THE MOMENT
<!-- story-body:start --> “He passed away last year.” Kyle shook his head. Though it was more a response to his current situation than the news he delivered. He was facing an intruder in his home, but the man seemed civilized at least. Despite the trespasser's black and green robes, Kyle genuinely felt at ease. There might've been magic involved. At least that was the only explanation he could conceive for his relaxed state. Magic was known, and Kyle even knew a few simple party-worthy spells of his own. He'd probably be upset later, but couldn't find it in himself at the moment. “Without the dad, a ‘Death’ s Dad’ revival is gonna be a tough sell to any network.”
“Those are all trivial details.” Silas shook his head with a smile. “I just need the writers on board. If I can get you to agree to come back, the rest of the writers might be more inclined.”
“Trivial?” Kyle laughed and shook his head. “Without a network there’s no show, and with the star dead, there won’t be a network… unless…,” Kyle had been thinking about magic while trying to find his anger. The colors on Silas’ robe suddenly became more notable. “... wait,.. Are you a necromancer?” he asked.
“I am…” Kyle nodded, although he was briefly confused even as he admitted it. But Kyle burst into laughter before he could ask what his job had to do with anything.
“HAH! That’s fantastic!” Kyle chuckled a bit more after his initial outburst. “You know, I’m getting ideas already. We could really play into it. I mean, respectfully, of course. But the whole show is about Death’s family and their shenanigans. It’s perfect! I finally get it now. When you said you would go to extraordinary lengths to bring it back... I thought that was a threat,” he laughed some more.
“Whoa, wait.” Silas shook his head. “I’m trying to bring back the show I loved, not change it up. It was great the way it was…, and I’m glad you’ve realized I wasn’t threatening you, but I’m not sure what you mean when you say you ‘get it now’. Get what?” he asked.
“Well, if you’re as big a fan as you say, you had to have known he died,” Kyle said, and Silas nodded as Kyle continued talking. “So, you’re totally going to resurrect him, right? You know, I think he might still technically be on contract.”
“Oh god…,” Silas shook his head with a heavy sigh. “I legitimately expected better from you,” he said. “It’s literally why I came to you first. I am a huge fan, and I know all the writers and actors and their hobbies, and I know you know magic. I assumed those minor learnings would give you an expanded perspective, but I see now I was wrong.”
“Wait, what are you talking about?” Kyle asked.
“I am a necromancer,” Silas nodded. “Formally trained, and currently employed for over a century. It’s my job,” he said. “I’m not out looking for excuses to resurrect any random person just because I feel like it. I could lose my license for those kinds of antics. Necromancy is not a hammer to be pointed at any ‘dead’ thing as a nail.”
“So.. what’d you mean those are trivial details? What extraordinary lengths were you talking about?”
“I’ve been employed with Chroma Corp. for quite a while,” Silas nodded, although Kyle had never heard of the company before. “They’re generous, and I’ve had some time to save up. I’m wealthy enough to finance the entire revival on my own without any need for networks.”
“You’re gonna get it on TV?”
“I’ll shop it around…,” Silas shrugged. “Ultimately, I’m doing this for my own benefit, and I’m quite comfortable being the only viewer of the show I’ll be producing.”
“Death’s Dad is still dead…,” Kyle shrugged. “If you’re not going to bring him back to life… you’re going to recast him? I thought you wanted the show you loved.”
“I will, and I do,” Silas nodded. “You’ve never heard of Chroma Corp., have you?” Kyle shook his head. “It’s not common knowledge around here, but they’re a multiversal corporation. Unfortunately, resurrecting the late actor would put my employment in jeopardy. However, recasting Death’s Dad with an identical doppelganger from an alternate universe is surprisingly trivial for me. Even if most people on this Earth might consider it an extraordinary feat.” <!-- story-body:end -->