- 88 [Action]

[fortunefail]

[With all these newcomers about, Yuan simply isn't comfortable staying at home. Against all better judgment, he ventures out into the village to have a look. Catch him anywhere, any time!

Later, he'll return to house #8 to find it ravaged, after Kratos had a little 'argument' with Lord Kvar. Wonderfully foreboding. What other surprises may lie in wait here?]

Comments

[batmobilethief]

[Whatever you think of the Riddler, he's practically glowing with delight as you answer the riddle.]

Heeheeheeheeheeeee! Exactly, my friend! I knew you'd get it. [Ooooh, Mr. Yuan, ooh~]

[fortunefail]

[Oh Riddler, you basically spelled it out for him after his initial rejection. Did you really expect there to be a challenge after that?]

I'm not your friend. I told you, I don't even know you.

[batmobilethief]

[No, but the fact he answered at all pleases Riddler. <3]

Mmmm, but I do know you! And you are most certainly my friend, and I am yours, even though you don't know it yet.

[fortunefail]

I can't see myself being friends with someone like you.

[Then again, that's what he said about Usagi. And Zoisite. And Sheena. And Raine. ... Err.]

[batmobilethief]

[He grins.]

A riddle, my friend:

You can have me but cannot hold me;
Gain me and quickly lose me.
If treated with care I can be great,
And if betrayed I will break.

1/2

[fortunefail]

[Oh, fine, he'll play along. He's not going to make himself look stupid in front of this guy.

Hm... Have me but cannot hold me... It's something symbolical. Like an emotion, perhaps. Broken if betrayed... The heart? No, no. It can be gained and lost. ... Oh.]

2/2

[fortunefail]

Trust.

[batmobilethief]

[♡]

And I hope I can gain yours again, whatever you think of the likelihood of it right now.

[The smile he's giving you is soft and sincere-- or as soft as his smiles ever gets.]

[fortunefail]

[Oh. Riddler must be a bit of a masochist if he's this insistent on making friends with him, despite how badly Yuan's treating him. And apparently has been treating him before, considering he's been called "obnoxious".]

... Right.

[batmobilethief]

[Oh, he's far more than just a "bit" of one, dear Yuan.]

[His smile lingers for a moment longer before he bursts into giggles.]

Ah, you're always so adorable when you're being grumpy, my friend!

[fortunefail]

G-grumpy? I'm being grumpy?!

[A grown man just called him grumpy and adorable. In the same sentence. He can't even begin to fathom how wrong that is.]

[batmobilethief]

[Oh, the giggles Riddler giggles.]

What other name would you call it?

[fortunefail]

[Good lord, man, stop giggling.]

What do you mean, what other name would I call it? I just don't have any intention of being friendly with complete strangers. [Yes, you're still a stranger.]

[batmobilethief]

That sounds like the very definition of a grump, to me! But perhaps you'd prefer tetchy, or shirty? A rose by any other name has just as sharp a thorn.

[Stop giggling? But he's only just started!]

[fortunefail]

[Just as sharp a thorn, hm?]

Look, I'm sorry, but there's really nothing I can do for you.

[batmobilethief]

Ah, but you've already done so much!

[He's grinning rather mischievously. Dare Yuan ask what he's done?]

[fortunefail]

[Oh, he dares. He's rather curious what he's supposedly done for this man.]

Have I, really?

[batmobilethief]

You've entertained, for one thing. [Riddler is very easily entertained. Yuan may have noticed this.] You've answered my riddles, spoken with me, been ever so pleasant to look at...

[Sharp as a thorn, but as beautiful as the rose, as well.]

[fortunefail]

[Oh. Urk. Calling Yuan things like "gorgeous" and "adorable" is one thing, but actually taking pleasure in looking at him? That is... disgusting.]

I assure you, that last thing was not voluntary.

[batmobilethief]

[Riddler bursts into giggles, spreading his hands voluntarily.] And yet I can't help but enjoy it, my friend.

[With a grin, he throws out another riddle.]

I can be given and I can be taken;
I can be stolen and I can be broken;
I can ache and I can sink;
I can burst and I can flutter.

[fortunefail]

[That one is almost too easy, but Yuan doesn't particularly like the answer. It comes out as a rather weary response.]

... The heart.

[batmobilethief]

You've got it.

["It" being both the riddle's answer and the Riddler's heart.]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan will hope beyond hope that the Riddler is only referring to the riddle, here.]

... Right.

[batmobilethief]

[He laughs, lightly, and makes to step closer to Yuan once again.] In any case! I am terribly curious about this place, and I can hardly look around if I'm standing here with you~ so I hope you don't mind if I take my leave of you, my friend!

[fortunefail]

[Yuan takes a step back to match again, but once the Riddler announces his departure, he breathes a sigh of relief. Excellent, he'll be rid of this guy without have to step down himself.]

I don't mind at all. Good luck making your way through the chaos.