CALLIOPE: i feel sorry for her. CALLIOPE: er, for myself, i suppose. but then again, that feeling is nothing new. JADE: heh CALLIOPE: it's an odd statement she made, thoUgh. JADE: what? CALLIOPE: not having the frame of reference for empathizing with hUman feelings. CALLIOPE: if yoU asked me, i woUld say i have the vantage to relate to both hUmans and cherUbs, so when yoU describe yoUr feelings of sadness over losing friends, i'd have more than enoUgh groUnds for commiseration. CALLIOPE: do you think that this version of me never... JADE: never what? CALLIOPE: never had hUman friends like i did? JADE: i have no idea CALLIOPE: what a strange thoUght. CALLIOPE: to grow Up with only my brother for "company"... CALLIOPE: and not even have my hUman friends to get me by. CALLIOPE: what a dreadfUl fate. the poor thing. CALLIOPE: maybe that was the difference? CALLIOPE: what let her predominate over her brother, whereas i was too, erm... CALLIOPE: "hUmanly socialized" to sUcceed in my cherUbic rite of passage? JADE: could be! JADE: i dont know enough about cherub rites of passage to say either way JADE: human rites of passage either, for that matter CALLIOPE: so then what happened! JADE: right! anyway... JADE: thats when she began her story in earnest JADE: the one she summoned me in my dreams to tell me JADE: the story of the other john who made a deal with typheus JADE: it began with the same place mine did JADE: lowas JADE: ... JADE: so, go on CALLIOPE: what? JADE: draw lowas again! CALLIOPE: oh!! CALLIOPE: wait. CALLIOPE: all over again? JADE: ummmmmm JADE: no, you can just copy the first one you did :) CALLIOPE: what a lovely idea. CALLIOPE: i'd hate to hold Up the pace of yoUr exciting tale with a bUnch of sUperflUoUs doodling.