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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

[tangledintower]

Which is a shame. Riddles are fun, and smart.

[rideofthefearlings]

Should I come up with more of them for you?

[tangledintower]

Sure, if you've got any good ones, I wouldn't mind hearing them.

[rideofthefearlings]

A horse is tied to a fifteen-foot rope and there is a bale of hay twenty-five feet away from him. Yet the horse is able to eat from the bale of hay. How is this possible?

[tangledintower]

Uh.....hm...oh! The rope isn't tied to anything!!

[rideofthefearlings]

Correct again. Shall you make it a perfect three?

A natural state, I'm sought by all. Go without me, and you shall fall. You do me when you spend and use me when you eat to no end?

[tangledintower]

Oooh, good one...okay, okay, give me a second....

What do you do when you spend...go without me, and you shall fall...

...wait. Wait, I think I've got it! Is it balance?

[rideofthefearlings]

A stellar round.

[ He wasn't exactly pulling out the best ones he knew, but it's an interesting diversion nonetheless. ]

[tangledintower]

I got it right? Yes!!

[Hey, she's pleased with herself, and it is indeed an interesting diversion. Riddles can be fun.]

[rideofthefearlings]

[ Pitch would prefer she be scared but this, ultimately, would make for a better fright later on so he lets it slide. ]

That makes it your turn.

[tangledintower]

[Don't worry, Pitch. The fear will come later. She's far too trusting for her own good, after all.]

Oh, okay, I've got one. Under pressure is the only way I work, and by myself is the only way I'm hurt.

[rideofthefearlings]

[ his answer comes without hesitation: ] Diamond.

[tangledintower]

Correct! You're good at these! Okay, how bout this one? If it's information you seek, come and see me. If it's pairs of letters you need, I have consecutively three.

[rideofthefearlings]

[ Hmm, that one he wasn't quite as swift on, as English was not his native language. But he has it a moment later. ]

Bookkeeper.

[tangledintower]

[She grins and nods.]

Drat, I almost stumped you there, but you got it! Okay, one more. We hurt without moving, we poison without touching. We bear truth and lies, do not judge by our size.

[rideofthefearlings]

[ That one earns a smile, though not a kindly one. ]

Words. Though "secrets" could also work.

[tangledintower]

I'll accept both as an answer. I was thinking of words, though I think that secrets probably works better...

[rideofthefearlings]

[ a sly smile ]

They usually do.

[tangledintower]

That was fun! We should do this again sometime. I bet you'd be great at puzzle games.

[rideofthefearlings]

I would not worry, Rapunzel. I'm certain you'll be hearing from me again soon.

[ Because that's not creepy at all... ]

[tangledintower]

[Ohhh, it's creepy. It's so very creepy. But she used to be friends with a crazy vampire, she's willing to ignore the uncomfortable feeling for now.]

I look forward to it!