un: wooden dice.

[strewth]

[The voice is definitely English, a scouse accent mixing slightly with bits of Cockney, if one is the sort to recognize it.]

Lovely weather we're having in this sodding fishbowl. Nearly reminds me of home. Ah, hfff, something to lighten the spirit. I've got a story.

Have you lot heard of Ellethia? Couldn't tell you how it's spelled; I haven't the foggiest whether we're playing with Fake Latin or fake Greek. Gorgeous country, it is; proper Byronic. Maybe fake Greek, then.

It were haunted.

D'you remember a bloke prancing around during the communal head trip? Stroppy bastard he was, complaining to me about tea and infanticide. Reckon he had more sparkling conversation for you lot. Wore white. Ghosts in your Ellethia said he got a uniform from them. Or from there, at least.

Don't all rush to thank me. Weren't alone. Your girl Lila, she were dead helpful. Distracted the ghosts she did. I'm sure she'll love the credit, hehh.

And that'd make me John Constantine. [It rhymes with Clementine.] Ain't me first brush with ghosts, let's say. Magic, that rubbish, have you ever seen any? The real stuff, I mean.

Comments

[kahl_175]

[Kahl visibly has to think about this for a moment, but comprehension dawns.] Ohhh.

[There's another moment of thinking as he tries to line up words to form a new thought.] Time like train cars. And... Alternate universe also like train, going different place?

[strewth]

[There's a small dart of pride, at having gotten this across. If he put in this much effort all the time, he's sure he'd be dead bored, but it's fine for a one-off distraction (he tells himself).]

Yeah, yeah. 'Nother train you ain't never seen, different seats, different people, different stops. Maybe some look familiar, like, but not quite.

[kahl_175]

[Kahl brightens.] That make sense. [Talking about it like that makes it seem simple, even though he knows it can't be. This is the sort of stuff Blue Girl would know details about, and Kahl definitely doesn't. But it doesn't feel frustratingly out of reach anymore.

He'd thank John, but John seems like one of those people who grumbles about being thanked.] John see these things before? Alternate universe, different times?

[strewth]

Every time you dream, mate, you seen an alternate universe. Free trade secret, that.

[kahl_175]

[Kahl shakes his head.] Grineer never dream. [He knows other people see things when they sleep, but Grineer don't. They just rest, nothing else.]

Guess this is Kahl's first.

[strewth]

...huh. Used to know a bloke who'd take issue with that.

You ever imagined other worlds, lad? Works the same.

[kahl_175]

[He shrugs.] That how Grineer were made. [Though Kahl wonders if that part was on purpose or not.

There's more stuff to wonder about now, though.] Even when not make sense?

[strewth]

Dreams? That where you lot're from?

Especially then.

[kahl_175]

No, Kahl mean--Orokin make Grineer, long ago. Make with no dreams.

[strewth]

But you can still imagine, still hope. Realer than any goblin, golem, fuckin' morlock.

What's the life expectancy on Grineer?

[kahl_175]

Yes. Grineer, people.

[Another shrug.] Not long.

[strewth]

Years or months?

[kahl_175]

Kahl think years--Grineer not use word, though. Only just learn it. [And he still doesn't know what a 'month' is.]

[strewth]

[A long drag on the cigarette.] Death is calm, when she finds you. Don't get scared of it.

[Like he has.]

[kahl_175]

Ha. [Kahl doesn't chuckle because of bravado, it's familiarity.]

Lots tell Kahl 'don't be afraid.' [The red-eyed Worm had said it. The voices in the veil said it. Blue Girl said it.]

Kahl not afraid. Kahl get close before. No fear then. Not now. Kahl fight for brothers. Free from Narmer. From Queens. From un-dead now too. That what Kahl care about.

[strewth]

[And there's a wheeze that might be laughter-] You're alright for a morlock sorry Grineer, lad.

[kahl_175]

[Kahl smiles.] John not too bad either. Some jokes need work though.

[strewth]

[Wheeze.] I'll take it under advisement.