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]

Not really.

I have no doubt the decay of my personality and morals is tied to the unique circumstances of my existence. Perhaps there was even a time when the things I've done to try and find peace would have racked me even worse than my current condition does.

That was a long time ago.

[enigmaestro]

I imagine there's a certain kind of freedom in death -- what you just described, basically. While I can't say I envy the risk, I admire your acceptance of it all.

[vengefulshades]

I'd hardly say I've accepted this. I can really hardly say I've died, either.

My existence is a messy one I'd prefer to have cleaned up sooner rather than later.

[enigmaestro]

How are you planning to clean it?

[vengefulshades]

To end it once and for all.

[enigmaestro]

Ominous. Would your designed conclusion require involvement of others -- whether or not they agree to it?

[vengefulshades]

Not necessarily.

My previous plan simply involved the need for a lot of money. The easiest way I saw to do that involved some light robbery involving other people.

If I had a way that didn't involve anyone else, I'd do that instead. But beggars can't afford to be choosers.

[enigmaestro]

I don't blame you. People can be so unreliable.

[vengefulshades]

Granted, they're much more reliable when I'm controlling them.

But it all got quite sticky in the end.

[enigmaestro]

Well, when you want a job done... Though I suppose such is something you're well versed in.

Is it a matter of getting the masses to open their hearts to you, again?