005. Audio.

[scientificflair]

[Those just turning their Gears on to check the Network this morning will be greeted by strains of music over Descole's feed - something melancholy, being played on violin; the song is something he'd heard many times before over the course of his...stay in Misthallery, and he understands that it's likely in horrible taste for him to be playing it at all, but it's a rather pretty song regardless.

After a while, the melody pauses, though there are a few notes being played lightly in the background, long and drawn-out; the sound appears to have shifted some, as though the violin has been adjusted away from the Gear.]

In a setup to a puzzle that's been around for a while, you meet three men in a wood, at a fork in the road. A sign above them states that one man is God; he knows all, and always tells the truth.

One is the Devil; he likewise knows all, but always lies.

The third man is ambiguous; he knows nothing, but will answer as though he knows everything. His answers are completely useless, and could be either right or wrong.

The sign states that you are to ask the men one question each - three questions total - that can be answered with "yes" or "no," with the intention of determining which person is whom. Were this a proper puzzle, I'd be asking you what question you would ask to which man.

[His hand shifts a bit on the violin, idly trilling the notes a bit while he thinks.]

However, when faced with the possibility that one of the men before you always lies...how are you to know that the Devil didn't post the sign in the first place?

[And with that, the melody seems to pick up again; the feed keeps going for about another minute or so before cutting off.]

Comments

[audio]

[snapandscoot]

[[Emmy has been listening to the music ever since she heard it start over the feed. It's a beautiful song and the skill of the player is obviously excellent; the combination makes for very easy listening.

But it is a sad song, and when it finishes she closes her eyes, thinking back to her time with Layton and Luke in Misthallery. It was a lovely little town, and even though circumstances meant a friend was lost...the story was ended with hope, rather than despair.

This puzzle, however...let her reference another famous question.]]

I take it you find the cup half-empty, too, hm?

[audio]

[scientificflair]

[The music is still playing when Descole responds, though it's back to those quiet, drawn-out notes, a slow, oversimplified version of the original melody.

He laughs a bit, softly, though the sound is joyless.]

I've never cared to work out whether the cup is half-full or half-empty. If I'm dissatisfied with it, I fill in the rest of it myself.

[He pauses then; the music continues.]

Did you ever have that conversation we discussed last time?

[audio]

[snapandscoot]

Logically, a cup is both half full and half empty if the liquid sits directly at the halfway point....but I like to consider it the former, personally. Your method seems rather joyless, if very practical.

[[Relaxing back on her bed, Emmy looks to the ceiling of her room.]]

I did, yes. It went far better than I expected it would.

[Audio

[meatysoviet]

Trust is a earned luxury, so why trust any of them?

[Audio]

[scientificflair]

...a valid point, if a bit paranoid for my tastes.

[That music is still playing when he responds, soft and slow; simple, but present.]

There's no benefit to being overly cautious, you know - think like that long enough and you'll fall into 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.'

audio

[3_butterflies]

[it's not easy trying to be your friend, you know.]

I don't know if I can answer that... What's God? What's Devil?

audio

[scientificflair]

[...it's sort of an exercise in patience, yes...

And he supposes he shouldn't be this surprised that at least one person here hasn't heard of this sort of thing, but it's kind of a universal concept where he's from; it takes him a moment to respond.

That said, however, it's obvious when he clicks the feed on; that slow, oversimplified version of the song is still being played when he replies, soft beneath his words.]

They're powerful beings that supposedly have an influence over human behavior - one toward good, one toward evil.

[Audio.]

[shakespearealien]

[Gorthan sounds amused, relaxed, which is really quite unusual for him these days. There's one character in Descole's riddle that he feels he relates to.]

Why not the third man? Can he even tell the difference between God and the Devil?

... That said, that is some splendid music, Descole.

[Audio.]

[scientificflair]

[The music is still playing when he responds, soft and slow; it's a much more simplified version of what he was playing earlier, but it's still recognizable.]

Even if he can't, there's no sense in asking him, now, is there?

[There's a smirk beneath his words when he says it, however; he doesn't sound displeased. Rather to the contrary, actually.]

It's good to hear from you again, my friend. I assume you're back in the city by now.

[audio]

[milquetoasthero]

Well, um... Wouldn't you feel something was off in the first place, then?

[audio]

[scientificflair]

[He doesn't respond right away, though it's obvious that he's turned the feed back on; that music is still coming through the Gear, quiet and simple, while he considers.]

Not all evil, as it were, comes with a sense of obvious wrongness; if that were the case, people wouldn't indulge in it in the first place.

[ACTION]

[brilliantideas]

[Wheatley has no interest in the riddle - if anything he rolls his eyes at that - but the playing is nice. Things have been quiet since Suicune's capture. That's probably because GLaDOS and Wheatley have actually been separated for once. She's in Goldenrod with Gorthan and he's out here in Saffron with Descole. Wheatley likes Descole, of course! He's an excellent boss and doesn't insist on calling Wheatley a moron! It's great! Really! Everything is wonderful!]

[....................]

[Okay, so maybe he might miss GLaDOS' company while training. Maybe. But that's it!]

Quite a pretty melody. Something you've memorized, then? Usually musicians use sheet music; though I suppose if you've got an ear for that sort of thing it wouldn't be quite as necessary.

[Today is one of those days where Wheatley isn't actively training his Pokémon. It might be a bit obvious; Companion Bat is perched on his head, Epsilon and Zeta are sitting on his shoulders, Delta is floating behind him, and he's carrying Eta. So yes, Wheatley is covered in cute Pokémon. Look at all the fucks he gives.]

[After a moment, Companion Bat will start humming the melody back at Descole. Wheatley laughs.]

She's quick! I've taught her a couple of melodies myself, but I'm not overly familiar with music. Never really had a need for it, you know? I've heard some like to listen to music while they work, but really, I can't see how that would help at all. It would be distracting! Thinking aloud is a much better option!

[...Not for anyone who has to work with you, Wheatley...]

[Action]

[scientificflair]

[...good lord, Wheatley, he hadn't realized you were still here; why are you still here -

Either way, Descole lowers the violin once Wheatley makes it plain that he and the cuddlepile haven't gone anywhere. The hotel room is, as usual, dimly-lit, the curtains drawn; since they're in town and not slated for doing too much today, he has some of the lower-leveled Pokémon out - Louvaire is curled up at his feet, and Lucius is...being a herpy little ghost-candle of a light source. The purple glow is a bit odd; Descole finds it comfortable.]

It's something I heard a while back, several times; I don't know that there's any sheet music for that.

And I find music distracting when I'm actually trying to work, yes, but that's because I spend most of my time paying more attention to what I'm listening to rather than staying on task. Then again, I don't exactly talk to myself, either; I prefer silence.

[He's just going to be eyeballing that bat for a moment, however.]

She is rather quick on that, though, I'll give her credit for that much. Where did she pick up that...other thing she's often going on with?

[audio]

[enjoymyatelier]

I would assume that was not the case precisely because it's a purely hypothetical situation designed as a logic puzzle.

[wet

blanket...]

[audio]

[scientificflair]

[That music is still playing over the audio feed when Descole responds, soft and slow; he laughs a bit at that assessment, however.]

And if it is? Really, the most I've done is taken it from the realm of pure logic and introduced an element of lateral thinking.

Audio

[hintcoinplz]

[Despite the fact they don't get along, Luke is a puzzle enthusiast first. But as he continues playing the music, Luke finds it harder and harder to think of an answer.

That melody felt all too familiar, and he didn't like it.]

Stop playing.

[...Dammit Descole, you of all people will not make him homesick.]

Audio

[scientificflair]

[He doesn't stop, exactly, but he does go back to the general idling while he responds; the melody itself has stopped, at the very least.]

I trust you find it familiar enough, don't you?

[thetruehistorian]

It is my experience that those in the business of lying will tell you the truth at first, so that you'll easier believe the lie when it is told.

[scientificflair]

[It's obvious when he clicks on the feed; the melody is simplified, but that soft, slow violin music hasn't stopped.

He takes a while to respond, however; it's an incredibly valid point, and one he suspects is relevant to the situation he's musing about in the first place.]

That's true enough, I admit - although if you're not in a position to know otherwise and the individual doesn't particularly care whether you find them trustworthy to begin with, that hardly matters to some of them.

[.........]

But then, we rarely interact with figures such as this hypothetical Devil in everyday dealings, do we?

[Audio]

[booze]

[oh hello did you call for someone to ruin this post

well too bad because Xanxus is messing this shit up]

What the fuck kind of bullshit is this?

[Audio]

[scientificflair]

[That violin music is still going when the feed clicks on, soft and slow and simplified; Descole's tone is amused.]

An invitation to use your head instead of immediately falling back on the first thing that comes to mind.

Congratulations in being unsuccessful at it.

[voice]

[usedfeatherdance]

I didn't know they made violins here.

[ This is much more relevant to his interests than your word puzzle. ]

[voice]

[scientificflair]

[He doesn't blame you! It's incredibly obvious when the feed clicks on again; he's still playing a bit, the sound soft and slow, a simplified version of what he was playing earlier.]

I was likewise surprised, my friend; it's amazing what you can find here, however.

[Or, you know, what you can ask people within your criminal organization to steal for you amid all the chaos of a bunch of Trubbish going insane.]

[voice]

[icansolvethemtoo]

...that's a very difficult puzzle.

[But she's getting that eerie feeling that it's not so much as puzzle as it is some dark statement on matters she doesn't quite understand. But on the off chance that it is a puzzle, she's going to think about it.]

[voice]

[scientificflair]

[The feed clicks on after a moment, quiet sounds of that soft, slow melody still being played coming through the Gear; it's simplified, but still recognizable.]

Take your time, should you like to work it out.