"It's only modern because you aren't from more...future," Lucius says and throws his arm over his face. It's not particularly bright in here, and he's not trying to make Skulduggery go away, he just doesn't want scorpions stinging his face.

Because, honestly, he's too tired to decide whether he believes it or not.

"But if we don't have to murder and pillage to eat? This much future is fine. Except Carry Oakey. Fuck Carry Oakey."

There's a long silence and Lucius might be asleep, but then he asks:

"So--are you a skeleton who was always a skeleton, or did you used to be not a skeleton?"

That question was going to bother him, he knew it, so it's best to just ask it now and get it out of the way.