TwiLyghtSansSparkles

Actually, didn't we agree in the first Question thread that his next in-game death should be from eating an exploding cupcake? Maybe he could have a stroke and anger Doctor Funtimes, who hands him an exploding cupcake, which explodes and throws him off the edge of the MoNA the moment he starts to take a bite.

Why not all three?

“I´m sorry but it was kind of something personal, so I didn´t want to spill it and now I think they might be threatening me, I´m not sure though, actually I´m not even sure if I should feel threatened if they are trying to threaten me but I already said the word threaten often enough so maybe you should just ask them yourself, ´cause I have no clue what to say.” Thanks, Voidgaze. You're a real pal. Nathan did his best to keep his expression impassive as Lightwards turned narrowed eyes on him. Studied him. He had seen that look before. Coming from an Epic, it meant one thing: I don't see what you see. You're not as strong as you think you are. I could break you with a single finger, and it's time you learned that. "This is the beginning of a noble Empire," he said, unwrapping his Twinkie with an unmistakably false smile. "And I am its head. You can see my misgivings at being lied to, especially in front of guests." He leaned forward and spoke in a dangerous whisper. The kind of whisper that preceded murder. "You're hiding behind a facade of whimsy. To hide the fact that you're an Epic with your own agenda. I try and I try to work with you on your terms, but if our goals conflict, an alliance cannot stand. So please tell me: what is it that you're hiding from me?" Funtimes gave Nathan a small frown, then cupped her hand around his ear. "Who's lying?" Nathan drew an unsteady breath. "Voidgaze knows. About me." Her eyes went wide. "She saw you teleport on your own at the bouncy castle." Funtimes clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide in horror. Terrified as he was, Nathan felt a bit of relief. She didn't want his secret spilled. She didn't want Lightwards to have another Warrior, or Nighthound to have another hound. She wanted him to continue, safe behind his charade, until... A smile spread from behind her hand. "What's so funny?" She giggled and whispered again: "We're gonna tell him." "Why?" She put both hands on his cheeks and grinned. "'Cause he's totally gonna explode!" Then, softer: "If he hurts you, it's acid time." Paired with the glint that flickered through her eyes, that was the first comforting thing she had said yet. She pulled him to his feet, then took Lightwards by the hand and teleported them both a safe distance away, out of Sightline's hearing, stood on tiptoe, and cupped her hand around the necromancer's ear. "Okie dokie loki, I have a secret." She broke off with a giggle. "And if you promise to keep it, I'll turn that phone of yours back into a gun." Both Nathan and Lightwards looked at his hand. Sure enough, he held the receiver of an old rotary phone, the cord stretching to the jungle floor. He looked at her again, and she grinned. "Nobody outside this Empire thingy, okay? It's a secret. And if you don't keep it, it's acid time because…." Her next words were so quiet Nathan couldn't hear them from where he stood. But he knew what they were. "Traveler's not an Epic."

I suspected something like that would be in place. (I just really want to see Nighthound get hurt by something he didn't consider a threat, okay? So can we bring on the evil butterflies now? )

I'm just wondering if Newcago even bothered to have weather reports. "Today we have a high of 40 with no chance of sunshine….and tomorrow we have a high of 35 with no chance of sunshine, and….oh, forget it. It's gonna be cold. It's gonna be dark. And it's gonna last for the rest of your life."

Actually, I had a thought about Nighthound. It might prove to be just as crazy as Doctor Funtimes, so feel free to slap me down. I've been thinking more about Nighthound as a gifter since reading this post: David's hatred of Steelheart is what drives him. This is established very early on, and it is hinted that David is unnaturally gifted with the tensors. As Kobold pointed out, there is most likely a connection between Epics, their hatred of humanity and/or each other, and humans' ability to use gifted Epic abilities. Nighthound is a gifter who takes control through gifting. If there is indeed a connection between hatred and ability to control gifted abilities, would it be possible for someone with a burning hatred of psychotic Epics (whose name rhymes with Lemmington Ringfield) to take control of Nighthound's gifted abilities long enough to turn on him? Again, it was just a stray thought, so feel free to slap me down.

Yes, but it might make more sense if Lightwards demanded to know what's going on first.

Am I up or is Kobold?

Broccoli.

Is that an invitation for Trimmer to join the Empire?

She turned all the cabinets to trees, remember?

I'll just have her whisper it to Lightwards, then, since Sightline is in the room and she doesn't know how trustworthy he is. And yes, she will threaten acid if he tells any Epic outside the Empire, because she doesn't know anything about Altermind and thinks Jeffrey is a jerk.

Considering spilling it now....opinions? It feels a little soon, but do you think it could work?

She may or may not suspect PDA of being Lightwards' weakness. And as for Nathan, it's mostly Nighthound she's worried about. Until she figures out what threats work on him, anyway.

If Lightwards asks too many questions, Funtimes will just start making out with Nathan.

Yeah. I said "suspect," not "shout for Nighthound the minute they figure it out."

It's fine if he suspects and/or jumps to blackmail. Honestly, I was planning on having Nathan's secret spilled soon anyway, so if more characters suspect in the meantime, that's cool.

Nah, it just means there's now someone in game he should never ever be allowed to meet because if they met, they would inevitably become Morally Bankrupt Buddies and go on a rampage through the city.

The mech stopped, and a white-haired man jumped out. "Greetings, you seem to be new in town. Allow me to extend my master's invitation to join his Dominion. You appear to be a somewhat capable Epic, judging by that." He motioned to the man, who had curled on his side. Quota smirked. Had he any hope left, he would have stamped it out. A few tears would complete the picture. "So I doubt Corpsemaker would turn you down." Quota raised an eyebrow at the name, but knew it best not to look to eager. Epic-to-Epic negotiations were best completed with a show of strength. This one had shown his strength the moment he leaped from his mech and called CorpseMaker master. Now it was time for Quota to show his. He reached out toward the Epic, feeling what he felt, searching for the strongest emotions. Curiously enough, he was already steeped in fear, the scent clinging to him like woodsmoke after a bonfire. Something scare you? CorpseMaker, maybe? Quota found a few other emotions—relief, amusement, hope—and stomped them down, still smirking. "This CorpseMaker guy," he said, taking a step forward, "scared you pretty bad, didn't he? What'd you see? What'd he show you that's got you so scared you'd come running to me?"

Off to upvote Brandon, brb.

Yeah...and I've known from the beginning that seeing one of her vanillas curled up in terror is what will set her off, so his obliteration will seem more like a brutal comeuppance, I think. Sure, why the heck not? Let's have two sadistic, psychopathic besties wandering through twisting streets at the behest of a twisted hermit dictator! And why don't we give Koschei a few knives and some things he could improvise as weapons? Oh! And let's add Nighthound to the mix while we're at it! Can't get any worse, can it?

Do your worst….for I will do mine. I'm not a fan of Quota, either. I was thinking that when he finally meets his match, it'll be Funtimes who comes across as the truly terrifying master of disproportionate retribution….but now I'm starting to think that scene might read like his bad karma catching up to him all at once.

Blargh. Stupid headache, making me forget pesky little details. Edit coming up.

First Quota post up.