sort-of voice-test for a sort-of oc.

[scryinghope]

Please don't.

Yes, I know that won't stop you. I don't even need to be in your head to know that. I also happen to know that a little bit of pleading will at least make you feel guilty while you put me through all the things you're planning.

You see? It worked. At least now I can suffer with the petty vindictiveness of knowing that a fictional character made you feel bad. I'm like that on occasion.

Comments

[scryinghope]

I already know all your secrets anyway.

[skeletonenigma]

But that's the thing, isn't it? You can never truly be sure. And it'll haunt you for the rest of your days.

[scryinghope]

Actually, it won't. Because I'm as sure as I can possibly be that I know all your secrets, and I'm quite content with that.

[skeletonenigma]

You're not a very fun man, Hopeless.

[scryinghope]

I'm a very fun man. I'm having fun right now. Aren't you having fun, dead man?

[skeletonenigma]

I'd probably be having more fun if you weren't subliminally trying to psychoanalyse me.

Then again, I should be used to it. Carry on.

[scryinghope]

Would you prefer if I did it obviously instead of subliminally?

[skeletonenigma]

I'm not sure. It's worth a try.

[scryinghope]

Well, we've covered your narcissism complex. How about your being a hopeless case? You're resigned to being unworthy of just about anything and everything due to your war-crimes. You're also hopelessly resigned, which means that you refuse to believe anyone who does actually believe you are worthy, regardless of those crimes. How am I doing so far?

[skeletonenigma]

I think I prefer the subliminal approach.

[scryinghope]

I'm actually not all that surprised. You're not very subtle otherwise. You need to pick up the slack somewhere.

[skeletonenigma]

I'm a skeleton. Being subtle is one of those things you eventually end up disregarding.

[scryinghope]

You're a skeleton. I'd think you'd want to make up for the lack of physical presence.

[skeletonenigma]

By admitting that I'm worthy of what, exactly?

[scryinghope]

I was thinking more along the lines of trying to be more subtle in the face of your obvious physical unsubtlety. But since you brought it up, how about letting your friends judge you as they see fit?

[skeletonenigma]

I could be subtle if it helped. It's just that most of the time, it doesn't. Since I brought it up and you expanded on it, what is that judgment?

[scryinghope]

Well, I can't speak for the others, but--

Wait. Yes, I can. Dexter already knows and got over it years ago. Erskine will find it a bit hard to swallow, but he'll get over it once it's explained the right way. Rover will, as always, see the funny side and take full advantage to offset the overwhelming horror of the situation. Anton will take it the hardest, but only because he's going to have trouble equating his sense of morality with his sense of justice. Corrival will slap you upside the head and expect you to continue to do better. And Ghastly, admittedly, has only approached a point where he'd forgive you in the last decade or so, but give him enough time and the right perspective and he will as well.

I've already adjusted to all this, by the way. So long as you don't get your brain back, of course.

[skeletonenigma]

Anton's the only sane one of the lot of you, then. I'll bear that in mind.

[scryinghope]

Are we talking about the same Anton who, when dared to sneak into Corrival's tent to paint his nails bright red, actually did it?

Corrival still doesn't know who did that, by the way. He thinks it was Rover and Dex.

[skeletonenigma]

No.

We're talking about a very different Anton.

Corrival could be anywhere, Descry.

[scryinghope]

Yes, he could be anywhere. That's not here. I'd hear him if he was here.

I just wanted to get that straightened out. Which Anton are you talking about, then?

[skeletonenigma]

Knowing Corrival, he's probably found a magic-proof helmet. And managed to hide that fact from you.

I'm talking about the Anton whose Gist could easily tear me limb from limb.

[scryinghope]

You've lost faith in my abilities over the years, I see.

Oh, that Anton. To be perfectly frank, I'd be more worried about the Anton whose Gist would tear himself from limb to limb. He's going to tear himself apart before he does the same to you, Skulduggery. Which says it all, really.

[skeletonenigma]

Damn it, Descry. This isn't as simple as forgiving me, or chalking it all up to a simple lapse of judgment. This is about forgiving Lord Vile. Anton wouldn't do that. Ghastly definitely wouldn't do that. Why are they?

[scryinghope]

Because they love you, Skulduggery. Because they love Skulduggery enough to forgive even Lord Vile.