video;

[wizzardly]

Well, now that all the technomancy's up and running again, I don't suppose anyone ever got that riddle solved, did they? The actual one, mind. Not the one about why we lost lights and things in the first place.

[Rincewind taps a pencil with one hand against the open pages of a book thoughtfully, the other waving his lunch (an egg and cress sandwich) as he intones:]

"We did warn you. All of you have so much power. That comes at a cost. If you can't see in the darkness, then look to the stars.”

...I certainly don't remember any warning, and I've usually a keen memory for those.

Anyway, "power" seems a rather obvious double meaning, but it's the "looking to the stars" bit which has me curious. [a phrase which here means, "debating whether there's still sufficient enough impending threat to flee the country".]

ImPorts could be the stars - we certainly are in their TV and such, that's meaning enough. But if "power" has a double meaning, it stands to reason "stars" would as well. Were we actually supposed to be looking up at the night sky during all of that, do you think?

...I don't suppose anyone did any gazing while they were running about saving people?

[or just running, in Rincewind's case.]

Comments

[slightlyoffchilt]

A little more nuanced than that, but essentially. You have to build -- anticipate, really -- a personality. From mere observation.

[wizzardly]

Oh, is that all? I do that all the time.

[mostly for the purpose of threat evaluation.]

Don't most people?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Not in a professional manner -- but yes, most people do. Or should.

[wizzardly]

And to think people can get paid for it here. This world's still a marvel.

How did you get on through that whole disaster? [conversational, pausing to take another bite of sandwich.] I had to spend two nights at the Iron Throne. I would have tried to stay on your couch, but I don't actually know where you live now.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Dryly:] I would have preferred your outcome. [A beat.] I was kidnapped, by a particularly gruff individual. It was not very much fun.

[wizzardly]

...Well, neither was mine. [weakly.]

Um. Are you all right? I did hear about all those criminals escaping, I suppose I should have assumed you'd find one somehow. You are sort of a magnet for them.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He voice breaking, just a little:] He made me wear things.

[wizzardly]

Oh, gods. Um. Gosh. Right. Are you - ? Of course you're not. Er.

Were they - comfortable?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Nothing about my experience was comfortable.

[wizzardly]

Right. Sorry. Should have guessed that.

...At least he wasn't a vampire? We've got those, you know. Well. one. One confirmed. You could've been dealing with neck-sores in addition to the, er, costume change.

[slightlyoffchilt]

He did not attempt to put his mouth on me.

-- But you think I ought to be worried about such advances? I doubt he was vampiric, strictly speaking.

[wizzardly]

From your kidnapper? I don't know, I don't know him. But I was attacked by a vampire at The Castile. The Luggage ate him, but he crawled out again two days later, must have upset its innards somehow.

...He didn't exactly admit he was a vampire, but I don't know who else is going to go biting people's necks like he did. Just makes sense.

[slightlyoffchilt]

-- Wait, pardon. You were attacked by a vampire? I thought you were speaking abstractly! My god, how did he find you?

[wizzardly]

He didn't, he just sort of pounced on me as I was going to lie down in a room. The bastard.

He's an imPort, of course. I didn't get a name, but be on the lookout for a sort of stocky, middle-aged, sullen-looking man. Grey hair. We probably ought to start wearing scarves.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[A long, long beat.]

Was he monotonous? His tonal voice, I mean.

[wizzardly]

...I mean, not when he was biting at me, no. But the second time we met. He wasn't exactly the chatty sort either way.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Why was he -- you do not know why he chose you?

[wizzardly]

I was both there and alive? I don't know, that's never a question I stick around to ask when things like this happen.

[wizzardly]

You may as well ask why your kidnapper chose you.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Because I am famous, probably.

[wizzardly]

Oh. It was a ransom sort of thing?

[slightlyoffchilt]

A control thing. The allure of celebrity is stark. But this man who attacked you -- had he been stalking you, do you think?

[wizzardly]

I've really no idea. To be completely honest with you, I was a bit pissed at the time.

[defensively:] Which is normal for staying at an inn.

[slightlyoffchilt]

The thing is, Rincewind, I think I may know the man you speak of. Any details would help determination.

[wizzardly]

What, really?

...I don't know, he was somewhat normal looking, other than what I mentioned. Dark eyes, I think. Jorah said he'd seen the man in an alley before as well. He was with me when the Luggage threw him back up.