5th Trick - Text

[vengefulshades]

["The Manipulator" is the name on this communication.]

Pancakes. Thick, fluffy, floury, smeared with melting butter and drizzled with real maple syrup. Served with fluffy scrambled eggs and two strips of black-label bacon, cooked crispy.

Fried chicken. Crispy skin, juicy meat, subtly salty. Served with a side of mashed potatoes, homemade cream gravy, and wilted collard greens cooked with garlic.

Beer. A dark stout, complex and almost chocolate in flavor, smooth and sophisticated to sip. Accompanied by a bowl of pretzels and the smell of smoke on the guy sitting next to you at the bar.

An apple. Yellow-red-pink skin, crisp and juicy, just the perfect texture without being too hard or too mealy. Simple and refreshing.

Pork rinds. Airy and crisp, salty, spicy hot with the flavor of meat. Eaten straight out of the bag while watching sports.

Roasted sweet potato. Wrapped in wet newspaper and then in aluminum foil, then buried in a pile of burning leaves to bake. Sweet and starchy, soft and hot, the perfect snack on a cold winter's day.

[Okay... that's a nice, random list there. There isn't much indication why "The Manipulator" is posting this one.]

Come on, Imports. Give me a few more. Give me something from your world that no one else has tried before.

I'm in-between things to do, you see. All this space shuttle excitement has been useful in distracting the authorities from looking for me. So I might as well try to enjoy myself with all the extra spare time.

Plus, I figured the cops could use another word from me. It's been so long since they've even imagined I've been active. Just as clueless as the people I've possessed since then.

Ooh... I bet you didn't even notice I was there, did you?

You'd think you people would learn.


[All replies from "The Manipulator" will come through audio or text only.]

Comments

[vengefulshades]

Now, that's a completely unfair thing to say. I know the difference between right and wrong.

I simply don't care what I have to do to accomplish my goals. That's all.

[godly]

Do you know what they call people like that? Sociopaths.

[vengefulshades]

Maybe so. I've changed since the day I died.

But anything that I've become is the fault of the people who killed me.

[godly]

Right. Because nothing you do now can at all be your own fault; no crime to dirty your own hands.

[If he sounds like he's being sardonic, it's probably because he is.]

[vengefulshades]

It's too late to worry about dirtying my hands.

My soul is already damned. I've already committed crimes that I can't undo. I came to accept that.

[godly]

Then I suppose there's little chance of someone like you finding redemption.

In that case, there's nothing else to be said on the matter.

[vengefulshades]

I've given up on redemption.

As I've said before... the only thing I'm looking for now is oblivion.

[godly]

Maybe in due time you'll get what you're wishing for. We'll see which finds you first: oblivion or the law itself.

[vengefulshades]

For your sake, I almost hope the law gets me first.

[godly]

For my sake? I'm hardly intimidated.

[vengefulshades]

No. But you just sound so determined. It'd be a shame if I disappeared without us getting to meet face to face.

In a manner of speaking.

[godly]

[He is determined, just as he is unwavering. For better or worse as that may be.]

The opportunity may arise. [When I have a hand in attempting to take you down, goes unspoken. He adds dryly:] But if that's an invitation to meet over brunch, I'l have to politely decline.

[vengefulshades]

So will I. Being dead, and all.

[Dick. >:(]

You know, it's actually a pleasure speaking with you, Mr. Yagami.

[godly]

Is it.

[he's trying to sense facetiousness behind those words]

[vengefulshades]

It is.

Even though you're trying to arrest me, it's nice to carry on a conversation with someone eloquent enough to do so.

[godly]

[normally he would take that as a compliment, but when it's coming from a criminal, Light isn't as inclined to do so.]

I'm always articulate about things I'm passionate about. Surely that's not surprising.

[vengefulshades]

Not really.

But it's been a long time since I've had so many conversations with other people.