"Some seem friendlier than others," he agrees. "There's a thought I hadn't considered, though... who's full-Pthumerian, and who's only half. I'll do some digging and see what turns up."

He sits back in his chair, nods appreciation to his new friend and his guitar.

"As I figure it, anywhere run by gods subscribes to someone's plan. Somebody's design, somebody's narrative, even if the thread is deeper-buried than you'd think. There'll be something to learn from the foundations... from whatever got built after the flood."

His smile is a little crooked, a little wry.

"Guess we'll have to figure those bits out together."