[Video]

[beefaroni]

[It's taken Asterios a few tries to get this thing to work - technology is still beyond him, really. But he's pretty sure he got it working this time, though he gives the screen a few more pokes just in case. Holding it in one hand, he tries to angle it so it only shows his face, and not his giant horns and his scarred body. He figures the less they see the better his odds. Anyway...]

... It is clear. Staying... a while.

[He speaks slowly, his voice surprisingly soft if you don't know him.]

While here... I am, thinking, maybe... learn, more words. Easier to... communicate? Want to learn words. Any words. But... can offer. Little, in return.

[Pause, trying to think it over.]

 Am strong. If need strength... I can, lift. Carry. Break. Fight. In exchange.

Okay. Thank you.

[A beat. Is he missing anything?]

... Asterios. Name is... Asterios.

Comments

[beefaroni]

Mmm.

[In a way, he understands. Servants can just be summoned again.]

What happens... to the dead. Here? They... come back. Yes?

[vagabone]

That's what I heard. And obviously I'm not supposed to be here. Or solid. I should be ghostlike in the land of the living... any land of the living.

[beefaroni]

Mmm.

[Curious and confusing, but not something for a guy like him to really worry about.]

We were... all chosen. For reasons.

[vagabone]

[Hey, it's a good thing. He'd be bored out of his empty skull if he couldn't interact with anyone. Or anything.]

Did someone tell you so? I'm not so sure. Us spirits don't last forever before we move on to whatever comes next, after our skeleton lives. And I've been dead ninety six years. There are plenty of fresher, younger dead people to pick.

[beefaroni]

No one, told me. Just... my thoughts.

I believe... all of us. Serve a purpose, here. May be difficult, to see... but. it is there. I think.

[vagabone]

It's not a bad thought. [Purpose beyond waiting to see her again, waiting to shimmer and disappear, wasting away at the bottom of the world...]

What about you? What do you like doing?

[beefaroni]

...

[Good question. What does he like doing?]

... Eating?

[vagabone]

[Gotta start somewhere!]

Cooking?

[beefaroni]

[Shakes head no.]

Do not know... how to cook. Just eat... whatever's. Given.

[vagabone]

You could learn to cook too, while you're here. You never know what else you might be good at.

[beefaroni]

... I am, too strong. Too... clumsy. I would... make things worse.

[vagabone]

Have you tried, though? [A persistent, encouraging pest!] Something small, like frying bread--I'm not saying you should start out making five course meals. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I remember how.

[beefaroni]

... Frying bread?

[And he's instantly distracted.]

[vagabone]

Baby steps. Frying bread! Maybe scrambling some eggs. It counts as cooking in my book.

[beefaroni]

Did not know... bread could be fried.

[Sounds yummy. He's more on the distraction of eating it than making it, thankfully.]

[vagabone]

[Oh no this is tragic.]

...What have you been eating?

[beefaroni]

Whatever they give me.

[He'd eat dirt if told to, LBR.]

[vagabone]

Everything is free, I don't think anyone uses money here. You should try it all while you can!

[beefaroni]

... Does not, feel right. To take... without giving.

[vagabone]

[He softens a little...]

You'll give back to the city in other ways. You're not doing anything wrong, because I don't think you're the type to get greedy about it.

[beefaroni]

[He's not, he mentally admits. But still... ]

Like fighting? That is all... I'm good for.

[vagabone]

You don't know that for sure yet. Sounds like you've never tried anything else.

[beefaroni]

... Too dangerous. For anything else.

[vagabone]

No, you're not. You're the guy who sat there all night and let me sleep in your arms.

[beefaroni]

[Grumble grumble, looking away.]

Others... would have. Done same. Just... there, first.