"That makes you one of two people I know who've refused to bring about the end of the world," Claudius says, with a laugh of surprise and gratitude. It remains one of the most remarkable things Crowley ever told him. Perhaps it's only fitting -- here's two people able to confirm the existence of the afterlife and an overarching eschatolology, and Claudius is still grasping how they both can be true. But at least the end of all things is something malleable. "From the stories alone, Laertes would be quite amused if I were compared to Loki ... but I am sorry for your own experience with the god of lies. I admit I haven't always been the most honest of men. Laertes is one of the friends who keeps me honest -- I find my friendships here have made me more inclined to it than I ever was in Denmark." Because he has to ask, "How did the flyting work out?"