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[rideofthefearlings]

[ The screen turns on to show nothing but an almost completely black room. If the viewer watches long enough, their eyes might adjust to see dull shapes of what could be furniture but it's hard to tell. Then something darker than the gloom, a black-on-black shadow, moves past the screen and a voice comes across. For some, it will be audible and some, perhaps not. ]

What a charming little city you all have here. So bright and colourful, so full of life.

[ A disembodied mouth appears against the blackness of the background, grinning a razor smile. It's followed shortly after by a pair of bright gold eyes, the voice low and amused and confident, ]

And yet like most things there is a touch of darkness to it. With that in mind I pose a riddle, for those of you who choose to play along: when is a captive not a captive and a cage not a cage?

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((OOC: Remember to check out his permissions post for whether your character can see/hear him. Thank you!))

Comments

[deadmanbusiness]

[Two can do the metal colored eyes trick. Theo, who is nursing a bruise on his jaw from Incidents over the weekend, peers at the guy on the other end of the line with silver eyes. He doesn't have any trouble noticing him at all.

He gives Pitch a snort.]

Can you be any more cliched?


[Forgive him. He's tired. He's dealt with people back home wondering why he, if he's a necromancer, doesn't wear all black and have black hair. It's bad enough his skin is a bit on the overly pale side... and this guy is just LOOK AT ME DARKNESS OOOooOOOooo... at least to him.]

[rideofthefearlings]

[ The remark gets a dry laugh from Pitch. ]

If you haven't the skill to play along, just say so.

[deadmanbusiness]

[The demi-god shakes his head briefly.]

Can I call you Gollum before I play along?

[anunluckypenny]

I'm sorry, but what are you?

[Is that a rude thing to ask? It feels rude.]

[rideofthefearlings]

[ It would be rude if he hadn't gotten it many times before. ]

That depends on whom you ask. In Japan I am the Namahage, in Scotland a boggart, to the Vikings The Bolman, the l’uomo Nero, the Am Fear Liath Mòr.

Take your pick.

[anunluckypenny]

A boggart. Like a monster-y kind of thing? Not that I'd judge you for being a monster! I mean, I don't mean it as an insult or anything.

[valentineluke]

City always does go all out on the Christmas lighting and decorating.

[rideofthefearlings]

Ah yes... I thought I sensed an unpleasantly close calendar date.

[valentineluke]

Eight days till the Eve.

[Video]

[dragonofalthena]

[Nall might claim to be very different from cats, but he is all arched up, his fur standing on end, and he looks decidedly like a cat about to claw the hell out of something. That little growl certainly sounds cat-like.]

What kind of shadow are you?

[Excuse him. Shadow creatures are not his friend.]

Re: [Video]

[rideofthefearlings]

I am every kind of shadow and shade.

[Video]

[dragonofalthena]

That tells me a lot. [No, really, it does. It tells him Enemy and Threat, and that's enough for this Dragon Guardian.]

You keep your peace, I'll keep mine. And if you don't... [Oh yes, Nall, that 8 year old girl voice is the most threatening thing ever.]

[tangledintower]

Is that a riddle or a trick question...?

[Yes, Punzie, just focus on the question so you can ignore the uncomfortable feeling that Pitch is giving you.]

[rideofthefearlings]

Ah, but isn't that all a riddle is?

[tangledintower]

...Well, I guess that's a good point...so, what's the answer? If it's a riddle, it's not going to be something you expect, but if it's a trick question, it's going to be something so obvious you'd think it was wrong...

[logistical]

[Long stare.]

Pardon me, there appears to be a malfunction with your screen.

[rideofthefearlings]

I assure you there is not; the problem lies not on this end.

[logistical]

[There's a reply, and... nothing? Spock peers at it, and fiddles with the video on his end. Still nothing.]

Hello?

[nomorefeathers]

A captive might not consider themselves a captive if the cage is large and comfortable enough. But they are still a captive, and it is still a cage, no matter the perception.

Illusions can be seductive, but they're not real.

[rideofthefearlings]

Is that your answer to the riddle, then?

[nomorefeathers]

I suppose. Why does it matter?

video »

[hischair]

When he owns the cage.

[ Squinting at the screen; this is the same half-vision he had at first with Toothiana. ]

Re: video »

[rideofthefearlings]

Very clever.

[ And close enough to the answer he'd been searching for. Honestly, hearing people's answers gave Pitch more insight into the way their minds worked than they probably knew. ]

video; hope this isn't too late!

[hexuality]

[Here's the thing with what she's seeing: it's almost familiar and that's what unnerves her more than the creepiness, the tricks, the whispers. A boggart could do this for someone afraid of... What, though? Not the Dark Lord, not a dementor, those don't have eyes or teeth at all, let alone form words.]

When you've accepted the circumstances. Or resigned yourself to them, really. If you're asking about the City, it all depends on perspective.

never ever too late!

[rideofthefearlings]

Perspective is a tricky thing, but your answer does not sound like you've given it much thought.