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As Danny flew to Clockwork’s lair – Long Now as he was told – he reflected on his recent chat with his friends. They discussed the ghosts he fought, namely Nocturne, Undergrowth and Pariah. They originally just talked about how strong Danny has gotten, but he noticed something.
Sam and Tucker discribed Nocturne’s looks very differently to how the ghost looked like.
They described the dream weaver as a starlight mass with a white mask and down turning horns. But that wasn’t what Nocturne looked like. He was starlight, yes, but with far more eyes, clawed arms and tenacles and no mask.
But they also said Clockwork looks different to what he actually does look like. They claim Clockwork is a purble clad guy, switching between ages, wearing a dozen clocks, including one on his chest.
But when Danny reached Long Now and saw Clockwork, he was reminded this is not the case, aside from the clock in his chest.
Clockwork was barely humanoid, purple yes, but cluttered in clocks and watches, be it analogue or digital, each showing a different time. Three big red eyes, with tiny clocks as the iris.
“Clockwork! Short question-”
“Your friends described certain ghosts differently from what they look like to you and now you wonder why that is.” Clockwork interrupted him.
Danny blinked. “Yes.”
Clockwork chuckled. “Daniel, do you know what connects the likes of me, Pariah and Nocturne?”
He shrugged. “All of you are some of the strongest ghosts in existance?”
“Yes, yes. This strength, however, comes with a bit of a side effect.” Clockwork explained. “Nothing bad, just… mortal minds tend to struggle to comprehend us, so we look different to them.”
“Huh?” Danny voiced. “So you’re eldritch horrors? Wait, why do I see you-”
“You aren’t mortal.” Clockwork simply stated. “You are one of us.”
“Because I am a ghost, right?” Danny asked. “Right?”
Clockwork just chuckled lightly. “Yes, but that is not what I meant.”