather, we're somewhere inbetween.'' Ty said, his face returning back to its wearier and more worn out look as he examined their surroundings. From the look of him, it was n't close to being the first time. `` I think this is sort of forgotten place, as it were. Somewhere things go when they slip between the cracks. Sheer speculation though; do n't quote me on that.'' 
 
 `` Between the cracks?'' 
 
 `` Lost souls. Or, at least, misplaced ones. *I'm* probably lost, but you should be fine. All the others were.'' 
 
 `` There are others?'' Colin said a bit more cheerfully than he intended, the thought of some other company letting his tone get away from him. 
 
 `` Well, not now.'' Ty replied glummly. `` Seems like there's a maximum occupancy in here. Once someone slots in, the positions filled and no one else can join.'' 
 
 `` But they all eventually leave?'' 
 
 `` All except me. No real rhyme or reason to it; they slip in, they linger a bit, then they slip out. Eventually, someone else pops in right where they left, and the cycle goes on.'' Ty sat back down as he spoke; not knowing if he should join, Colin remained standing. `` That's the reason I was here to greet you; Claraphane was just walking right where you're standing, then *spous*, off she went. Took her long enough; most folks last a few years, tops.'' 
 
 `` *Years*?'' Colin asked incredulously. Admittedly, he had already resigned himself to the infinite and never ending eternity of death, but that being said, a few years still seemed like a long layover, regardless of the context. `` How long did you say you've been here, Ty?'' 
 
 Instantly, Colin realized he had asked the wrong question. The soft smile disappeared from Ty's face, and his eyes downgraded from tired to downright sullen. 
 
 `` Afraid I ca n't really help you there, mate. I'm afraid I've lost count. Decades, I suppose? That seems like a safe bet if you're looking to take the'under', at least.'' 
 
 `` And you've never gotten out?'' Colin said, his tone a mix of sympathy and horror. 
 
 `` Well, I've asked everyone else to pass a message along for me before they've left, but apparently wherever the lot of you are going, they do n't have a complaint department.'' Ty said, another long sigh accompanying his words. `` Like I said, I think I fell through some cracks at some point. Apparently, whoever's doing the filing has n't noticed I've gone missing yet.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry Ty. That's....well, I'm sorry.'' 
 
 `` Ah, do n't worry yourself over it. It is what it is.'' 
 
 The two men sat in silence for a bit, each allowing themselves a moment of inner reflection. Or, in Colin's case, attempting to wake himself from what he was relatively sure was a drug induced coma. When that failed, he opted to engage with the delusions a bit more. 
 
 `` Can I ask you, why did you ask me what year I died?'' 
 
 `` Because I wanted to know, obviously.'' Ty said with a bit of a grin. `` Death's a bit funny from what I've gathered. I do n't think it really works on a straight timeline. Seems like its sort of a grabbag of folks from around the same era. The woman before you told me she died in 2228.'' 
 
 `` You're kidding. When did you die then?'' 
 
 `` Ripe old year of 2133. But it was January, so it may as well have been'32.'' 
 
 `` Well, that would explain the clothes. Did everyone go colorblind in the future?'' 
 
 `` What, this thing?'' Ty said, tugging the collar of his jumpsuit with contempt. `` You do n't get to *decide* what you're wearing if you have n't noticed. I was performing a show when I died; there was a pyrotechnics accident. This zotgiest was part of our schtick.'' 
 
 `` What were you, part of 22nd century Blue Man's Group?'' Colin said incredulously. 
 
 `` I'm going to go ahead and assume that that was an insult. Rule # 1 when you're talking to someone from a different era, old man; drop the pop culture references.'' Ty sneered. `` And I'll have you know I was one of the biggest musical acts of my generation!'' 
 
 `` Bullshit; looking like that?'' 
 
 `` Hand to God, we were the'Zen Trees' of the 2130's.'' 
 
 `` Breaking your own rule there,'kiddo'.'' 
 
 `` Ugh, sorry. To be fair, it's difficult in the context.'' Ty said as he scratched his head in thought. `` I dunno; were The Beatles still around when you kicked it?'' 
 
 `` Off by a few decades, but I get the reference.'' Colin offered. `` Still think you're full of shit though.'' 
 
 `` Frankly, I welcome it. Last three folks I've been stuck here with have been fans, and there's nothing more awkward than being trapped in a multi-year Q & A.'' Ty said. As he finished, he stood back up and picked his chair off the ground, wrapping one arm around it. `` Anyway, feel like walking around a bit?'' 
 
 `` Where's there to walk to?'' Colin replied. For the first time, the vast emptiness surrounding them started to settle in, and it was more than a bit disconcerting. 
 
 `` Admittedly, mostly nothing, but every now and then you stumble across something that's popped in. That's how I got the chair here! Did n't really need it; we do n't really get tired here, or hungry or anything, for that matter.'' 
 
 `` What's the point of lugging it around everywhere then?'' Colin asked. 
 
 `` I think it adds a bit of respectability if I'm sitting down when someone spous's in. Besides, not like I've got anything else to carry.'' With a shrug, he turned around and started walking towards the horizon behind him, turning around after a few paces. `` You coming then?'' 
 
 Not having anywhere else to go, Colin followed.
