XI.

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy is currently in the lobby, smoking. He's headed outside for a walk, as he is wont to do, but he decides to open his journal first. Maybe preemptively sidestep some awkward language stuff before it happens.

Dictated in English!]So, how long do these things usually last, anyway? This isn't like the time we were all stuck in the ocean, so I

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[jamesholmes]

[Have some gentle correction of your Latin Hellboy, he's thrilled someone else speaks it but it could do with a little work. Then in English he continues.]

That is an impressive collection of languages, especially in it's depth. [He is impressed though, it's in his voice.]

[jamesholmes]

[He's chuckling, took you that long Hellboy?]

Precisely, my abilities are of the mind, not the body.

[hellshaped]

[Well, usually when somebody says they're physically human but not, it means ... not that they're just smart!]

That's a pretty modest way of putting it.

[jamesholmes]

[Uhuh right of course Hellboy...but he is smarter then the typical person, cut him some slack.]

To be more precise I am an analytical genius, I designed a weather machine that housed a fire elemental after the plans for it were stolen by the Nazi's, and the only person to ever escape my grasp for justice was Jack the Ripper.

[hellshaped]

[Give him a minute!!! Just the word "Nazi" makes him angry, he has to calm down.]

... oh. Wait -- Jack the Ripper and World War II?

[jamesholmes]

[He's loving this really, don't mind him. And do take all the time you need Hellboy, he'll wait.]

Yes Jack the Ripper and World War II.

[hellshaped]

So you're ... from what year, again?

[jamesholmes]

In my present day it was 2009.

[hellshaped]

[Hey, check out this long stretch of silence.]

Oh.

[jamesholmes]

[He is trying so hard not to laugh in that stretch of silence.]

I was born in 1849 if fit helps you figure out how old I am.

[hellshaped]

I'm just having a hard time figuring out how you're that old.

[jamesholmes]

It is a very long story, though at least mine has a mechanical apparatus involved, there is another here whose power is that of longevity.

[hellshaped]

Well, sure. I'm pretty old too. [Not quite that old, but still.]

It's just rare for humans to live that long, I thought. But if you used a, er, mechanical apparatus ... then that's different.

[jamesholmes]

So I have gathered, by your reaction to the word Nazi. [Yeah well you know...mad scientist much? But he's now got his detective hat on, watch out.]

Yes, I know it is rare, and I know, my device was, rather unique in it's purpose. There is another human here who is may age, but she lived it naturally, no mechanical aide what so ever.

[hellshaped]

That's kind of more impressive, isn't it? Living naturally that long. Though I don't know how it's possible for a regular human, without any interference.

[jamesholmes]

Yes it is more impressive, a much more simple gift...[He's sounding oddly envious here.] But she isn't just a regular human.