"People in comas might disagree with you," Skulduggery tossed back over his shoulder as they approached the library door. "Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine with being dead. I've had a long time to adapt."
"Library or apartment?" Ghastly asked once they'd all come to a stop.
"In the middle of the day?" Valkyrie shook her head. "Definitely the library."
Skulduggery raised his knuckle, still bleached from that other reality's overbearing sun, and knocked.
~~
China had toyed briefly with the idea, upon hanging up after Skulduggery's phone call, of answering the door herself when they dropped by. She'd been known to do so for others before, though there was almost always a good reason. This time, the only reason she could think of was sentiment. There wasn't anything wrong with sentiment, per se - China wouldn't have her library if there was - but when it came to the Sanctuary's esteemed ex-Detective, sentiment was hardly a good enough reason to stand on its own.
So, although she knew immediately who was knocking, she didn't look up from her work. Her assistant answered the door instead, as was usual, as was normal. As if the impossible hadn't just been performed, and - and this was what really bothered China - she had no idea how. None of her usual contacts seemed able to supply her with any information. She was already at a disadvantage, and things never went smoothly under that scenario.
Her assistant led them quickly through the stacks to her desk, and China glanced up expecting to see... what, she didn't quite know, and she never would. She'd opened her mouth to speak, but had to close it again, a rare expression of surprise crossing her delicate features.
Skulduggery looked good. Far too good. In fact, they all did. They were almost on the same level as China herself, which she would have found unacceptable if she had any idea how they'd managed it. Two disadvantages right from the start.
Perhaps that was why, when China saw the unfamiliar face, she instinctively poured more magic into her ability than she normally did if she didn't want something from the person. Combined with her usual radiant smile, it would hopefully be enough to banish any preconceptions Skulduggery might have placed in the poor man's mind.
"Oh my," she recovered smoothly. "What have you all been up to? And who's this?"
"We," Skulduggery answered, "have been busy trying to avoid Guild. As I mentioned, we could use your help with that."
China raised an eyebrow. "Straight to business, Skulduggery? After you've been gone for a year?"
"I'm afraid it's rather urgent."
"It always is." China looked the man up and down, curious despite herself. He didn't look like a sorcerer - but then again, many sorcerers didn't look like sorcerers. He had something to do with Skulduggery's return, presumably, but China had never seen him before. He might come from the Faceless Ones' reality - Skulduggery did have a penchant for rescuing people - but he didn't look particularly traumatized or insane. A mystery indeed.
no subject
"Library or apartment?" Ghastly asked once they'd all come to a stop.
"In the middle of the day?" Valkyrie shook her head. "Definitely the library."
Skulduggery raised his knuckle, still bleached from that other reality's overbearing sun, and knocked.
~~
China had toyed briefly with the idea, upon hanging up after Skulduggery's phone call, of answering the door herself when they dropped by. She'd been known to do so for others before, though there was almost always a good reason. This time, the only reason she could think of was sentiment. There wasn't anything wrong with sentiment, per se - China wouldn't have her library if there was - but when it came to the Sanctuary's esteemed ex-Detective, sentiment was hardly a good enough reason to stand on its own.
So, although she knew immediately who was knocking, she didn't look up from her work. Her assistant answered the door instead, as was usual, as was normal. As if the impossible hadn't just been performed, and - and this was what really bothered China - she had no idea how. None of her usual contacts seemed able to supply her with any information. She was already at a disadvantage, and things never went smoothly under that scenario.
Her assistant led them quickly through the stacks to her desk, and China glanced up expecting to see... what, she didn't quite know, and she never would. She'd opened her mouth to speak, but had to close it again, a rare expression of surprise crossing her delicate features.
Skulduggery looked good. Far too good. In fact, they all did. They were almost on the same level as China herself, which she would have found unacceptable if she had any idea how they'd managed it. Two disadvantages right from the start.
Perhaps that was why, when China saw the unfamiliar face, she instinctively poured more magic into her ability than she normally did if she didn't want something from the person. Combined with her usual radiant smile, it would hopefully be enough to banish any preconceptions Skulduggery might have placed in the poor man's mind.
"Oh my," she recovered smoothly. "What have you all been up to? And who's this?"
"We," Skulduggery answered, "have been busy trying to avoid Guild. As I mentioned, we could use your help with that."
China raised an eyebrow. "Straight to business, Skulduggery? After you've been gone for a year?"
"I'm afraid it's rather urgent."
"It always is." China looked the man up and down, curious despite herself. He didn't look like a sorcerer - but then again, many sorcerers didn't look like sorcerers. He had something to do with Skulduggery's return, presumably, but China had never seen him before. He might come from the Faceless Ones' reality - Skulduggery did have a penchant for rescuing people - but he didn't look particularly traumatized or insane. A mystery indeed.