>>5230325“The time will come, my dear, when you, like the caterpillar, or silkworm, in your case, will stand at a crossroads: when you arrive on a road paved from your enemies brimming with incalculable arcane power, which road will you take? Whichever path you choose, you’ll never find your way back…”
Gotcha, you huff, you’re doing the whole ‘<span class="mu-i">speaking in riddles</span>’ thing. Hey <span class="mu-s">GUS-</span>
“I <span class="mu-i">COVETED</span> that power!” The skull interjects just as Gus turns away from you! “I spent years trying to be noticed–to shake the very foundations of this miserable town! All to end up wasting away in a hole while the world moved on and my great works were forgotten!”
You scoot away from the skull as his ranting grows angrier!
“I am an <span class="mu-i">ARTIST</span>, damn it! Flesh is my <span class="mu-s">clay</span> and bone is my <span class="mu-s">marble!</span> I make the hideous <span class="mu-i">beautiful</span>! The meek <span class="mu-i">powerful!</span>And to see power such as yours stagnate… fester… <span class="mu-i">WASTE</span> away when I could use it to move mountains!”
The killer’s fervor dies mid-sentence as a vacant stare forms on his face. “...And now… I’ll fade away again… like dust in the wind…”
The atmosphere grows heavy between you two as you both go silent. Was that… was that a song lyric, or-
“I made it up. It’s mine.”
Alright, cool… so uh, you continue, desperately trying to change the subject, how exactly did he snare so many people anyways? Glancing between the killer and the hostages who made it out, you try not to sound too impressed when you say that that’s a <span class="mu-i">LOT</span> of people!
“You sound impressed.” Jed remarks in a bemused tone.
Damn it!
“People, like that vermin swinging from a stick over there, are curious by nature. Even before my rebirth, I merely gave them something to be curious about.” He explains in a tone more suited for a director explaining his movie to someone. “I always likened it to fishing: a whiff of food, the glint of valuables, a suspicious noise down a dark alley–given the right ‘<span class="mu-i">bait</span>, an angler like myself can catch anything he wants, provided he has the time and patience to do so.”
You bite your lip as the skull shoots you a sideways glance. Is… is it bad that you’re starting to totally <span class="mu-i">get</span> this guy?
“Yes.” Ly replies, “Yes, and yer’ gonna go ta’ Hell, so stop it.”
Alright, <span class="mu-i">sheesh!</span>
>CONTD. 