IC contact for tushanshu

[edgeoftheknife]

"Hello? .... You've reached Erskine Ravel. I'm not answering my phone right now, obviously, so leave a message." Go Your Own Way Bad Blood Disarm Barton Hollow Runaway Train Living With Your Ghost Land of Confusion Zombie How I Could Just Kill a Man The Good Left Undone Fake It The Sound of Silence

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audio; August 1;

[inkulcation]

[After this.]

While not strictly within the Hotel-- There's a new Foreigner, who may or may not be headed your way. He's armed, and ran rather than converse; there's a high chance he may act rashly.

I should hate for Shudder to have to exert himself.

[And she won't even charge him for it. This time.]

29th | Pretty much right after the Chihues leave | Video

[skeletonenigma]

First of all: See? Nothing happened.

[For a given definition of 'nothing', anyway. They avoided a war! And why would Skulduggery pass up an opportunity to remind someone he was right.

You know, unless that person was Ravel.

So this is probably another sign of things improving.]

Secondly...

[And now he holds up a folded letter.]

Have you come across anything addressed to you?

video;

[edgeoftheknife]

[Erskine certainly looks a little surprised to see Skulduggery on the screen. Some of the surprise is tempered by fatigue, of course, but it's not the dark-circles-under-the-eyes kind of fatigue. Just keeping busy.

An eyebrow arches.]

Does it rattle your bones when you pat yourself on the back like that?

[It's... far from malicious, actually. He can't count the number of times he's asked Skulduggery this same question over the years. Usually when Skulduggery makes some kind of amazing discovery out of seemingly thin air.

At the question about the letter his eyebrows crinkle.]

I... don't think so? I can check at the desk. Why?

video;

[skeletonenigma]

[Just going to ignore that first part. It's a little too stark a reminder of how things used to be.

Instead, Skulduggery holds the letter up to make the fact that it's addressed to him obvious. Even more obvious, however - if not immediately apparent - is that the handwriting of the address is Skulduggery's.]

Because I did. Several of the Foreigners did. I'm not sure exactly what mine's referring to, but I think it might have something to do with you.

[edgeoftheknife]

[Ravel studies the address on the outside of the envelope--it's familiar, though he can't immediately remember why--only looking back up at the part about having something to do with him.]

Me? What does it-

[He stops. That's why the handwriting looks so familiar. He's only been reading that writing on letters and reports for close to three hundred years.

Erskine levels an exasperated look at the skeleton.]

That's your writing, Skulduggery. Very funny.

[skeletonenigma]

It is, isn't it? That's the interesting part. I don't remember writing this. In fact, none of the Foreigners who received something similar remember writing or recording anything. Another product of the Dreaming, I would guess.

[There's an audible pause.]

Do you have anything pressing you need to get back to?

[edgeoftheknife]

[Eyeing Skulduggery suspiciously now.]

I... no. I'm done for the day.

[skeletonenigma]

Good.

This is what it says.

[Easier to type out two words than to hold a piece of paper up to the camera. A moment later, Erskine will receive this text:

'It's Hopeless.']

Do you know what it means?

[edgeoftheknife]

[The image of Erskine blanches in the video, though he tries his best to keep his expression fairly neutral. What on Earth...? It doesn't say anything about Hopeless, but it's clearly referencing the former Dead Man. But why?

After a moment Ravel shakes his head, swallowing hard before he attempts to speak again.]

I don't know. It's too vague.

...you said it's the Dreaming, doing this?

[skeletonenigma]

I don't know. It's the most likely culprit, but it's never resulted in messages quite this cryptic before.

[At least, not in Skulduggery's case. Probably not in Solomon's, either. He has absolutely no idea what his message is even referring to, let alone how it applies.]

All I can think is maybe it'll make more sense later. But if that's the case...

[... then Ravel could probably use a little forewarning.]

[edgeoftheknife]

[There's a little huff of a breath, an audible exhale, and Erskine nods his head after a moment. Message received, even if not wholly understood. And he's keeping it together. Mostly.]

I'll let you know if I think of something.

[skeletonenigma]

Thank you.

[And the feed cuts off.]

Early November; audio

[skeletonenigma]

How would you like to learn how to fly?

[No, this isn't a wrong number.]

audio;

[edgeoftheknife]

[It takes a while for Ravel to answer--not because he hasn't heard the question, but because he can't for the life of him figure out Skulduggery's angle. Or how to respond. Finally he gives up and switches the feed on.]

If you're offering to throw me off a tall building, or out of the window of a tall building, I think I'm going to pass.

[skeletonenigma]

I didn't say 'how would you like to be thrown off a tall building'.

[edgeoftheknife]

What, you're serious? You're going to teach me to fly?

[skeletonenigma]

Unless you can think of anyone else both capable and willing.

[There's a short pause. As entertaining as it is to watch Erskine fumble, what Skulduggery says next is a little more serious.]

Do you think you have the stomach for it?

[Whiiiiiiiich is about the closest to an apology you will ever, ever hear Skulduggery get.]

[edgeoftheknife]

[He doesn't respond to the first part, because it's obvious he doesn't know anyone else. And he's still very, very confused by this whole offer.

And then there's a quiet snort.]

...Skulduggery, I clean toilets for a living. I think I can handle a bit of air magic.

[skeletonenigma]

Good. I'll meet you at the Hotel.

[A brief pause, just long enough for Erskine to object if he needs to, before Skulduggery reaches out to turn off the feed.]

[redlightgreenlight]

Sometime on the 25th, Erskine will open the closet and taped to the broom is an envelope. Inside the envelope is a drawing of a small rabbit with a bow tie around its neck.
You were the best rabbit ever, is written on the back in Valdis’ handwriting.

[redlightgreenlight]

A message will be delivered to Erskine by one of the gang members that he has seen around the hotel. The message is written down for secrecy's sake, but the gang member lingers while Erskine reads it.

Erskine,

I have a lead on who poisoned Anton. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I had nothing concrete until now. I have a plan and I'm hoping that you might help. Strongarm here will lead you to my location. Don't tell Anton.

-Valdis

Early April | Audio | Just after Skul's return and subsequent network post

[skeletonenigma]

[It's difficult to tell sometimes exactly where Skulduggery and Erskine's relationship stands. When Skulduggery came back from the Dreaming, Erskine punched him. They then proceeded to rub each other completely the wrong way, a fact Skulduggery only really became aware of after his talk with Bisi.

Basically: it's a mess. It's improved in some ways and utterly stagnated in others, and Skulduggery, for one, is getting tired of it.

He spends the better part of a day trying to phrase some sort of apology in his head before he decides it would only find a way to make things worse. So when he turns on the console feed -- console, not radio, after some debate -- it's not exactly an apology he starts with.]

Would you like to pick up the flying lessons where we left off?

[Then again, if you squint hard enough...]

audio;

[edgeoftheknife]

[Erskine doesn't respond to the message right away--it takes him a couple of hours to decide how he feels about this. Their last interaction didn't exactly go swimmingly, after all, and he's not really sure if he should expect more of the same if they try again.

Finally he sits down at the console and flips it to audio.]

I don't see much point, do you?

audio; SP spoilers

[skeletonenigma]

[There were a great many things Skulduggery didn't see much point in at the time. He didn't see much point in taking off Lord Vile's armour, for example, just as Erskine probably didn't see much point in telling Ghastly what he was planning. If there's anything Skulduggery's learned over the centuries, it's that the things you don't see the point of are usually more important than you realise.]

I do.

[A short pause.]

I won't force you, of course, but if you change your mind I'll be in the Hotel lobby on Tuesday.

[edgeoftheknife]

[There's a lot Erskine wants to say, wants to ask, in response. Does Skulduggery even care or is Anton putting him up to this? Is Skulduggery going to continue to be as cold and humorless as he has been? Is Erskine even allowed to laugh these days?

But he doesn't ask any of them. Asking them might actually spark a genuine discussion and that's only going to hurt more.]

Well just so you know, I'll be the one flying circles around you. I kept practicing while you were gone.

[skeletonenigma]

[It's a confirmation. That's all Skulduggery was looking for.]

Erskine, if you manage to fly circles around me without once falling or drifting, I promise you at least a week without any petty insults or even claims that you're doing something wrong.

[edgeoftheknife]

Fine. You're on.

a recorded message left on Anton's tablet, discoverable at Erskine's leisure

[shopworn]

[There must have been a point, during those weeks they were all there together, when Ghastly stole off by himself with Anton's tablet. The file isn't exactly hidden, but it's not well-labeled either -- 'ghastly.mp4' sits in a back corner of the hard drive, without even an illuminating thumbnail. Hopefully, Erskine's curiosity will eventually lead him to it.]

In case you're wondering, I feel ridiculous.

[That is what happens when you record video messages for a... for an Erskine and are, effectively, talking to yourself for several minutes in a back corner of the Hotel at the terribly early rear end of the morning.]

[Ghastly's face twists in a familiar wry grimace, and he shakes his head.]

It's still weird, Anton with a tablet. I never thought he'd concede to the twentieth century, let alone the twenty-first...

[He exhales through his nose, amused, and stops dodging what he started this for.]

Right. First up, Erskine, you're an idiot. See, now you have a handy reminder. Go ahead and replay it if you need to, I'll wait.

Second: you're still our idiot. Do me a favor and remember that.

[Ghastly's smile is wobbly, but it's there, pulling at his scars in a way that used to be easier.]

[If he knew this was the last he might say to Erskine, what would he want to make sure was said?]

[...emotions are very, very difficult.]

Look, what's done is done, right? That's enough. Make the best of Keeliai, even if there's a lot less ordering people around.

We'll see each other again.

[Whether it's here, or in whatever comes after: and if it's the latter, don't make it too speedy, Erskine. Ghastly sighs, passes a hand across his eyes and then back over his head, making the tablet wobble dangerously with the habitual gesture since he is no longer holding it two-handed.]

I'm assuming you've got the loom sorted by now. It's a good piece-- should last you a while, if you remember how to take care of it.

[There follows a brief divergence on loom maintenance, which sounds suspiciously like Ghastly is talking for the sake of talking. Erskine was a weaver, after all, and definitely seems to remember enough about the trade. But it's words and voice and absent gestures as he talks and then remembers he's still holding a tablet, and it's more than possible that Ghastly doesn't know what else to say, is counting on Erskine and the understanding they used to have to pick some deeper emotion out of it.]

[He winds down eventually, and winds up just staring at the camera for more than a few seconds, trying to figure out where he was going and what else to say.]

...I should be down at the shelter in half an hour, anyway. I...

Be well, Erskine.

video;

[ironpeace]

[Usayi is assuming that he'll be recognized, and does not stop for an introduction.]

You're the one who weaves. How are you doing for materials?

[edgeoftheknife]

[Oh friend, how wrong you are. But Erskine rolls with it, because he's very aware of the fact that he's terrible at keeping up with who's who in the city.]

I--

I've got enough, for now. It's not as easy getting yarn as it used to be, but I assume it's not as much of a problem for me as it is for the larger mills.

Why do you ask?

[ironpeace]

I'm a tailor.

[When he's not busy trying to herd cats.]

And I know something about the supply, since I oversee a lot. I may be able to arrange something for you, if you want.

[irongaze]

Mr. Ravel, I trust you are well. I am Arbitrator Eliyen. I admire your work with the shelter. It's not often that we see Foreigners putting such an effort into the city's concerns.