RADIO | AUDIO | some idle curiosity

[skeletonenigma]

[The message over the handsets is short, succinct, and to the point. Long story short: the detective is bored, so the first thought to capture some of his idle curiosity gets put to the Foreigners at large.]

Who else has received letters from themselves?

Comments

[inkulcation]

[Her voice is innocent. Earnest. All of the things that China herself is not.]

Why, Skulduggery, how funny that you should ask. I wrote the most vile things about you-- I could hardly believe myself.

[This is not, to be clear, China's wisest move of late, but there's something she wants to see.]

[skeletonenigma]

[She's not going to see much of anything. What she will hear, however, is a pause long enough that she may or may not believe Skulduggery's left his handset.

She may even be right. If she is, he's back before too long.]

Really? Nothing about you being Ireland's Grand Mage? That's surprising.

[inkulcation]

[A good sally at distraction, and the appeal to her ego might even have worked if she didn't already know.]

Oh, that? Yes, but that was hardly news. Do try to keep up, Skulduggery.

[He will need better bait if he wants her off this topic.]

Weren't we talking about you, my dear?

[peacefullywreathed]

You were, at least.

[Solomon tuts audibly.]

Honestly, China dear, with how obsessed you are with Skulduggery I'm amazed you needed your future self to tell you anything.

RUN RUN AWAY

[skeletonenigma]

[Skul takes the opportunity to escape. Whether or not that's what Solomon meant for, he doesn't know, and doesn't particularly care.

But he appreciates it either way.]

[inkulcation]

[Oh, for-- Wreath.]

[She'll have to see Skulduggery in person, later, but for now, there is a target for her irritation.]

Oh, I'll admit being the last to know is hardly my favorite position. But tell me, my dear Solomon, if I needed to be told and I'm obsessed, and you seem to be entirely cognizant of the conversation you're cutting into already, what does that make you?

[It's said lightly, but as this is Wreath, he can assume she is wearing a moderately displeased expression anyway.]

[peacefullywreathed]

Exceedingly observant.

[Smugly. So, so smugly.]

[inkulcation]

[It's not that she forgot how irritatingly smug Wreath can be; it's that she hasn't had to deal with it in several months. Clearly, letting him be was an error.]

And you're focusing all those clever powers of observation on Skulduggery? My.

[peacefullywreathed]

Not in the least. I just happen to notice things related to other things trying to kill me.

Which doesn't require exceeding observation, I'll grant you, but that doesn't mean I'm not still exceedingly observant.

[inkulcation]

Really, Solomon, it wasn't your powers of observation I was questioning.

Though now I must wonder why you felt the need to make your case for them multiple times over.

[peacefullywreathed]

I was worried you wouldn't notice.

[inkulcation]

[The only debate she has is whether a dig at his new disability is too low a blow or not.]

My dear, your consideration is heartwarming, but ultimately unnecessary.

[Conclusion: it is not too low.]

...Although if this is your way of compensating for your new deficiency, that would certainly explain some things.

[peacefullywreathed]

'Deficiency?'

[His tone is faux-surprised, and not in the least bit insulted. It was only a matter of time before she pulled that card out.]

Why, China dear, you could only dream of my assets.

[inkulcation]

[She's not even surprised to have been anticipated. Just disappointed.]

Oh, I don't know, have they changed appreciably in the last few decades? You don't seem to have misplaced anything but your sight.

[peacefullywreathed]

You'll have to depend on your imagination for that, China dear. I'm well past your means these days.

[inkulcation]

[She knows she treads a line in this city, but Wreath might just tempt her to cross it.]

[China laughs.]

Rather a moot point, if I'm not looking to buy, don't you think?

[Which is as much because she still holds a grudge as it is because Wreath is not worth the trouble doing anything of that sort would cause.]

[peacefullywreathed]

Not in the least. You of all people should know, China dear, that the point is never moot if it's something you just ... can't ... have.

[Consider this him tempting her.]

[inkulcation]

[Guess who's going to find himself regretting this, one way or another. Guess.]

There are all sorts of things I can't have here and hardly miss. Tropical vacations. Haggis.

It's good to know your ego survived your accident intact, however.

[All control aside, China's starting to sound a bit venomous. But Wreath is hardly going to get the last word.]

[peacefullywreathed]

[Prove it.]

Flatterer. Do try to contain your disappointment, China. It's quite an unattractive emotion.

[Chuckling, he turns off the feed.]

[inkulcation]

[If there's anyone left in the city who thinks Wreath has a sense for keeping himself intact, China can point them to this conversation as proof to the contrary.]

[However, he has absolutely achieved his goal of distracting her from Skulduggery, for the moment.]

[...he's still going to regret this. This, and a host of other things.]