Bad moon rising

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Afternoon of Sunday, October 11th

It's a mild enough afternoon as I walk into town. Probably shouldn't be out here; there's things to do back at the abbey. Always plenty to do on a Sunday. But I'm in a thoughtful sort of mood, and the walking helps.

Had a dream last night, about Concetta. Not the first one by a long shot. It's funny, when I first told her I was going to take temporary vows and we broke up, I didn't dream about her at all. I was so immersed in everything, and I thought when I gave up my name I was giving up the past. Of course, it doesn't work as easily as that, and after a few months, when I was really getting into my new life and I knew, really knew, that this was it for me, forever - well, it hurt more then, knowing what I gave up. Didn't change my resolve, and there's never been anything in my life that's made me as happy as serving Nanshe. Never think that I did the wrong thing. But sometimes, over the years, I've dreamed of Concetta, and I've missed her.

Last night's dream was a bit different, though. She wasn't young. Usually in my dreams we're both still young, barely out of our teens, and yeah, sometimes they're sex dreams but not always. Even when they're not, I still usually wake up with a hard-on, cos that's just how it is, if you're a bloke, I reckon. Just cos you give up fucking doesn't mean your cock forgets. It was easy not having sex, the first year or so, cos I was so fervent, and then it was really fucking hard for a couple more years, and then it got easier, and now it doesn't bother me most of the time. But last night's dream rattled me, cos Concetta and me, we was older than we are now. She had all these fine lines around her mouth, and I knew on waking that's just what those lines will look like when she's fifty. Her mouth always did turn down. Made her look sulky when she wasn't. A serious sort of mouth. And in my dream we'd buried my parents, and she took me to bed, which was our bed, and in my dream I was crying as we did it. When I woke up I was crying too. Not exactly fucking difficult to see what that dream was about, really. Got my share of guilt about a few things, I do. And maybe I feel a bit guilty because despite that, despite what I chose and knowing that it hurt people, I don't regret it. Knowing that I can never love anyone as much as I love my goddess. It's right, I think, that we had to give up romance and sex to live at the abbey. Not cos those things are bad. Nanshe is a mother, she loves families. But the way I serve her... There's room for friends in that, but not for anything else. No one else can be anything but second best.

All the same, it nags at me a bit, the dream. Cos I think Concetta and I would've been happy, and she never did get married, did she? Had kids, but never married, and I wonder if that's my fault. Shouldn't be so fucking arrogant, thinking what, I spoiled her for other men, but I wonder sometimes if she'd have found someone to love if she hadn't known me. Would never ask her, though. She'd probably smack me in the face, and quite right too. Can't go around feeling guilty for other people's choices - it's self-indulgent bollocks, is what it is.

I found I've come to the end of Silk Road, and the carnival wheel's turning. On a whim I decide to go across. I've been to the carnival, but not in a while. When I get over it's got a sad, end-of-holiday feel to it, bunting drooping, the wheel turning with no one on it. There's a few kids running about, but the barkers aren't bothering to shout, there's so few people out here. Wonder what they make of me, as I'm still in my robes. Don't really mind.

I buy myself some cotton candy. The sugar in my mouth makes me smile. Food's always been a way to cheer me up, and there's something so happily pointless about cotton candy. Fluffy sugar, I mean, what's the point of it except to make you smile? There's something lovely in that. Not everything needs a point, after all. Sometimes it's enough for the wheel to just keep turning.

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Comments

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Syl looks for a minute like she doesn't want to shake, and I wonder if I've made a mistake. Maybe carnies don't like to touch townies, who knows? But she offers her hand after a minute. Good firm grip.

"Know how'at is. Fourteen years...think m'cunt woulda imploded. Y'smoke?"

Laugh at that. Syl's a straight talker. Not enough of those around these days.

"No smokes for me, cheers," I say. "Used to smoke a bit, but you try running laps with smoker's lungs... No, I gave them up years back." I smile at her. "I dread to think what an exploding cunt'd look like," I say. "Could cause a natural disaster, maybe. 'Town destroyed by explosive vagina'." I laugh. "Took a few years to get used to it, not shagging, but what I do now is more important to me than that, so -" I shrug. "So it's alright. But," I laugh, "I was a badly behaved boy, I can tell you. Took me a while to settle down." I grin as she lights a cigarette. "You been with the carnival long?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"No smokes for me, cheers," 'e says, an'I smile 'n take one fer m'self. "Used to smoke a bit, but you try running laps with smoker's lungs... No, I gave them up years back."

"Unnerstand'at," I says, noddin' azzi light up, "ain't got too much cause fer runnin'ere, least not onna track...so ain't got no reason t'quit m'self." Smile attim.

"I dread to think what an exploding cunt'd look like. Could cause a natural disaster, maybe. 'Town destroyed by explosive vagina'."

God damn. Nearly spit out m'cig when I start t'laugh. Metta few priests in m'time, sure...but ain't never met one wit sucha raunchy sensa humour. Gotta say I kinda like it. "Said implode, not explode. Y'know, when somethin' falls inside?" Grin summore at th'thought, "Kinda makes more sensat way, dontcha think? Whole cunt starts coll'psin' inwards, starts suckin' th'whole town in after it, like onna'em black holes. Reckon'at could happen."

"Took a few years to get used to it, not shagging, but what I do now is more important to me than that, so -So it's alright. But, I was a badly behaved boy, I can tell you. Took me a while to settle down."

"Ain't never known nobody't had so much sex when'ey wuzza kid'ey got'emselves tot'lly fucked out," I says t'im, raisin' m'eyebrow. "You musta been somethin' special. So whatcha do know, if'n y'ain't really preachin'?"

"You been with the carnival long?"

"Since I wuz fourteen. So...goin' on thirty years now." Weird now, t'think 'bout 'at. Weird t'think when I joined up I wuz still what most folk'd think ov azza kid. I sure's hell didn't feel like a kid when I joined up. Don't know'at I ever really 'member ever feelin' like a fuckin' kid. "How long y'been a priest?"

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Syl starts laughing, and I laugh with her. There's always something nice about laughing with a stranger, cos it shows that people can keep on connecting even when they don't know anything about each other.

"Kinda makes more sensat way, dontcha think? Whole cunt starts coll'psin' inwards, starts suckin' th'whole town in after it, like onna'em black holes. Reckon'at could happen."

"That'd be a new sort of apocalypse," I observe. "I've heard blokes say they'd like to die between the legs of a beautiful woman, but I doubt that's what they had in mind," I say with a grin.

"Ain't never known nobody't had so much sex when'ey wuzza kid'ey got'emselves tot'lly fucked out. You musta been somethin' special. So whatcha do know, if'n y'ain't really preachin'?"

"Oh, I don't know about being fucked out," I say. "Just - it wasn't like I came to this life not knowing what I was giving up, you know? Had tried it out, quite a bit, and so it's not like it's an empty spot on my life To Do list." I grin. "And abbey life keeps me pretty busy, even without preaching. Always stuff to do there. It's a nice place. You should visit sometime. We won't try to get you into a wimple," I add.

"Since I wuz fourteen. So...goin' on thirty years now. How long y'been a priest?"

"I was 21 when I decided to move into the abbey," I say. "Spent a year as a novice. Then I took temporary vows for five years, and after that I took permanent vows. That was eight years ago. I've lived in Excolo all my life, though, and my folks've still got a farm a few miles outside town."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"That'd be a new sort of apocalypse," 'e says, still kinda chucklin', "I've heard blokes say they'd like to die between the legs of a beautiful woman, but I doubt that's what they had in mind."

"Think th'woman'd get sucked in first, in any case," s'what I say. "First she goes down, like schloop, an'en the resta th'town goes down wit'er." Is a pretty fuckin' funny image t'get in yer head, once ya get down t'it. "Though I 'spose's some fellas idea'a heaven, gettin' sucked inta some real welcomin' pussy fer alla forever, right?"

"Oh, I don't know about being fucked out. Just - it wasn't like I came to this life not knowing what I was giving up, you know? Had tried it out, quite a bit, and so it's not like it's an empty spot on my life To Do list." Smart, t'm'mind. Get th'feelin' lotta th'mean ones 'r th'ones't didn't get no pussy when'ey had th'chance to. "And abbey life keeps me pretty busy, even without preaching. Always stuff to do there. It's a nice place. You should visit sometime. We won't try to get you into a wimple."

Well, 'at's a nice thought, but really... "Found over th'years't chicks like me ain't 'zactly welcome at churches," I says, still smilin', but don't feel so much like a nice smile no more. Us'ally in m'best int'rest t'avoid th'fuckin' churches like th'goddamn plague. Sometimes th'"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" don't start up if'n y'stay away from the churches. Sometimes th'rocks start flyin' if'n y'don't.

"I was 21 when I decided to move into the abbey. Spent a year as a novice. Then I took temporary vows for five years, and after that I took permanent vows. That was eight years ago. I've lived in Excolo all my life, though, and my folks've still got a farm a few miles outside town."

Doin' th'math then yeah, 'e's five'r six years younger'n me. From what I c'n see under the robes'e's gotta hell ovva body ferra priest. Most th'ones've seen run t'fat after a few years. "Guess'ey must be happy, havin' a priest in th'fam'ly. Seems like a respect'ble sorta trade...though th'Church don't see so influential innis town way't izzin somma th'other places've seen." An' really, t'm'mind, 'at's all t'th'good. Towns where th'Church takes over tend t'go kinda loopy.

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

"Found over th'years't chicks like me ain't 'zactly welcome at churches," says Syl, getting a stiff look about her. Wonder what she means - that she's a carnie? Or that she's a witch? Maybe that she's queer - has a vibe that she could be.

"We're quite laid back, as churches go," I say with a bit of a shrug.

"Guess'ey must be happy, havin' a priest in th'fam'ly. Seems like a respect'ble sorta trade...though th'Church don't see so influential innis town way't izzin somma th'other places've seen."

I smile a bit ruefully.

"Would've preferred me to get married, have a few kids, take over the farm, I reckon. But they're used to it now, and I see them when I can. You got any family?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"We're quite laid back, as churches go," 'e says, 'n mebbe'e's right. Act'ally looks kinda confused's t'why'm a li'l surly 'bout churches. You getta few preachers goadin' folks inta throwin' rocks atcha 'r talkin' 'bout burnin' y'at th'stake, see how much y'like'em....but'e's a nice fella, 'n mebbe'is church's onna th'good ones. They's few 'n far b'tween, but'ey's out'ere. So mebbe. Gotta be halfway okay if'n'ey turned'is fella out, I 'spose.

"Would've preferred me to get married, have a few kids, take over the farm, I reckon. But they're used to it now, and I see them when I can. You got any family?"

"....well, really depends whatcha mean by fam'ly," I says after a minute. Take a long drag on m'cig. "If'n y'mean do I gotta man who shot some jizz inta a lady 't turned inta me an' 're 'ere folks got made'a th'same jizz outta th'same cunt, then I 'spose'ey might be 'live, but ain't seen none'a'em since I joined up." Nor do I fuckin' care to. "If'n y'mean do I got folk't watch out fer me...'en yeah. Look after somma th'younger girls, gotta few friends...we like t'think'a th'Carnival like a big ol' fam'ly, but even wit'at'ere's some folks't're special, y'know?" Reckon'e getsit.

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Syl's all defensive on the subject of family, and I reckon it's a sore spot. Best not to push it too much. But I know what she means, about the folk in her life.

"Bit like that at the abbey," I say. "About fifty of us there, and we all work together, day after day, and the place don't work if each bloke or bird don't pull their weight. Creates something like a family, that, the sweat of our brow and the breaking of bread. But there's a few people I'm closer to, even so. Good friends, good family to have. Sometimes feel a bit guilty, though, that I don't see my parents and my sis that much." Dunno why I'm telling Syl this, but hell, it's not a secret. "They're good folk, too. Just going on in their lives in a different way from me, is all." Smile at her. "So you're not shacked up then with some guy or girl, looking after a bunch of kids, then?"

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Jes' like I thought, 'e getsit. "Bit like that at the abbey. About fifty of us there, and we all work together, day after day, and the place don't work if each bloke or bird don't pull their weight. Creates something like a family, that, the sweat of our brow and the breaking of bread. But there's a few people I'm closer to, even so. Good friends, good family to have. Sometimes feel a bit guilty, though, that I don't see my parents and my sis that much." Still smilin', though. "So you're not shacked up then with some guy or girl, looking after a bunch of kids, then?"

....oh, well somebody's bloody perceptive. Known some priests had th'empathy of a fuckin' stump, buttis one's got me t'rights already. "Na, no fella." 'less y'count th'one I let fuck me ev'ry once inna while even though'e's act'ally datin' a psycho monster...'r th'fella't says'e's' int'rested but won't make a fuckin' move. 'r Verdi, but really, 'at's jes' friendly. "I got kids t'look after, but ain't none ovvem mine. Jes' kinda look after somma th'girls on th'Lot, 'spec'ally those't ain't got no fam'ly'a their own. C'n be tough ferra young chick on'er own 'round'ere." Shit, why'm I tellin'im 'bout'is shit? Don't us'ally talk like'is t'folks I met five fuckin' minutes ago.

"You must be hell in th'confess'onal, preacher," I says, stubbin' out m'cig.

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Looks a bit startled, and I wonder if I've crossed a line, but hell, it'd be worse to assume she just likes blokes, wouldn't it? Can't always guess what people like, nowadays, and it's not like it matters much to me, one way or the other. So long as people are kind to one another, what bits they've got to rub together are much of a muchness, or so I reckon.

"I got kids t'look after, but ain't none ovvem mine. Jes' kinda look after somma th'girls on th'Lot, 'spec'ally those't ain't got no fam'ly'a their own. C'n be tough ferra young chick on'er own 'round'ere."

"Reckon so," I say, nodding. "Road's not an easy life, from what I hear. S'pose they are your kids, then, in a way, even if you didn't - what did you say - get them out of some guy's jizz in your cunt," I say, and flash her a grin.

"You must be hell in th'confess'onal, preacher," Syl continues, stubbing out her cigarette.

I laugh.

"Don't go much in for confessions," I say. "But you do my job long enough, you start seeing a bit about people. And people do tell me a lot about their dreams. Funny the amount you can figure out about how stuff works from that." I smile at her. "Say, want to show me where I can get a corndog or something round here? Cotton candy's nice, but it's not exactly stuff to get a body together."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

'e nods, "Reckon so. Road's not an easy life, from what I hear. S'pose they are your kids, then, in a way, even if you didn't - what did you say - get them out of some guy's jizz in your cunt," an'e grins.

Dammit, find m'self likin'is fella. Mosta th'folk I talk to like'at get all flustered 'n such. Even'ose 't don't ain't willin' t'give back. Only one's've found 't give's good's'ey get 'r Tez 'n Faith. An' now 'is fella. "Like t'think ovvem's mine, yeah," I says, noddin', "sometimes 'm all'ey got. But'ey's good kids, all ovvem." Even if Zann ain't talkin' t'me no more.

"Don't go much in for confessions. But you do my job long enough, you start seeing a bit about people. And people do tell me a lot about their dreams. Funny the amount you can figure out about how stuff works from that. Say, want to show me where I can get a corndog or something round here? Cotton candy's nice, but it's not exactly stuff to get a body together."

....y'know, this's th'sorta thin' I warn m'girls t'never fuckin' do, but reckon I c'n hold m'own 'gainst a preacher man. Anyway, like 'is guy, an'm pretty good 't readin' folks by now. An' fuck, ain't like anythin's happ'nin'ere.

Kitty's got th'stall cross from mine; pull th'flappa m'tent closed 'n signal t'er back in ten. She nods 'n goes back t'er work.

"Food tents're 'round'is way," I says. "Dunno if'n a corndog 'll holda body t'gether...from what've heard 'bout'em more likely t'greak yer gut...but reckon we c'n findya somethin'." We start walkin'. "So preacher-man...ain't seen ya 'round'ere b'fore. First time on th'Lot?"

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

"sometimes 'm all'ey got. But'ey's good kids, all ovvem."

This one's a good'un, I think, for all her hard talk. Yeah, I like this Syl.

"Dunno if'n a corndog 'll holda body t'gether...from what've heard 'bout'em more likely t'greak yer gut...but reckon we c'n findya somethin'."

Syl looks over at a friend and signals to her. Reckon she's making sure someone knows who she's with, and I could be offended but given what's been going on in town lately, I don't blame her for being cautious, not a bit.

"I've got an iron constitution," I say with a grin. "Which is to say, I can eat almost anything. Bit like a goat, I am." We walk along to the food tents, and I smell all kinds of greasy goodness. My stomach rumbles. I love the abbey's food, and it's all very wholesome, but sometimes a body just needs a bit of fatty goodness.

"So preacher-man...ain't seen ya 'round'ere b'fore. First time on th'Lot?"

"Been a couple of times back when you first came to town," I say. "But I was in me civvies back then - you know, off duty wear. I s'pose you do," I say, nodding at her witch wear. Hope she don't dress like that day to day or our pleasant chat might be fucked. "Not been for a while, though. Surprised you folk are still in town."

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

"I've got an iron constitution," 'e says's we wander on over t'th'food tents. "Which is to say, I can eat almost anything. Bit like a goat, I am." Like't knows we's talking 'bout it, 'is stomach sets t'growling. Sounds like a hungry fuckin' bear. Can't help smilin'.

"Well, there's plenty t'test it out on," I says, "Mosta th'vendors'ere 'r pretty clean...jes' don't ask 'bout somma th'meat't goes inta th'sausage." Ol' Jim 'ears me 'n gives me a dirty look. 'e c'n go t'fuckin' hell; I seen 'm c'llectin' rats. "Corn dogs izzere, we got some burgers too, an'ey's good," thanks t'Slaughterman. Eat'em m'self once inna while, since I know where'ey's comin' from.

"But I was in me civvies back then - you know, off duty wear. I s'pose you do," 'e says, lookin' at me, an'I nod. "Not been for a while, though. Surprised you folk are still in town."

"Well..." I says, sighin'. Fuck, we's 'ere. Stop by onna th'beer tents ferra pint; Clay sees me comin'n gets onna th'good mugs, th'ones wit'out th'false, shallow bottoms. "That there's a bit ovvan issue, so it is."

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Get myself a burger and ask for all the trimmings. Might as well go all out, eh?

"Want one?" I ask. Seems a bit rude not to offer since Syl's standing here with me. I bite into it, and ketchup and pickle squelches in my mouth along with some fairly decent meat. I sigh happily and then chew.

We sit down at a beer tent, and Syl gets the kind of look I've seen before - when someone's about to tell you some bad news.

"That there's a bit ovvan issue, so it is."

"That so?" I say, resting my burger in its wrapper on the table. "Been hearing some funny things about this place, I'll admit," I say. "And about town, too. Bad moon rising," I say, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My mum has a phrase for that. Goose walking over my grave. Yeah, I hope I don't see my grave for a while yet.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Smart man, goes fer th'burgers. Qual'ty'a th'burgers've really gone up since we started gettin' meat from Slaughterman. So when'e turns t'me 'n asks if'n I want one, I says sure. Why th'hell not? Ain't gonna get dinner ferranother few hours, an' ey sure smell good. Nod an' say, "Thanks. Right nice'a ya." Greaser slaps down 'nother burder fer me. 'e knows how I like'em. "Hey, y'wanna beer? If'n ye're gettin' th'food, c'n't least getcha a drink. Only fair."

Once we get our food we go t'sit down atta table. an've jes' taken a bite outta m'burger when I get't've said too bloody much, cuz'e's settin'is food down'n lookin' at me. "That so? Been hearing some funny things about this place, I'll admit," I say. "And about town, too. Bad moon rising."

"Bad moon risin'." I says. Name ovvan old song. Knew a girl liked t'dance to it. Always kinda gave me th'creeps even if'n it sounds real cheery-like. "Yeah. Gooda term's any." Can't really talk th'details, really fuckin' can't...but mosta th'town knows somethin's fucked by now. "C'n tellya ain't our dec'sion t'stay'ere. S'bout all I c'n say." Mmm, burgers 'r good.

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

"Cheers," I say, taking the beer.

"C'n tellya ain't our dec'sion t'stay'ere. S'bout all I c'n say."

I nod thoughtfully.

"Won't push you to tell a secret that's not yours to tell, Syl," I say. "But yeah, there's been enough talk in town it's even reached the abbey. Lot of weird stuff, like gods walking around." Glance at her and smile a bit. "You'd think given my job that'd be something I'd find less surprising, yeah?" I take a slurp of the beer. It's not bad. "And everything comes back to that," I say, jerking my head northwards to the tower. Found lately I don't like talking about it, or even really looking at it. "Lived here my whole life and for most of it that tower was just an old water tower, mostly just a health hazard we told the kids to stay away from in case it fell down. But I think we've got more to worry about now than falling bricks," I say. Dunno how much Syl knows about the tower. Don't want to scare her. Then again, she might know more than me. Carnies have a way of knowing about dangerous places. Got to, I suppose, so they stay alive.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

Takes th'beer; guess'ere ain't no rules'gainst drinkin', even if'e can't fuck. 'at's somethin', I guess....wonder which I'd pick if'n I hadta. Guess't depends if'n y'still get t'jerk off.

"Won't push you to tell a secret that's not yours to tell, Syl. But yeah, there's been enough talk in town it's even reached the abbey. Lot of weird stuff, like gods walking around. You'd think given my job that'd be something I'd find less surprising, yeah? And everything comes back to that," jerks'is head t'wards m'favourite place in th'whole wide world, Mr. Psycho Monster's bedroom. "Lived here my whole life and for most of it that tower was just an old water tower, mostly just a health hazard we told the kids to stay away from in case it fell down. But I think we've got more to worry about now than falling bricks,"

Oh, well ain't that int'restin'. "We know 'bout th'tower," I says after a minute, "got our own way'a fig'rin'ese sorta thin's out...an' yeah, s'a good parta th'reason why we ain't goin' nowhere." Ain't prepared t'go inta more detail'n'at, but fuck, mebbe 'e c'n gimme summore info on alla'is, yeah? "...when'd it start gettin' funny, 'zactly?" Cuzz'm wond'rin' if'n th'tower goin' weird didn't start when we came...'r somethin' else triggered it....

[nansekam.livejournal.com]

Syl gives me a considering sort of look. Reckon she knows a thing or two.

"...when'd it start gettin' funny, 'zactly?"

"Hard to say," I say, thoughtfully. "One of those things you don't really notice until it's been weird a while, you know? Like one day you look at it and think shit, that's strange but it's probably been like that for weeks..." I scratch my beard. "Thinking on it... Probably a year, maybe more. Started cropping up now and again in my dreams about then, but not often enough for me to pay much mind to it. Maybe I should've," I say, with a frown. "But... Not saying you folk had anything to do with it, but I think it got weirder when the carnival arrived." I think. "Was about then that lots of people had the dream. Did any of the carnival folk have it? Red and blue cities?" I say. "That was a weird experience. My goddess brought the dream, but to what end apart from to warn us of the bad shit in the tower, I dunno." Pause and wonder about what I'm saying next, but hell, Syl's suggested she's seen stuff, and she don't seem like the type to up and faint. "Other weird stuff going on too. Somone raised the dead out in the cemetery. Didn't go well." Pause again. "Been told the Devil lives in the tower. Wasn't even minded to believe in him before all this, but now... When I dream of the water tower, it looks like dead flesh." Shiver a bit at the memory of that.

[syl-thorn.livejournal.com]

'e frowns. "Hard to say. One of those things you don't really notice until it's been weird a while, you know? Like one day you look at it and think shit, that's strange but it's probably been like that for weeks..." Nod, cuzzi do get'at... "Thinking on it... Probably a year, maybe more. Started cropping up now and again in my dreams about then, but not often enough for me to pay much mind to it. Maybe I should've."

...an' fuck, this's better'n I'd hoped. So far, only person from town I really talked 'bout th'Tower wit's Slaughterman, 'n'e's almost's new's us. Good t'hear alla'is from somebody't's always been'ere. Fer one, had no fuckin' clue't th'Psycho Monster jes moved in. Kinda thought'e'd always been'ere.

"But... Not saying you folk had anything to do with it, but I think it got weirder when the carnival arrived. Was about then that lots of people had the dream. Did any of the carnival folk have it? Red and blue cities?"

Red 'n blue? "Naw," I says, thinkin'. "think somma th'seers've had funny dreams, 'spec'ally 'bout th'Tower, but ain't heard nothin' 'bout red'n blue cities." Might be somethin' t'ask th'twins about, though..."

"That was a weird experience. My goddess brought the dream, but to what end apart from to warn us of the bad shit in the tower, I dunno. Other weird stuff going on too. Someone raised the dead out in the cemetery. Didn't go well. Been told the Devil lives in the tower. Wasn't even minded to believe in him before all this, but now... When I dream of the water tower, it looks like dead flesh."

"Yer goddess sends ya dreams, then?" Don't s'prise me much. Sometimes th'spirits talk t'ya in weird ways. Done rit'als m'self t'call fer dreams, fer guidance 'r proph'cy. Gotta be real spec'fic 'bout whatcha want 'n which spirit ye're askin, though, 'r else thin's c'n get fucked up. "'n hate t'tell ya'is, Kam, but th'Devil does live innat tower. 'r at least close 'nough. S'big an's mean, annit don't got th'best intent'ons." Take 'nother bite'a burger 'n swigga beer. "Tried t'take a closer look't it m'self, magic-like. Made me regret it."