( well, individuals (along with their own abilities, though that also seemed somewhat dependent on what they were) and objects, certainly, but what about something that had its backbone in the very structure of the universe it originated in? at least as far as he's aware of, the Dread Powers were unique to the world that he's from, so if they had been entirely destroyed prior to his arrival here... well, he'd likely be a half-step away from lobotomized without the Eye's influence to keep his thoughts held together. but that influence comes from within his shard, not from without, which is why potentially drawing something from another world had registered as something strange to him. )

Well, yes, but this is a little more than a person, or an object, or a memory, isn't it? We're talking about a whole manner of - what I have to assume is some sort of magic? It's certainly unlike anything I've ever seen.

( he goes still at john's comment, and afterward he gives him a particularly withering gaze. why, yes, he does recognize the reference, thank you, but why on Earth is this guy using it? it feels just about as strange to hear from him as the Eye forcing highlights of the most recent edition of a gossip tabloid into the back of his mind. the question burns in the back of his mind long enough that he has to force away the impulse to extract an answer. )

N - No, not really, at least for me. The masquerade, that actually happened prior to my arrival here. And, actually, what do you mean by "their history" - there were shards that held something else besides a "soul"?

( it's the first he's hearing of something like that!

and as for the bones — no, if the emperor believes he will be set with what he has on hand and what might lie ahead of them, john won't go out of his way to fill his pockets with teeth and bone chips. ) ...If that's the case, I think I'll be fine without. ( just dry and acerbic enough to match the other john's self-satisfied smugness. )