[ 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.
As in, time might have passed, or gone backwards, for Morpheus, in between the times he was here? [ She purses her lips thoughtfully, nodding. ] Could be. I don't know, er, when he was from, the first time.
Is your friend the other person who's been here twice?
Yes. Now that we know that on returning home, we are returned to the same point from when we were taken, seemingly without any memory of our lives here, it makes as much sense as anything else that days or even years could separate us in the blink of an eye.
[ Sensible, certainly, if one doesn't...think about it for too long.
The second question, however, is followed with a slight headshake. ]
Ah, no, Lord Morpheus was the one I would have named should you have asked me first.
[ So they are down to knowing of 'one' for known amnesiac returns, but Vanessa already suspects there are plenty more without them or others knowing. ]
...I am beginning to suspect that I ought to make an announcement on the network. Lord Morpheus hadn't heard the news, either, but then it was only mentioned once at the last city meeting I attended, and for some reason few have spoken of it since.
[ Which is strange because it gave her a little bit of an existential crisis. They lose everything they know here. ]
One of our own, one of the very same who has known resurrection, was also returned home some weeks ago. There was no memory of the life here, and time then passed for her there before she awoke in the City once more. Upon arriving, her memories seemed to be back in order.
Her disappearance seemed to be different from the others, however, as I believe that her belongings did not disappear while she was gone.
Yes. Everyone has been...remarkably quiet about the entire matter.
[ At least, far more so than she would imagine. Shock and denial was her first guess, but it's been long enough now for most to recover. How has word not spread? ]
There is always the chance that it could have been something to never repeat, but...it is the most evidence we yet have of what happens to us on our return. [ Shaking her head, she'll lean back a bit on her stool with a small arch to stretch her back. These are not comfortable seats. ] There is only one way out of such an ouroboros, and everyone knows how to kill a serpent.
And so we trudge through the muck of tar and venom, and we search.
[ Far easier said than done, but keeping one another informed can only be a step in the right direction.
Once the notebook has been returned to her bag, she stands. With a little slip from the stool, Vanessa turns from the bar to have another of the subtlest stretches possible. The art here really does constantly seem to shift in the shadows, which is more fascinating to her than unnerving, and she stares at the nearest wall. ]
I suppose now you have my...number, as well, should you likewise need my assistance. Which is little but offering unfortunate information, thus far, but time will tell.
Don't sell yourself short. [ She holds up the hand with the spider ring. ] You've got a knack for finding jewelry, as well.
Er -- Miss Ives. [ It really does feel like talking to a schoolteacher, but when in the Victorian era. ] Thank you. I appreciate your perspective on it all.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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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Is your friend the other person who's been here twice?
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[ Sensible, certainly, if one doesn't...think about it for too long.
The second question, however, is followed with a slight headshake. ]
Ah, no, Lord Morpheus was the one I would have named should you have asked me first.
[ So they are down to knowing of 'one' for known amnesiac returns, but Vanessa already suspects there are plenty more without them or others knowing. ]
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[ It will not! ]
Wait. How do we know we're returned to the moment we left? I'm not even sure I know what the moment I left was.
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[ Which is strange because it gave her a little bit of an existential crisis. They lose everything they know here. ]
One of our own, one of the very same who has known resurrection, was also returned home some weeks ago. There was no memory of the life here, and time then passed for her there before she awoke in the City once more. Upon arriving, her memories seemed to be back in order.
Her disappearance seemed to be different from the others, however, as I believe that her belongings did not disappear while she was gone.
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[ Her voice is flat. ]
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[ At least, far more so than she would imagine. Shock and denial was her first guess, but it's been long enough now for most to recover. How has word not spread? ]
There is always the chance that it could have been something to never repeat, but...it is the most evidence we yet have of what happens to us on our return. [ Shaking her head, she'll lean back a bit on her stool with a small arch to stretch her back. These are not comfortable seats. ] There is only one way out of such an ouroboros, and everyone knows how to kill a serpent.
[ Apologies, dear Crowley. ]
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[ She shivers, in spite of herself. What else is she missing? A lot, she's sure, but how do you know what you don't know? ]
Yeah, but you have to find the head first.
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[ Far easier said than done, but keeping one another informed can only be a step in the right direction.
Once the notebook has been returned to her bag, she stands. With a little slip from the stool, Vanessa turns from the bar to have another of the subtlest stretches possible. The art here really does constantly seem to shift in the shadows, which is more fascinating to her than unnerving, and she stares at the nearest wall. ]
I suppose now you have my...number, as well, should you likewise need my assistance. Which is little but offering unfortunate information, thus far, but time will tell.
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Er -- Miss Ives. [ It really does feel like talking to a schoolteacher, but when in the Victorian era. ] Thank you. I appreciate your perspective on it all.
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It was either a ring or the rabbit stew.
[ A jest, one would hope, though she's already turning to head for the door, so it may be difficult to tell. ]
Good evening, Constantine. Thank you for an enlightening encounter.
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[ Cool. She's going to give Vanessa a few minutes' head start and then take the rest of this bottle home to have an existential crisis in private. ]