001 ☀ Video

[foreshadower]

[ When Shade flipped on the camera, those who'd seen him back in prison will be able to note how much better he looks. In good humor, even. Light spirits, no drab clothing, not even a foul brick in sight behind him. Instead, it's a dimly lit room, with a wallpaper that looks so painfully victorian it's almost stereotypical. Although next to Shade, it almost is, considering his clothing is back in order, the usual top hat, sunglasses, and even the edge of a cane, his fingers brush against a fine silvered eagle's head.

He's exuberant, and he's celebrating. ]

Isn't there a phrase about something being just in time for the holidays?

It was a long time since I'd been in prison, and I'll admit, the ones back home were much more accommodating to people of my...particular proclivities. [ They didn't get rid of his powers. ] They also didn't make an effort to try and...rehabilitate me. But perhaps that's where they went wrong, yes? An honest effort to making sure an old criminal like me will come back and never thieve again can make all the difference, can't it?

[ His smile is... strained. ]

I would suggest, for those of you thinking to commit crimes, that you don't. After all, you never know when you'll be caught -- or who will catch you doing it, yes?

Comments

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[friendshiprocks]

You're out?! You should have told me earlier! I don't have the cake ready at all! [ Hime makes a noise of aggravation as if this is the most inconvenient thing in the world. ]

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[foreshadower]

I was only released this afternoon, thank you!

And I noticed I'm missing several of my books. Are you halfway through my collection by now?

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[brushoff]

It's about time.

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[foreshadower]

[ You can almost see him breathe a sigh of relief. ]

Quite so! You would have thought they'd get sick of my complaining about the food.

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[runningstart]

They should make you do a lecture tour at all the local schools.

"See, kids? This is why you don't use your shadow powers to go on a bank-robbing spree." You'd be a hit. They'd all learn twenty new words and how to dress like they're from the twenties.

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[foreshadower]

The twenties is a bit too modern, don't you think?

Unless you mean the eighteen twenties.

But perhaps I shall. I've certainly got a lot more work to do now, since I have to serve my probation as well. [ A beat. ] No rest for the wicked, I suppose.

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[delegation]

See the funny thing is that you talk like you're reformed, but oddly I'm not sure I actually believe it, and that's coming from a guy who doesn't even know what you were in for to begin with. Fraud? Piracy on land? Did you steal the diamond clasp anklet off a rich oil-magnate's mistress and abscond off to the Floridian coastline? It's totally up in the air.

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[foreshadower]

Heavens, none of that! I robbed a bank, but I'm not someone interested in real money! [ If he were, he wouldn't let himself get caught. ]

[ Video ]

[anthropophagite]

[ UHMM. ]

Maybe I ask what you stole?

[ Video ]

[foreshadower]

You may, of course. [ he paused, like that was the end of it. Shade liked his dramatics. ]

I robbed a bank. Several, actually.

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[rathercommon]

[ Oh, yay! It's him. She likes him a lot, and is glad to see him looking so well. ]

You're out! Welcome home.

voice

[foreshadower]

Why thank you. I'm certainly happy to be back to my old self.

Its distressing to be less than what you are, even temporarily.

[video]

[acrobrat]

Duh.

[Anita rolls her eyes. You people and your crimes, she's had to deal with Dorian before, so...]

[video]

[foreshadower]

Mmm, you may say that I was a bit carefree with my power, and whether I would be able to escape.

My mistake, of course. One I won't make again.

[video]

[yatagarasu]

Uh, thanks, but I think a lot of us already know that.

[video]

[foreshadower]

Perhaps, perhaps. Consider this merely a friendly reminder, then.

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[notafishwhisperer]

A thief. [ Arthur isn't smiling. ]

I really do hope any changes stick. [ He's not sure if he believes it, though. ]

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[foreshadower]

Let's be honest, it's hardly the worst thing I've been caught doing, is it?

[ Really! It's all in good fun! ]

However, if it will reassure you, I do not plan on going back to prison. What sort of example would that make? If I want to see more heroes, I suspect there are better ways to go about it.

[ So maybe it was a combination of boredom and wanting to draw out Flashes, you can't blame a guy. ]

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[unhand]

I'd wondered where you'd gone off to. What were you in for?

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[foreshadower]

I robbed a bank, of course. I'm afraid I let myself get caught, as well.

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[debauchewy]

Ooohh- Jealouusss~

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[foreshadower]

[ A laugh. ] I'm sure your time will come soon enough, won't it? What was it you said, one more month?

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[beneathbluerafters]

Finally!

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[foreshadower]

Indeed! It was far too long, has the outside world treated you well?

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[sofentheblow]

Are you saying their efforts to, as you said, rehabilitate you were successful?

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[foreshadower]

But of course they were! Why else would they allow me to run free?

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[goldenlegacy]

Is that a genuine attempt at advice?

[Giorno is kind of stretching his legs, wiggling his feet. It's not visible, of course, but his voice reflects his idleness.}

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[foreshadower]

It's an attempt, of course.

You never know who may not have an idea of how much...control they can have over us.

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[darkspider]

Whyare you still here?

[Not one to keep tabs on things, this is annoying.

Why is he still around?]

Video.

[foreshadower]

Being in prison never meant I was sent home, I'm afraid. I would prefer to be back in Opal, rather than be stuck here.

Perhaps if you appealed to the porter, she would let me go.

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[shutterbugged]

So if you don't mind my asking, as an interested party on the other side of the equation, how did they convince you to turn over a new leaf? Puppies for prisoners? Basket-weaving?

[ Voice light, words verging on the inappropriately flip. And yet there's a wire-taut stillness to his posture -- he wants to know, without letting on (to Shade? or someone else, nevermind that he's set the channel to private?) how urgent his question is.

Yeah, the government here has been nice. In a velvet glove sort of way. ]

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[foreshadower]

[ Shade very obviously grimaced at the camera. It wasn't haunted, but it looked weary. Tired. Shade had not had a good time in prison, some of it his own fault, not sleeping, but the effects were worse than they could have been, had he not been compromised. ]

They made me watch videos. I'm not much a fan of the television, but the documentaries were well done -- as well as their reasons. I feel like they may have a point.

It's not Opal, but perhaps there is potential that this city could be worthwhile with the right nudge.

[ Just slightly brainwashed. ]