2 ♔ pranks exist, prove me wrong

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

[ Hey, see that on the ground? It's two tickets to that thing you love-- no, wait. It is that thing you love. Or that precious thing you thought went missing a month ago. Or something really valuable that you like or want, like money, or if you're a sensible islander, like soap. Let's just say it's something your character may really want.

WHATEVER IT IS, it moves slightly out of reach when you go to grab it.

And again.

And again.

What do you do? ]

Comments

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Ten tons? That's quite a bit of gold. [Though there was probably some truth in that. He just had to find what.

But then the riddle came and as he listened, a look of surprise crossed his face.] That...it quite the riddle...

[Of course, his own reaction might be a surprise. As he thought about it, a wide grin spread across his face.] A very...difficult one. [And yet he sounded almost giddy as he said it, like it was a new toy.]

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Approximately 1/10,000th of all the gold mined since the dawn of man. It may sound like a small fraction, but you wouldn't be able to spend it all in ten lifetimes. Whoever solved that riddle would also become head of the Ushiromiya family, regardless of whoever they are.

Hmhmhm... I take it you're not reading it at face value like the rest of that family. [ To the side, she's taking a pen and writing down the epitaph on a piece of paper, then putting it on top of the Holmes book and sliding both over to him ]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. I'm quite aware how much it is, if a ball park estimate. A million could only be easy to spend because of house and vehicle prices, but a billion would be near impossible for a lone person unless they bought quite the eccentric things. To have several billion, it's a wonder he lived that long.

It's a rare riddle that's at face value. It wouldn't be a riddle otherwise. [Reaches over to take the book and paper, checking over the wording.] It'll take some time to figure out and I'll probably need to know more about the situation before I can fully figure it out. [There was definitely a silent 'this will be fun' in there. The expression he had now was probably the most childlike glee anyone was going to see on his face sincerely on the island.]

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Kinzo is an eccentric genius, and back in the day he was far ahead of his time. Not only did he have that gold, but he made his businesses prosper and made even more money. The Ushiromiya family was on the verge of losing all influence after the war, but with my gift and that brilliant insanity of his, he made it soar.

You're correct in that assumption. There are bits of that riddle you can only solve if you understand Rokkenjima... but there are also parts I'm sure you can get on your own. [ Taking note of his expression, and can't suppress yet another cackle ] You're really thrilled for this, aren't you? I bet you're not even interested in solving it for the gold.

Wrong icon. =/

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's why. He was probably prepared for anyone who tried any dirty tactics for business deals.

Makes sense. The portraits there, it's to reveal a location. Part of it will be dependent on knowing where it is to solve it, but that will come in time.

[Blinks.] Gold? [Clearly, the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. He shrugs.] As you said, it's more than one could spend in a life time. And I'm not exactly from a poor family as is. I have no use for gold. But this... [Pauses and then chuckles, holding up the riddle.] I'll admit it. This will be fun. It's things like this that will get me interested in cases I'll usually never give a second thought too.

S'cool!

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

True, he had the gold to fall back on, but there was more to him than just being a risk-taker. He really was a mad genius.

Right. ... Since Rokkenjima doesn't get visitors aside from the family, one can assume that's who the riddle is for. However, there are servants there who are also free to solve it and would equally gain the same thing.

... fun. It'll be fun for me, too. [ finishing her cup of tea. ] It's been a long time since I've been able to play something just for fun. And who can tell? You may end up really surprising me. I welcome that. You've got the potential, Chibi-Battler ♪ [ Yes, even if it only makes sense to her for now, she likes that nickname the most. ]

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Wonder why he needed that much then.

It would still be relatively in the family then. Even a servant can become like family after so many years. Sometimes even more capable than the actual heirs.

It's good to do things for fun sometimes, Beatrice-obaasan. You can't enjoy life if it's all business. [Which, coming from him, could be quite funny, but then again, he found his fun in challenges. It was just better to take a 'light hearted' challenge at times.]

...still going with the nickname that only makes sense to you, huh?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

It's not about the need for it in terms of wealth. With Kinzo, I'm sure the gold was more for show. Prove that you have that much gold and investors will line up to help make your business a thriving success.

Perhaps. Some have been there that long, others just a few years. I doubt they have that much interest in the gold, though.

I know that well enough. I've spent my thousand years chasing away boredom. Even calamities make life better just so long as they're interesting. So consider it a compliment if I call a game with you something that's bound to be very fun.

-- Well, you might come to understand it soon enough. I need to give you the second piece.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

A psychological affect? Well, it'd definitely work. Even if things went south, if he had that much gold, they could get their money back.

Why is that? I would think at least one servant would be just a bit greedy.

I would think a calamity would be boring to watch after a few times, if you're the kind of person who could enjoy watching them in the first place. It happens, there's a bunch of destruction, and people die. There's nothing really...entertaining about it if you're not in the midst of it. It'd just be repetitive. [Looking at it objectively, anyway. He'd rather avoid calamities. Especially since he WAS usually in the midst of them.]

So I'll get information on his Battler in the second piece? All right. Maybe I'll get to fully understand the nickname then.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Even with that risk, he somehow always profited. [ cackle ] It's a magic all of it's own.

Well, who knows? I'm not going to hand out any free hints regarding motives.

If it were the same calamity over and over again, naturally. But take this island for example; it's pulling me away from my purpose in the game back home, it kidnapped me, but it isn't boring here. By normal definition, this is a pretty terrible thing to happen to someone, but for me, it's fascinating, even if most people would view it as misfortune.

Hmm, you might not understand it right away... but it's always best to start from the beginning of the mystery rather than the middle. You might miss something important if I skip to the really interesting parts.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Hopefully I'll get to hear some hint to their nature.

Ah, I suppose that's a difference in opinion. A kidnapping doesn't quite seem to fit a 'calamity.' And it's always a bad thing, but it has more room to be different.

True, true. I'll start from the beginning then.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Maybe you'll pick up something useful? Hmhmhm.

Exactly. And this place isn't so bad! Intermissions exist for a reason, so I'll happily treat this as one.

... Hmn. All right. [ standing up from her seat ] Follow me, and I'll give you the second piece. Forgive me if it's a little dull, but every stage has to be set before the story begins.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

For a murder, there's a few more factors than just the facts of the case. The human element is very important too.

[He finished off the tea before setting down the cup and standing up.] So y were literal about the showing? [Grabbing the book and paper and will follow.]

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Human element...? Do tell me what you can pick up from these people, then.

Very literal. [ Walking to the center of the garden, looking around her, and at that, a pause. ] What I'm about to show you is phenomenal magic. That's why I won't expect you to try to explain this for whatever our second game is. Think of this as the big riddle you're given at the beginning that you give the answer to at the end. Much like the epitaph. [ cackle ]

Are you prepared?

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Yes. Evidence is good, but evidence can also be manipulated. Sometimes you have to look at the people to see through that evidence and if people are willing to buy a witch committed the crimes, there's likely to be quite a bit of playing with the evidence.

[Looking around the garden.] So this trick and the riddle is part of what I have to explain at the end? All right, I understand. [Looks at Beatrice.] I'm ready.

1/2

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

If you really believe that, you'll have to keep a very close eye on what happens next, and in all the pieces of Rokkenjima I offer you.

And just to clear things up ahead of time...



[ At that, after drawing a breath from her pipe and exhaling, she taps it a few times with her fingers, and seven colors of smoke spill out and completely obscure the surroundings and everything from sight. The only thing you can see momentarily is Beato next to you. ]

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

[ The scenery has changed. They're still in a rose garden, but it's a different one. A mansion lies at the end of the walkway. Chatter can be heard in the distance, approaching. ]

This is what I meant by letting you see for yourself. For the Witch of Endless, repeating anything is simple. Recreating a memory is just as easy. Welcome to Rokkenjima, 1986.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Well, that was....definitely extremely impressive. He actually looks notably stunned.]

...I see. [Looking around. This one will definitely be a challenge. Unless that Cocoon theory about the island pans out, but that's for another time. He looks over at the voices.]

So...I will get to see the relatives to Kinzo, I take it?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Mmhm. They're coming right now. [ gesturing down the other end of the walkway to the relatives approaching ] I'm sure you already deduced this, but they can't see us and we can't interact with them. This is only a memory. Like a recording you can stand in the middle of.

[ Pointing them out as they pass by. ] Ushiromiya Hideyoshi and Eva. Their son, George. Ushiromiya Jessica. Ushiromiya Rosa and her daughter, Maria. Kumasawa and Gohda, two of the servants employed here.

... And that would be Ushiromiya Rudolf and Kyrie, and Rudolf's son, Battler.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Very, very impressive. Though he's gonna try to touch one of the people when they get close to see if they ARE real or not.]

....Rudolf's on. So Kyrie is Battler's step mother then? [Taking a longer look who he's supposed to be a 'chibi' of over the others.]

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

[ If he does, his hand'll pass right through them. Same goes for any object he tries to pick up, touch, so on. ]

You'd be correct. This is the Ushiromiya annual family conference. This is Battler's first time attending in six years. [ Enjoy watching Battler be generally cheerful! So far, no similarities to note as of yet. ...Seriously. ]

And the young man near the mansion is Kanon. Another servant.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

[Mentally acknowledging this will be a very, very hard one to figure out.]

Why hasn't he attended the last six years? [He is curious about those lack of similarities. Did he really remind Beatrice of Battler? Hattori was more like Battler than him.

Follows the family, wanting to catch everything going on.] How many servants are there?

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

He had a bit of a falling out with his father. After his mother's death, Rudolf married Kyrie. Battler went to live with Asumu's family for those six years.

[ also following them into the mansion, but taking note of how George marks a wilted rose Maria wants to take care of with a candy wrapper before going ] There are five serving today. Kumasawa, Gohda, Kanon, Shannon, and Genji. Also of note is Doctor Nanjo, Kinzo's attending physician. The remaining three pieces I haven't mentioned are Ushiromiya Kinzo, Krauss, and Natsuhi, the latter two being Jessica's parents.

[ Stopping to watch Battler freeze upon seeing her portrait in the main hall ] --And that's the painting I told you about.

[17-going-on-8.livejournal.com]

Asumu being his mother? [Notes the flower's location and Kanon's...interesting view on servants.] If they all think like that. maybe they wouldn't go for the gold...

So that would make...eighteen people?

[Stops at the painting.] ...why do they have such a big painting of you? It seems a bit much, even for gratitude.

[bitchcrafts.livejournal.com]

Right. ... And kihihi, indeed. Genji, Shannon, and Kanon in particular are rather... resigned to their fates as furniture.

Right.

Kinzo has a bit of an obsession with me. No matter what the cost, he wants to see my face again. I think it's a nice homage.