[audio; locked to the Sleepers]

[antecedent]

George Kardos has opened communication!

All right, I need you to sound off so I know who you are and if you're not a ghost. Getting annoying mixing the two up after this long.

Comments

[ audio, eternally; ]

[deshabille]

Milena Tichý has opened communication!

[ Things she is not even going to question include this, although she does sound amused. ]

I wasn't last time I checked.

[tactical_alert]

Gavin Stark has opened communication!

A ghost? Do ghosts have solid forms now? I'd always assumed they were translucent and walked through walls and the like.

[antecedent]

Good. One with the cafe, right? Saw the post. Thinking about heading over there, but not sure what to barter with.

[ also with the audio ]

[tartanisstylish]

John Gates has opened communication!

[ On, then off, then on again. ] . . . John. And fairly sure I'm not a ghost.

[deshabille]

Oh, is that what people are going to know me for? Could be worse.

Information? Company? I'd ask for nice shells if we were by the sea.

[antecedent]

[Oh it's you. Prepare for the verbal linefacing.]

You will be if you drag Liam into trouble again.

[antecedent]

Better than what I'll be known as. Either the ghost guy or one half of that drag club duo.

Don't know about information, but company I can do.

[antecedent]

Ghosts always have, most people are just too blind or ignorant to see them. Normally can't touch them unless they want you to while they have the energy to pull it off. In this place, I can touch them like they're alive. It's different.

[tartanisstylish]

[ His voice is flat. ] Mm. I. Have no plans to.

[deshabille]

Nothing wrong with either of those, either.

Good. I'm running out of things to do with myself.

[antecedent]

Good. Liam wouldn't want me to bash your head in with my cane. Don't give any reasons to.

[tactical_alert]

You...hail from a very strange place, then. Would you only take our word, then, that we aren't ghosts?

[antecedent]

Been called worse things. Name's Ken, by the way.

Know how that is. Better half's been trying to run through walls when he thinks I'm not looking.

[antecedent]

Grew up in a circus. [This really explains everything.] Might hit you with my cane first to see if you come after me or not. If you do, not a ghost.

[deshabille]

Name, or name name?

Now there's an idea I haven't tried yet.

[antecedent]

Actual one, not the bullshit one they claim is mine.

Not as fun as it looks. Unless you're the one watching someone run into a wall.

[tactical_alert]

You grew up in a circus that has solid ghosts? Are you sure it wasn't a haunted house?

[tartanisstylish]

Do you honestly -

Right. Noted.

[antecedent]

No, my mum was the medium. Dealt more with unicorns and creatures that couldn't pass as humans. Met the ghost afterwards. Knew him when he was alive too.

[tactical_alert]

[Definitely not sure if serious now.] I see.

Has anyone struck you as a ghost thusfar in the cave or the city?

[deshabille]

Well, Actual Ken, my 'bullshit' name is Milena, which I hope will do for now.

Between running into a wall and just staring at it, I'll take the former. For a mysteriously empty city, this place is surprisingly boring.

[antecedent]

Works for me. Don't use they name they gave me because they messed with my husband's memories.

Not so empty and boring for me. I can see everyone that's died in the city. Makes it a bit livelier.

[antecedent]

Nearly everyone I've seen since coming into the city has been a ghost. Only person I see often that's alive is my husband.

[antecedent]

Always welcome to come over to the club. Liam might be glad to see you.

[deshabille]

. . . A good reason. Permanently?

That's got to be thousands of people.