[video] un: theballadeer

[lyingstars]

[There is a hatless Scaramouche laying back against the floor. He seems to be contemplating something, hand outstretched above him and idly playing with an odd looking purple and gold chess piece - a Gnosis for those that are familiar with them. There are no introductions here, just a question.]

I'm curious... Tell me about your gods. Who they are, what they do. Whatever.

[A pause.]

Just what is a god to you?

Comments

[quizpersona]

[Gogol wags his finger with the same tempo as the ticking of the second hand on a clock.]

Ah-ah-ah! You ask a lot of questions for someone who gives nothing in return! I like it! Buuut how about just this once you answer my questions. If you do a good job I might tell you that and more as a prize.

[lyingstars]

What questions? Maybe you'll get lucky and I'll consider answering.

[quizpersona]

Strap in, it's time for a special edition rapid fire quiz. Well then, are you prepared? First up--

[Gogol holds up three fingers. It's an indication that this is all he's going to ask (allegedly in rapid succession.)]

Is The Balladeer a moniker with a greater purpose attached to it?

[In the absence of being given an actual name he's gotta ask. It's right there on the network. He gotta.]

[lyingstars]

[Scaramouche keeps his gaze fixed on the Gnosis as he considers if it's worth answering that question. For the moment it doesn't hurt anything. Though he supposes he could also just lie.]

It's an alias, nothing more. Consider it a job requirement. There's nothing special hidden behind it.

[As though that doesn't add more questions.]

[quizpersona]

That answer...! Let's call it good enough. Now then,

[Immediately he puts one finger down even though it might be a superficial answer. He's diligently sidestepping coming to know anyone too well.]

Does your question about God have anything to do with what you're holding right now?

[lyingstars]

No.

[Partially.]

Should it?

[quizpersona]

Not at all.

[The second finger drops down. One pointedly remains.]

You've only been fiddling with it this entire time. Flaunting it like you wanted someone to notice.

[lyingstars]

[He shrugs, best he can while lying down.]

Not at all. Why would I want to flaunt a chess piece? Am I not allowed to be bored?

[Because he's definitely just keeping his hands busy out of boredom. Couldn't be anything else.]

[quizpersona]

Hm? Even if you weren't allowed to I would think that you should do it. Go ahead, be bored anyways and prove the existence of true free will.

[With anticipation he taps his smiling mouth with the finger that remains up still. This is the moment that most people's eye begin to cross because they do not have any idea what he's going on about. Understandable, tbh.]

[lyingstars]

Why wouldn't I have free will? No one has the right to dictate how I wish to live.

[What is Gogol going on about? He doesn't have a clue. But no one controls him. Never has, never will.]

[quizpersona]

[Scaramouche really is getting the speed run for why some of Gogol's "coworkers" simply cannot stand his presence. The man even dares to sound gentle here— like he really is talking to an injured little bird.]

Is it possible that you don't realize? Then, if I'm honest, I'd be glad for you. Because unknowing birds who never question the cage that they were born in will die happy.

[lyingstars]

Tch, I’m not the one shackled by fate here. If there is a cage, I’ve long since left it with all I’ve seen.

[He’d seen enough truths to know how the world worked at this point. Further still to know secrets that mortals couldn’t even dream of, the skies could no longer lie to him. He wasn’t the one in the cage here.]

Mortality has its beauties, but it quickly becomes boring.

[quizpersona]

[To be fair to Gogol the notion of ignoring mortality is pretty suspect at best in his world so?? Cheating death, yeah sure, that's something totally different. His eye squints hard as that smile spreads out in the most disingenuous way.]

You can shrug off mortality just like that?! You really mean that? Woooooow, very impressive!

[lyingstars]

[Scaramouche lets out a small sigh, he'll give Gogol a freebie to hopefully stop this.]

Here's a thought... perhaps it's because I'm not mortal.

[quizpersona]

[Gogol pumps his fist in the air in a real fake "eureka!" moment.

He's still fucking around, obviously, because he doesn't actually believe it. There's no stopping this except for on Gogol's terms.]

Oh! Aha! You're a god. Why didn't you just say so? That's why you were asking this network about it.

[lyingstars]

[The look on his face is that of complete bafflement. Why does he attract people like this.]

I... what? You can't be serious.

[quizpersona]

[Scaramouche needs to find a way to make it less easy to push his buttons.]

I'm always! Dead! Serious! Aha ha, hah, unless...?

[lyingstars]

[Impossible, he's been like this for centuries now.]

So you're never serious. Do you not tire of your little act?

[quizpersona]

[Sounds like a him problem.]

What's this? Should I take this to mean that you'd want to see me get serious?

[lyingstars]

While I'm not hopeful, it might be more entertaining.

[quizpersona]

Then someday I'll show it to you. For your entertainment, of course.

[lyingstars]

I look forward to it.