004 - video;

[entreats]

So multiple people have been finding riddles in those weird boxes, right?

[ Someone apparently has never seen an advent calendar before in their lives.. That's what happens when you're raised so sheltered, apparently. That's besides the point though - Ange's idly playing with a piece of paper of paper in her hands, presumably the paper the riddle she's talking about was written on. ]

I thought maybe there'd be some sort of clue or secret message, but it seems like they're really just standard riddles. I mean, tell me if you've heard this one before.

"A murderer was condemned to death. He has to choose from one of three rooms: 1) A room full of raging fires, 2) A room full of assassins with loaded guns, 3) A room with lions that hadn’t eaten in years. Which room is safest?"

Isn't that one super old? They could've at least picked a more interesting one.

Comments

[entreats]

I wouldn't really put riddles near the top of that list.

[ And it's a long, long list, considering how easily things can seem ridiculous to Ange or annoy her. ]

Are they really that weird to you? It's really just thinking exercises when it comes down to it.

[ssmisery]

You need exercises for that?

[entreats]

You've seen how dumb some humans are, right? If we didn't at least have these, some of them wouldn't even bother using their heads at all.

[ssmisery]

Is there a reason for the macabre part?

[entreats]

I'm not so sure about that. Humans have a weird fascination with death, I guess?

[ Don't say that as if you literally aren't one of them or don't have a fascination with death. You belong in both of those categories, Ange!! ]

Have you ever heard of murder mystery novels? Lots of humans love those too.

[ssmisery]

[Lapis puts some actual thought into this, scrunching up her face, which is another proof of her friendship. The thing is she probably has come across murder mysteries, because it's coming up on three years in Wonderland and the library is one of the main forms of entertainment there is, but... that's not the same as actually being familiar with genre concepts.]

Maybe? People die in a lot of the books here.

[entreats]

They're the books where one or many of them die and you're kind of encouraged to figure out who did it along with whoever the protagonist is.

[ Since Lapis gave it some genuine thought, Ange in turn is willing to give her a genuine explanation in turn without making it sarcastic or patronizing - as she may have with other people. ]

I think they're kind of fun. [ They'd probably be more fun if her life wasn't literally one. ]

[ssmisery]

How do you know which ones you're supposed to figure it out in?

[entreats]

It's the usually the ones that try to be all mysterious about it and give you clues along the way. The ones where they tell you who killed who up front are usually stories instead meant to.. [ She pauses for a moment, seemingly looking for the right words. ] .. I don't know, explore the human mind, I guess. I don't have a particular lot of sympathy for murderers though.

[ssmisery]

Huh. I don't know why people do that either, but if you're supposed to figure it out -- then it's not like just reading a book anymore, is it? It's like you're part of it.

[entreats]

Yeah.

[ If half of her memories weren't screwed up by one major part of it being taken away, she'd sure have more to say about that. But instead her thoughts turn in the direction of-- ]

I think that's why people like them though. You wouldn't want to actually be in a situation where someone died. Or.. most people wouldn't want to be, anyway. So those books are a good way of getting the thrill of solving a murder mystery without having to deal with actual death.

[ssmisery]

I guess I can see it. Now I'm just surprised Wonderland hasn't ruined that kind of thing for you yet.

[entreats]

It probably thinks murder mysteries are boring. The deaths usually aren't gorey enough. I mean, at this rate just getting shot or stabbed would be a pretty tame death here.

[ You'd think she was talking about the weather instead of actual death. ]

[ssmisery]

It does like giving everyone puzzles to solve, though. And little stories.

[entreats]

I guess you're right about that.

[ Especially since she's not the only one to have found a riddle inside of these boxes so far. ]

Although these are pretty lame. The solution is so obvious. It's not really going to stave off anyone's boredom.

[ssmisery]

[You can say that, Ange, but. Oh well, no shame here.]

What is it?

[entreats]

[ Oh.

Oops.

It doesn't really show up on her face considering how much she has mastered the art of the pokerface, but she does sure feel awkward practically having called one of her friends dumb. This is why she doesn't do social stuff! She's so bad at it! Ange, you idiot!

The only thing that betrays the awkwardness is a small pause before she continues on as if nothing is up. ]

Oh. It's the lions. If they hadn't eaten in years, they'd be dead.

[ssmisery]

[Honestly, Lapis thinks nothing of it. She kind of volunteered herself as dumb, but she doesn't give a damn about riddles and knows full well there are some relevant differences in background here. In truth it's all a matter of perspective. Her own pause is only to process the idea.]

Yeah, still weird.