in his coat and his boots and his blackheart machine

[realitymods]

[Every girl's crazy about a sharp-dressed man, and this man is dressed sharply indeed. How can you not like a guy with a top hat and a cravat? Tall, blond, and smiling, he catches a note that appears in the air in front of him. He is smiling even as he reads it and murmurs,] You monster.

[And then the note burns away in his fingertips, and the man turns to the Plane at large, showman-like.]

Ladies, gentleman: I am here to invite you all to an event two days hence at the Coliseum, where four of your fellows will battle to their deaths. The food is free; the sport is costly. These will be the first of fights but not the last, and we hope you enjoy the entertainment we offer in these next few weeks. A fair few of you will have your chance to live or die, whether or not you wish to.

[He fixes the angle of his hat.] And someone should try to keep the children from it. Small mercies.

[ooc: IC announcement for this!]

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[frowns] I'm not so easily used. Not any longer.

[realitymods]

The more you deny it, the easier you are to use.

[bit_impossible]

[stiffens his stance, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly] Is that right? Like a Chinese finger trap; the more you struggle, the tighter of a hold it takes?

[realitymods]

Maybe. But if you refuse to believe the trap is even there, how can you hope to get out?

[bit_impossible]

Oh, now that I'm not denying. There's no river running through that one. See, I've learned a few things about this place since my arrival, and now it's my turn to impart a lesson onto you.

[wags a finger in Weber's face, his own expression darkening and when he speaks, his tone is calm, but filled with venom] You and your lot should never have trapped me or any of my other selves here. That was the biggest mistake you could have made.

[realitymods]

[And Weber just wears his smile and lifts his eyebrows] So much talk, dear, but your words are as empty as an unloaded gun.

[bit_impossible]

[if only he were the punching type...]

And that is your second. Want to keep going? I can keep score very well.

[realitymods]

[If he were the punching type, Weber might find this interesting.] But I bet I've been playing for longer. And I have played so many more games than you can dream of.

[bit_impossible]

[he smirks, amused by that] It's not about how long you've been playing the game, but how you play it. And you don't know me as well as you think you do. How cute.

[realitymods]

Cute, do you think so? I try to go for handsome but it never works.

[bit_impossible]

[flatly] No. And, well, no. Cravats aren't the way to go. A simple tie might've done you better, but it's a bit late for that, isn't it?

[realitymods]

[offended] Cravats are the best neckband ever invented. Ties are an insult to it.

[bit_impossible]

No, a bowtie is worse.

[realitymods]

Just because yours is cursed...

[bit_impossible]

Yeah, you must be thinking of another version of me. I've yet to wear a bowtie, thanks. [in this incarnation, anyway]

[realitymods]

A curse is still a curse even if you've yet to wake it up.

[bit_impossible]

[rolls his eyes] Oh please. You're only annoyed because I made that jab about the cravat.

Now if you were wearing a bootlace tie, I just might have a field day with that one.

[realitymods]

[yes he is, he so very is] I really like this cravat. It has served me well.

[bit_impossible]

Through thick and thin, and many a battle--something like that? [don't mind the sarcasm]

[realitymods]

Through rain, hail, sleet and snow.

[bit_impossible]

So you're a postman now, are you?

[realitymods]

[shrugging] I really liked their horses.

[bit_impossible]

[sighs to himself, knowing this conversation is just getting ridiculous again]

And so that's what you've continued to do then? Or is delivering notices of impending doom something you do on the side?

[realitymods]

[Weber much prefers to always keep the conversation at least a little ridiculous] I have much better elocution than the others that might have been used.

[bit_impossible]

Like who? Like the twins and Meredith? I heard there was an ethereal woman who spooked quite a few people.