[ Given she's viewing the city through 19th-century lenses, some of what she considers off may be perfectly normal, but at least everyone should agree that the 'photographs' are unsettling. ]
If it took forty-something attempts to have it reach this far, and still be of an uncanny nature...? It would have needed to be quite...lacking in the beginning. The Garden of Eden still awaiting the birds and the beasts.
[ If the city's appearance is consistently confused, it would be even more unlikely that their captor could have ever been human. It's a good thing she's focused on the matter at hand, because honestly thinking about this on a personal level is more than a little upsetting. ]
And the insects. From a mere ant to the Devil himself, nothing can penetrate those barriers unless he wills it. Our captor has the power over a realm where Heaven and Hell cannot find us, nor can any manner of afterlife. Considering all of this, I think it is fair to assume that he is omniscient in this realm of his. I wonder if we can discuss anything without him knowing.
[ Not that it would stop her, since she's assumed that for awhile. ]
[ Constantine sighs ruefully, nods, and drains the last of her whisky. ]
That's why I've always thought it was silly that people didn't want to talk on the network. [ She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her device, dropping it on the counter. ] It's the same as at home -- practically everyone's carrying one of these. If someone wants to know what we're talking about, they can, even before you start getting to someone or something that's got the power to conjure carnivals out of thin air.
[ The thought of people willingly using these if there could be ways to communicate without being spied upon, well that just hurts her head. It also does not surprise her, because these are so convenient and humans can be so soft. ]
In the beginning, I was quite wary of how I used those devices, but then I was underestimating the reach of our prison warden. It took some time to accept that gods, angels, and demons could be just as trapped as I. [ It isn't as though she was going to hear someone say 'I'm a god' and just go 'Well, of course you are'. ] I admit that I did not believe the rumors of resurrection until recently, either.
[ She can't think about that for too long or she will actually go mad. It hurts her worse than anything else. ]
Oh, yeah, London's got almost as many cameras as people. To stop terrorism, you know.
[ Rolling her eyes, she straightens up to grab the bottle and top up her drink. She proffers the bottle to Vanessa when she's done. ]
Someone got killed here pretty early on, by one of the other people here. Some grudge from their home world, I think. Sold me on the resurrection pretty fast.
As far as I am aware, that makes for two who have died and been resurrected in this city's...traditional manner—
[ A pause as she realizes that she is actually saying those words. ]
I am no longer certain what should even count for traditional death. It was supposedly different for those who died within that building during the Halloween festivities.
[ That does give her a moment's pause, but she'll nod and down it without another word on the matter.
Useful companies need all sorts, after all.
With a little smile of appreciation, she brushes a fingertip beneath her lip before setting the glass down and glancing back over what she's written so far. ]
So two of our own are properly considered to have died. At least a few have likely returned after being sent home. We know of two who don't seem to remember their previous time here.
[ Except, her notes remind her of something. The numbers don't really satisfy anything beyond curiosity, so she hadn't asked at the time. ]
Who was it that you knew prior? Have you noticed any change in behavior between then and now?
[ Well, of course there was a chance it would be that, so she isn't terribly shocked. Someone interested in the occult would reasonably gravitate towards one of the Endless. She immediately smiles, leaning forward on her elbows with a renewed interest. ]
Oh? Have you gotten him to laugh? Once you witness him laughing, everything in between that and a pout is easier to discern.
[ In a different context, it could have been taken as something very different, it was so unnatural. It was— An experience on its own. ]
You knew him before, then? [ A 'hm' of appreciation while she jots something else down. ] Well, my question does remain. Have you noticed anything at all different from before?
[ She sounds entirely bemused. The most amusement she's ever seen Morpheus evince is that bone-dry sarcasm when they're sniping at each other. Laughing? Really? ]
I mean, we met once, in London. And then again, here. And then he disappeared.
[ And she took it personally. And that does not answer Vanessa's question, particularly, but she's still not sure if she can. Particularly given her last conversation with him about change. ]
[ Well, that isn't much to go on if they weren't very close, but to know him from before is still more than anyone other than Hob can claim. As far as she is aware. Perhaps she should actually ask Morpheus about who else might be here... ]
[ Resting her knuckles lightly beneath her chin, Vanessa squints to look just past Johanna while considering. Unfortunately, it involves remembering too much else of that night, so she looks back with a more sheepish smile. ]
I wish I could recall.
[ But more importantly, ]
What sort of job would he have needed an exorcist for?
[ Vanessa is obviously canny enough to see that for the deflection it is. Johanna eyes her, wondering if she'll pursue it. Christ, why is she having a version of this conversation a second time? She could just talk about it; she never agreed to be the Lord of the Dreaming's secret-keeper.
Well, three reasons, she supposes. ]
I take my clients' confidentiality seriously.
[ And he took away the Newcastle nightmare. And she believes he would do her the courtesy of not talking about Rachel. ]
[ She will have to ask Morpheus about this, if the time seems right. It isn't important to her knowing of either of them, though, so she feels no need to press. ]
I will have to remember that should I ever require your services.
Anyway, like I said, it's hard to say with him. When he was first here ... I don't know, he volunteered one or two things, and now that he's back he's seemed less inclined to. But when I worked for him he wasn't terribly forthcoming, either. Not unless he had to be.
[ She shrugs. ] Could mean nothing, could mean plenty. I don't know.
[ There's a little twitch to her squint when she hears that, and a shift as she re-crosses her legs. ]
...Perhaps that has to do with the point in time he last knew? Something may have affected him between then and now.
[ There is the slightest shrug. ]
There is a dear friend of mine who I became quite close with before being brought here. He is one to always carry his secrets better than most, but since seeing him here, it is clear that he is hiding far more from me than I ever suspected. Something changed for him, though he may never tell me what. I can make an educated guess, though it will remain as such. Nothing is ever certain, so life has taught me.
[ Slowly, she flips her notebook closed. ]
I only learned later that he has come from a time separate from my own. Supposedly my near future, not far off at all, but now I do wonder. There are too many missing brush strokes to paint a complete picture. Or, I suppose they have been painted over with a different hue entirely.
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If it took forty-something attempts to have it reach this far, and still be of an uncanny nature...? It would have needed to be quite...lacking in the beginning. The Garden of Eden still awaiting the birds and the beasts.
[ If the city's appearance is consistently confused, it would be even more unlikely that their captor could have ever been human. It's a good thing she's focused on the matter at hand, because honestly thinking about this on a personal level is more than a little upsetting. ]
And the insects. From a mere ant to the Devil himself, nothing can penetrate those barriers unless he wills it. Our captor has the power over a realm where Heaven and Hell cannot find us, nor can any manner of afterlife. Considering all of this, I think it is fair to assume that he is omniscient in this realm of his. I wonder if we can discuss anything without him knowing.
[ Not that it would stop her, since she's assumed that for awhile. ]
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That's why I've always thought it was silly that people didn't want to talk on the network. [ She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her device, dropping it on the counter. ] It's the same as at home -- practically everyone's carrying one of these. If someone wants to know what we're talking about, they can, even before you start getting to someone or something that's got the power to conjure carnivals out of thin air.
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[ The thought of people willingly using these if there could be ways to communicate without being spied upon, well that just hurts her head. It also does not surprise her, because these are so convenient and humans can be so soft. ]
In the beginning, I was quite wary of how I used those devices, but then I was underestimating the reach of our prison warden. It took some time to accept that gods, angels, and demons could be just as trapped as I. [ It isn't as though she was going to hear someone say 'I'm a god' and just go 'Well, of course you are'. ] I admit that I did not believe the rumors of resurrection until recently, either.
[ She can't think about that for too long or she will actually go mad. It hurts her worse than anything else. ]
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[ Rolling her eyes, she straightens up to grab the bottle and top up her drink. She proffers the bottle to Vanessa when she's done. ]
Someone got killed here pretty early on, by one of the other people here. Some grudge from their home world, I think. Sold me on the resurrection pretty fast.
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Her fingers drift up in a subtle decline of the bottle. ]
Did you witness it?
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As far as I am aware, that makes for two who have died and been resurrected in this city's...traditional manner—
[ A pause as she realizes that she is actually saying those words. ]
I am no longer certain what should even count for traditional death. It was supposedly different for those who died within that building during the Halloween festivities.
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I hope they're using some kind of science I don't understand to do that shit. I've never heard of resurrection magic not being bloody dangerous.
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We should only be so glad that we are capable of returning mostly whole thus far. If we are the same ones to return.
[ She's suddenly hungry. It must be the whisky. ]
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[ For that, she will hold her glass out for a little more whisky after all. ]
I suppose that is something to toast, hm? To skirting death.
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[ She pours Vanessa a generous shot and clinks their glasses together. ]
And devil take the hindmost.
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Useful companies need all sorts, after all.
With a little smile of appreciation, she brushes a fingertip beneath her lip before setting the glass down and glancing back over what she's written so far. ]
So two of our own are properly considered to have died. At least a few have likely returned after being sent home. We know of two who don't seem to remember their previous time here.
[ Except, her notes remind her of something. The numbers don't really satisfy anything beyond curiosity, so she hadn't asked at the time. ]
Who was it that you knew prior? Have you noticed any change in behavior between then and now?
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It's ... hard to say.
[ Which is a "yes," but with a lot of caveats. ]
Morpheus. Black hair, broody. Hard to read.
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Oh? Have you gotten him to laugh? Once you witness him laughing, everything in between that and a pout is easier to discern.
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Have you?
[ girl what ]
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[ In a different context, it could have been taken as something very different, it was so unnatural. It was— An experience on its own. ]
You knew him before, then? [ A 'hm' of appreciation while she jots something else down. ] Well, my question does remain. Have you noticed anything at all different from before?
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[ She sounds entirely bemused. The most amusement she's ever seen Morpheus evince is that bone-dry sarcasm when they're sniping at each other. Laughing? Really? ]
I mean, we met once, in London. And then again, here. And then he disappeared.
[ And she took it personally. And that does not answer Vanessa's question, particularly, but she's still not sure if she can. Particularly given her last conversation with him about change. ]
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How did you meet?
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[ The same answer she gave Hob, months ago. ]
How'd you make him laugh?
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I wish I could recall.
[ But more importantly, ]
What sort of job would he have needed an exorcist for?
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[ Vanessa is obviously canny enough to see that for the deflection it is. Johanna eyes her, wondering if she'll pursue it. Christ, why is she having a version of this conversation a second time? She could just talk about it; she never agreed to be the Lord of the Dreaming's secret-keeper.
Well, three reasons, she supposes. ]
I take my clients' confidentiality seriously.
[ And he took away the Newcastle nightmare. And she believes he would do her the courtesy of not talking about Rachel. ]
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I will have to remember that should I ever require your services.
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You've got my number.
Anyway, like I said, it's hard to say with him. When he was first here ... I don't know, he volunteered one or two things, and now that he's back he's seemed less inclined to. But when I worked for him he wasn't terribly forthcoming, either. Not unless he had to be.
[ She shrugs. ] Could mean nothing, could mean plenty. I don't know.
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...Perhaps that has to do with the point in time he last knew? Something may have affected him between then and now.
[ There is the slightest shrug. ]
There is a dear friend of mine who I became quite close with before being brought here. He is one to always carry his secrets better than most, but since seeing him here, it is clear that he is hiding far more from me than I ever suspected. Something changed for him, though he may never tell me what. I can make an educated guess, though it will remain as such. Nothing is ever certain, so life has taught me.
[ Slowly, she flips her notebook closed. ]
I only learned later that he has come from a time separate from my own. Supposedly my near future, not far off at all, but now I do wonder. There are too many missing brush strokes to paint a complete picture. Or, I suppose they have been painted over with a different hue entirely.
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