Now that was a mighty interestin' sound. It took a moment, but then Billy-Ray laughed, suddenly put in mind of a large and very indignant cat. The growl almost didn't sound human, but that wasn't unsettling in the least. On anyone else, it might have been, but since Billy-Ray knew Gabe wasn't from this reality? For all he knew, everyone over there spoke whatever cats speak. The thought made him laugh again, absentmindedly clutching his sides in anticipation of the pain that began very shortly thereafter.
He vaguely wondered if he could get Gabe to make that sound again. Laughing physically hurt, but it was something that Billy-Ray needed a lot more of right now.
Especially with the unsubtle reminder of just how screwed he was. The surge of bitterness was enough to silence Billy-Ray as he watched Gabe straighten up and head over to the door, but he didn't try to shove the guy back. First of all, because that would definitely be unnecessary pain and bother he didn't want. And second of all, because they were in the absolute lowest reaches of the huge castle. It didn't really matter if the door was unlocked; Billy-Ray knew the way, but Gabe would probably get lost in the maze of corridors and dungeons down here for days.
Billy-Ray almost wanted that to happen. It would certainly give him a few more laughs while he searched for reception to be able to call Scarab. Would the same images from before disguise his knowledge of the castle's layout? He certainly hoped so.
"This won't be a problem forever," Billy-Ray couldn't quite stop himself from saying. "The Professor'd be able to fix it up, right? Good as new." There were plenty of things Kenspeckle Grouse was going to do for them by the time they were through, and while Billy-Ray didn't particularly mind his thoughts lingering on them, he did immediately decide to forget the means of coercion. Easy enough, when you'd lived as long as Billy-Ray had and knew how to banish unwelcome memories. "And then, my friend - then you'll have something to worry about. 'Till the master plan, that is. Then everyone will have something to worry about."
~~
Ah. Right. Solomon Wreath was a taken name. That did make quite a bit more sense. What didn't, however, was the whole concept, and Father O'Reilly's head was beginning to pound with the effort of understanding. "How does that work?" he finally asked. "How ingrained does the name need to be? Do I just have to think of one, or... do a certain number of people have to use it?"
Father O'Reilly was well aware of how ridiculous he probably sounded to anyone who knew the answers to those questions, but he didn't much care just then. The idea of anyone being able to control him through his name was not a pleasant one, and he was determined to learn all he could.
no subject
He vaguely wondered if he could get Gabe to make that sound again. Laughing physically hurt, but it was something that Billy-Ray needed a lot more of right now.
Especially with the unsubtle reminder of just how screwed he was. The surge of bitterness was enough to silence Billy-Ray as he watched Gabe straighten up and head over to the door, but he didn't try to shove the guy back. First of all, because that would definitely be unnecessary pain and bother he didn't want. And second of all, because they were in the absolute lowest reaches of the huge castle. It didn't really matter if the door was unlocked; Billy-Ray knew the way, but Gabe would probably get lost in the maze of corridors and dungeons down here for days.
Billy-Ray almost wanted that to happen. It would certainly give him a few more laughs while he searched for reception to be able to call Scarab. Would the same images from before disguise his knowledge of the castle's layout? He certainly hoped so.
"This won't be a problem forever," Billy-Ray couldn't quite stop himself from saying. "The Professor'd be able to fix it up, right? Good as new." There were plenty of things Kenspeckle Grouse was going to do for them by the time they were through, and while Billy-Ray didn't particularly mind his thoughts lingering on them, he did immediately decide to forget the means of coercion. Easy enough, when you'd lived as long as Billy-Ray had and knew how to banish unwelcome memories. "And then, my friend - then you'll have something to worry about. 'Till the master plan, that is. Then everyone will have something to worry about."
~~
Ah. Right. Solomon Wreath was a taken name. That did make quite a bit more sense. What didn't, however, was the whole concept, and Father O'Reilly's head was beginning to pound with the effort of understanding. "How does that work?" he finally asked. "How ingrained does the name need to be? Do I just have to think of one, or... do a certain number of people have to use it?"
Father O'Reilly was well aware of how ridiculous he probably sounded to anyone who knew the answers to those questions, but he didn't much care just then. The idea of anyone being able to control him through his name was not a pleasant one, and he was determined to learn all he could.