| Canon Story | ||||||||
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| Welcome To Purgatory | ||||||||
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| Artist | Writer | |||||||
| David Hopkins | David Hopkins | |||||||
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| Short XXIII: Gifts For God, Or Gifts For Self | Short XXIV: It's A Wonderfull Hell | |||||||
Ted has adjusted to "life" in Purgatory, where he ended up following the events of Arc VII: All Work And No Play.... Purgatory is represented as a suburban community, where people are free to interact with each other, there's no crime, violence of any other forms of injustice or physical discomfort aside from minor injuries.
Ted is satisfied with his carefree life in Limbo, and can't understand why his neighbor and friend Artie has recently decided to be reborn. He encounters Skye Bluedeer and Durp, two former angels who assist the souls living in Purgatory. In a discussion with Skye, Ted admits he can't understand why Artie would leave such a nice place, and when asked if he'll leave he tells Skye it's too much of a risk for him, not wanting to end up in Hell after his next life.
He next stumbles on Pink and Sister Patty having a picnic and reveals Angles are the only thing that scares him in Purgatory. He admits they mean well, but since they try to convince souls to retry life he avoids them at all costs due to his fear of ending up in Hell.
He is shocked to discover Farrago in his home cooking, and what's more, she's invited Reckonin, Pink and Patty to join them for dinner. Ted is absolutely terrified by this cadre of angels in his home, and immediately tries to deflect any discussions about returning to life or what his Heaven will be like.
After excusing himself from the table in an obvious attempt to escape, Farrago, Pink and Patty take turns trying to seduce him and he repeatedly turns down their advances. Farrago drops hints that someone is waiting for him in Heaven, but remains vague so that the discovers the answers himself.
After leaving and wandering the neighborhood, he again runs into Skye. Skye informs Ted that he was one of God's original angels, before former mortals started filling the positions, and that he sided with The Devil during the rebellion against the Almighty. He eventually asked for forgiveness, and other former demons such as himself and Durp were given the opportunity to redeem themselves if they help those in Purgatory choose to move on. He drops hints that Artie's life will be rough since his love Sue is already in Heaven.
Central takes over the discussion, and when Ted confronts her about sending her angels to seduce him, she admits that they weren't actually going to go all the way as that would be unethical and that it was actually Shanna who sent the angels, who wanted to encourage him to eventually make it to Heaven. Ted is surprised to find out Shanna cared about him so much, and Central tells him that since she was in an abusive relationship she gave the appearance of being happily spoken for while secretly wishing she and Ted could be together. Encouraged by this, he decides to retry life. Plato, who has accompanied Central, asks if Ted will make it to Heaven after his next life, Centrals says she's fairly sure of it.