tushanshu | CONSOLE [video/action] Guess who's back, back, back from the

[Skulduggery's at the Hotel console, looking exactly the same as he did when he went missing a month ago. He's impeccably dressed in a suit, hat, scarf, and coat - and also happens to be a living skeleton, for those new to the turtle. 'Back from the dead' has new and interesting connotations where he's concerned.

It's April 1st. It's a little past dinnertime. Skulduggery takes a moment or two, once the video turns on, before he speaks. He sounds the same as ever, too - Irish, his voice as smooth as velvet.]

I promise, I don't do this on purpose.

[That's directed at... a lot of people, actually. Pepper. Solomon. Cain. Raine. Anton. Erskine. Honestly, anyone who's not so much relieved at his return than annoyed.]

It looks like I missed quite a bit. Someone died, someone didn't die, everyone's blaming everyone else, and now we have a person or persons unknown trying to assassinate every prominent kedan in the city. On top of that, I heard something about an earthquake and power outages. Does anyone know more than the barest details about any of this? And if they do, would they be willing to share it?

[He reaches out to end the feed, then pauses.]

Oh, and why is all the furniture on the ceiling?

[OOC: Feel free to approach Skulduggery in person at the console if you're in the Hotel!]

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[By this point in the evening, Erskine's usual chores around the Hotel are finished. In fact, he's just about to retire to Anton's room ~~to spend the rest of the evening staring at his Echo Stone, I mean what~~ when he hears that voice. He would know that voice anywhere.

On the ceiling, upside down, Erskine freezes in place and stares up/down at the skeleton at the console.]

Skulduggery?

[He glances up, not entirely surprised, though the change in perspective is one even Skulduggery has to take a few moments to acclimatise to. It's also strangely difficult to recognise someone when you're looking at them upside down.]

Yes?

[He's not completely convinced he isn't still in the Dreaming, actually. What's everything doing on the ceiling?]

Sorry I'm late.

Late?

[There's a bit of an edge to the reply, a bit of incredulity--as if he can't believe Skul just said the word--although it's not full-blown outrage. No, it's much more civilized than that.]

I.... [A pause] Do you remember everything? From before?

[Are you still the same Skulduggery?]

Yes. [A pause of his own, and then Skulduggery realises what Erskine's justifiably worried about.] Yes, I do. I remember our fight, I remember Anton chaining us together, and I remember your stint as a small white rabbit. Erskine, why is everything on the ceiling?

[Some of the rigidity visibly leaks out of Erskine's posture. Instead of answering Skulduggery's question right off, though, he looks around at the inverted space between them for a moment and then gestures toward the front doors of the Hotel.]

Come on, I'll tell you outside. I'm going to get seasick trying to look at you like this.

[Erskine shifts his hands down at his sides and lifts into the air, flying (or sinking) toward the door.]

[After a moment Skulduggery follows, his journey to the door much less impressive - or perhaps a great deal more dignified, depending on how you look at it.

Once they're outside and Erskine's feet are back on solid ground, Skulduggery closes the door behind them.] Are you going to tell me about something else that went wrong last month?

[It's not in itself an accusation. A lot went wrong last month. Erskine can't have had something to do with all of it.]

[Erskine takes a moment to smooth his suit down, while Skulduggery is talking, looking calm and mostly impassive. And then, as soon as Skulduggery asks his question, Erskine pivots and shoots a fist out straight at Skulduggery's face.]

[It's a total surprise. Some part of Skulduggery registers that Erskine punching him being a total surprise is actually a vast improvement over the state of their relationship when Erskine first arrived in Keeliai, but the rest of him is a little preoccupied with the fact that he's just been punched in the face.

What did he say? What did he do? Why is everyone and their pet telepathic wolfhound blaming him for vanishing into the Dreaming without a trace?

He stumbles back, regains his balance with one hand on the wall next to the Hotel door, and rubs his jaw in lieu of instinctively counterattacking.] I'll take that as a 'no'.

[There, he feels better now. Erskine lets out a breath and squares his shoulders, smoothing the lines of his suit down one more time. His expression has returned to a mostly even keel--almost placid, even. When his suit is acceptably un-ruffled again he slips his hands into his pockets and regards Skulduggery calmly.]

Welcome back. Jackass.

Thank you.

[Does he understand it? No. Does he want to understand it? Not particularly. Punching each other in the face was practically a method of communication for the Dead Men at one point.]

Back to my original question. Why is everything on the ceiling?

Because it's April Fools' Day.

[The tone of his voice suggests that this should be obvious, Skul.

He looks away.]

You were gone. Valdis is still gone. It seemed like a better idea than lighting something on fire.

[... It is, isn't it? Hm. Anton's eclectic sense of humour, no doubt.

There's a startled pause.]

I would have thought you'd be glad I was gone.

[It's said genuinely. No poking, no prodding. Just honest surprise. And, though Skulduggery wouldn't admit it even to himself, a touch of -- not warmth, not when anger burns so hot. But something similar.]

How long ago did Valdis disappear?

[Erskine shrugs noncommittally]

It's true, I haven't been shot a single time since you disappeared. Clearly there's a correlation there. Fine, I take it all back. You can prance off into the aether again whenever you're ready.

[He doesn't necessarily sound like he's joking, but he doesn't sound angry either. More a kind of... annoyed relief.

At the question about Valdis he pulls one hand back out of his pocket to rub at the back of his neck.]

A week. Two, maybe. I don't remember.

Well, I'm glad I have someone's permission.

[...]

If we're lucky, the Dreaming will be as lost without her as it was without me. [Skulduggery was never all that close with her, but it's pretty obvious Erskine was -- or at least is taking her disappearance particularly hard. Skulduggery can be callous, but even he usually knows when sympathy goes a little further.]

[Has he ever seen Skulduggery and Valdis speak to each other, apart from when Valdis fetched Skulduggery's leg bones after the fight? Erskine can't honestly remember. He doesn't think they're particular friends, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're not on good terms.

He snorts at that last part.]

You mean 'if we're lucky, Valdis also possesses your uncanny knack for turning up like a bad penny.'

I wouldn't go that far. But yes, let's hope she does bear a passing resemblance.

[No one has Skulduggery's uncanny knack for turning up like a bad penny, Erskine. No one. That's what makes him unique.]

CONSOLE [video/action] Guess who's back, back, back from the - wait.

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