[the thirteenth] / [voice]

[enigmaestro]

Do you recall what Dick Clark once said? “I don't set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them.” Engaging man. How about Jack Kerouac? “Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.” Heh. See a pattern, perhaps?

So riddle me this, who's watching, and who's to be watched? Which steps are

Comments

[caststwoshadows]

Is that the best question< you can come up with?

Who's watching.

[enigmaestro]

Well, well. I shouldn't be surprised, should I?

I've got little desire to speak with you, my dear. No offense meant, of course, you just tend to distract. Now don't you?

[caststwoshadows]

I know.

Perhaps I want to distract.

[enigmaestro]

It's hard to say no to you, my Lord and Lady Desire. But that's yet another thing you know, isn't it?

To answer your initial query, that's the best question I can directly ask concerning a sensitive topic without, ah, attracting the wrong attention.

Does this suit you?

[enigmaestro]

I rather thought so, too.

[enigmaestro]

Yes. Something is going on.

I wasn't City-bound when the HIVE were active, but I indulged in a bit of research. These are beings to beware of.

[meowminx]

Those HIVE freaks pop up whenever they feel like being annoying.

[enigmaestro]

There's more to it than that, Selina, and you well know it. Or you should.

What you lot deem as "annoying" always has a purpose--often multiple purposes--in mind.

[meowminx]

I did have a front row seat for the attack, thanks.

How much do you know about one Duella Dent?

[enigmaestro]

Only that she had a few escapades with that group of hero fledglings while I was comatose. She ran around pretending to be Joker's Daughter, of all things.

[ajrimmer_ssc]

What are you implying, Nygma?

[enigmaestro]

That no one in this City is to be trusted.

[ajrimmer_ssc]

...I repeat my words the night of the Iron Armour was going all screwy: Well, DUH.

[enigmaestro]

Just ensuring you're in the know.

Others aren't as willing to shed security blankets.

[oftwoworlds]

It is logical to assume that the life form currently in control of the porter caused the destruction of the suit. It is of course possible that she provided clues about her activities to mislead us.

[enigmaestro]

Believe me, I know when someone--or something--isn't to be trusted. She's not directly lying or misleading us; we're not a threat to her.

[oftwoworlds]

Your argument does have merit. However, you said yourself that she refers to us as a game. She could easily be lying to create false scenarios for her own amusement.

[enigmaestro]

She could have, but I'd have known. I'm, ah, got a knack for knowing.

She's speaks in riddles, though, and even a direct lie can have truth in that manner.