[Console] video;

[skeletonenigma]

[Video;]

[The magical disguise Skulduggery uses generates different features every time he uses it, with the result that no one will recognise his face when he turns the console on. The skin's a little waxy and he doesn't seem to blink, but apart from those minor details, he looks normal. Only his voice, smooth and Irish, is the same as it usually is. A little jarring for those who know him best as a living skeleton.

Because of that, a brief introduction seems appropriate.]

My name is Skulduggery Pleasant. I'm a freelance detective.

[The 'freelance' part is important, since the whole point of using video is to make it clear he doesn't work for the Snakes - or anyone else.]

I'd appreciate any information anyone might have on attempted thefts of the soul jewelry. This is a request extended to everyone in the city; I don't think the kedan are organising an attack on Foreigners any more than I think Foreigners are organising an attack on them, and I don't much care about whether a witness can shapeshift or not. Or a victim, for that matter.

[There's always the possibility kedan have been mugged in the same strange conflicting style, but are too scared to come forward.]

The network isn't secure, so if you'd be more comfortable talking face to face, I'm happy to arrange that. You can leave a message for me with Anton Shudder at the Midnight Hotel - he'll make sure I'm the only one who hears it.

Thank you for your help.

[And the feed clicks off. Most, if not all, of his responses to this post will be audio, and will be made from consoles in cafes around the city - leaving the Hotel console free for anyone else to use.]

~~


[Audio;]

[Sent directly to Midii's inbox.]

Anton's now running an informal census at the Hotel. I can't guarantee it'll find everyone, but it should give us a much better idea of how many Foreigners we have, and hopefully how spread out we are.



[Sent directly to Wan's inbox.]

Some of the students at the university are talking about water levels being higher than they'd expect. Have you noticed anything like that?

Comments

[valevectorian]

She said you and Aya. I've never spoken to this 'Aya' before.

[With him, it is less work to approach the person he already knows as long as said person doesn't come off as a horribly incompetent pain in the ass. He had considered going to Sokka as well, but if this guy has the same info, this guy it is.]

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

[Very faint, and in fact, it took Midii a moment to realize what he was saying.]

You're...making a joke.

[More of a statement than a question. Hesitant on her end, if only because she hadn't been expecting it. Not that she didn't have a sense of humor on her own. But time and a place.]

Or do you mean he already completed it? How would we even know if it was done?

[pushtheboundaries]

Like I said, I don't care about the chain. It's the ring I'm after.

If you can find that, then I'll pay whatever price you ask.

[beat]

And, I suppose, the 'soul gem'.

[skeletonenigma]

[There's a pause on his side too, but when he speaks again it's with a little amusement in his voice.]

You're going to die without the soul gem, Robert. Let's focus on finding that one first.

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

I've been known to do that.

[It is, in fact, a big reason why many of the people from his own world don't trust him. Possibly in Keeliai, too. His humour is the dry sort.]

We wouldn't. But the method, the census itself? You're right; it's more than we had before. If we can't guarantee we'll catch everyone, we can at least be sure we'll catch nearly everyone.

[confirmationbias]

Nice face. It doesn't look rubber. Some kind of shapeshifting ability, like the Kedan?

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

A magical disguise. If I could shapeshift, I wouldn't need to worry about frightening unsuspecting newcomers.

[irishthor]

So you're talkin' re-animation?

[The Father of Understanding grants many insights... and access to a large amount of texts and books. Shay may not be the best reader, but he's still read up on magic and sorcery, somewhat.

Especially with the Pieces of Eden being what they are.]

[skeletonenigma]

[Ah. That makes a certain amount of sense.]

Are you after the lists of what was stolen from where, or are you looking for more general information?

[confirmationbias]

Unless you like frightening unsuspecting newcomers.

audio;

[unetrustworthy]

Is there any way to get the word out?

The biggest flaw is that not everybody goes to any one place in the city. If there were some way to reach everyone, we'd have a better chance of succeeding completely.

[skeletonenigma]

Of dead flesh? No. But you're on the right track.

[The only true type of re-animation Skulduggery's world has are zombies. They're capable of being intellectual, but only through further magic, and usually after a very long time spent dead. Skulduggery's the exception.

He realises belatedly that 'on the right track' might not be a phrase this man knows.]

Heading in the right direction, rather.

[irishthor]

[Slightly annoyed.]

Look, let's drop the cloak and dagger, shall we? In my experience, people find it hard to trust people who dance around the issue.

[valevectorian]

The locations and times of the thefts are more important than what was stolen. General info too, I guess. Basically I want to up my chances of coming across this shadow user.

[inkulcation]

[Well, if he doesn't see a problem with expecting people to simply take his different appearances at face value, China isn't about to disillusion him. The skull really is more distinctive, though, and after all this time it's strange to see him with skin again.]

There's only so gently you can break that particular gem.

[Especially given she seems to recall it used to entertain him.]

[To the latter, though, she raises her eyebrows and straightens, one hand on her hip.]

Oh? Far be it from me to disappoint your expectations, but I'm hardly in the mood for the local equivalent of tea. Clearly I must have gone out of my way simply to criticize your investigative procedures.

[video]

[theideaguy]

Can't say I know too much about the disappearance of soul gems at the moment, but I must say, I do think I found a really good disguise. I mean, it almost looks completely lifelike, it's that good.

[Smug grin. After all, Sokka's never quite seen Skulduggery like this.]

[skeletonenigma]

[Still amused.] And you were so close to the right answer. I'm a living skeleton.

[The last is said casually, like he's mentioning his name or remarking on the weather.]

[skeletonenigma]

You aren't the only one.

[He lays the list on the table, having had the foresight to pick up multiple copies from the Metalworkers.]

There's almost nothing in the way of mysterious thefts from before this month, so - assuming the thief is a Foreigner - it's either one who's recently gotten confident, or one who's only recently arrived. They're not using shadows, either. I doubt they're made of metal, but whatever their abilities are, it has nothing to do with necromancy.

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

Not everyone has a radio, and not everyone keeps an eye on the console network. Word of mouth is the only reliable way of getting the word out, unless and until the baby turtles return.

['Babies' the size of carthorses last Skulduggery saw them. Probably much bigger by now.]

[skeletonenigma]

[Skulduggery looks at her. Just looks.]

I appreciate the thought. I also appreciate your skills of observation are such that anytime you decide to criticize me on a whim, you know exactly where to find me. Was that all?

[skeletonenigma]

[Chuckles.] True. On the whole, however, when I'm trying to achieve something, it's generally more impeding than amusing.

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

[A sigh.]

Hello, Sokka. Did you come up with that all on your own?

[valevectorian]

[reaches for the list to look it over while Skully goes about offering his observations.]

The necromancy dismissal isn't surprising, but what makes you so certain it's not shadows?

[Now that his drink has had time to cool off he starts sipping from it]

switches to [audio]

[theideaguy]

[Faux-shock. Shock, I tell you.]

Why, however could you assume that I didn't write my own jokes? Do you honestly think that the wit I generate is unoriginal!?

[Seriously. Seriously.]

That said, I can't say I've managed any luck on that problem yet.

[Of course, that is implying he's had some amount of luck (for some definition of luck) re: the Yokai.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[aaand another pause. but there's not quite as much amusement when Robert speaks again]

So I've heard.

I feel as though I should be dubious that my life rests in the hand of some piece of jewelry, but considering whom I'm talking to, I suppose I can believe it.