[open] all of this before i got there

[light_mischief]

Who: Skulduggery versus the world
What: dealing with, uh, you know, December
When: jan 5th thru the end of the month (i guess???)
Where: his usual haunts
Warnings: discussion of massacres, war crimes, uhh, idk, violence maybe? whatever we'll figure it out
Notes: i'm mostly sticking to [brackets] but y'all do what you want.
AS OF DECEMBER 29TH, THE BLACK BINDER IS NO LONGER IN THE LIBRARY.

[for three days, the skeleton detective is entirely absent from the Serena Eterna. nobody receives any communication from him, nor does he return to his room.

and then, on the 29th, the black binder disappears from the library. a few people receive brief messages. there's the smell of burning paper from the casino at new year's.

another week passes, and then Skulduggery Pleasant can be found on the Eterna once more. it's almost as if he never left at all -- except for the fact that he only seems to be seen at night, and only ever hangs out in two public places.]


[library] now illegible forever, an oracle with no tongue
[the library is haunted by a skeleton between the hours of 3 and 6 in the morning, although he doesn't sit around to read anymore; instead, he spends maybe thirty minutes or so selecting a few books to take with him to wherever it is he's spending his time. his room? other people's rooms? the bridge? wouldn't you like to know, weatherboy?

anyone trying to sneak up on Skulduggery as he stands in the middle of an aisle will find themselves abruptly stopped about five feet away by a wall of air. hope you weren't trying to sneak up behind him!]


[chatterbox] faces turned toward the sky that they would never see again
[Skulduggery can be found singing karaoke at a decidedly more muted level late at night, between 1 and 3 AM. the songs he picks are ones he's personally familiar with: the rat pack, mid-eighties hits, twangy folk music -- he seems many, many miles away as he sings a few songs before retiring the karaoke machine for the night.

anyone trying to enter the Chatterbox will find an invisible wall a few feet past the doors, one that extends from one wall to the other. he can feel it when the doors open, the air pushing against the wall, but unless he's certain he's dealing with close friends, he doesn't lower the wall.]


[wildcard] victims of the fallout, i have failed you sweet young men
[Skulduggery can't be easily found outside of the previous locations, but he can be caught in various hallways and decks. it's safe to assume that he's manipulating the air to act as a bit of a shield whenever he's moving from one location to another.

(if you'd like to plan something specific, just hit me up via plurk or discord. (make sure to ping me on discord!))]

Comments

[light_mischief]

[he'd say "no apology necessary," but they've already gone over that. despite the question being aimed at someone who knew what he'd done, it still manages to resonate in an uncomfortable point in his chest, nestling next to the deserved criticisms he's already received from others.]

...No. I didn't. Even before the outburst, I didn't consider how it might affect them in any form. The only thing I was concerned about was ensuring they knew how to kill me, if I were to get too far gone. Which is why they wound up dead. That part of myself knew what I'd told them, and knew how dangerous they would be.

[a beat. his voice is even and resigned.]

They came back three days before me, and had to weather arguments over their deaths and my responsibility without me. I still don't know how to fix things for them, so that they aren't held responsible for their own murders.

[mistertwister]

Sure sounded like it. I only ever talked to Darcy 'bout it 'cause I wanted to hear stuff straight from the horse's mouth, but holy hell it sounded like she'd been havin' a time of it. 'Course, don't think no one blamed her as much as she did. I don't know her that well but I swear hatin' her is a contest an' she's in it to win it.

[sigh]

I feel like I definitely don't gotta ask this one, but... Question 11. Do you feel any guilt or remorse for any of the deaths? If you just wanna give yes or no, we can just keep movin'.

[light_mischief]

[he can't do anything to stop the tired laugh that comes out.] That certainly does sound like Darcy. She is her own worst critic. I... don't know what to do about that, really. [but that's more due to being a bad parental figure than anything, and not really something he expects help with.]

And yes. Of course. [look at him, listening to instructions and not going into a lengthy diatribe about how he feels!]

[mistertwister]

Only so much you can do 'bout somethin' like that, I s'pose. She's decent folk, though. [beat] Tell her I said that an' I play you like a xylophone.

[He readjusts himself in his seat and took a deep breath that may have been preparation or may have been to release the apparent teenage embarrassment.]

Okay, almost outta material here. Question 12. What do I look like to you? This question is literal. [If anyone would be magical enough to skip over the Mask it'd probably be the talking skeleton with an evil side.]

[light_mischief]

Hah. You got it.

[he tilts his head. as usual, he doesn't know which answer will be the teenage-approved one, but he's going for honesty in these conversations, isn't he?]

Like a teenage weather forecast.

[he's really hoping the answer wasn't supposed to be "mundane and nonmagical"...]

[mistertwister]

Good to know. Not everybody sees this, an' I don't decide who does, so it's nice to know who it'll surprise that I got some magic up my sleeve.

[Okie sighs, and makes a note to pass that info on. He wants to pass it onto Erin, but she'd tell him to take it to the other two, and he figures he's gotta properly introduce himself eventually.]

Alright. Last one. Question 13. I would like to meet with the Captain directly, at minimum because I believe appeasing one’s captor is a valid tactic for survival and possible escape. Would you introduce me?

[light_mischief]

I've noticed that with a few passengers. To be honest, I tend to keep it to myself if I notice anything odd. I know what it's like to have people stare.

[you know. because nobody wears full suits with a vaguely 1940s silhouette anymore.]

Hmm... [there's a moment of genuine consideration. if Okie is still on good terms with Darcy, he's less likely to do anything that might upset her, like threaten the Captain. he'd also staked Skulduggery out long enough to find a way to confront him, then chose to do so nonviolently...]

It depends. Can you promise to handle a confrontation with him as peacefully as you have this one? Even if the person you're speaking to says something... well. Mean?

[yes, he is fully aware that the Captain can be a huge dick to people.]

[mistertwister]

All I want is for him to know my name an' face. I got no intention of antagonizin' my keeper. Cross my heart hope for Nothin'.

[He chews on that last bit.]

I can't promise I won't be a bit of a smartass if he does get mean, but I ain't gonna resort to sticks an' stones.

[light_mischief]

A fair enough request. So long as you don't challenge or threaten him, you should be fine.

[in truth, it isn't Okie that Skulduggery is worried about. but it's not particularly helpful to frame things as benefiting the Captain, and he isn't about to share his real sympathies with anyone but Ava.]

As far as introducing you to the Captain goes... If you want me there, I can be. But you can also visit the bridge on your own. Don't knock on the door; just let him know you're there, that we've talked, and you're not there for a fight. [most people only need the push from him, but that doesn't mean he's opposed to mediating.]

wrap?

[mistertwister]

I... Can make that trip on my own, I guess. But, uh, feel free to put a good word in for me anyway. I've been doin' better 'bout it but I've got a habit of pissin' people off.

[Okie stands up slowly, grabbing his jacket and then extending a hand toward Skullduggery.]

Thanks for yer time, Mister Pleasant. Promise not to get so on yer case next time, if you can keep from killin' me 'til then. [There's a specific kind of smile for trying to lighten the mood with a joke and regretting your choice as you make it.]

that's a wrap!

[light_mischief]

[some people might take offense at the dig, but it's the sort of joke Skulduggery's made himself before. he chuckles wryly and gives a firm, brief handshake.]

Can do.