Yes, well, you see--! [he says, straightening his bow tie, simply to extend the suspense] I've been dead for quite some time! Quite some time! The year was 1933! The world strangled in the claws of the Great Depression...! [he accents the word "strangled" with a flourished gripping gesture. Then he shrugs and appears to support his weight on his cane] Honestly, I didn't keep up with much going on after that. Oh! [he perks again, and flaps his hand at the young lady] If you're worried about ALSO being dead, don't be. I can tell you are still very much of the mortal sort, o-ho-ho. [He looks up at the plant life in the overgrown ship, expression mischievous as he taps his chin] ... For the time being.